[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4396-H4398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MAJOR NON-NATO ALLY TERROR THREAT ASSESSMENT ACT
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 8168) to require an assessment of terrorism threats to the
United States posed by foreign terrorist organizations and Specially
Designated Global Terrorists present in countries that are major non-
NATO allies, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8168
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Major Non-NATO Ally Terror
Threat Assessment Act''.
SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF TERRORISM THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES
BY FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND
SPECIALLY DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRORISTS PRESENT
IN COUNTRIES THAT ARE MAJOR NON-NATO ALLIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, the
Secretary of
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Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of
State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of
terrorism threats to the United States posed by foreign
terrorist organizations and Specially Designated Global
Terrorists present in countries operating or designated as
major non-NATO allies.
(b) Elements.--Each assessment of terrorism threats
required under subsection (a) shall include the following for
each major non-NATO ally:
(1) An identification of each foreign terrorist
organization or Specially Designated Global Terrorist present
in each such ally.
(2) A description of all activities in which each such
identified foreign terrorist organization or Specially
Designated Global Terrorist is engaged within each such ally,
including the extent to which the each such identified
foreign terrorist organization or Specially Designated Global
Terrorist is using artificial intelligence or critical and
emerging technologies.
(3) A description of efforts of the government of each such
MNNA ally to disrupt and degrade the activities of each such
identified foreign terrorist organization or Specially
Designated Global Terrorist within such ally, including any
cooperation with elements of the United States intelligence
community.
(4) An assessment of the capability of the Department of
Homeland Security to identify, monitor, and mitigate
terrorist threats to the United States by each such
identified foreign terrorist organization or Specially
Designated Global Terrorist present in each such MNNA ally.
(5) An assessment of the capability of the Department of
Homeland Security to prevent individuals who are members of
any such identified foreign terrorist organization or
Specially Designated Global Terrorist in each such MNNA ally
from entering the United States.
(6) An identification of any additional resources required
to counter terror threats to the United States posed by each
such identified foreign terrorist organization or Specially
Designated Global Terrorist present in each such MNNA ally.
(c) Form and Further Availability.--Each assessment of
terrorism threats required under subsection (a) shall be
submitted in classified form and be made available to every
Member of Congress, upon request.
(d) Congressional Briefing.--Upon submission of each
assessment of terrorism threats required under subsection
(a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to the
appropriate congressional committees a briefing on such
assessment.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee
on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate.
(2) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial
intelligence'' has the meaning given such term in section
5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act
of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(3) Critical and emerging technologies.--The term
``critical and emerging technologies'' means those
technologies listed in the February 2024 Critical and
Emerging Technologies List Update issued by the National
Science and Technology Council (NSTC), or any successor
thereto.
(4) Intelligence community.--The term ``intelligence
community'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(4)
of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)).
(5) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term ``foreign
terrorist organization'' means an organization designated as
a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
(6) Major non-nato ally.--The term ``major non-NATO ally''
has the meaning given such term in section 644 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2403).
(7) Specially designated global terrorist.--The term
``specially designated global terrorist'' means individuals
or organizations designated as a specially designated global
terrorist pursuant Executive Order 13224 (entitled ``Blocking
Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who
Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism''; September
23, 2001; 66 Fed. Reg. 49079).
(8) Terrorism.--The term ``terrorism'' has the meaning
given such term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 101).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Garbarino) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 8168.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8168, the Major Non-NATO Ally
Terror Threat Assessment Act.
The Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act requires the
Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of
State and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report to
Congress assessing terrorism threats from designated terrorist
organizations operating in countries designated by the United States as
a major non-NATO ally.
Major non-NATO allies benefit from expedited procedures in the
foreign military sales process, and this status also makes them
desirable for foreign military financing.
Major non-NATO allies are also eligible for enhanced defense research
collaboration and the positioning of U.S. defense equipment.
Over time, there has been inconsistent oversight of the major non-
NATO allies program, and today there are situations where U.S.
designated terrorist organizations are present or operating in
countries that have also been designated major non-NATO allies.
This legislation will strengthen oversight of the program to ensure
the United States has an adequate threat picture when it comes to
terrorist activity in designated major non-NATO allies.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Van Epps for his leadership and
encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8168, the Major Non-NATO Ally
Terror Threat Assessment Act.
This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation
with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence,
to provide an assessment of the threats to the United States posed by
foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global
terrorists present in countries that the State Department designates as
``major non-NATO allies.''
The assessment required under the bill will give Congress a more
comprehensive view of terrorist threats to the homeland, which will
inform Congress of authorities and resources needed to combat those
threats.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Van Epps).
Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R.
8168, the Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act.
When the United States designates a nation as a major non-NATO ally,
MNNA, it comes with security cooperation and possible trade deals for
defense equipment. This is an important designation that our Nation
does not grant lightly.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that foreign terrorist
organizations continue to operate in or around some MNNA countries,
creating threats that could have serious consequences for U.S. national
security.
{time} 1650
For that reason, it is critical for Congress to have a full picture
of the terrorist organizations that may be operating within our partner
nations.
That is why I introduced this legislation. My bill strengthens
coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress
to better assess and support MNNA partners as they confront threats
within their own borders. It requires the Department to provide
Congress with a comprehensive assessment, identifying foreign terrorist
organizations operating within MNNA countries, as well as each
partner's capacity to counter those threats. These partnerships are
important, but we must also protect our national security.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of
this bill.
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Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the new member, Mr. Van Epps, on this
legislation. I support H.R. 8168, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Van Epps. This is his first piece of
legislation that will be passing in the House. I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 8168, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8168.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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