539 
with United States national security interests, and 
should be supported by Congress; 
(4) the President should withdraw United States 
troops only on a pace that is consistent with the abil-
ity of the Afghan National Security Forces to sustain 
itself and secure Afghanistan and should review 
maintaining the United States advisory mission in 
Afghanistan beyond 2016; 
(5) the United States should provide monetary 
and advisory support for the 352,000 Afghan Na-
tional Security Forces personnel and 30,000 Afghan 
Local Police, including intelligence, surveillance, and 
reconnaissance support, through 2018; 
(6) the Afghan National Security Forces should 
have the independent capability to prevent groups 
such as al-Qaeda, the Haqqani Network, the Quetta 
Shura Taliban, and other terrorist and insurgent 
groups from being able to conduct de-stabilizing at-
tacks and military operations inside Afghanistan or 
against the United States and its allies and holding 
or governing territory; and 
(7) the United States should continue to vigor-
ously conduct counterterrorism operations in Afghani-
stan beyond 2016, including against the Haqqani 
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Network, to preserve the vital national security inter-
ests of the United States. 
SEC. 1214. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE PROD-
UCTS AND SERVICES PRODUCED IN COUN-
TRIES ALONG A MAJOR ROUTE OF SUPPLY TO 
AFGHANISTAN. 
Section 801(f) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 
2399), as most recently amended by section 832 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Pub-
lic Law 113–66; 127 Stat. 814), is further amended by 
striking ‘‘December 31, 2015’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2016’’. 
SEC. 1215. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER DE-
FENSE ARTICLES AND PROVIDE DEFENSE 
SERVICES TO THE MILITARY AND SECURITY 
FORCES OF AFGHANISTAN. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (h) of section 1222 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1992), as amended by sec-
tion 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3556), is 
further amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2015’’ and in-
serting ‘‘December 31, 2016’’. 
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(b) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Subsection (f)(1) of such 
section, as so amended, is further amended by striking 
‘‘March 31, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘March 31, 2017’’. 
(c) EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES.—Subsection (i)(2) of 
such section, as so amended, is further amended by striking 
‘‘and 2015’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘, 2015, 
and 2016’’. 
SEC. 1216. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ASSISTANCE 
FOR AFGHAN TRANSLATORS, INTERPRETERS, 
AND ADMINISTRATIVE AIDS. 
It is the sense of Congress that it is in the interest 
of the United States to continue to assist Afghan partners, 
and their immediate families, who have served as trans-
lators or interpreters and those who have performed sen-
sitive and trusted activities for United States forces. 
Subtitle C—Matters Relating to 
Syria and Iraq 
SEC. 1221. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT OPER-
ATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF 
SECURITY COOPERATION IN IRAQ. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (f)(1) of 
section 1215 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 10 U.S.C. 113 note), 
as most recently amended by section 1237 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public 
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Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3562), is further amended by strik-
ing ‘‘fiscal year 2015’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2016’’. 
(b) AMOUNT AVAILABLE.—Such section, as so amend-
ed, is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 
2015’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2016 may not exceed $143,000,000.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 
2015’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2016’’. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of State shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives a report on the activities of the Office 
of Security Cooperation in Iraq. The report shall include 
the following: 
(1) A description of how the programs of the Of-
fice of Security Cooperation in Iraq, in conjunction 
with other United States programs, such as Foreign 
Military Financing program and the Foreign Mili-
tary Sales program, will address the capability gaps 
of the Iraqi Security Forces and coordinate activities 
to provide for the training and equipping of the Iraqi 
Security Forces. 
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(2) A description of constraints, if any, caused 
by the operational environment in Iraq on the ability 
of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq to carry 
out its mission. 
SEC. 1222. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR THE MIDDLE 
EAST AND TO COUNTER ISLAMIC EXTREMISM. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) In testimony before the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives, General 
Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff stated, ‘‘The global security environment is as 
uncertain as I have seen in my 40 years of service.’’. 
(2) In testimony before the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate, the Director of National Intel-
ligence, James Clapper, stated: ‘‘Sunni violent ex-
tremists are gaining momentum and the number of 
Sunni violent extremist groups, members, and safe 
havens is greater than at any other point in his-
tory.’’. 
