Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2863
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-09-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Alliances
Asia
Aviation and airports
China
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Emergency planning and evacuation
Europe
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign property
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Immunology and vaccination
India
Infrastructure development
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Mining
Multilateral development programs
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Russia
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Tajikistan
Tariffs
Terrorism
Turkmenistan
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations
Uzbekistan
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Women's rights
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: 

Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act of 2021

 
This bill imposes sanctions involving Afghanistan and addresses related issues.
 
The President must impose, with certain exceptions, visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign individual or entity that (1) provides support to any terrorist group in Afghanistan, (2) is responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan, or (3) plays a significant role in international narcotics trafficking centered in Afghanistan.
 
The President may also impose such sanctions on any foreign individual or entity that provides certain support for (1) the Taliban or any Taliban member, or (2) any agency of the Taliban-controlled government of Afghanistan. 
 
Additionally, the Department of State must (1) require U.S. representatives to the United Nations to advocate and vote to maintain sanctions against the Taliban, and (2) encourage allies and partner countries to impose sanctions against the Taliban. 
 
The State Department may suspend the sanctions imposed under this bill upon certifying to Congress that the Taliban has taken certain actions, such as breaking all ties with other terrorist groups. 
 
The State Department must establish a task force to (1) implement a strategy relating to the evacuation of Afghanistan, and (2) identify individuals in Afghanistan who have sought admission into the United States as a refugee or humanitarian parolee. 
 
The bill requires various reports, including on (1) a revised strategy for engagement with South and Central Asian countries after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, (2) a counterterrorism strategy for Afghanistan, and (3) the extent of Taliban human rights abuses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Introduced in Senate