I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 157 

To authorize assistance for the Government of Tunisia, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2017 

Mr. HASTINGS (for himself and Mr. SCHWEIKERT) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize assistance for the Government of Tunisia, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Combatting Terrorism in Tunisia Emergency Support 

6 Act of 2017’’. 

7 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

8 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Findings and declarations. 

Sec. 4. Statement of policy regarding Tunisia. 

Sec. 5. Assistance to strengthen and reform the security sector of Tunisia. 


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Sec. 6. Assistance to support efforts of the Government of Tunisia to combat 

terrorism. 

Sec. 7. Assistance to support the military readiness of the Government of Tunisia. 

Sec. 8. Assistance to support democracy and civil society in Tunisia. 

Sec. 9. Assistance to support increased border security for Tunisia. 

Sec. 10. Economic reforms and assistance. 

Sec. 11. Memorandum of understanding. 

Sec. 12. Strategic plan. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT4 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com5 mittees’’ means— 

6 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 

7 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

8 Senate; and 

9 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

10 the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

11 of Representatives. 

12 (2) DEFENSE ARTICLE; DEFENSE SERVICE; 

13 TRAINING.—The terms ‘‘defense article’’, ‘‘defense 

14 service’’, and ‘‘training’’ have the meanings given 

15 those terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Con16 trol Act (22 U.S.C. 2794 note). 

17 SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS. 

18 Congress finds and declares the following: 

19 (1) Tunisia has been a critical ally of the 

20 United States for more than 200 years, dating back 

21 to 1797 when the Treaty of Peace and Friendship 


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1 was signed, ensuring the safety and availability of 

2 open sea lanes in the Mediterranean Sea. 

3 (2) On December 10, 2010, the self-immolation 

4 of Tunisian fruit vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi, in5 spired popular revolutions across the region leading 

6 to political transitions in four countries, often re7 ferred to as the ‘‘Arab Spring’’, and initiating 

8 Tunisia’s transition to democracy. 

9 (3) In 2014, Tunisia became the first country 

10 with a majority Muslim population in the Middle 

11 East or North Africa to experience both Presidential 

12 and parliamentary political transitions through free 

13 and fair democratic elections. 

14 (4) Since 2011, more than 3,000 Tunisian citi15 zens have gone to fight in Syria making Tunisia one 

16 of the largest contributors to foreign fighters in 

17 Syria. 

18 (5) Tunisia shares a 285-mile border with 

19 neighboring Libya and is currently hosting more 

20 than 1,000,000 Libyan refugees fleeing the ongoing 

21 Libyan civil war and the Islamic State (ISIS). 

22 (6) The terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia (AAS) 

23 was founded in April 2011 in Tunisia and is ideo24 logically aligned with Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb 

25 (AQIM) and ISIS. AAS is responsible for the assasVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H157.IH H157

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1 sinations of Tunisian MP Mohamed Brahimi on July 

2 25, 2013, and secular-democratic political activist 

3 Chokri Belaid on February 6, 2013. 

4 (7) On September 14, 2012, Ansar al-Sharia 

5 terrorists attacked the United States Embassy com6 pound, annex, and school in Tunis, Tunisia, causing 

7 millions of dollars in damages. 

8 (8) On January 10, 2014, Ansar al-Sharia was 

9 designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the 

10 United States. 

11 (9) On March 18, 2015, 18 people were killed 

12 in a terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum 

13 in Tunis, Tunisia. 

14 (10) On June 27, 2015, at least 39 people were 

15 killed and 36 injured in a terrorist attack on the 

16 beach of a hotel resort in Sousse, Tunisia. The gun17 men had received training and support from ISIS in 

18 Libya. 

19 (11) On May 21, 2015, Tunisia was designated 

20 as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. 

21 (12) On September 29, 2015, Tunisia joined 

22 the United States-led coalition to counter ISIS. 

23 (13) On November 24, 2015, ISIS militants 

24 conducted a bus bombing, targeting the Tunisian 


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1 Presidential guard and killing 12 people in Tunis, 

2 Tunisia. 

3 (14) On March 7, 2016, ISIS militants crossed 

4 the Tunisian-Libyan border assaulting the city of 

5 Ben Guerdane, Tunisia, killing 55 people during the 

6 attack. 

7 SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING TUNISIA. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United 

9 States to further assist the democratically elected Govern10 ment of Tunisia in eliminating terrorist organizations that 

11 operate in Tunisia and neighboring Libya and preventing 

12 fighters in Syria from returning to Tunisia. 

13 (b) CONDUCT OF POLICY.—The policy described in 

14 subsection (a) shall be carried into effect, through a com15 prehensive effort, in coordination with allies and partners 

16 of the United States, where appropriate, that will 

17 strengthen the capabilities and coordination of the internal 

18 security agencies, combat terrorism, strengthen military 

19 readiness, assist in the improvement of the economic per20 formance of Tunisia, assist in the development of civil so21 ciety and provide assistance for border security, and other 

22 technical assistance. 