(3) In testimony to the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives, Lieutenant 
General Michael Flynn, former Director of the De-
fense Intelligence Agency stated, ‘‘. . .whether it be 
the number of violent Islamist groups, the territory 
which they control, the scale and scope of the Islamic 
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State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated 
movements, the number of terrorist attacks they per-
petrate, the numbers of causalities they inflict, their 
broad expansion and use of the internet, or just their 
sheer barbarism; I can draw no other conclusion than 
to say that the threat of Islamic extremism has 
reached an unacceptable level and that it is grow-
ing.’’. 
(4) In testimony before the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate, James Clapper, the Director of 
National Intelligence, stated the following: 
(A) ‘‘When the final counting is done, 2014 
will have been the most lethal year for global ter-
rorism in the 45 years such data has been com-
piled . . . about half of all attacks, as well as fa-
talities, in 2014 occurred in just three countries: 
Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan . . . the Islamic 
State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) conducted 
more attacks than any other terrorist group in 
the first nine months of 2014.’’. 
(B) ‘‘Since the conflict began, more than 
20,000 Sunni foreign fighters have traveled to 
Syria from more than 90 countries to fight the 
Assad regime . . . of that number, at least 13,600 
have extremist ties.’’. 
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(C) ‘‘More than 3,400 Western fighters have 
gone to Syria and Iraq. Hundreds have returned 
home to Europe.’’. 
(D) ‘‘About 180 Americans or so have been 
involved in various stages of travel to Syria . . 
. and some number have come back.’’. 
(E) ‘‘ISIL, al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda in the 
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and, most recently, 
al-Shabaab are calling on their supporters to 
conduct lone-wolf attacks against the United 
States and other Western countries. Of the 13 at-
tacks in the West since last May, 12 were con-
ducted by individual extremists.’’. 
(5) AQAP continues to be one of al-Qaeda’s most 
capable affiliates, has the intent and capability to at-
tack the United States and its allies, and attempted 
attacks inside the United States on December 25, 
2009, and October 27, 2010. 
(6) Iran has been a Department of State-des-
ignated state sponsor of terrorism since January 19, 
1984, and continues to sponsor and support terrorism 
throughout the Middle East region and around the 
world. 
(7) In testimony before the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate, former Vice Chief of Staff of 
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the Army, General Jack Keane (retired), stated, ‘‘Is 
it possible to . . . claim that the United States policy 
and strategy is working or that al-Qaeda is on the 
run? It is unmistakable that our policies have failed 
. . . And the unequivocal explanation is U.S. policy 
has focused on disengaging from the Middle East.’’. 
(8) In testimony before the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate, former commander of United 
States Central Command, General James Mattis (re-
tired), stated, ‘‘We have lived too long in a strategy- 
free mode . . . America needs a refreshed national 
strategy . . . And our Nation’s strategy demands a 
comprehensive approach.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) Islamic extremism is growing in the Middle 
East and elsewhere; 
(2) Iran continues to be a leading state sponsor 
of terrorism in the Middle East and across the globe 
and continues to actively work against United States 
interests; 
(3) the threat of terrorist attacks in the United 
States and threats against United States interests 
have increased due to the growth of Islamic extre-
mism, the proliferation of terrorist groups across the 
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world, and the instability in the Middle East in 
countries such as Libya, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria; 
(4) the approach of Building Partnership Capac-
ity (BPC) and conducting limited counterterrorism 
operations has had some positive effects in some loca-
tions, but has not prevented the proliferation and vio-
lence of terrorist groups or instability in the Middle 
East; 
(5) the United States should articulate, develop, 
and implement an effective strategy to work with its 
allies and partners to defeat Islamic extremist groups 
that threaten the interests of the Unites States and its 
allies; 
(6) support for United States allies and partners 
in the Middle East is a critical component of the ef-
fort to prevent the spread of Islamic extremism; 
(7) other actors, such as Russia, China, and Iran 
are trying to work against United States interests in 
the Middle East; 
(8) the United States should take a greater lead-
ership role in fighting Islamic extremism and sup-
porting stability in the Middle East to include coordi-
nating actions of United States allies and partners in 
the region; 
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(9) the United States plays a vital leadership 
role in coordinating the activities of the United States 
and its allies and partners and should seek opportu-
nities to expand such cooperation to contribute to 
greater stability in the Middle East; 
(10) the United States should continue to take 
steps to prevent the spread of malign Iranian influ-
ence in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and the region; 
(11) the United States remains an indispensable 
actor in the Middle East, and the President should 
ensure that United States Armed Forces remain for-
ward postured in the region to deter adversaries, fight 
threats to the United States and its interests, and 
support United States allies and partners in the re-
gion. 
