Title: Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2019
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2019
This bill directs the Department of State to report biennially on U.S. initiatives to build capacity in foreign countries to prevent travel by terrorists and foreign fighters, and accelerates programs to share equipment with countries to prevent such travel.
The report shall include (1) an assessment of the countries of greatest concern, (2) data such as the number of flights from such countries to the United States, (3) information on existing U.S. programs to build capacity to prevent travel by terrorists in those countries, and (4) a plan for prioritizing U.S. resources toward the countries of greatest concern.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall accelerate provisions to foreign governments of (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection's global travel targeting and analysis systems and (2) the State Department's watch-listing, identification, and screening systems. DHS may provide equipment, training, and maintenance services related to such systems. DHS shall notify Congress when it provides such equipment to a foreign government, along with information such as the specific risk that will be mitigated by the system and the total dollar value of the equipment provided.
The bill directs the State Department to report to Congress each year on countries that fail to meet minimum standards to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel. The State Department is authorized to suspend certain foreign assistance to countries that do not make significant efforts to meet such standards.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 630 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 630

  To require a plan to combat international travel by terrorists and 
 foreign fighters, accelerate the transfer of certain border security 
systems to foreign partner governments, establish minimum international 
border security standards, authorize the suspension of certain foreign 
 assistance to countries not making significant efforts to comply with 
            such minimum standards, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 16, 2019

    Mr. Zeldin (for himself, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Rose of New York) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
    Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland 
Security, and the Judiciary, 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 plan to combat international travel by terrorists and 
 foreign fighters, accelerate the transfer of certain border security 
systems to foreign partner governments, establish minimum international 
border security standards, authorize the suspension of certain foreign 
 assistance to countries not making significant efforts to comply with 
            such minimum standards, 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 ``Counterterrorism Screening and 
Assistance Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. FOREIGN PARTNER ENGAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) Findings.--Consistent with the final report of the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives bipartisan ``Task 
Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel'', Congress 
makes the following findings:
            (1) It is important for the national security of the United 
        States to assist foreign partners in closing security gaps 
        which may allow terrorists and foreign fighters to travel 
        internationally, avoiding detection.
            (2) Building foreign partner capacity to combat terrorist 
        travel helps extend the United States security beyond its 
        border to mitigate threats before they reach the United States.
            (3) United States Government departments and agencies have 
        spent billions of dollars to help foreign partners improve 
        their security against terrorist travel since the attacks of 
        September 11, 2001, including through the provision of 
        technical assistance, equipment, training, and other tools.
            (4) The lack of a United States Government-wide, risk-based 
        approach increases the odds that systematic security gaps 
        abroad may persist and that United States response efforts will 
        not be maximized in order to close these gaps.
            (5) Failure to effectively coordinate capacity-building 
        activities also results in greater risk of overlap, waste, and 
        unnecessary duplication between the United States and 
        international programs.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States Government must ensure capacity-building assistance to deter 
travel by terrorists and foreign fighters is coordinated both among 
United States Government departments and agencies as well as with 
foreign implementing partners.
    (c) Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter at the 
        time of the President's budget submission to Congress under 
        section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, until 2025, the 
        Secretary of State shall, in accordance with the protection of 
        intelligence sources and methods, develop and submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees unclassified and 
        classified versions of a foreign partner engagement plan which 
        catalogues existing capacity-building initiatives abroad to 
        combat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters and identifies 
        areas for adjustment to align ongoing efforts with risk-based 
        priorities.
            (2) Coordination.--Each plan required under paragraph (1) 
        shall be developed in coordination with all relevant United 
        States Government departments and agencies and in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the 
        Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the 
        Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the 
        Federal Bureau of Investigation.
            (3) Contents.--Each plan required under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) include an assessment of the countries of 
                greatest concern and risk for travel to the United 
                States by members of foreign terrorist organizations 
                and foreign fighters, which may be based on the minimum 
                standards described in section 4(b), as well as other 
                factors, as appropriate, including--
                            (i) an identification of the number of 
                        flights that originate from last points of 
                        departure in each country to the United States;
                            (ii) visa waiver program status or visa 
                        application and denial rates for each country;
                            (iii) recent threats, terrorist and foreign 
                        fighter travel trends, and the overall terror 
                        threat environment in each country; and
                            (iv) other criteria as determined by the 
                        Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security;
                    (B) detail existing United States Government 
                programs, projects, and activities which are intended 
                to or have the substantial effect of building the 
                capacity of such countries to combat travel by 
                terrorists and foreign fighters, including estimated 
                spending levels by country where practicable; and
                    (C) outline a plan for prioritizing United States 
                Government resources toward countries referred to in 
                subparagraph (A), including--
                            (i) identifying efforts which should be 
                        reformed, consolidated, or eliminated; and
                            (ii) detailing new programs, projects, or 
                        activities that are requested, being planned, 
                        or are undergoing implementation and associated 
                        costs.