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1 SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN AND REFORM THE 

2 SECURITY SECTOR OF TUNISIA. 

3 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con4 gress that— 

5 (1) security is a fundamental component of po6 litical stability and economic development; 

7 (2) the security sector of Tunisia suffers from 

8 decades of corruption and public mistrust under the 

9 Ben Ali period; 

10 (3) significant reform is necessary to enable the 

11 Tunisian security services to combat terrorism and 

12 reinforce the rule of law; 

13 (4) a corrupt security sector impedes develop14 ment, deters investment, perpetuates poverty, and 

15 undermines the rule of law; and 

16 (5) in making security sector reforms it is im17 perative that the Government of Tunisia also protect 

18 the fundamental human rights enshrined in 

19 Tunisia’s constitution. 

20 (b) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 

21 State, acting directly or through nongovernmental organi22 zations, international organizations, or related organiza23 tions, is authorized to provide assistance to strengthen and 

24 reform the security sector of Tunisia, including to— 

25 (1) facilitate better coordination among Tuni26 sian security agencies, including the General DirecVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H157.IH H157

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1 tive for Public Safety, the Directorate General of the 

2 Special Services, and the Directorate General of 

3 Technical Services; 

4 (2) increase accountability within the Ministry 

5 of the Interior; 

6 (3) improve training for members of the judici7 ary, especially judges and prosecutors, instituting 

8 practices that conform to international standards for 

9 the rule of law; 

10 (4) increase police training programs that em11 phasize locally inspired and informed curricula and 

12 methods; and 

13 (5) strengthen civilian oversight of the security 

14 sector. 

15 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 

16 amounts authorized to be appropriated for International 

17 Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funding for fiscal 

18 year 2016, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 

19 Secretary of State $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to 

20 carry out this section. 

21 SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT EFFORTS OF THE GOV22 ERNMENT OF TUNISIA TO COMBAT TER23 RORISM. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, acting di25 rectly or through nongovernmental, international organiVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:57 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H157.IH H157

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1 zations, or related organizations is authorized to support 

2 efforts of the Government of Tunisia to combat terrorism, 

3 including by— 

4 (1) providing technical training and equipment 

5 to assist Tunisia to protect facilities, individuals, 

6 and infrastructure; 

7 (2) expanding training in the areas of crisis re8 sponse and tactical and command training; 

9 (3) improving the capacity of Tunisian law en10 forcement to investigate terrorist incidents; and 

11 (4) increasing training to prevent and respond 

12 to improvised explosive devices. 

13 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 

14 amounts authorized to be appropriated for Anti-terrorism 

15 Assistance funding for fiscal year 2016, there are author16 ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 

17 $6,100,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this section. 

18 SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY READI19 NESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TUNISIA. 

20 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con21 gress that expeditious consideration of sale, lease or loan, 

22 grant, or transfers of defense articles, defense services, 

23 and major defense equipment under the Arms Export 

24 Control Act, Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or any other 

25 provision of law is consistent with United States policy 


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1 to assist the Government of Tunisia in eliminating ter2 rorist organizations that pose a threat to the national se3 curity and stability of Tunisia. 

4 (b) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized 

6 to provide defense articles, defense services, and 

7 training to the Government of Tunisia for the pur8 pose of countering terrorist threats pursuant to the 

9 provisions of the Arms Export Control Act (22 

10 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Foreign Assistance Act of 

11 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), and other relevant 

12 provisions of law. 

13 (2) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance author14 ized under paragraph (1) may include the provision 

15 of armored personnel carriers, helicopters, reconnais16 sance surveillance drones, and secure command and 

17 communications equipment. 

18 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 

19 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

20 of State shall submit a report detailing the anticipated de21 fense articles, defense services, and training to be provided 

22 pursuant to this section and a timeline for the provision 

23 of such defense articles, defense services, and training, 

24 to— 


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1 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

2 Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on 

3 Armed Services of the Senate; and 

4 (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

5 Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on 

6 Armed Services of the House of Representatives. 

7 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

8 (1) FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING.—Of the 

9 amounts authorized to be appropriated for Foreign 

10 Military Financing funding for fiscal year 2017, 

11 there is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec12 retary of State $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to 

13 carry out this section. 

14 (2) INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION AND

15 TRAINING.—Of the amounts authorized to be appro16 priated for International Military Education and 

17 Training funding for fiscal year 2017, there is au18 thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 

19 $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this 

20 section. 

21 SEC. 8. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL 

22 SOCIETY IN TUNISIA. 

23 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress that— 


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1 (1) Tunisia represents one of the most prom2 ising opportunities for a pluralistic and participatory 

3 democracy in the Middle East and North Africa; and 

4 (2) the success of Tunisia’s peaceful pursuit of 

5 democracy is an inspiration to, and model for, other 

6 countries in the region, and should be fully sup7 ported by the United States as it works to aid Tuni8 sia to consolidate and build upon its democratic 

9 gains. 