(c) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 15, 
2016, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
State shall submit to the specified congressional com-
mittees a comprehensive strategy for the Middle East 
and to counter Islamic extremism. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy 
required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
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(A) A detailed description of the objectives 
and end state for the United States in the Middle 
East and with respect to Islamic extremism. 
(B) A description of the roles and respon-
sibilities of the Department of State in such 
strategy. 
(C) A description of the roles and respon-
sibilities of the Department of Defense in such 
strategy. 
(D) A detailed description of actions to pre-
vent the weakening and failing of states in the 
Middle East. 
(E) A detailed description of actions to 
counter Islamic extremism, including Islamic 
ideology, strategy, and tactics globally. 
(F) A detailed definition of those states and 
non-state actors the United States will address to 
counter Islamic extremism. 
(G) A detailed description of actions to es-
tablish a coalition to carry out the strategy. 
(3) SPECIFIED CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
In the section, the term ‘‘specified congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; 
and 
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(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 1223. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE AS-
SISTANCE TO COUNTER THE ISLAMIC STATE 
OF IRAQ AND THE LEVANT. 
(a) QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT.—Subsection (d) 
of section 1236 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3561) 
is amended by striking ‘‘30 days’’ and inserting ‘‘90 days’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Of the amounts authorized to be appro-
priated in this Act for Overseas Contingency Operations in 
title XV for fiscal year 2016, there are authorized to be ap-
propriated $715,000,000 to carry out such section. 
(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—Subsection (j)(1)(B) of such 
section is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the following:’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘Any provision of law’’ and inserting 
‘‘any provision of law’’; and 
(2) by striking clause (ii). 
(d) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2016.—Such section, as so amended, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ASSISTANCE FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2016.— 
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‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
State shall jointly submit to the appropriate con-
gressional committees an assessment of the extent 
to which the Government of Iraq is meeting the 
conditions described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) 
CONDITIONS.—The 
conditions 
de-
scribed in this subparagraph are that the Gov-
ernment of Iraq— 
‘‘(i) is addressing the grievances of eth-
nic and sectarian minorities; 
‘‘(ii) is increasing political inclusive-
ness; 
‘‘(iii) is conducting efforts sufficient to 
reduce support for the Islamic State of Iraq 
and the Levant and improve stability in 
Iraq; 
‘‘(iv) is legislating the Iraqi Sunni Na-
tional Guard; 
‘‘(v) is ensuring that minorities are 
represented in adequate numbers, trained, 
and equipped in government security orga-
nizations; 
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‘‘(vi) is ending support to Shia mili-
tias and stopping abuses of elements of the 
Iraqi population by such militias; 
‘‘(vii) is ensuring that supplies, equip-
ment, and weaponry supplied by the United 
States are appropriately distributed to secu-
rity forces with a national security mission 
in Iraq, including the Kurdish Peshmerga, 
Sunni tribal security forces with a national 
security mission, and the Iraqi Sunni Na-
tional Guard; 
‘‘(viii) is releasing prisoners from eth-
nic or sectarian minorities who have been 
arrested and held without trial or to charge 
and try such prisoners in a fair, trans-
parent, and prompt manner; and 
‘‘(ix) is taking such other actions as 
the Secretaries consider appropriate. 
‘‘(C) UPDATE.—The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of State may submit an up-
date of the assessment required under subpara-
graph (A) to the extent necessary. 
