I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1196 
To require a plan to combat international travel by terrorists and foreign 
fighters, accelerate the transfer of certain border security systems to 
foreign partner governments, establish minimum international border se-
curity standards, authorize the suspension of foreign assistance to coun-
tries not making significant efforts to comply with such minimum stand-
ards, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2017 
Mr. ZELDIN (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, and Ms. SINEMA) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, 
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 plan to combat international travel by terrorists 
and foreign fighters, accelerate the transfer of certain 
border security systems to foreign partner governments, 
establish minimum international border security stand-
ards, authorize the suspension of foreign assistance to 
countries not making significant efforts to comply with 
such minimum standards, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Counterterrorism 
Screening and Assistance Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FOREIGN PARTNER ENGAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Consistent with the final report of 
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives bipartisan ‘‘Task Force on Combating 
Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel’’, Congress makes 
the following findings: 
(1) It is important for the national security of 
the United States to assist foreign partners in clos-
ing security gaps which may allow terrorists and for-
eign fighters to travel internationally, avoiding de-
tection. 
(2) Building foreign partner capacity to combat 
terrorist travel helps extend the United States secu-
rity beyond its border to mitigate threats before they 
reach the United States. 
(3) United States Government departments and 
agencies have spent billions of dollars to help foreign 
partners improve their security against terrorist 
travel since the attacks of September 11, 2001, in-
cluding through the provision of technical assistance, 
equipment, training, and other tools. 
(4) The lack of a United States Government- 
wide, risk-based approach increases the odds that 
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systematic security gaps abroad may persist and 
that United States response efforts will not be maxi-
mized in order to close these gaps. 
(5) Failure to effectively coordinate capacity- 
building activities also results in greater risk of over-
lap, waste, and unnecessary duplication between the 
United States and international programs. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States Government must ensure ca-
pacity-building assistance is coordinated both among 
United States Government departments and agencies as 
well as with foreign implementing partners, and assistance 
should be prioritized for the highest-risk countries for 
travel by terrorists and foreign fighters. 
(c) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 
two years thereafter at the time of the President’s 
budget submission to Congress under section 1105 
of title 31, United States Code, until 2023, the Sec-
retary of State shall, in accordance with the protec-
tion of intelligence sources and methods, develop and 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
unclassified and classified versions of a foreign part-
ner engagement plan which catalogues existing ca-
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pacity-building initiatives abroad to combat travel by 
terrorists and foreign fighters and identifies areas 
for adjustment to align ongoing efforts with risk- 
based priorities. 
(2) COORDINATION.—The plan required under 
paragraph (1) shall be developed in coordination 
with all relevant United States Government depart-
ments and agencies and in consultation with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of 
the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney 
General, the Director of National Intelligence, and 
the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
(3) CONTENTS.—The plan required under para-
graph (1) shall— 
(A) include an assessment of the countries 
of greatest concern and risk for travel to the 
United States by members of foreign terrorist 
organizations and foreign fighters, which may 
be based on the minimum standards described 
in section 4(b), as well as other factors, as ap-
propriate, including— 
(i) an identification of the number of 
flights that originate from last points of 
departure in each country to the United 
States; 
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(ii) visa waiver program status or visa 
application and denial rates for each coun-
try; 
(iii) recent threats, terrorist and for-
eign fighter travel trends, and the overall 
terror threat environment in each country; 
and 
(iv) other criteria as determined by 
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
Homeland Security; 
(B) detail existing United States Govern-
ment programs, projects, and activities which 
are intended to or have the substantial effect of 
building the capacity of such countries to com-
bat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters, in-
cluding estimated spending levels by country 
where practicable; and 
(C) outline a plan for prioritizing United 
States Government resources toward countries 
referred to in subparagraph (A), including— 
(i) identifying efforts which should be 
reformed, consolidated, or eliminated; and 
(ii) detailing new programs, projects, 
or activities that are requested, being 
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planned, or are undergoing implementation 
and associated costs. 
SEC. 3. SHARING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT TO OBSTRUCT 
TRAVEL 
BY 
TERRORISTS 
AND 
FOREIGN 
FIGHTERS. 
