Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act of 2015

To extend and enhance prohibitions and limitations with respect to the transfer or release of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act of 2015 2. Prohibition on use of funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (a) Prohibition No amounts appropriated or otherwise available for any department or agency of the United States Government may be used, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to construct or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house an individual detained at Guantanamo for the purpose of detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the United States Government unless authorized by Congress. (b) Exception The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to any modification of facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (c) Individual detained at Guantanamo defined In this section, the term individual detained at Guantanamo (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is— (A) in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense; or (B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (d) Repeal of superseded prohibition Section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( Public Law 113–66 Buck Public Law 113–291 3. Prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release to the United States of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (a) Prohibition No amounts appropriated or otherwise available for any department or agency of the United States Government may be used, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who— (1) is not a United States citizen or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) was held on January 20, 2009, at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department of Defense. (b) Repeal of superseded prohibition Section 1034 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( Public Law 113–66 Buck Public Law 113–291 4. Prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release abroad of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, determined or assessed to be high-risk or medium-risk threats (a) Prohibition (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts appropriated or otherwise available for any department or agency of the United States Government may be used, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of any individual described in paragraph (2) to the custody or control of the individual's country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity. (2) Covered individuals An individual described in this paragraph is any individual detained in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who is currently or ever has been determined or assessed by Joint Task Force Guantanamo to be a high-risk or medium-risk threat to the United States, its interests, or its allies. (b) Exception Subsection (a) shall not apply to any action taken by the head of a department or agency of the United States Government to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of any individual described in that subsection to effectuate an order affecting the disposition of the individual that is issued by a court or competent tribunal of the United States having lawful jurisdiction (which the Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress promptly after issuance). (c) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 5. Prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release to Yemen of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts appropriated or otherwise available for any department or agency of the United States Government may be used, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of any individual detained in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of the Republic of Yemen or any entity within Yemen. 6. Reenactment and modification of certain prior requirements for certifications relating to transfer of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to foreign countries and other foreign entities (a) Certification required prior to transfer (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (3) and subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense may not use any amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Defense to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo to the custody or control of the individual's country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity unless the Secretary submits to the appropriate committees of Congress the certification described in subsection (b) not later than 30 days before the transfer of the individual. (2) Scope of requirement The requirement in paragraph (1) applies to any authorized transfer or release of an individual described in that paragraph after the date of the enactment of this Act, including a transfer or release of such an individual who is also described in paragraph (2) of section 4(a) after the prohibition in section 4(a) ceases to be in effect. (3) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any action taken by the Secretary to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo to effectuate an order affecting the disposition of the individual that is issued by a court or competent tribunal of the United States having lawful jurisdiction (which the Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress of promptly after issuance). (b) Certification A certification described in this subsection is a written certification made by the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, that— (1) the government of the foreign country or the recognized leadership of the foreign entity to which the individual detained at Guantanamo is to be transferred— (A) is not a designated state sponsor of terrorism or a designated foreign terrorist organization; (B) maintains control over each detention facility in which the individual is to be detained if the individual is to be housed in a detention facility; (C) is not, as of the date of the certification, facing a threat that is likely to substantially affect its ability to exercise control over the individual; (D) has taken or agreed to take effective actions to ensure that the individual cannot take action to threaten the United States, its citizens, or its allies in the future; (E) has taken or agreed to take such actions as the Secretary of Defense determines are necessary to ensure that the individual cannot engage or reengage in any terrorist activity; and (F) has agreed to share with the United States any information that— (i) is related to the individual or any associates of the individual; and (ii) could affect the security of the United States, its citizens, or its allies; and (2) includes an assessment, in classified or unclassified form, of the capacity, willingness, and past practices (if applicable) of the foreign country or entity in relation to the Secretary's certifications. (c) Prohibition in cases of prior confirmed recidivism (1) Prohibition Except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense may not use any amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo to the custody or control of the individual's country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity if there is a confirmed case of any individual who was detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at any time after September 11, 2001, who was transferred to such foreign country or entity and subsequently engaged in any terrorist activity. (2) Exception Subject to subsection (e), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any action taken by the Secretary to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo to effectuate an order affecting the disposition of the individual that is issued by a court or competent tribunal of the United States having lawful jurisdiction (which the Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress of promptly after issuance). (d) National security waiver (1) In general Subject to subsection (e), the Secretary of Defense may waive the applicability to a detainee transfer of a certification requirement specified in subparagraph (D) or (E) of subsection (b)(1) or the prohibition in subsection (c), if the Secretary certifies the rest of the criteria required by subsection (b) for transfers prohibited by subsection (c) and, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, determines that— (A) alternative actions will be taken to address the underlying purpose of the requirement or requirements to be waived; (B) in the case of a waiver of subparagraph (D) or (E) of subsection (b)(1), it is not possible to certify that the risks addressed in the paragraph to be waived have been completely eliminated, but the actions to be