I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8186 

To require a report on the activities and resources required to enhance 

security and economic partnerships between the United States and African countries, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 

Mr. BROWN of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require a report on the activities and resources required 

to enhance security and economic partnerships between 

the United States and African countries, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Africa Foreign Rela5 tions, International Cooperation, and Assistance Act of 

6 2020’’ or the ‘‘AFRICA Act of 2020’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REPORT ON ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN 

2 THE UNITED STATES AND AFRICAN COUN3 TRIES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 1, 2021, the 

5 Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary 

6 of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

7 committees a report on the activities and resources re8 quired to enhance security and economic partnerships be9 tween the United States and African countries. 

10 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub11 section (a) shall include the following: 

12 (1) An assessment of the infrastructure acces13 sible to the Department of Defense on the continent 

14 of Africa. 

15 (2) An identification of the ability of the De16 partment to conduct freedom of movement on the 

17 continent, including identifying the activities of part18 ners, allies, and other Federal departments and 

19 agencies that are facilitated by the Department’s 

20 ability to conduct freedom of movement. 

21 (3) Recommendations to meet the requirements 

22 identified in paragraph (2), including— 

23 (A) dual-use infrastructure projects; 

24 (B) military construction; 

25 (C) the acquisition of additional mobility 

26 capability by African countries or the United 


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1 States Armed Forces, including strategic air 

2 lift, tactical air lift, or sealift capability; or 

3 (D) any other option as determined by the 

4 Secretary. 

5 (4) Recommendations to expand and strengthen 

6 partner and ally capability, including traditional ac7 tivities of the combatant commands, train and equip 

8 opportunities, partnerships with the National Guard 

9 and the United States Coast Guard, and multilateral 

10 contributions. 

11 (5) Recommendations for enhancing joint exer12 cises and training. 

13 (6) An analysis of the security, economic, and 

14 stability benefits of the recommendations identified 

15 under paragraphs (3) through (5). 

16 (7)(A) A plan to fully resource United States 

17 force posture, capabilities, and stability operations, 

18 including— 

19 (i) a detailed assessment of the re20 sources required to address the elements 

21 described in paragraphs (2) through (5), 

22 including specific cost estimates for rec23 ommended investments or projects; and 


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1 (ii) a detailed timeline to achieve the 

2 recommendations described in paragraphs 

3 (2) through (4). 

4 (B) The specific cost estimates required by 

5 subparagraph (A)(i) shall, to the maximum ex6 tent practicable, include the following: 

7 (i) With respect to procurement ac8 counts— 

9 (I) amounts displayed by ac10 count, budget activity, line number, 

11 line item, and line item title; and 

12 (II) a description of the require13 ments for each such amount. 

14 (ii) With respect to research, develop15 ment, test, and evaluation accounts— 

16 (I) amounts displayed by ac17 count, budget activity, line number, 

18 program element, and program ele19 ment title; and 

20 (II) a description of the require21 ments for each such amount. 

22 (iii) With respect to operation and 

23 maintenance accounts— 


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1 (I) amounts displayed by account 

2 title, budget activity title, line num3 ber, and subactivity group title; and 

4 (II) a description of the specific 

5 manner in which each such amount 

6 would be used. 

7 (iv) With respect to military personnel 

8 accounts— 

9 (I) amounts displayed by ac10 count, budget activity, budget sub11 activity, and budget subactivity title; 

12 and 

13 (II) a description of the require14 ments for each such amount. 

15 (v) With respect to each project under 

16 military construction accounts (including 

17 unspecified minor military construction 

18 and amounts for planning and design), the 

19 country, location, project title, and project 

20 amount for each fiscal year. 

21 (vi) With respect to any expenditure 

22 or proposed appropriation not described in 

23 clauses (i) through (iv), a level of detail 

24 equivalent or greater than the level of de25 tail provided in the future-years defense 


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1 program submitted pursuant to section 

2 221(a) of title 10, United States Code. 

3 (c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing the report re4 quired under subsection (a), the Secretary shall con5 sider— 

6 (1) the economic development and stability of 

7 African countries; 

8 (2) the strategic and economic value of the rela9 tionships between the United States and African 

10 countries; 

11 (3) the military, intelligence, diplomatic, devel12 opmental, and humanitarian efforts of China and 

13 Russia on the African continent; and 

14 (4) the ability of the United States, allies, and 

15 partners to combat violent extremist organizations 

16 operating in Africa. 

17 (d) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 

18 may be submitted in classified form, but shall include an 

19 unclassified summary. 

20 (e) INTERIM BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 

21 April 15, 2021, the Secretary of Defense (acting through 

22 the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Sec23 retary of Defense (Comptroller), and the Director of Cost 

24 Assessment and Program Evaluation) and the Chairman 

25 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall provide to the congresVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186

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1 sional defense committees a joint interim briefing, and any 

2 written comments the Secretary of Defense and the Chair3 man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider necessary, with 

4 respect to their assessments of the report anticipated to 

5 be submitted under subsection (a). 

6 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

7 (1) DUAL-USE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.— 

8 The term ‘‘dual-use infrastructure projects’’ means 

9 projects that may be used for either military or civil10 ian purposes. 

11 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT12 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com13 mittees’’ means— 

14 (A) the congressional defense committees; 

15 and 

16 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

17 the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Af18 fairs of the House of Representatives. 

19 SEC. 3. EXPANDING THE STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 

20 IN AFRICA. 

21 The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 

22 Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall seek to build 

23 partner capacity and interoperability in the United States 

24 Africa Command area of responsibility through increased 

25 partnerships with countries on the African continent, miliVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186

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1 tary-to-military engagements, and traditional activities of 

2 the combatant commands. 

Æ 


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