‘‘(D) SUBMISSION.—The assessment re-
quired under subparagraph (A) and the update 
of the assessment authorized under subparagraph 
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(C) may be submitted as part of the quarterly re-
port required under subsection (d). 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTION ON DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO 
GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ.—If the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of State do not submit the assess-
ment required by paragraph (1) or if the Secretaries 
submit the assessment required by paragraph (1) but 
the assessment indicates that the Government of Iraq 
has not substantially achieved the conditions con-
tained in the assessment, the Secretaries shall with-
hold the provision of assistance pursuant to subsection 
(a) directly to the Government of Iraq for fiscal year 
2016 until such time as the Secretaries submit an up-
date of the assessment that indicates that the Govern-
ment of Iraq has substantially achieved the conditions 
contained in the assessment. 
‘‘(3) DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN COVERED 
GROUPS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated under this section for fiscal 
year 2016, not less than 25 percent of such funds 
shall be obligated and expended for assistance di-
rectly to the groups described in subparagraph 
(E) (of which not less than 12.5 percent of such 
funds shall be obligated and expended for assist-
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ance directly to the group described in clause (i) 
of such subparagraph). 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL DIRECT ASSISTANCE.—If 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
State withhold the provision of assistance pursu-
ant to subsection (a) directly to the Government 
of Iraq for fiscal year 2016 in accordance with 
paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretaries 
shall obligate and expend not less than an addi-
tional 60 percent of all unobligated funds au-
thorized to be appropriated under this section for 
fiscal year 2016 for assistance directly to the 
groups described in subparagraph (E). 
‘‘(C) COST-SHARING
REQUIREMENT
INAP-
PLICABLE.—The cost-sharing requirement of sub-
section (k) shall not apply with respect to funds 
that are obligated or expended for assistance di-
rectly to the groups described in subparagraph 
(E). 
‘‘(D) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the groups 
described in subparagraph (E) shall each be 
deemed to be a country for purposes of meeting 
the eligibility requirements of section 3 of the 
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753) and 
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chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.). 
‘‘(E) COVERED
GROUPS.—The groups de-
scribed in this subparagraph are— 
‘‘(i) the Kurdish Peshmerga; 
‘‘(ii) Sunni tribal security forces with 
a national security mission; and 
‘‘(iii) 
the 
Iraqi 
Sunni 
National 
Guard.’’. 
SEC. 1224. REPORT ON UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DE-
PLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION INHER-
ENT RESOLVE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) it should continue to be a top priority to pro-
vide United States Armed Forces deployed in support 
of Operation Inherent Resolve with the necessary force 
protection and combat search and rescue support; 
(2) United States military personnel who are 
tasked with the mission of providing combat search 
and rescue support, casualty evacuation, and medical 
support for Operation Inherent Resolve should not be 
counted as part of any limitation on the number of 
United States ground forces for Operation Inherent 
Resolve; 
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(3) military assets required to support United 
States Armed Forces deployed in support of Oper-
ation Inherent Resolve should be staged as forward as 
possible and as proximate to such United States 
Armed Forces as practicable given the operating envi-
ronment and also should not be subject to any limita-
tion on the number of United States ground forces for 
Operation Inherent Resolve; and 
(4) the President, the Secretary of Defense, and 
military commanders on the ground in support of 
Operation Inherent Resolve should continuously 
evaluate the force protection and combat search and 
rescue support requirements, and the associated meas-
ures that are being taken to support such require-
ments, in order to ensure that such requirements and 
associated measures are sufficient given the operating 
environment and optimally postured. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days 
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees a report on United States 
Armed Forces deployed in support of Operation Inherent 
Resolve. 
(c) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report shall in-
clude the following: 
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(7) Any changes to United States policy and au-
thorities for United States Armed Forces deployed in 
support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 
(8) Any other matters that the Secretary of De-
fense determines to be necessary. 
(d) SUNSET.—The requirement to submit reports 
under this section shall terminate on the date on which Op-
eration Inherent Resolve terminates or the date that is 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever 
occurs earlier. 
SEC. 1225. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE AS-
SISTANCE TO THE VETTED SYRIAN OPPOSI-
TION. 