(a) BORDER SECURITY
AND COUNTERTERRORISM 
SCREENING TOOLS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) 
and subsection (d), the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity and the Secretary of State shall, to the extent 
practicable, accelerate the provision of appropriate 
versions of the following systems to foreign govern-
ments: 
(A) U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 
global travel targeting and analysis systems. 
(B) 
The 
Department 
of 
State’s 
watchlisting, identification, and screening sys-
tems. 
(2) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security and the Secretary of State shall co-
ordinate to prioritize the provision of the systems 
specified in paragraph (1) to countries determined to 
be countries referred to in subsection (c)(3)(A) of 
section 2 in the foreign partner engagement plan re-
quired under such section. 
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(b) EQUIPMENT TRANSFER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2), 
(3), and (8), the Secretary of Homeland Security is 
authorized to provide, with or without reimburse-
ment, excess nonlethal equipment and supplies 
owned by the Department of Homeland Security to 
a foreign government. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security is authorized to provide equipment and 
supplies pursuant to paragraph (1) if the Secretary 
determines that the provision of such equipment and 
supplies would— 
(A) further the homeland security interests 
of the United States; and 
(B) enhance the recipient government’s ca-
pacity to— 
(i) mitigate the risk or threat of ter-
rorism, infectious disease, or natural dis-
aster; 
(ii) protect and expedite lawful trade 
and travel; or 
(iii) 
enforce 
intellectual 
property 
rights. 
(3) LIMITATION ON TRANSFER.—The Secretary 
of Homeland Security may not— 
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(A) provide any equipment or supplies that 
are designated as items on the United States 
Munitions List pursuant to section 38 of the 
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778); or 
(B) provide any vessel or aircraft pursuant 
to this subsection. 
(4) RELATED TRAINING.—In conjunction with a 
provision of equipment or supplies pursuant to para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security may 
provide such equipment-related or supplies-related 
training and assistance as the Secretary determines 
to be necessary. 
(5) MAINTENANCE
OF
TRANSFERRED
EQUIP-
MENT.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
provide for the maintenance of transferred equip-
ment or supplies through service contracts or other 
means, with or without reimbursement, as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(6) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security is authorized to collect 
payment from the recipient government for the pro-
vision of training, shipping costs, supporting mate-
rials, maintenance, supplies, or other assistance in 
support of provided equipment or supplies under this 
subsection. 
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(7) RECEIPTS CREDITED AS OFFSETTING COL-
LECTIONS.—Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 
31, United States Code, any amount collected under 
this subsection— 
(A) shall be credited as offsetting collec-
tions, subject to appropriations, to the account 
that finances the activities and services for 
which the payment is received; and 
(B) shall remain available until expended 
for the purpose of providing for the security in-
terests of the homeland. 
(8) CONCURRENCE.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security may exercise the authority under this 
subsection only with the concurrence of the Sec-
retary of State. 
(9) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed as affecting, aug-
menting, or diminishing the authority of the Sec-
retary of State. 
(10) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this 
section, the term ‘‘excess nonlethal equipment and 
supplies’’ means equipment and supplies the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security has determined is ei-
ther not required for United States domestic oper-
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ations, or would be more effective to homeland secu-
rity if deployed for use outside of the United States. 
(c) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days be-
fore providing any systems or equipment or supplies 
under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity and Secretary of State shall provide notification 
to the appropriate congressional committees of such 
provision. 
(2) CONTENTS.—A notification required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The specific vulnerability that will be 
mitigated by the provision of any systems or 
equipment or supplies under this section. 
(B) An explanation as to why the recipient 
is unable or unwilling to independently acquire 
such systems or equipment or supplies. 
(C) An evacuation plan for any sensitive 
technologies in case of emergency or instability 
in the country to which such systems or equip-
ment or supplies is being provided. 
(D) How the United States Government 
will ensure that such systems or equipment or 
supplies are being maintained appropriately and 
used as intended. 
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(E) The total dollar value of such systems, 
equipment, and supplies. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The authority provided 
under this section shall be exercised in accordance 
with applicable provisions of the Arms Export Con-
trol Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Export Ad-
ministration Regulations, or any other similar provi-
sion of law. 
(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘Export Administration Regulations’’ means— 
(A) the Export Administration Regulations 
as maintained and amended under the authority 
of the International Emergency Economic Pow-
ers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and codified 
in subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code 
of Federal Regulations; or 
(B) any successor regulations. 
