Balkans Security Cooperation Act

Bill: 117-hr-8293
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2022-07-05
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-07-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Balkans Security Cooperation Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Defense, with the concurrence of the Department of State, to report on security cooperation between Western Balkan countries and the United States, Russia, China, and NATO. </p> <p>For the purposes of this bill, the Western Balkan countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. </p> <p>The report must include (1) an assessment of how Western Balkan security cooperation with Russia and China affect the security interests of the United States and NATO; (2) an assessment of the Russian Humanitarian Center in Nis, Serbia, and any influence or coordination it may have with Russian intelligence agencies; and (3) a determination by the State Department on whether any Western Balkan country has conducted a significant transaction with a person that is part of Russia's defense or intelligence sectors.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8293 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 5, 2022 Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mrs. McClain ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services , Oversight and Reform , the Judiciary , and Ways and Means , 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 security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Balkans Security Cooperation Act . 2. Report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries. (b) Matters To be included The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation, including the following: (A) A list of Russian weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the Russian Federation since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the Russian Federation. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation. (E) An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (2) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China, including the following: (A) A list of Chinese weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the People’s Republic of China since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the People’s Republic of China. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China. (E) An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (3) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States, including the following: (A) A list of United States weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B) A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the United States since 2012. (C) A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the United States. (D) An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States. (4) An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and NATO. (5) A description of each Western Balkan country’s participation and activities in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, if applicable. (6) An assessment of the Russian Humanitarian Center in Niš, Serbia, and any influence or coordination it may have with Russian Federation Intelligence Agencies. (c) Assessment and determination relating to conduct of significant transactions under CAATSA (1) In general The Secretary of State, acting through the President, shall include in the report required by subsection (a) an assessment and determination of whether any Western Balkan country has conducted a significant transaction described in section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ( 22 U.S.C. 9525 ). (2) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to obviate any requirement of section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. (d) Form The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (e) Definitions In this section— (1) the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) congressional defense committees (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code); and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) the term ‘‘Western Balkan countries’’ means— (A) Albania; (B) Bosnia and Herzegovina; (C) Croatia; (D) Kosovo; (E) Montenegro; (F) North Macedonia; (G) Serbia; and (H) Slovenia.