Section 1209 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 
3541) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—Of the amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated in this Act for Overseas Contingency Operations 
in title XV for fiscal year 2016, there are authorized to be 
appropriated $531,500,000 to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 1226. ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JORDAN 
FOR BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, 
with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may 
provide assistance on a reimbursement basis to the 
Government of Jordan for purposes of supporting and 
enhancing efforts of the armed forces of Jordan to sus-
tain security along the border of Jordan with Syria 
and Iraq. 
(2) FREQUENCY.—Assistance may be provided 
under this subsection on a quarterly basis. 
(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated in this Act for ‘‘Assistance for the 
Border Security of Jordan’’ in title XV for fiscal year 
2016, there are authorized to be appropriated 
$300,000,000 to carry out this section. 
(2) PROHIBITION
ON
CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGA-
TIONS.—The Secretary of Defense may not enter into 
any contractual obligation to provide assistance 
under the authority in subsection (a). 
(c) NOTICE BEFORE EXERCISE.—Not later than 15 
days before providing assistance under the authority in sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the spec-
ified congressional committees a report setting forth a full 
description of the assistance to be provided, including the 
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amount of assistance to be provided, and the timeline for 
the provision of such assistance. 
(d) SPECIFIED CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In the 
section, the term ‘‘specified congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(1) the congressional defense committees; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives. 
(e) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.—No assistance may 
be provided under the authority in subsection (a) after De-
cember 31, 2016. 
SEC. 1227. REPORT ON EFFORTS OF TURKEY TO FIGHT TER-
RORISM. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress 
a report on the following: 
(1) Turkey’s bilateral and multilateral efforts to 
combat the flow of foreign fighters through its country 
into Syria. 
(2) Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, including 
its harboring of leaders of Hamas. 
(3) The efforts of Turkey to fight terrorism, in-
cluding Turkey’s military and humanitarian role in 
the anti-ISIS coalition. 
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Subtitle D—Matters Relating to 
Iran 
SEC. 1231. EXTENSION OF ANNUAL REPORT ON MILITARY 
POWER OF IRAN. 
(a) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Subsection (b) of 
section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2544), as 
amended by section 1232 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 127 
Stat. 920), is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) An assessment of transfers to Iran of mili-
tary equipment, technology, and training from non- 
Iranian sources.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION.—Subsection (d) of such section, as 
amended by section 1277 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 
Stat. 3592), is further amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2016’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2025’’. 
SEC. 1232. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF 
IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND ITS MALIGN 
MILITARY ACTIVITIES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The understanding announced on April 2, 
2015, between the countries of the P5+1 (the United 
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States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Rus-
sia, and China) and Iran on a Comprehensive Joint 
Plan of Action (CJPOA) provides sanctions relief in 
exchange for constraints on Iran’s nuclear program 
for a limited period of time. 
(2) Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles in 
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolu-
tions 1747 (2007) and 1929 (2010), has developed me-
dium-range ballistic missiles to target Israel and 
other United States allies, is working towards an 
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability 
and the CJPOA places no limitations on Iran’s bal-
listic and cruise missile development efforts. 
(3) The Secretary of State has designated Iran 
as a state-sponsor of terrorism since 1984 and for the 
past decade has characterized Iran as the ‘‘most ac-
tive state sponsor of terrorism’’ in the world. 
(4) Iran continues to support Hezbollah in Leb-
anon, the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Shia mi-
litias in Iraq, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthi rebels in 
Yemen, and other terrorist organizations and extrem-
ists globally. 
(5) Iran continues to conduct malign military 
activities across the Middle East and around the 
globe, which has and will continue to destabilize the 
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region. As the Commander of United States Central 
Command testified to the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives on March 3, 
2015, ‘‘the leaders in the region. . . are also equally 
concerned about Iran’s ability to mine the Straits, 
Iran’s cyber capabilities, Iran’s. . . ballistic missile 
capability, as well as the activity of their Quds 
forces... And so whether we get a deal or don’t get a 
deal, I think they will still share those concerns.’’. 
