To require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-6586
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2023-12-05
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan

Asia

Congressional oversight

Foreign aid and international relief

Foreign and international banking

Foreign loans and debt
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-08
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-12-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of State to develop a strategy to discourage foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban, including using U.S.-provided foreign assistance to discourage countries from providing support to the Taliban. The State Department must report to Congress (1) on the strategy and on its implementation; (2) on U.S.-funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan; and (3) on the Afghan Fund, including Taliban influence over Da Afghanistan Bank.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6586 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 8, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban, and for other purposes.

1. Strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban (a) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to oppose the provision of financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying, to the maximum extent possible— (1) foreign countries that have provided financial or material support to the Taliban since September 1, 2021, that is inconsistent with United States law or policy, including— (A) the amount of United States-provided foreign assistance each country receives, if any; (B) the amount of financial or material support each country has provided to the Taliban; and (C) a description of how the Taliban has utilized such financial or material support; and (2) efforts the United States has taken since September 1, 2021, to oppose foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban if doing so is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (c) Strategy and reports (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop a strategy to discourage foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (2) Reports (A) Initial report Not later than the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the strategy and a plan for its implementation. (B) Subsequent reports (i) In general Not later than 180 days after the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the strategy, including the impact of the strategy in discouraging foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (ii) Form The report required by this subparagraph shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 2. Report on direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan (a) In general The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on United States Government-funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan during the period beginning on August 1, 2021, and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall be submitted in conjunction with the submission of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Financial Report of the United States Agency for International Development. (b) Matters to be included The report required by subsection (a) shall, with respect to such direct cash assistance programs, include— (1) a description of method of payments; (2) a description of how and where currency exchanges occur; (3) a description of if and how hawalas are used and the oversight mechanisms in place regarding use of hawalas to transfer funds in United States Government funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan; and (4) a description of safeguards, including oversight processes, to prevent the Taliban from accessing cash assistance under such programs. (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 3. Report on status of Afghan fund (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of the Afghan Fund. (b) Matters to be included The report required by subsection (a) shall include, to the maximum extent possible— (1) a description of the Taliban’s influence over Da Afghanistan Bank, including a list of Taliban members employed by such Bank or serving on its board of directors; (2) a description of the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees, including the process for vetting and selection of trustees; (3) the conditions necessary for the United States Government to support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank; (4) how the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees determines the Fund’s activities, including what kind of information will inform the board’s decisions, and how the board will collect and verify this information; and (5) a description of what controls have been put into place to ensure funds and disbursements are not diverted to or misused by the Taliban. (c) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that all disbursements from the Afghan Fund have been made. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6586 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban, and for other purposes.

1. Strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban (a) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to oppose the provision of financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying, to the maximum extent possible— (1) foreign countries that have provided financial or material support to the Taliban since September 1, 2021, that is inconsistent with United States law or policy, including— (A) the amount of United States-provided foreign assistance each country receives, if any; (B) the amount of financial or material support each country has provided to the Taliban; and (C) a description of how the Taliban has utilized such financial or material support; and (2) efforts the United States has taken since September 1, 2021, to oppose foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban if doing so is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (c) Strategy and reports (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop a strategy to discourage foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (2) Reports (A) Initial report Not later than the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the strategy and a plan for its implementation. (B) Subsequent reports (i) In general Not later than 180 days after the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the strategy, including the impact of the strategy in discouraging foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban that is inconsistent with United States law or policy. (ii) Form The report required by this subparagraph shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 2. Report on direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan (a) In general The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on United States Government-funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan during the period beginning on August 1, 2021, and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall be submitted in conjunction with the submission of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Financial Report of the United States Agency for International Development. (b) Matters to be included The report required by subsection (a) shall, with respect to such direct cash assistance programs, include— (1) a description of method of payments; (2) a description of how and where currency exchanges occur; (3) a description of if and how hawalas are used and the oversight mechanisms in place regarding use of hawalas to transfer funds in United States Government funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan; and (4) a description of safeguards, including oversight processes, to prevent the Taliban from accessing cash assistance under such programs. (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 3. Report on status of Afghan fund (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of the Afghan Fund. (b) Matters to be included The report required by subsection (a) shall include, to the maximum extent possible— (1) a description of the Taliban’s influence over Da Afghanistan Bank, including a list of Taliban members employed by such Bank or serving on its board of directors; (2) a description of the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees, including the process for vetting and selection of trustees; (3) the conditions necessary for the United States Government to support disbursements from the Afghan Fund to Da Afghanistan Bank; (4) how the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees determines the Fund’s activities, including what kind of information will inform the board’s decisions, and how the board will collect and verify this information; and (5) a description of what controls have been put into place to ensure funds and disbursements are not diverted to or misused by the Taliban. (c) Sunset This section shall terminate on the date that all disbursements from the Afghan Fund have been made. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6586 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2023 Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban, and for other purposes.

1. Strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban (a) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States— (1) to oppose the provision of financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban, particularly those countries that receive United States-provided foreign assistance; and (2) to review United States-provided financial assistance to such foreign countries that have provided financial or material support to the Taliban. (b) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying— (1) foreign countries that have provided financial or material support to the Taliban, including— (A) the amount of United States-provided foreign assistance each country receives, if any; (B) the amount of financial or material support each country has provided to the Taliban; and (C) a description of how the Taliban has utilized such financial or material support; and (2) efforts the United States has taken since August 2021 to oppose foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban, particularly those foreign countries that receive United States-provided foreign assistance. (c) Strategy and reports (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop a strategy to discourage foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban, including by using United States-provided foreign assistance to discourage countries from providing such support to the Taliban. (2) Reports (A) Initial report Not later than the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the strategy and a plan for its implementation. (B) Subsequent reports Not later than 180 days after the date on which the strategy required by paragraph (1) is completed, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the strategy, including the impact of the strategy in discouraging foreign countries from providing financial or material support to the Taliban. 2. Report on direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on United States Government-funded direct cash assistance programs in Afghanistan during the period beginning on August 1, 2021, and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Matters To be included The report required by subsection (a) shall, with respect to such direct cash assistance programs, include— (1) an identification of implementing partners and recipients; (2) a description of method of payments; (3) a description of how and where currency exchanges occur; (4) a description of how hawalas are used and the oversight mechanism in place regarding use of hawalas to transfer funds; and (5) a description of how oversight is conducted, including information on how the Department of State prevents the Taliban from accessing cash assistance under such programs. (c) Hawala defined In this section, the term hawala’ means a system of transferring money through a network of money lending brokers. 3. Report on status of Afghan Fund (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of the Afghan Fund. (b) Matters To be included The report required by subsection (a) shall include— (1) a list of Taliban members working at Da Afghanistan Bank or serving on the Bank’s board; and (2) a description of— (A) the Taliban’s influence over Da Afghanistan Bank; (B) the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees, including how the Fund’s trustees were vetted and selected, and what United States agencies were involved in the vetting and selection process; (C) the conditions necessary for funds in the Afghan Fund to be released to Da Afghanistan Bank; (D) how the Afghan Fund’s board of trustees will decide on the type and appropriateness of the Fund’s activities, including what kind of information will inform the board’s decisions and how the board will collect and verify this information; and (E) a description of what controls have been put into place to ensure funds are not diverted to or misused by the Taliban or other actors when the Fund begins making disbursements. 4. Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.