I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1361
To improve the ability of the Federal Government to coordinate and conduct 
stabilization and reconstruction operations in countries or regions that 
are in, are in transition from, or are likely to enter into, conflict or 
civil strife, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 17, 2005
Mr. DREIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
A BILL 
To improve the ability of the Federal Government to coordi-
nate and conduct stabilization and reconstruction oper-
ations in countries or regions that are in, are in transi-
tion from, or are likely to enter into, conflict or civil 
strife, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘International Security Enhancement Act of 2005’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE REFORM 
Sec. 101. Authority to provide assistance for stabilization and reconstruction 
operations. 
Sec. 102. Office of the Coordinator for Stabilization and Reconstruction. 
Sec. 103. Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations Support Fund. 
Sec. 104. Authorizations of appropriations. 
TITLE II—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 201. Rules of construction. 
Sec. 202. Sense of Congress.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States is engaged in a Global 
War on Terrorism, in which threats to the security 
of the United States often originate in weak or fail-
ing countries. 
(2) The National Security Strategy announced 
by President George W. Bush in September 2002 
states that ‘‘the United States and countries cooper-
ating with us must not allow the terrorists to de-
velop new home bases’’. 
(3) It is in the interests of the United States 
to develop a comprehensive framework to monitor 
weak or failing countries and prepare to deal effec-
tively with these countries before they become immi-
nent threats to the people of the United States. 
(4) The Department of State is uniquely 
equipped to communicate with other United States 
agencies and international organizations to plan for
stabilization and reconstruction operations in weak 
or failing countries, both as an alternative to mili-
tary intervention and as a successor to military con-
flict, if such conflict becomes unavoidable. 
(5) Over the past 15 years the United States 
has been involved in major stabilization and recon-
struction operations in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, and 
Iraq, and has contributed significant resources to 
operations in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, 
Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Colombia, and East Timor. 
The knowledge and experience of United States 
agencies, in cooperation with international organiza-
tions, was critical to successfully providing security 
and humanitarian relief and establishing the rule of 
law in these countries. 
(6) The ability of the Department of Defense, 
the Department of State, the National Security 
Council, and various international organizations to 
coordinate and cooperate effectively to deal with 
emerging threats is essential for enhancing the abil-
ity of the United States and its allies to win the 
Global War on Terrorism. 
(7) A 2003 report from the RAND Corporation 
states ‘‘stabilization and reconstruction with the ob-
jective of promoting a transition to democracy ap-
pear to be the inescapable responsibility of the 
world’s only superpower. Therefore . . . the United 
States ought to make the smaller long-term invest-
ments in its own institutional capacity to conduct 
such operations’’. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF 
STATE REFORM 
SEC. 101. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR STA-
BILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OPER-
ATIONS. 
Chapter 1 of part III of the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.) is amended by—
(1) redesignating the second section 620G (22 
U.S.C. 2378a) as section 620J; and 
(2) by inserting after section 620J, as so redes-
ignated, the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 620K. ASSISTANCE FOR STABILIZATION AND RECON-
STRUCTION OPERATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If the President determines that 
it is in the national security interests of the United States 
for United States civilian agencies or non-Federal employ-
ees to engage in stabilization and reconstruction oper-
ations in a country or region that is in, or is in transition 
from, or is likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife, the
President may, in accordance with the provisions set forth 
in section 614(a)(3), notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, and on such terms and conditions as the President 
may determine, provide assistance under section 452 to 
facilitate such operations and authorize the export of 
goods and services needed in connection therewith. 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL AUTHORITIES.—To provide the assist-
ance authorized under subsection (a), the President may 
exercise the authorities contained in sections 552(c)(2), 
610, and 614 without regard to the percentage and aggre-
gate dollar limitations contained in such sections.’’. 
SEC. 102. OFFICE OF THE COORDINATOR FOR STABILIZA-
TION AND RECONSTRUCTION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The State De-
partment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a 
et seq.) is amended by adding after section 60 (22 U.S.C. 
2732) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 61. OFFICE OF THE COORDINATOR FOR STABILIZA-
TION AND RECONSTRUCTION. 
‘‘(a) OFFICE OF THE COORDINATOR FOR STABILIZA-
TION AND RECONSTRUCTION.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
OFFICE.—The Sec-
retary shall establish within the Department of State 
an Office of the Coordinator for Stabilization and 
Reconstruction.