I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4691 
To require the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism to develop 
and maintain written counterterrorism strategies for countries and re-
gions where there is a significant terrorist threat or ongoing United 
States counterterrorism engagement. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 23, 2025 
Mr. LAWLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To require the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterter-
rorism to develop and maintain written counterterrorism 
strategies for countries and regions where there is a 
significant terrorist threat or ongoing United States 
counterterrorism engagement. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Responsive Counterter-
rorism Policy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 
direct the Department of State’s Bureau of Counter-
terrorism to develop and maintain a written counter-
terrorism (CT) strategy for each country or region 
where there is a significant terrorist threat or ongo-
ing United States CT engagement in order to en-
hance the effectiveness, coordination, and account-
ability of United States CT policy. 
(2) PURPOSE.—Each strategy required by this 
subsection is intended to be distinct from the De-
partment’s annual Country Reports on Terrorism 
and is to serve as a forward-looking, operational 
planning document that is specific to the Bureau of 
Counterterrorism. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each strategy required by 
subsection (a) shall— 
(A) identify the specific threats posed, ar-
ticulate clear objectives, outline coordinated ac-
tions with interagency partners and inter-
national partners, and describe metrics for as-
sessing progress and success; 
(B) specifically describe how coordination 
with such partners will be carried out, including 
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clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and mech-
anisms for collaboration; 
(C) take into account local political, eco-
nomic, and social dynamics and should align 
with broader United States foreign policy goals; 
and 
(D) ensure that the Bureau of Counterter-
rorism shall serve as the lead entity with re-
spect to such strategies. 
(2) INTERAGENCY AND INTERNATIONAL PART-
NERS.—For the purposes of paragraph (1)(A)— 
(A) interagency partners shall include all 
relevant bureaus, offices, and components of 
United States Government departments and 
agencies that contribute to CT efforts in any 
capacity; and 
(B) international partners shall include all 
foreign government entities and local actors 
that are actively engaged in, and demonstrably 
committed to, CT efforts within their respective 
countries or regions. 
(3) REFERENCES.—Any references to other 
United States Government department or agency or 
international partner is intended to articulate the 
Bureau of Counterterrorism’s understanding of on-
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going efforts, coordination mechanisms, and areas of 
engagement, and not to imply shared authorship or 
responsibility for any strategic documents. 
(4) UPDATES.—Each strategy required by sub-
section (a) shall be reviewed and updated on an an-
nual basis, or more frequently if significant changes 
in threat dynamics or policy priorities occur. Each 
such update should incorporate lessons learned and 
reflect changes in operational context or strategic 
priorities. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Bu-
reau of Counterterrorism shall brief Congress on the 
countries and regions for which it plans to develop 
the strategies required by subsection (a), including 
the criteria used to prioritize such strategies. 
(2) ANNUAL
BRIEFINGS.—The Bureau of 
Counterterrorism shall brief Congress annually on 
the development, implementation, and updates to the 
strategies required by subsection (a), including how 
the strategies inform programmatic funding and dip-
lomatic engagement. 
Æ 
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