Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4314
Sponsor: Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1]
Introduced: 2016-01-05 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Customs enforcement
Emergency planning and evacuation
Foreign aid and international relief
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Homeland security
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intellectual property
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Natural disasters
Sanctions
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: 

Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. government must ensure that capacity-building assistance to combat terrorist travel is coordinated among departments and agencies as well as with foreign implementing partners, and (2) such assistance should be prioritized for the highest-risk countries for travel by terrorists and foreign fighters. 
 
The Department of State shall submit to Congress biennially a foreign partner engagement plan that catalogues existing capacity-building initiatives abroad to combat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters and identifies areas for adjustment to align efforts with risk-based priorities. 
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department shall accelerate the provision of appropriate versions of the following systems to foreign governments: 
 
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Targeting System--Global, and 
 
the State Department's Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System. 
 
 
DHS may provide, with specified exceptions, excess DHS nonlethal equipment and supplies (as well as related training) to a foreign government if that would: 
 
 
further U.S. homeland security interests; or 
 
enhance the recipient government's capacity to mitigate the threat of terrorism, infectious disease or natural disaster, protect lawful trade and travel, or enforce intellectual property rights.
 
 
DHS shall: 
 
 
notify Congress before providing such systems, equipment, or supplies; and 
 
report to Congress annually through 2021 regarding foreign government efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel.
 

action_date: 2016-03-21
text: 

Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. government must ensure that capacity-building assistance to combat terrorist travel is coordinated among departments and agencies as well as with foreign implementing partners, and (2) such assistance should be prioritized for the highest-risk countries for travel by terrorists and foreign fighters. 
 
The Department of State shall submit to Congress biennially a foreign partner engagement plan that catalogues existing capacity-building initiatives abroad to combat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters and identifies areas for adjustment to align efforts with risk-based priorities. 
 
 The plan shall be developed in coordination with all relevant U.S. government departments and agencies. 
 
 The plan shall: 
 
 
include a risk assessment of each country that includes identification of the number of U.S.-bound flights that originate from last points of departure in the country, visa waiver program status or visa application and denial rates, and the country's overall terror threat environment; 
 
detail U.S. government programs and activities for building the country's capacity to combat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters, including estimated spending levels; and 
 
outline a plan for prioritizing U.S. government resources for high- and medium-risk countries. 
 
 
(Sec. 3) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department shall accelerate the provision of appropriate versions of the following systems to foreign governments: 
 
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Targeting System--Global, and 
 
the State Department's Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System.
 
 
 Prioritization shall be given to high- and medium-risk countries.
 
DHS may provide, with specified exceptions, excess DHS nonlethal equipment and supplies (as well as related training) to a foreign government if that would: 
 
 
further U.S. homeland security interests; and 
 
enhance the recipient government's capacity to mitigate the threat of terrorism, infectious disease or natural disaster, protect lawful trade and travel, or enforce intellectual property rights.
 
 
DHS and the State Department shall notify Congress before providing such systems, equipment, or supplies.
 
 A notification shall include: 
 
 
 the vulnerability to be mitigated; 
 
 an explanation as to why the recipient is unable or unwilling to independently acquire such systems, equipment, or supplies;
 
an evacuation plan for sensitive technologies; 
 
 how the United States will ensure that such systems, equipment, or supplies are being used as intended; and 
 
 the total dollar value involved.
 
 
(Sec. 4) The State Department shall: (1) report to Congress annually through 2021 regarding foreign government efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel, and (2) incorporate the report into the annual country reports on terrorism.
 
 The State Department may suspend non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance to a foreign country identified in such a report as a country to which the minimum standards for serious and sustained efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel are applicable but whose government is not fully complying with such standards and is not making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.
 
(Sec. 6) No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 - 2 (Roll no. 130). (text: CR H1480-1482)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 371 - 2 (Roll no. 130).(text: CR H1480-1482)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1491-1492)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4314.
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1480-1484)
action_date: 2016-03-21
text: Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H656)
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2016-01-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2016-01-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-01-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: 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.
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: 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.
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: 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.
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: 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.
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-01-05
text: Introduced in House