Title: Combatting Terrorism in Tunisia Emergency Support Act of 2017
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Combatting Terrorism in Tunisia Emergency Support Act of 2017
This bill declares that it is the policy of the United States to assist the government of Tunisia in eliminating terrorist organizations that operate in Tunisia and neighboring Libya and preventing fighters in Syria from returning to Tunisia.
This bill expresses the sense of the Congress that:
The bill authorizes the Department of State to:
The President is authorized to provide defense articles, services, and training to Tunisia to counter terrorist threats.
The State Department shall submit a strategic plan within 90 days to carry out this bill.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 157 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 157

 To authorize assistance for the Government of Tunisia, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2017

Mr. Hastings (for himself and Mr. Schweikert) introduced the following 
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize assistance for the Government of Tunisia, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Combatting 
Terrorism in Tunisia Emergency Support Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings and declarations.
Sec. 4. Statement of policy regarding Tunisia.
Sec. 5. Assistance to strengthen and reform the security sector of 
                            Tunisia.
Sec. 6. Assistance to support efforts of the Government of Tunisia to 
                            combat terrorism.
Sec. 7. Assistance to support the military readiness of the Government 
                            of Tunisia.
Sec. 8. Assistance to support democracy and civil society in Tunisia.
Sec. 9. Assistance to support increased border security for Tunisia.
Sec. 10. Economic reforms and assistance.
Sec. 11. Memorandum of understanding.
Sec. 12. Strategic plan.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Defense article; defense service; training.--The terms 
        ``defense article'', ``defense service'', and ``training'' have 
        the meanings given those terms in section 47 of the Arms Export 
        Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794 note).

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

    Congress finds and declares the following:
            (1) Tunisia has been a critical ally of the United States 
        for more than 200 years, dating back to 1797 when the Treaty of 
        Peace and Friendship was signed, ensuring the safety and 
        availability of open sea lanes in the Mediterranean Sea.
            (2) On December 10, 2010, the self-immolation of Tunisian 
        fruit vendor, Mohammed Bouazizi, inspired popular revolutions 
        across the region leading to political transitions in four 
        countries, often referred to as the ``Arab Spring'', and 
        initiating Tunisia's transition to democracy.
            (3) In 2014, Tunisia became the first country with a 
        majority Muslim population in the Middle East or North Africa 
        to experience both Presidential and parliamentary political 
        transitions through free and fair democratic elections.
            (4) Since 2011, more than 3,000 Tunisian citizens have gone 
        to fight in Syria making Tunisia one of the largest 
        contributors to foreign fighters in Syria.
            (5) Tunisia shares a 285-mile border with neighboring Libya 
        and is currently hosting more than 1,000,000 Libyan refugees 
        fleeing the ongoing Libyan civil war and the Islamic State 
        (ISIS).
            (6) The terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia (AAS) was founded 
        in April 2011 in Tunisia and is ideologically aligned with Al-
        Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) and ISIS. AAS is responsible for 
        the assassinations of Tunisian MP Mohamed Brahimi on July 25, 
        2013, and secular-democratic political activist Chokri Belaid 
        on February 6, 2013.
            (7) On September 14, 2012, Ansar al-Sharia terrorists 
        attacked the United States Embassy compound, annex, and school 
        in Tunis, Tunisia, causing millions of dollars in damages.
            (8) On January 10, 2014, Ansar al-Sharia was designated as 
        a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
            (9) On March 18, 2015, 18 people were killed in a terrorist 
        attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia.
            (10) On June 27, 2015, at least 39 people were killed and 
        36 injured in a terrorist attack on the beach of a hotel resort 
        in Sousse, Tunisia. The gunmen had received training and 
        support from ISIS in Libya.
            (11) On May 21, 2015, Tunisia was designated as a major 
        non-NATO ally of the United States.
            (12) On September 29, 2015, Tunisia joined the United 
        States-led coalition to counter ISIS.
            (13) On November 24, 2015, ISIS militants conducted a bus 
        bombing, targeting the Tunisian Presidential guard and killing 
        12 people in Tunis, Tunisia.
            (14) On March 7, 2016, ISIS militants crossed the Tunisian-
        Libyan border assaulting the city of Ben Guerdane, Tunisia, 
        killing 55 people during the attack.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING TUNISIA.

    (a) In General.--It is the policy of the United States to further 
assist the democratically elected Government of Tunisia in eliminating 
terrorist organizations that operate in Tunisia and neighboring Libya 
and preventing fighters in Syria from returning to Tunisia.
    (b) Conduct of Policy.--The policy described in subsection (a) 
shall be carried into effect, through a comprehensive effort, in 
coordination with allies and partners of the United States, where 
appropriate, that will strengthen the capabilities and coordination of 
the internal security agencies, combat terrorism, strengthen military 
readiness, assist in the improvement of the economic performance of 
Tunisia, assist in the development of civil society and provide 
assistance for border security, and other technical assistance.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN AND REFORM THE SECURITY SECTOR OF 
              TUNISIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) security is a fundamental component of political 
        stability and economic development;
            (2) the security sector of Tunisia suffers from decades of 
        corruption and public mistrust under the Ben Ali period;
            (3) significant reform is necessary to enable the Tunisian 
        security services to combat terrorism and reinforce the rule of 
        law;
            (4) a corrupt security sector impedes development, deters 
        investment, perpetuates poverty, and undermines the rule of 
        law; and
            (5) in making security sector reforms it is imperative that 
        the Government of Tunisia also protect the fundamental human 
        rights enshrined in Tunisia's constitution.
    (b) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary of State, acting directly 
or through nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, 
or related organizations, is authorized to provide assistance to 
strengthen and reform the security sector of Tunisia, including to--
            (1) facilitate better coordination among Tunisian security 
        agencies, including the General Directive for Public Safety, 
        the Directorate General of the Special Services, and the 
        Directorate General of Technical Services;
            (2) increase accountability within the Ministry of the 
        Interior;
            (3) improve training for members of the judiciary, 
        especially judges and prosecutors, instituting practices that 
        conform to international standards for the rule of law;
            (4) increase police training programs that emphasize 
        locally inspired and informed curricula and methods; and
            (5) strengthen civilian oversight of the security sector.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement 
funding for fiscal year 2016, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of State $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TUNISIA TO 
              COMBAT TERRORISM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, acting directly or through 
nongovernmental, international organizations, or related organizations 
is authorized to support efforts of the Government of Tunisia to combat 
terrorism, including by--
            (1) providing technical training and equipment to assist 
        Tunisia to protect facilities, individuals, and infrastructure;
            (2) expanding training in the areas of crisis response and 
        tactical and command training;
            (3) improving the capacity of Tunisian law enforcement to 
        investigate terrorist incidents; and
            (4) increasing training to prevent and respond to 
        improvised explosive devices.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated for Anti-terrorism Assistance funding for fiscal year 
2016, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$6,100,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY READINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT 
              OF TUNISIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
expeditious consideration of sale, lease or loan, grant, or transfers 
of defense articles, defense services, and major defense equipment 
under the Arms Export Control Act, Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or 
any other provision of law is consistent with United States policy to 
assist the Government of Tunisia in eliminating terrorist organizations 
that pose a threat to the national security and stability of Tunisia.
    (b) Assistance Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The President is authorized to provide 
        defense articles, defense services, and training to the 
        Government of Tunisia for the purpose of countering terrorist 
        threats pursuant to the provisions of the Arms Export Control 
        Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), and other relevant provisions of 
        law.
            (2) Types of assistance.--Assistance authorized under 
        paragraph (1) may include the provision of armored personnel 
        carriers, helicopters, reconnaissance surveillance drones, and 
        secure command and communications equipment.
    (c) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report 
detailing the anticipated defense articles, defense services, and 
training to be provided pursuant to this section and a timeline for the 
provision of such defense articles, defense services, and training, 
to--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        House of Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Foreign military financing.--Of the amounts authorized 
        to be appropriated for Foreign Military Financing funding for 
        fiscal year 2017, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary of State $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry 
        out this section.
            (2) International military education and training.--Of the 
        amounts authorized to be appropriated for International 
        Military Education and Training funding for fiscal year 2017, 
        there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
        State $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this 
        section.