SEC. 3. SHARING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT TO OBSTRUCT TRAVEL BY TERRORISTS 
              AND FOREIGN FIGHTERS.

    (a) Border Security and Counterterrorism Screening Tools.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection 
        (d), the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of 
        State shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with the 
        national security of the United States, accelerate the 
        provision of appropriate versions of the following systems to 
        foreign governments:
                    (A) U.S. Customs and Border Protection's global 
                travel targeting and analysis systems.
                    (B) The Department of State's watchlisting, 
                identification, and screening systems.
            (2) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security and 
        the Secretary of State shall coordinate to prioritize the 
        provision of the systems specified in paragraph (1) to 
        countries determined to be countries referred to in subsection 
        (c)(3)(A) of section 2 in the foreign partner engagement plan 
        required under such section.
    (b) Equipment Transfer.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (8), 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to provide to 
        a foreign government, with or without reimbursement, excess 
        nonlethal equipment and supplies owned by the Department of 
        Homeland Security.
            (2) Determination.--The Secretary of Homeland Security is 
        authorized to provide equipment and supplies pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that the provision of 
        such equipment and supplies would--
                    (A) further the homeland security interests of the 
                United States; and
                    (B) enhance the recipient government's capacity 
                to--
                            (i) mitigate the risk or threat of 
                        terrorism, infectious disease, or natural 
                        disaster;
                            (ii) protect and expedite lawful trade and 
                        travel; or
                            (iii) protect the legal framework relating 
                        to intellectual property rights and enforce 
                        such rights.
            (3) Limitation on transfer.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security may not--
                    (A) provide any equipment or supplies that are 
                designated as items on the United States Munitions List 
                pursuant to section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act 
                (22 U.S.C. 2778); or
                    (B) provide any vessel or aircraft pursuant to this 
                subsection.
            (4) Related training.--In conjunction with a provision of 
        equipment or supplies pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security may provide such equipment-related or 
        supplies-related training and assistance as the Secretary 
        determines to be necessary.
            (5) Maintenance of transferred equipment.--The Secretary of 
        Homeland Security may provide for the maintenance of 
        transferred equipment or supplies through service contracts or 
        other means, with or without reimbursement, as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
            (6) Reimbursement of expenses.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security is authorized to collect payment from the recipient 
        government for the provision of training, shipping costs, 
        supporting materials, maintenance, supplies, or other 
        assistance in support of provided equipment or supplies under 
        this subsection.
            (7) Receipts credited as offsetting collections.--
        Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, 
        any amount collected under this subsection--
                    (A) shall be credited as offsetting collections, 
                subject to appropriations, to the account that finances 
                the activities and services for which the payment is 
                received; and
                    (B) shall remain available until expended for the 
                purpose of providing for the security interests of the 
                homeland.
            (8) Concurrence.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
        exercise the authority under this subsection only with the 
        concurrence of the Secretary of State.
            (9) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may 
        be construed as affecting, augmenting, or diminishing the 
        authority of the Secretary of State.
            (10) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the 
        term ``excess nonlethal equipment and supplies'' means 
        equipment and supplies the Secretary of Homeland Security has 
        determined is either not required for United States domestic 
        operations, or would be more effective to homeland security if 
        deployed for use outside of the United States.
    (c) Notification to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days before providing 
        any systems or equipment or supplies under this section, the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of State shall 
        provide notification to the appropriate congressional 
        committees of such provision.
            (2) Contents.--A notification required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) The specific vulnerability, risk, or threat 
                that will be mitigated by the provision of any systems 
                or equipment or supplies under this section.
                    (B) An explanation as to why the recipient is 
                unable or unwilling to independently acquire such 
                systems or equipment or supplies.
                    (C) An evacuation plan for any sensitive 
                technologies in case of emergency or instability in the 
                country to which such systems or equipment or supplies 
                is being provided.
                    (D) How the United States Government will ensure 
                that such systems or equipment or supplies are being 
                maintained appropriately and used as intended.
                    (E) The total dollar value of such systems, 
                equipment, or supplies.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--
            (1) In general.--The authority provided under this section 
        shall be exercised in accordance with applicable provisions of 
        the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the 
        Export Administration Regulations, or any other similar 
        provision of law.
            (2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``Export 
        Administration Regulations'' means--
                    (A) the Export Administration Regulations as 
                maintained and amended under the authority of the 
                International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
                1701 et seq.) and codified in subchapter C of chapter 
                VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations; or
                    (B) any successor regulations.

