,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aib ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjai,mr4 ,mc,caul 7for himself and ,mr4 ,keating7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish an interagency program to assist countries in ,north and ,west ,africa to improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter terrorist threats1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership1 launched in #bjje1 is an interagency program to assist partner countries in the ,sahel and ,maghreb regions of ,africa on their immediate and long-term capabilities to address terrorist threats and prevent the spread of violent extremism2 7#b7 armed groups and violent ,islamist terrorist organizations1 such as ,al ,qaeda in the ,islamic ,maghreb1 ,boko ,haram1 the ,islamic ,state of ,west ,africa1 and other affiliated groups1 have killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians1 displaced populations1 destabilized local and national governments1 and caused mass human suffering in the affected communities2 7#c7 it is in the national security interest of the ,united ,states to combat the spread of radical ,islamist extremism and build partner countries' capacity to combat these threats in ,africa2 7#d7 extremist movements exploit vulnerable and marginalized communities suffering from poverty1 lack of economic opportunity 7particularly among youth populations71 and weak governance2 and 7#e7 to address critical security1 political1 economic1 and humanitarian challenges in these regions of ,africa1 a coordinated1 interagency approach is needed to appropriately allocate resources1 share responsibility1 de-conflict programs1 and maximize the effectiveness of ,united ,states defense1 diplomatic1 and development capabilities4 #c4 ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership 7a7 ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall establish a partnership1 to be known as the ,trans-,sahara ,counterterrorism ,partnership 7,,tsctp71 to coordinate all ,united ,states programs1 projects1 and activities in ,north and ,west ,africa that are conducted for any of the following purposes3 7,a7 ,to build the capacity of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to conduct counterterrorism operations4 7,b7 ,to improve the ability of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to cooperate with the ,united ,states and other partner countries on counterterrorism efforts4 7,c7 ,to enhance the border security capacity of partner countries in such regions1 including the ability to monitor1 restrain1 and interdict terrorists4 7,d7 ,to strengthen the rule of law in such countries1 including access to justice1 and the ability of the law enforcement entities of such partner countries to detect1 disrupt1 respond to1 investigate1 and prosecute terrorist activity4 7,e7 ,to monitor and counter the financing of terrorism4 7,f7 ,to further reduce any vulnerabilities among affected populations in such regions to recruitment or incitement of terrorist activities through public diplomacy efforts1 such as supporting youth employment1 promoting meaningful participation of women1 strengthening local governance and civil society capacity1 and improving access to economic opportunities and education4 7,g7 ,to support independent1 local-language media1 particularly in rural areas1 to counter media operations and recruitment propaganda by terrorist organizations4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in coordinating programs through the ,,tsctp1 the ,secretary of ,state shall also consult1 as appropriate1 with the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 the ,attorney ,general1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media 7formerly known as the ,broadcasting ,board of ,governors71 and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies4 7#c7 ,congressional notification ,not later than #ae days before obligating amounts for an activity coordinated by the ,,tsctp pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a notification1 in accordance with the requirements of section #fcd;,a of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcid-a71 that includes the following3 7,a7 ,the foreign country and entity1 as applicable1 whose capabilities are to be enhanced in accordance with the purposes specified in paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,the amount1 type1 and purpose of support to be provided4 7,c7 ,an assessment of the capacity of the foreign country or entity to absorb the assistance to be provided4 7,d7 ,the estimated cost and anticipated implementation timeline for assistance4 7,e7 ,as applicable1 a description of the arrangements to sustain any equipment provided by the activity beyond the completion date of such activity1 if applicable1 and the estimated cost and source of funds to support such sustainment4 7,f7 ,the amount1 type1 statutory authorization1 and purpose of any ,united ,states security assistance provided to such foreign country during the three preceding fiscal years pursuant to authorities under title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea et seq471 or any other train and equip authorities of the ,department of ,defense4 7b7 ,comprehensive strategy for counterterrorism efforts 7#a7 ,development ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive1 interagency strategy that-- 7,a7 states the objectives of the ,united ,states counterterrorism effort in ,north and ,west ,africa with respect to the use of all forms of ,united ,states assistance to counter violent extremism2 7,b7 includes a plan by the ,secretary of ,state for the manner in which programs shall be coordinated by the ,,tsctp pursuant to subsection 7a77#a71 including which agency or bureau of the ,department of ,state1 as applicable1 will be responsible for leading and coordinating each such program2 and 7,c7 outlines a plan to monitor and evaluate ,,tsctp programs and identifies the key indicators that will be used to measure performance and progress under the strategy4 7#b7 ,supporting material in annual budget request ,the ,secretary of ,state shall include1 in the budget materials submitted in support of the budget of the ,president 7submitted to ,congress pursuant to section #aaje of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code7 for each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 a description of the requirements1 activities1 and planned allocation of amounts requested by the ,,tsctp4 7c7 ,monitoring and evaluation of programs and activities 7#a7 ,monitoring and evaluation ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall monitor and evaluate the programs coordinated by the ,,tsctp pursuant to subsection 7a77#a7 in accordance with the plan outlined pursuant to subsection 7b77#a77;,c74 7#b7 ,report ,for the #e-year period beginning #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on monitoring and evaluation efforts pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 that describes-- 7,a7 the progress made in meeting the objectives listed in the strategy required by subsection 7b77#a71 including any lessons learned in carrying out ,,tsctp programs and activities and any recommendations for improving such programs and activities2 7,b7 the efforts taken to coordinate1 de-conflict1 and streamline ,,tsctp programs to maximize resource effectiveness2 7,c7 the extent to which each partner country has demonstrated the ability to absorb the equipment or training provided in the year previous under ,,tsctp programs1 and where applicable1 the ability to maintain and appropriately utilize such equipment provided2 7,d7 the extent to which each partner country is investing its own resources to advance the goals described in subsection 7a77#a7 or demonstrated a commitment and willingness to cooperate with the ,united ,states to advance such goals2 and 7,e7 the actions taken by the government of each partner country receiving assistance through programs coordinated by the ,,tsctp to combat corruption1 improve transparency and accountability1 and promote other forms of good governance4 7d7 ,form ,the strategy required by subsection 7b77#a7 and the report required by subsection 7c77#b7 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex4 7e7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 and the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 and the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate4