Title: AFRICA Act of 2020
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Africa Foreign Relations, International Cooperation, and Assistance Act of 2020 or the AFRICA Act of 2020
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report on the activities and resources required to enhance security and economic partnerships between the United States and African countries. Additionally, DOD shall seek to build partner capacity and interoperability in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility through increased partnerships with countries on the African continent, military-to-military engagements, and traditional activities of the combatant commands.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8186 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8186

To require a report on the activities and resources required to enhance 
   security and economic partnerships between the United States and 
               African countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2020

Mr. Brown of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require a report on the activities and resources required to enhance 
   security and economic partnerships between the United States and 
               African countries, 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 ``Africa Foreign Relations, 
International Cooperation, and Assistance Act of 2020'' or the ``AFRICA 
Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
              AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than June 1, 2021, the Secretary of 
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the activities and 
resources required to enhance security and economic partnerships 
between the United States and African countries.
    (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) An assessment of the infrastructure accessible to the 
        Department of Defense on the continent of Africa.
            (2) An identification of the ability of the Department to 
        conduct freedom of movement on the continent, including 
        identifying the activities of partners, allies, and other 
        Federal departments and agencies that are facilitated by the 
        Department's ability to conduct freedom of movement.
            (3) Recommendations to meet the requirements identified in 
        paragraph (2), including--
                    (A) dual-use infrastructure projects;
                    (B) military construction;
                    (C) the acquisition of additional mobility 
                capability by African countries or the United States 
                Armed Forces, including strategic air lift, tactical 
                air lift, or sealift capability; or
                    (D) any other option as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            (4) Recommendations to expand and strengthen partner and 
        ally capability, including traditional activities of the 
        combatant commands, train and equip opportunities, partnerships 
        with the National Guard and the United States Coast Guard, and 
        multilateral contributions.
            (5) Recommendations for enhancing joint exercises and 
        training.
            (6) An analysis of the security, economic, and stability 
        benefits of the recommendations identified under paragraphs (3) 
        through (5).
            (7)(A) A plan to fully resource United States force 
        posture, capabilities, and stability operations, including--
                            (i) a detailed assessment of the resources 
                        required to address the elements described in 
                        paragraphs (2) through (5), including specific 
                        cost estimates for recommended investments or 
                        projects; and
                            (ii) a detailed timeline to achieve the 
                        recommendations described in paragraphs (2) 
                        through (4).
                    (B) The specific cost estimates required by 
                subparagraph (A)(i) shall, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, include the following:
                            (i) With respect to procurement accounts--
                                    (I) amounts displayed by account, 
                                budget activity, line number, line 
                                item, and line item title; and
                                    (II) a description of the 
                                requirements for each such amount.
                            (ii) With respect to research, development, 
                        test, and evaluation accounts--
                                    (I) amounts displayed by account, 
                                budget activity, line number, program 
                                element, and program element title; and
                                    (II) a description of the 
                                requirements for each such amount.
                            (iii) With respect to operation and 
                        maintenance accounts--
                                    (I) amounts displayed by account 
                                title, budget activity title, line 
                                number, and subactivity group title; 
                                and
                                    (II) a description of the specific 
                                manner in which each such amount would 
                                be used.
                            (iv) With respect to military personnel 
                        accounts--
                                    (I) amounts displayed by account, 
                                budget activity, budget subactivity, 
                                and budget subactivity title; and
                                    (II) a description of the 
                                requirements for each such amount.
                            (v) With respect to each project under 
                        military construction accounts (including 
                        unspecified minor military construction and 
                        amounts for planning and design), the country, 
                        location, project title, and project amount for 
                        each fiscal year.
                            (vi) With respect to any expenditure or 
                        proposed appropriation not described in clauses 
                        (i) through (iv), a level of detail equivalent 
                        or greater than the level of detail provided in 
                        the future-years defense program submitted 
                        pursuant to section 221(a) of title 10, United 
                        States Code.
    (c) Considerations.--In preparing the report required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider--
            (1) the economic development and stability of African 
        countries;
            (2) the strategic and economic value of the relationships 
        between the United States and African countries;
            (3) the military, intelligence, diplomatic, developmental, 
        and humanitarian efforts of China and Russia on the African 
        continent; and
            (4) the ability of the United States, allies, and partners 
        to combat violent extremist organizations operating in Africa.
    (d) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) may be 
submitted in classified form, but shall include an unclassified 
summary.
    (e) Interim Briefing Required.--Not later than April 15, 2021, the 
Secretary of Defense (acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), and the Director 
of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation) and the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a joint interim briefing, and any written comments the 
Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
consider necessary, with respect to their assessments of the report 
anticipated to be submitted under subsection (a).
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Dual-use infrastructure projects.--The term ``dual-use 
        infrastructure projects'' means projects that may be used for 
        either military or civilian purposes.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the congressional defense committees; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
                House of Representatives.

SEC. 3. EXPANDING THE STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN AFRICA.

    The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chief of the 
National Guard Bureau, shall seek to build partner capacity and 
interoperability in the United States Africa Command area of 
responsibility through increased partnerships with countries on the 
African continent, military-to-military engagements, and traditional 
activities of the combatant commands.
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