taken under subparagraph (A) will substantially mitigate such risks with regard to the individual to be transferred; (C) in the case of a waiver of subsection (c), the Secretary has considered any confirmed case in which an individual who was transferred to the country subsequently engaged in terrorist activity, and the actions to be taken under subparagraph (A) will substantially mitigate the risk of recidivism with regard to the individual to be transferred; and (D) the transfer is in the national security interests of the United States. (2) Reports Whenever the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, not later than 30 days before the transfer of the individual concerned, the following: (A) A copy of the determination and the waiver concerned. (B) A statement of the basis for the determination, including— (i) an explanation why the transfer is in the national security interests of the United States; (ii) in the case of a waiver of paragraph (D) or (E) of subsection (b)(1), an explanation why it is not possible to certify that the risks addressed in the paragraph to be waived have been completely eliminated; and (iii) a classified summary of— (I) the individual's record of cooperation while in the custody of or under the effective control of the Department of Defense; and (II) the agreements and mechanisms in place to provide for continuing cooperation. (C) A summary of the alternative actions to be taken to address the underlying purpose of, and to mitigate the risks addressed in, the paragraph or subsection to be waived. (D) The assessment required by subsection (b)(2). (e) Coordination with prohibition on transfer to Yemen While the prohibition in section 5 is in effect, the exception in subsection (c)(2) and the waiver authority in subsection (d) shall not apply to authorize the transfer of an individual detained at Guantanamo to Yemen. (f) Record of cooperation In assessing the risk that an individual detained at Guantanamo will engage in terrorist activity or other actions that could affect the security of the United States if released for the purpose of making a certification under subsection (b) or a waiver under subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense may give favorable consideration to any such individual— (1) who has substantially cooperated with United States intelligence and law enforcement authorities, pursuant to a pre-trial agreement, while in the custody of or under the effective control of the Department of Defense; and (2) for whom agreements and effective mechanisms are in place, to the extent relevant and necessary, to provide for continued cooperation with United States intelligence and law enforcement authorities. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate committees of Congress (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (2) The term individual detained at Guantanamo (A) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (B) is— (i) in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense; or (ii) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (3) The term foreign terrorist organization 8 U.S.C. 1189 (h) Repeal of superseded requirements and limitations Section 1035 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( Public Law 113–66 10 U.S.C. 801 7. Report on current detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, determined or assessed to be high-risk or medium risk (a) Report required Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, in unclassified form, setting forth a list of the individuals detained at Guantanamo as of the date of the enactment of this Act who have been determined or assessed by Joint Task Force Guantanamo, at any time before the date of the report, to be a high-risk or medium-risk threat to the United States, its interests, or its allies. (b) Elements The report under subsection (a) shall set forth, for each individual covered by the report, the following: (1) The name and country of origin. (2) The date on which first designated or assessed as a high-risk or medium-risk threat to the United States, its interests, or its allies. (3) Whether, as of the date of the report, currently designated or assessed as a high-risk or medium-risk threat to the United States, its interests, or its allies. (4) If the designation or assessment changed between the date specified pursuant to paragraph (2) and the date of the report, the year and month in which the designation or assessment changed and the designation or assessment to which changed. (5) To the extent practicable, without jeopardizing intelligence sources and methods— (A) prior actions in support of terrorism, hostile actions against the United States or its allies, gross violations of human rights, and other violations of international law; and (B) any affiliations with al Qaeda, al Qaeda affiliates, or other terrorist groups. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate committees of Congress (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. (2) The term individual detained at Guantanamo (A) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (B) is— (i) in the custody or under the control of the Department of Defense; or (ii) otherwise under detention at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Summary: Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act of 2015 Revises and extends (until two years after enactment of this Act) prohibitions on the use of funds available to any U.S. agency (currently, to the Department of Defense [DOD]) to: construct or modify any facility in the United States, its territories, or possessions to house individuals detained in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as of October 1, 2009, who are not U.S. citizens or members of the U.S. Armed Forces and who are in the custody or control of DOD or otherwise under detention in the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo for the detention or imprisonment in the custody or control of the U.S. government, unless authorized by Congress; or transfer or release to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who is not a U.S. citizen or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and who was held on (currently, on or after) January 20, 2009, in Guantanamo Bay by DOD. Supersedes and repeals existing prohibitions under National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (NDAA) concerning such construction and U.S. transfers that are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015. Prohibits until two years after enactment of this Act the transfer or release of any Guantanamo detainee in DOD custody or control to: (1) the Republic of Yemen or any entity within Yemen; or (2) any other foreign country or foreign entity if the individual has ever been determined or assessed by Joint Task Force Guantanamo to be a high-risk or medium-risk to the United States, its interests, or its allies. Makes the prohibition on the transfer or release of high-risk or medium-risk individuals inapplicable to a U.S. agency head's actions to effectuate an order affecting the disposition of the individual that is issued by a U.S. court or tribunal. Repeals provisions under the NDAA concerning DOD transfers of Guantanamo detainees to foreign countries. Replaces the repealed provisions with previous authority from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 that prohibits use of DOD funds to transfer Guantanamo detainees to foreign countries or entities unless DOD certifies that the government of the country or the recognized leadership of the entity: is not a designated state sponsor of terrorism or foreign terrorist organization, maintains control over detention facilities and is not facing threats likely to affect its control over the individual, agrees to take actions to ensure that the individual cannot engage in terrorist activities or threaten U.S. citizens or allies, and agrees to share with the United States information regarding the individual or the individual's associates that could affect security of the United States or its allies. Prohibits transfers to a country or entity if any Guantanamo detainee transferred to that country or entity subsequently engaged in any terrorist activity. Authorizes DOD to waive certain certification requirements or prohibitions in the interest of national security. Delays DOD transfer procedures from applying to high-risk or medium-risk Guantanamo detainees until after the two-year prohibition on such transfers. Prohibits terrorist activity recidivism exceptions and national security waivers from authorizing transfers to Yemen during the two-year prohibition on Yemen transfers. Directs DOD to submit a list of Guantanamo detainees determined by the Task Force to be high-risk or medium-risk.