SEC. 4. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES 
THAT FAIL TO MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS 
FOR SERIOUS AND SUSTAINED EFFORTS TO 
COMBAT TERRORIST AND FOREIGN FIGHTER 
TRAVEL. 
(a) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 30 of 
each year through 2022, the Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report with respect to the status of ef-
forts of foreign governments to combat terrorist and 
foreign fighter travel, which shall include an update 
to the foreign partner engagement plan required 
under section 2(c). Such reports shall include de-
scriptions of relevant United States Government ac-
tions taken to help countries comply with minimum 
standards for serious and sustained efforts to com-
bat terrorist and foreign fighter travel, such as those 
efforts described in subsection (b). 
(2) FORM.—The reports required by paragraph 
(1) may be submitted in unclassified or classified 
form. 
(3) INCLUSION IN COUNTRY REPORTS ON TER-
RORISM.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary of 
State, in coordination with the Secretary of Home-
land Security, should incorporate the reports re-
quired by paragraph (1) into the annual country re-
ports on terrorism submitted pursuant to section 
140 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fis-
cal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f). 
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(b) MINIMUM STANDARDS DESCRIBED.—The min-
imum standards for serious and sustained efforts to com-
bat terrorist and foreign fighter travel applicable to the 
government of a foreign country include the following: 
(1) The government of the country makes 
meaningful efforts to identify and monitor terrorists 
and foreign fighters operating within the territory of 
the country. 
(2) The government of the country regularly ex-
changes substantive counterterrorism information 
with other foreign governments, including the 
United States Government, through bilateral or mul-
tilateral channels and international organizations 
such as INTERPOL, and cooperates with other for-
eign governments in the investigation and prosecu-
tion of terrorists and foreign fighters. 
(3) The government of the country implements 
effective border controls or participates in an exist-
ing border-crossing control regime that has been de-
termined by the United States Government to em-
ploy effective border-crossing oversight. 
(4) The government of the country has controls 
and systems in place to prevent and report upon 
counterfeiting, forgery, and fraudulent use or pos-
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session of false, stolen, or lost identity papers and 
travel documents. 
(5) The government of the country collects air 
passenger data and employs evidence-based traveler 
risk assessment and screening procedures, including 
collection and analysis of travel data. 
(6) The government of the country appro-
priately screens travelers, including vetting of trav-
elers at air, sea, and land ports of entry, against 
counterterrorism and other criminal databases, as 
appropriate. 
(7) The government of the country submits in-
formation to INTERPOL databases and screens 
travelers against INTERPOL databases at ports of 
entry and exit. 
(8) The government of the country has estab-
lished and implemented domestic laws criminalizing 
material support to foreign terrorist organizations 
and has the ability and willingness to prosecute 
cases involving such material support to foreign ter-
rorist organizations. 
(9) The government of the country takes meas-
ures to prevent individuals in its territory from trav-
eling abroad to enlist with or provide material sup-
port to foreign terrorist organizations. 
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(10) The government of the country takes 
measures to ensure a minimal level of corruption 
and likelihood that corruption could impact the ve-
racity of security and intelligence reporting from the 
country, a minimal likelihood that such corruption 
could adversely affect the legitimacy of national 
identity papers of the country, and the country does 
not shelter suspects from investigation and prosecu-
tion. 
(11) The government of a country is not deter-
mined to be a high-risk program country under sec-
tion 217(c)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8. U.S.C. 1187(c)(12)). 
(c) SUSPENSION OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity and the heads of other Federal agencies, as appro-
priate, is authorized to suspend nonhumanitarian, 
nontrade-related foreign assistance to any government of 
a foreign country if the foreign country is identified in 
subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(1) in the most recent 
report submitted to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees under such subsection. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘foreign terrorist organization’’ means an or-
ganization that is designated as a foreign terrorist 
organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189). 
(3) NONHUMANITARIAN, NONTRADE-RELATED 
FOREIGN
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term 
‘‘nonhumani-
tarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 103 of the Traf-
ficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
7102). 
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SEC. 6. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 
requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be car-
ried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 
Æ 
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