SEC. 8. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN TUNISIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Tunisia represents one of the most promising 
        opportunities for a pluralistic and participatory democracy in 
        the Middle East and North Africa; and
            (2) the success of Tunisia's peaceful pursuit of democracy 
        is an inspiration to, and model for, other countries in the 
        region, and should be fully supported by the United States as 
        it works to aid Tunisia to consolidate and build upon its 
        democratic gains.
    (b) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary of State, acting directly 
or through nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, 
or related organizations, is authorized to provide assistance to 
support democracy and civil society in Tunisia, by--
            (1) continuing the support of political party development 
        and improved communications with constituents;
            (2) increasing the capacity of the Tunisian Parliament and 
        ministries to perform their mandated functions including by 
        providing the infrastructure necessary to modernize official 
        communications and records keeping;
            (3) improving the public affairs functions of the 
        Government of Tunisia to communicate more effectively with 
        citizens across the country;
            (4) increasing the professional capacity of support staff 
        in the Tunisian Parliament;
            (5) encouraging the development of job creation programs 
        especially in the interior regions of Tunisia;
            (6) supporting Tunisian civil society organizations focused 
        on government transparency and accountability;
            (7) supporting Tunisian agencies and organizations engaged 
        in preparations for upcoming municipal elections;
            (8) supporting Tunisian agencies and organizations engaged 
        in countering radicalization programs; and
            (9) encouraging the development of employment assistance 
        programs targeted at youth and first time job seekers.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated for Economic Support Fund funding for fiscal year 2017, 
there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$74,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out this section.

SEC. 9. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT INCREASED BORDER SECURITY FOR TUNISIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) terrorist organizations such as Ansar al-Sharia and the 
        Islamic State have exploited the ongoing unrest in Libya and 
        created terrorist sanctuaries in ungoverned regions of Libya; 
        and
            (2) such terrorist organizations have carried out cross-
        border attacks inside Tunisia and therefore represent a 
        significant threat to the stability of the nascent democratic 
        government of Tunisia.
    (b) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary of State is authorized to 
provide assistance to support increased border security for Tunisia by 
enhancing Tunisia's capabilities to detect, identify, and interdict 
illicit trafficking of weapons through intensive training and equipment 
donation.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated for Export Control and Related Border Security 
Assistance funding for fiscal year 2017, there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of State $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2017 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 10. ECONOMIC REFORMS AND ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--
            (1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
                    (A) On December 13, 2016, the Millennium Challenge 
                Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors selected Tunisia 
                as a recipient of an MCC compact--a 5-year grant that 
                will encourage economic growth and reduce poverty.
                    (B) The MCC noted that their selection of Tunisia 
                was based, in part, on the fact that the country has 
                consolidated its democratic gains, has created a 
                significant policy reform agenda, and has continued to 
                work to combat poverty and inequality.
            (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) supporting Tunisia's orderly reform of its 
                economic and social sectors should be a priority of the 
                United States;
                    (B) the Government of Tunisia has made notable 
                progress liberalizing its economy after decades of 
                corruption and social exclusion under the Ben Ali 
                period but more reforms are needed to solidify 
                Tunisia's economic stability; and
                    (C) such reforms should aim to provide an 
                environment that is conducive to investment while 
                maintaining important and meaningful labor protections.
    (b) Economic Reforms and Assistance.--
            (1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
                    (A) The World Bank has identified areas of the 
                Tunisian economy in need of immediate structural 
                reforms.
                    (B) Implementing these reforms may lead to short-
                term economic hardships for many Tunisian citizens.
            (2) Reprogramming authority.--In order to ameliorate these 
        short-term hardships and incentivize the Government of Tunisia 
        to continue implementing economic reforms, the Secretary of 
        State is authorized to reprogram funds from prior appropriated 
        but unobligated balances to carry out the activities in support 
        of Tunisia's economic reforms.

SEC. 11. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

    The Secretary of State is authorized, subject to the availability 
of appropriations, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 
Government of Tunisia to increase military cooperation, including joint 
military exercises, personnel exchanges, and enhanced strategic 
dialogue between the United States and Tunisia.

SEC. 12. STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a strategic plan to carry out this 
Act.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following elements:
            (1) Clearly defined goals and objectives, including 
        definitions of success, benchmarks, and a process for 
        incorporating lessons learned.
            (2) Robust monitoring and evaluation procedures for all 
        programs carried out under this Act.
            (3) Intended implementing partners, including associated 
        roles, and procedures to increase coordination and 
        collaboration and eliminate overlap.
                                 <all>