79–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 115–489 

POST-CALIPHATE THREAT ASSESSMENT ACT OF 2017 

JANUARY 9, 2018.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MCCAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 4564) to require a threat assessment on current foreign 

terrorist fighter activities, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and 

recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 1 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 3 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 3 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 3 

Duplicative Federal Programs ................................................................................ 3 

Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ... 4 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 4 

Preemption Clarification ......................................................................................... 4 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 4 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 4 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 4 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 4 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 5 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H.R. 4564 is to require a threat assessment on 

current foreign terrorist fighter activities. This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of 

State and Director of National Intelligence, to conduct a threat assessment of current foreign terrorist fighter activity-including inforVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:23 Jan 10, 2018 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR489.XXX HR489
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mation on travel and trends, destination countries, and changes in 

activity in Iraq and Syria-and report to Congress on its findings. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

This year the Islamic State (ISIS) lost most of its self-declared 

caliphate in the Republic of Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic. 

The liberation of Mosul and Raqqa are major victories for anti-ISIS 

forces, but the terrorist group is far from defeated, even in the region. Many jihadis not killed on the battlefield have chosen to hide, 

rearm, and recuperate-going underground for a period before reemerging to fight the next phase of the insurgency. Reports about 

the current location of remaining ISIS fighters vary. While there 

is evidence that some fighters are returning to their home countries, other reports indicate that fighters are holed up in Syria’s 

Idlib province or Turkey, contemplating their next move. Still others may have escaped to ISIS provinces, including Libya, Afghanistan, Northern Africa, and Southeast Asia, in order to regroup and 

continue their recruitment and fight against the West. 

Of particular concern for the homeland are those who seek to return to Europe or the United States. Of the 5,000 Europeans who 

left to fight with ISIS, approximately one third have returned 

home. Many ISIS fighters are currently residing in Turkey, with 

the possibility of fleeing to Europe via old refugee routes. Those 

fighters who have fled or returned to Europe may seek to exploit 

direct flights to the United States, as well as the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). H.R. 4564 will ensure that Congress and the Executive gain better clarity on foreign terrorist fighter travel and trends 

after the defeat of the caliphate, in light of the varying reports, 

which will strengthen our defenses as the diaspora unfolds. 

HEARINGS

The Committee did not hold any legislative hearings on 

H.R. 4564 in the 115th Congress. However, this legislation was informed by a Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry into the 

United States hearing on May 3, 2017, entitled ‘‘Denying Terrorists 

Entry to the United States: Examining Visa Security.’’ The Task 

Force received testimony from: Mr. Edward Ramotowski, Deputy 

Assistant Secretary, Office of Visa Services, Department of State; 

Mr. John Wagner, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Mr. Michael Dougherty, Acting 

Assistant Secretary for Border, Immigration, and Trade, Office of 

Strategy, Policy, and Plans, Department of Homeland Security; Mr. 

Clark Settles, Assistant Director, National Security Investigations, 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; and Ms. Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office. 

This legislation was also informed by a Task Force hearing on 

July 13, 2017, entitled ‘‘The Terrorist Diaspora: After the Fall of 

the Caliphate.’’ The Task Force received testimony from: Mr. 

Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Mr. Robin Simcox, Margaret Thatcher Fellow, The Heritage 

Foundation; and Dr. Colin P. Clarke, Political Scientist, The RAND 

Corporation. 

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COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee met on December 13, 2017, to consider 

H.R. 4564, and ordered the measure to be reported to the House 

with a favorable recommendation, without amendment, by unanimous consent. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 

No recorded votes were requested during consideration of 

H.R. 4564. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held oversight hearings and 

made findings that are reflected in this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 4564, the 

Post-Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017, would result in no 

new or increased budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 

expenditures or revenues. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, a cost estimate provided by the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 was not made available to the Committee in time for 

the filing of this report. The Chairman of the Committee shall 

cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon 

its receipt by the Committee. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 4564 contains the following general performance goals and objectives, including outcome related goals and 

objectives authorized. 

The goal of this legislation is to ensure that Congress and the 

Executive have a coordinated and updated assessment of foreign 

terrorist fighter travel and trends after the defeat of the caliphate 

in Iraq and Syria, which will inform U.S. defenses as the diaspora 

continues to unfold. 

DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c) of rule XIII, the Committee finds that 

H.R. 4564 does not contain any provision that establishes or reauthorizes a program known to be duplicative of another Federal program. 

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CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED

TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the Rule XXI. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman of the 

Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

In compliance with section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, requiring the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 

resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or 

joint resolution is intended to preempt State, local, or Tribal law, 

the Committee finds that H.R. 4564 does not preempt any State, 

local, or Tribal law. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that H.R. 4564 would require no directed rule makings. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short Title. 

This section provides that this bill may be cited as the ‘‘Post-Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017’’. 

Sec. 2. Threat Assessment. 

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence, to conduct a threat assessment of current foreign terrorist fighter activity and report to Congress on its findings. The 

assessment must include information on foreign terrorist fighter 

travel and trends, destination countries, and changes in activity in 

Iraq and Syria. 

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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

As reported, H.R. 4564 makes no changes to existing law. 

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