I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9696 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement 
the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with 
United States military operations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 27, 2022 
Mr. KHANNA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain re-
sources to implement the Department of Defense policy 
on civilian harm in connection with United States mili-
tary operations, 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. RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE POLICY ON CIVILIAN HARM IN CON-
NECTION WITH UNITED STATES MILITARY 
OPERATIONS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to fa-
cilitate fulfillment of the requirements in section 936 of 
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the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 134 
note). 
(b) PERSONNEL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall do the following: 
(1) Assign within each of the United States 
Central Command, the United States Africa Com-
mand, the United States Special Operations Com-
mand, the United States European Command, the 
United States Southern Command, the United 
States Indo-Pacific Command, and the United 
States Northern Command not fewer than two per-
sonnel who shall have primary responsibility for the 
following in connection with military operations un-
dertaken by such command: 
(A) Providing guidance and oversight re-
lating to prevention of and response to harm to 
civilians, promotion of observance of human 
rights, and the protection of civilians and civil-
ian infrastructure, including ensuring imple-
mentation of the policy of the Department of 
Defense on harm to civilians resulting from 
United States military operations. 
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(B) Overseeing civilian harm prevention, 
mitigation, and response functions on behalf of 
the commander of such command. 
(C) Receiving reports of harm to civilians 
and conducting assessments and investigations 
relating to such harm. 
(D) Analyzing incidents and trends with 
respect to harm to civilians, identifying lessons 
learned, and ensuring that lessons learned are 
incorporated into updated command guidance 
and practices. 
(E) Offering condolences and amends for 
harm to civilians, including ex gratia payments. 
(F) Ensuring the integration of activities 
relating to civilian harm prevention, mitigation, 
and response, the protection of civilians, and 
promotion of observance of human rights in se-
curity cooperation activities. 
(G) Working with the Center for Excel-
lence established under section 184 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(H) Consulting with non-governmental or-
ganizations on civilian harm and human rights 
matters. 
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(2) Assign within the Office of the Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Policy not fewer than two per-
sonnel who shall have primary responsibility for im-
plementing and overseeing implementation by the 
components of the Department of Defense of De-
partment policy on harm to civilians resulting from 
United States military operations. 
(3) Assign within the Joint Staff not fewer 
than two personnel who shall have primary responsi-
bility for the following: 
(A) Overseeing implementation by the com-
ponents of the Department of Defense of De-
partment policy on harm to civilians resulting 
from United States military operations. 
(B) Developing and sharing in the imple-
mentation of such policy. 
(C) Communicating operational guidance 
on such policy. 
(c) TRAINING, SOFTWARE, AND OTHER REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In each of fiscal years 2023 
through 2025, the Secretary of Defense and each 
Secretary of a military department may obligate and 
expend, from amounts specified in paragraph (2), 
not more than $5,000,000 for the following: 
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