SEC. 4. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT FAIL TO MEET 
              MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SERIOUS AND SUSTAINED EFFORTS TO 
              COMBAT TERRORIST AND FOREIGN FIGHTER TRAVEL.

    (a) Reports to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than April 30 of each year 
        through 2024, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report with respect to the status of 
        efforts of foreign governments to combat terrorist and foreign 
        fighter travel, which shall include an update to the foreign 
        partner engagement plan required under section 2(c). Such 
        reports shall include descriptions of relevant United States 
        Government actions taken to help countries comply with minimum 
        standards for serious and sustained efforts to combat terrorist 
        and foreign fighter travel, such as the efforts described in 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Form.--The reports required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified and classified form.
            (3) Inclusion in country reports on terrorism.--To the 
        extent practicable, the Secretary of State, in coordination 
        with the Secretary of Homeland Security, should incorporate the 
        reports required by paragraph (1) into the annual country 
        reports on terrorism submitted pursuant to section 140 of the 
        Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 
        (22 U.S.C. 2656f).
    (b) Minimum Standards Described.--The minimum standards for serious 
and sustained efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel 
applicable to the government of a foreign country include the 
following:
            (1) The government of the foreign country makes meaningful 
        efforts to identify and monitor terrorists and foreign fighters 
        operating within the territory of the country.
            (2) The government of the foreign country regularly 
        exchanges substantive counterterrorism information with other 
        foreign governments, including the United States Government, 
        through bilateral or multilateral channels and international 
        organizations such as INTERPOL, and cooperates with other 
        foreign governments in the investigation and prosecution of 
        terrorists and foreign fighters.
            (3) The government of the foreign country implements 
        effective border controls or participates in an existing 
        border-crossing control regime that has been determined by the 
        United States Government to employ effective border-crossing 
        oversight.
            (4) The government of the foreign country has controls and 
        systems in place to prevent and report upon counterfeiting, 
        forgery, and fraudulent use or possession of false, stolen, or 
        lost identity papers and travel documents.
            (5) The government of the foreign country collects air 
        passenger data and employs evidence-based traveler risk 
        assessment and screening procedures, including collection and 
        analysis of travel data.
            (6) The government of the foreign country appropriately 
        screens travelers, including vetting of travelers at air, sea, 
        and land ports of entry, against counterterrorism and other 
        criminal databases, as appropriate.
            (7) The government of the foreign country submits 
        information to INTERPOL databases and screens travelers against 
        INTERPOL databases at ports of entry and exit.
            (8) The government of the foreign country has established 
        and implemented domestic laws criminalizing material support to 
        foreign terrorist organizations and has the ability and 
        willingness to prosecute cases involving such material support 
        to foreign terrorist organizations.
            (9) The government of the foreign country takes measures to 
        prevent individuals in its territory from traveling abroad to 
        enlist with or provide material support to foreign terrorist 
        organizations.
            (10) The government of the foreign country--
                    (A) takes measures to minimize--
                            (i) corruption and the likelihood that 
                        corruption could impact the veracity of 
                        security and intelligence reporting from the 
                        country; and
                            (ii) the likelihood that such corruption 
                        could adversely affect the legitimacy of 
                        national identity papers of the country; and
                    (B) does not shelter suspects from investigation 
                and prosecution.
            (11) The government of the foreign country is not 
        determined to be a high-risk program country under section 
        217(c)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8. U.S.C. 
        1187(c)(12)).
    (c) Suspension of Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of other 
        Federal agencies, as appropriate, is authorized to suspend 
        nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance to a 
        government of a foreign country if such government is not 
        making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards 
        for serious and sustained efforts to combat terrorist and 
        foreign fighter travel described in subsection (b).
            (2) Congressional notification procedures.--Any suspension 
        of assistance under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the prior 
        notification procedures applicable to reprogrammings pursuant 
        to section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
        U.S.C. 2394-1).

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
        Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on 
        the Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (2) Foreign terrorist organization.--The term ``foreign 
        terrorist organization'' means an organization that is 
        designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to 
        section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1189).
            (3) Nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance.--
        The term ``nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign 
        assistance'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        103(8)(B) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
        U.S.C. 7102(8)(B)).

SEC. 6. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

    No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of 
this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts 
otherwise authorized.
                                 <all>