10 (b) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 

11 State, acting directly or through nongovernmental organi12 zations, international organizations, or related organiza13 tions, is authorized to provide assistance to support de14 mocracy and civil society in Tunisia, by— 

15 (1) continuing the support of political party de16 velopment and improved communications with con17 stituents; 

18 (2) increasing the capacity of the Tunisian Par19 liament and ministries to perform their mandated 

20 functions including by providing the infrastructure 

21 necessary to modernize official communications and 

22 records keeping; 

23 (3) improving the public affairs functions of the 

24 Government of Tunisia to communicate more effec25 tively with citizens across the country; 


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1 (4) increasing the professional capacity of sup2 port staff in the Tunisian Parliament; 

3 (5) encouraging the development of job creation 

4 programs especially in the interior regions of Tuni5 sia; 

6 (6) supporting Tunisian civil society organiza7 tions focused on government transparency and ac8 countability; 

9 (7) supporting Tunisian agencies and organiza10 tions engaged in preparations for upcoming munic11 ipal elections; 

12 (8) supporting Tunisian agencies and organiza13 tions engaged in countering radicalization programs; 

14 and 

15 (9) encouraging the development of employment 

16 assistance programs targeted at youth and first time 

17 job seekers. 

18 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 

19 amounts authorized to be appropriated for Economic Sup20 port Fund funding for fiscal year 2017, there is author21 ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 

22 $74,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this section. 


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1 SEC. 9. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT INCREASED BORDER SE2 CURITY FOR TUNISIA. 

3 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con4 gress that— 

5 (1) terrorist organizations such as Ansar al6 Sharia and the Islamic State have exploited the on7 going unrest in Libya and created terrorist sanc8 tuaries in ungoverned regions of Libya; and 

9 (2) such terrorist organizations have carried out 

10 cross-border attacks inside Tunisia and therefore 

11 represent a significant threat to the stability of the 

12 nascent democratic government of Tunisia. 

13 (b) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 

14 State is authorized to provide assistance to support in15 creased border security for Tunisia by enhancing Tunisia’s 

16 capabilities to detect, identify, and interdict illicit traf17 ficking of weapons through intensive training and equip18 ment donation. 

19 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 

20 amounts authorized to be appropriated for Export Control 

21 and Related Border Security Assistance funding for fiscal 

22 year 2017, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 

23 Secretary of State $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2017 to 

24 carry out this section. 

25 SEC. 10. ECONOMIC REFORMS AND ASSISTANCE. 

26 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 


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1 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

2 (A) On December 13, 2016, the Millen3 nium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of 

4 Directors selected Tunisia as a recipient of an 

5 MCC compact—a 5-year grant that will encour6 age economic growth and reduce poverty. 

7 (B) The MCC noted that their selection of 

8 Tunisia was based, in part, on the fact that the 

9 country has consolidated its democratic gains, 

10 has created a significant policy reform agenda, 

11 and has continued to work to combat poverty 

12 and inequality. 

13 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

14 Congress that— 

15 (A) supporting Tunisia’s orderly reform of 

16 its economic and social sectors should be a pri17 ority of the United States; 

18 (B) the Government of Tunisia has made 

19 notable progress liberalizing its economy after 

20 decades of corruption and social exclusion 

21 under the Ben Ali period but more reforms are 

22 needed to solidify Tunisia’s economic stability; 

23 and 

24 (C) such reforms should aim to provide an 

25 environment that is conducive to investment 


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1 while maintaining important and meaningful 

2 labor protections. 

3 (b) ECONOMIC REFORMS AND ASSISTANCE.— 

4 (1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

5 (A) The World Bank has identified areas 

6 of the Tunisian economy in need of immediate 

7 structural reforms. 

8 (B) Implementing these reforms may lead 

9 to short-term economic hardships for many Tu10 nisian citizens. 

11 (2) REPROGRAMMING AUTHORITY.—In order to 

12 ameliorate these short-term hardships and 

13 incentivize the Government of Tunisia to continue 

14 implementing economic reforms, the Secretary of 

15 State is authorized to reprogram funds from prior 

16 appropriated but unobligated balances to carry out 

17 the activities in support of Tunisia’s economic re18 forms. 

19 SEC. 11. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 

20 The Secretary of State is authorized, subject to the 

21 availability of appropriations, to enter into a memorandum 

22 of understanding with the Government of Tunisia to in23 crease military cooperation, including joint military exer24 cises, personnel exchanges, and enhanced strategic dia25 logue between the United States and Tunisia. 


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1 SEC. 12. STRATEGIC PLAN. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

4 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

5 a strategic plan to carry out this Act. 

6 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 

7 (a) shall include the following elements: 

8 (1) Clearly defined goals and objectives, includ9 ing definitions of success, benchmarks, and a proc10 ess for incorporating lessons learned. 

11 (2) Robust monitoring and evaluation proce12 dures for all programs carried out under this Act. 

13 (3) Intended implementing partners, including 

14 associated roles, and procedures to increase coordi15 nation and collaboration and eliminate overlap. 

Æ 


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