(6) Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the 
region pose a threat to United States interests, the in-
terests of United States allies in the region, and inter-
national security. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) Iran’s illicit pursuit, development, or acqui-
sition of a nuclear weapons capability and its malign 
military activities overall constitute a grave threat to 
regional stability and the national security interests 
of the United States and its allies and partners; 
(2) Iran continues to expand its malign activi-
ties in the Middle East and globally, which may well 
increase under a CJPOA; 
(3) sanctions relief under the CJPOA will pro-
vide Iran the ability to increase funding for its bal-
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listic missile development programs, acquisition of de-
stabilizing types and amounts of conventional weap-
ons, support for terrorism, and other malign activi-
ties throughout the Middle East and globally; 
(4) United States bilateral and multilateral 
sanctions against Iran, once relieved, will be ex-
tremely difficult to reconstitute in response to Iranian 
violations of its international obligations; 
(5) Iran would be an internationally-approved 
nuclear-threshold state under the framework of the 
CJPOA, which will likely lead to the proliferation of 
nuclear weapons across the Middle East; 
(6) Congress should review and assess all ele-
ments of any agreement entered into between the 
countries of the P5+1 and Iran and it should ap-
prove or disapprove of any sanctions relief that re-
sults from such an agreement; 
(7) the United States must continue to support 
the defense of allies and partners in the region, in-
cluding Israel, strengthening ballistic missile defense 
capabilities, and increasing security assistance; 
(8) Congress supports efforts to reach a peaceful, 
diplomatic solution to permanently and verifiably 
end Iran’s pursuit, development, and acquisition of a 
nuclear weapons capability, and it reaffirms that it 
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is United States policy that Iran will not be allowed 
to develop a nuclear weapons capability and that all 
instruments of United States power must be consid-
ered to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weap-
on; and 
(9) Congress reaffirms the rights of United States 
allies to exercise their legitimate right to self-defense 
against the Government of Iran. 
SEC. 1233. REPORT ON MILITARY POSTURE REQUIRED IN 
THE MIDDLE EAST TO DETER IRAN FROM DE-
VELOPING A NUCLEAR WEAPON. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to Congress a report regarding the military 
posture required in the Middle East to deter Iran from de-
veloping a nuclear weapon. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report required 
by subsection (a) shall include a discussion of the military 
forces, bases and capabilities required to— 
(1) maintain a military option of preventing 
Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon; 
(2) counter Iran’s military activities; and 
(3) protect the United States military and other 
interests in the region. 
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Subtitle E—Matters Relating to the 
Russian Federation 
SEC. 1241. NOTIFICATIONS AND UPDATES RELATING TO 
TESTING, PRODUCTION, DEPLOYMENT, AND 
SALE OR TRANSFER TO OTHER STATES OR 
NON-STATE ACTORS OF THE CLUB-K CRUISE 
MISSILE SYSTEM BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERA-
TION. 
(a) NOTIFICATIONS.— 
(1) REGARDING TESTING, PRODUCTION, DEPLOY-
MENT, AND SALE OR TRANSFER.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress quarterly notifications on the testing, pro-
duction, deployment, and sale or transfer to other 
states or non-state actors of the Club-K cruise missile 
system by the Russian Federation. 
(2) UPON
DEPLOYMENT
OR
SALE
OR
TRANS-
FER.—Not later than seven days after the Secretary 
determines that there is reasonable grounds to believe 
that the Russian Federation has deployed or sold or 
transferred to other states or non-state actors the 
Club-K cruise missile system, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a noti-
fication of such determination. 
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(3) FORM.—A notification required under para-
graph (1) or (2) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. 
(b) QUARTERLY UPDATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress not less than 
quarterly updates on the coordination of allied re-
sponses to the deployment or sale or transfer to other 
states or non-state actors of the Club-K cruise missile 
system by the Russian Federation. 
(2) FORM.—The update required under para-
graph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 
may contain a classified annex if necessary. 
(c) STRATEGY.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff shall develop a strategy to detect, de-
fend against, and defeat the Club-K cruise missile sys-
tem, including opportunities for allied contributions 
to such efforts based on consultations with such allies. 
(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than September 30, 
2016, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the 
strategy developed under paragraph (1). 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro-
priate committees of Congress’’ means— 
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(1) the congressional defense committees; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives. 
(e) SUNSET.—The provisions of this section shall not 
be in effect on and after the date that is 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1242. NOTIFICATIONS OF DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS BY RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO TER-
RITORY OF UKRAINIAN REPUBLIC. 
