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defense 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 
Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, in conjunc-
tion with other United States programs, such as 
Foreign Military Financing program and the For-
eign Military Sales program, will address the capa-
bility gaps of the Iraqi Security Forces and coordi-
nate activities to provide for the training and equip-
ping of the Iraqi Security Forces. 
(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 EXTRE-
MISM. 
(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 environ-
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ment 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 Na-
tional Intelligence, James Clapper, stated: ‘‘Sunni 
violent extremists are gaining momentum and the 
number of Sunni violent extremist groups, members, 
and safe havens is greater than at any other point 
in history.’’. 
(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 Is-
lamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and asso-
ciated movements, the number of terrorist attacks 
they perpetrate, the numbers of causalities they in-
flict, 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 ex-
tremism has reached an unacceptable level and that 
it is growing.’’. 
(4) In testimony before the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate, James Clapper, the 
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Director of National Intelligence, stated the fol-
lowing: 
(A) ‘‘When the final counting is done, 
2014 will have been the most lethal year for 
global terrorism in the 45 years such data has 
been compiled . . . about half of all attacks, as 
well as fatalities, 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.’’. 
(C) ‘‘More than 3,400 Western fighters 
have gone to Syria and Iraq. Hundreds have re-
turned 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 
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conduct lone-wolf attacks against the United 
States and other Western countries. Of the 13 
attacks in the West since last May, 12 were 
conducted by individual extremists.’’. 
(5) AQAP continues to be one of al-Qaeda’s 
most capable affiliates, has the intent and capability 
to attack the United States and its allies, and at-
tempted attacks inside the United States on Decem-
ber 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 ter-
rorism 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 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 expla-
nation 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 
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United States Central Command, General James 
Mattis (retired), stated, ‘‘We have lived too long in 
a strategy-free mode . . . America needs a refreshed 
national strategy . . . And our Nation’s strategy de-
mands a comprehensive approach.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress 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 
world, and the instability in the Middle East in 
countries such as Libya, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria; 
(4) the approach of Building Partnership Ca-
pacity (BPC) and conducting limited counterter-
rorism operations has had some positive effects in 
some locations, but has not prevented the prolifera-
tion and violence of terrorist groups or instability in 
the Middle East; 
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(11) the United States should continue to take 
steps to prevent the spread of malign Iranian influ-
ence in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and the region; 
(12) the United States remains an indispen-
sable actor in the Middle East, and the President 
should ensure that United States Armed Forces re-
main forward postured in the region to deter adver-
saries, fight threats to the United States and its in-
terests, and support United States allies and part-
ners in the region. 
(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 
committees 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 fol-
lowing: 
(A) A detailed description of the objectives 
and end state for the United States in the Mid-
dle East and with respect to Islamic extremism. 
(B) A description of the roles and respon-
sibilities of the Department of State in such 
strategy. 
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(C) A description of the roles and respon-
sibilities of the Department of Defense in such 
strategy. 
(D) A detailed description of actions to 
prevent 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 description of the resources 
required by the Secretary of Defense to counter 
ISIL’s illicit oil revenues 
(G) A detailed definition of those states 
and non-state actors the United States will ad-
dress to counter Islamic extremism. 
(H) A detailed description of actions to es-
tablish a coalition to carry out the strategy. 
(I) An assessment of United States’ efforts 
to disrupt and prevent foreign fighters traveling 
to Syria and Iraq and disrupt and prevent for-
eign fighters in Syria and Iraq traveling to the 
United States. 
(3) 
SPECIFIED
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—In the section, the term ‘‘specified congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
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(A) the congressional defense committees; 
and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs 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 ap-
propriated in this Act for Overseas Contingency Oper-
ations in title XV for fiscal year 2016, there are author-
ized to be appropriated $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). 
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(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.— 
‘‘(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 congressional committees an assess-
ment of the extent to which the Government of 
Iraq is meeting the conditions described in sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(B) CONDITIONS.—The conditions de-
scribed in this subparagraph are that the Gov-
ernment of Iraq— 
‘‘(i) is addressing the grievances of 
ethnic 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; 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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 security 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 National 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, 
transparent, and prompt manner; and 
‘‘(ix) is taking such other actions as 
the Secretaries consider appropriate. 
