Afghanistan Transparency Act
Bill: H.R.5159 | Sponsor: Rep. Crow, Jason (D-CO)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Afghanistan Transparency Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report to Congress on U.S. military capability, intelligence, and command matters concerning Afghanistan. The bill specifies the matters that must be included in the report, including a current assessment of over-the-horizon capabilities to address terrorist threats.
The bill also requires DOD to provide biannual briefings through December 31, 2026, on the matters included in the report.

To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct annual reports and 
 briefings regarding oversight of Afghanistan, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Afghanistan Transparency Act''.

SEC. 2. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS REGARDING OVERSIGHT OF AFGHANISTAN.

    (a) Reports.--Not later than December 31, 2021, and annually 
thereafter until December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Afghanistan. 
Such report shall address, with respect to Afghanistan, the following 
matters:
            (1) A current assessment of over-the-horizon capabilities 
        of the United States.
            (2) Concept of force with respect to the over-the-horizon 
        force of the United States.
            (3) The size of such over-the-horizon force.
            (4) The location of such over-the-horizon force, to include 
        the current locations of the forces and any plans to adjust 
        such locations.
            (5) The chain of command for such over-the-horizon force.
            (6) The launch criteria for such over-the-horizon force.
            (7) Any plans to expand or adjust such over-the-horizon 
        force capabilities in the future, to account for evolving 
        terrorist threats in Afghanistan.
            (8) An assessment of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan.
            (9) An assessment of the quantity and types of U.S. 
        military equipment remaining in Afghanistan, including an 
        indication of whether the Secretary plans to leave, recover, or 
        destroy such equipment.
            (10) Contingency plans for the retrieval or hostage rescue 
        of United States citizens located in Afghanistan.
            (11) Contingency plans related to the continued evacuation 
        of Afghans who hold special immigrant visa status under section 
        602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 
        note) or who have filed a petition for such status, following 
        the withdraw of the United States Armed Forces from 
        Afghanistan.
            (12) A concept of logistics support to support the over-
        the-horizon force of the United States, including all basing 
        and transportation plans.
            (13) An assessment of changes in the ability of al-Qaeda 
        and ISIS-K to conduct operations outside of Afghanistan against 
        the United States and U.S. allies.
            (14) An intelligence collection posture of over-the-horizon 
        intelligence assets, including with respect to ground and air 
        assets, and the effect of such assets on current operations.
            (15) An intelligence collection posture on the Taliban 
        defense and security forces.
            (16) An intelligence collection posture on the terrorism 
        capabilities of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS-K.
            (17) The status of any military cooperation between the 
        Taliban and China, Russia, or Iran.
            (18) Any other matters the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    (b) Briefings.--Not later than December 31, 2021, and on bi-annual 
basis thereafter until December 31, 2026, the Secretary of Defense 
shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on 
the matters specified in subsection (a).
    (c) Form.--The reports and briefings under this section may be 
submitted in either unclassified or classified form, as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent 
        Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select 
        Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
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