(a) NOTIFICATIONS.— 
(1) REGARDING
POSSIBLE
DEPLOYMENT.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees quarterly notifications on 
the status of the Russian Federation conducting exer-
cises with, planning or preparing to deploy, or de-
ploying covered weapons systems onto the territory of 
the Ukranian Republic. 
(2) UPON DEPLOYMENT.—Not later than seven 
days after the Secretary determines that there is rea-
sonable grounds to believe that the Russian Federa-
tion has deployed covered weapons systems onto the 
territory of the Ukranian Republic, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees a notification of such determination. 
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(3) FORM.—A notification required under para-
graph (1) or (2) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. 
(b) STRATEGY.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff shall develop a strategy to respond to 
the military threat posed by the Russian Federation 
deploying covered weapons systems onto the territory 
of the Ukranian Republic, including opportunities for 
allied cooperation in developing such responses based 
on consultation with such allies. 
(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than June 30, 2016, 
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees the following: 
(A) The strategy developed under paragraph 
(1). 
(B) The views of the Secretary of Defense 
with respect to the strategy developed under 
paragraph (1), if any. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional commit-
tees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; 
and 
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(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) COVERED
WEAPONS
SYSTEMS.—The term 
‘‘covered weapons systems’’ means weapons systems 
that can perform both conventional and nuclear mis-
sions, nuclear weapon delivery systems, and nuclear 
warheads. 
(d) SUNSET.—The provisions of this section shall not 
be in effect on and after the date that is 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1243. NON-COMPLIANCE BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERA-
TION WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE INF 
TREATY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Department of State, on July 31, 2014, 
released the Annual Report on the ‘‘Adherence to and 
Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, 
and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments’’ 
which included the finding that, ‘‘The United States 
has determined that the Russian Federation is in vio-
lation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to 
possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched 
cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 500 
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km to 5,500 km, or to possess or produce launchers 
of such missiles.’’. 
(2) According to the testimony of senior officials 
of the Department of State, the Russian Federation is 
not complying with numerous treaties and agree-
ments, including the INF Treaty, the Open Skies 
Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention, the 
Chemical Weapons Convention, the Vienna Document, 
the Budapest Memorandum, the Istanbul Commit-
ments, the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives, the Mis-
sile Technology Control Regime, and the Russian Fed-
eration has recently withdrawn from the Treaty on 
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). 
(3) The Commander of U.S. European Com-
mand, and Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, 
General Philip Breedlove, USAF, stated that ‘‘[a] 
weapon capability that violates the I.N.F., that is in-
troduced into the greater European land mass is ab-
solutely a tool that will have to be dealt with . . . I 
would not judge how the alliance will choose to react, 
but I would say they will have to consider what to 
do about it, [i]t can’t go unanswered.’’. 
(4) General Breedlove has further stated that ‘‘ 
we need to first and foremost signal that we cannot 
accept this change and that, if this change is contin-
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ued, that we will have to change the cost calculus for 
Russia in order to help them to find their way to a 
less bellicose position.’’. 
(5) General Martin Dempsey, Chairman, Joint 
Chiefs of Staff testified that, ‘‘I think we have to make 
it very clear that things like their compliance with 
the INF treaty that there will be political, diplomatic 
and potentially military costs in terms of the way we 
posture ourselves and the way we plan and work with 
our allies to address those provocations. . .It concerns 
me greatly. I certainly would counsel them not to roll 
back the clock.’’. 
(6) The Secretary of Defense, Ashton B. Carter, 
testified that, ‘‘On the military side, we have begun 
to consider . . . what our options are, because the INF 
treaty is a treaty, meaning that it’s a two-way street. 
We accepted constraints in return for constraints of 
the then Soviet Union. It is a two-way street, and we 
need to remind them that it’s a two-way street, mean-
ing that we, without an INF treaty, can take action 
also that we both decided years ago was best for nei-
ther of us to take.’’. 
(7) The Department of Defense has been consid-
ering a range of military options to respond to the 
Russian Federation’s violation of the INF Treaty and 
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