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‘‘(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 subpara-
graph (C) may be submitted as part of the 
quarterly report 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 
contained in the assessment, the Secretaries shall 
withhold the provision of assistance pursuant to sub-
section (a) directly to the Government of Iraq for 
fiscal year 2016 until such time as the Secretaries 
submit an update of the assessment that indicates 
that the Government of Iraq has substantially 
achieved the conditions contained in the assessment. 
‘‘(3) DIRECT
ASSISTANCE
TO
CERTAIN
COV-
ERED GROUPS.— 
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(4) A description of the authorities and limita-
tions on the number of United States Armed Forces 
deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 
(5) A description of military functions that are 
and are not subject to the authorities and limitations 
described in paragraph (3). 
(6) Any changes to the authorities and limita-
tions described in paragraph (3) and the rationale 
for such changes. 
(7) Any changes to United States policy and 
authorities 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 
Operation 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. 
(a) MODIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1209(f) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
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2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3543) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of De-
fense’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary of Defense’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘for Overseas Contingency 
Operations’’ and inserting ‘‘under the Syria 
Train and Equip Fund’’; and 
(C) by further adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) REPORT
REQUIRED.—At the same time 
the Secretary of Defense submits a request for a re-
programming or transfer of funds under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that contains the 
following: 
‘‘(A) UPDATE.—An update of the com-
prehensive strategy required under section 
1225(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2016. 
‘‘(B) 
CERTIFICATION.—A 
certification 
that— 
‘‘(i) a required number and type of 
United States Armed Forces have been es-
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tablished to meet the objectives of the 
strategy and such Armed Forces, including 
support and enablers, have been or will be 
deployed to meet the objectives of the 
strategy; and 
‘‘(ii) a required amount of support, in-
cluding support provided by United States 
Armed Forces and enablers, has been or 
will be provided by the United States to 
the elements of the Syrian opposition that 
are to be trained and equipped under this 
section to ensure that such elements are 
able to defend themselves from attacks by 
ISIL and Government of Syria forces con-
sistent with the purposes set forth in sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—A detailed descrip-
tion of how the funds subject to the request for 
a reprogramming or transfer of funds under 
paragraph (1) will be used to meet the objec-
tives of the strategy.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection take effect on the date of the en-
actment of this Act and apply with respect to any 
request for a reprogramming or transfer of funds 
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under section 1209(f) of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as amended by 
paragraph (1), that is submitted on or after such 
date of enactment. 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a comprehensive strategy for 
Syria and Iraq. 
(2) MATTERS
TO
BE
INCLUDED.—The com-
prehensive strategy shall contain the following: 
(A) An identification of requirements that 
have been established to ensure that assistance 
provided to appropriately vetted elements of the 
Syrian opposition and other appropriately vet-
ted Syrian groups and individuals achieve the 
purposes set forth in section 1209(a) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 
3541). 
(B) A description of United States policy 
and strategy for addressing the Assad regime in 
Syria and the post-Assad regime in Syria. 
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(C) A detailed explanation of how the mili-
tary campaigns in Syria and Iraq are integrated 
and a description of the goals, objectives, and 
the end states for Syria and Iraq, including a 
description of how the train and equip pro-
grams in Iraq and Syria support the goals, ob-
jectives, and end states in Iraq and Syria. 
(D) A description of the roles and respon-
sibilities of each coalition country under the 
strategy. 
(E) A description of the relevant agency 
roles and responsibilities and interagency co-
ordination under the strategy. 
(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 1209(e)(2) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3543). 
SEC. 1226. ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JORDAN 
FOR BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.— 
(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 
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and enhancing efforts of the armed forces of Jordan 
to sustain 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 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the specified congressional committees a report setting 
forth a full description of the assistance to be provided, 
including the 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— 
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