United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4862 To reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 28, 2019 Mr. DEUTCH (for himself and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Jordan 4 Defense Cooperation Extension Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) Jordan is an instrumental partner in the 8 fight against terrorism, including as a member of 9 the Global Coalition To Counter ISIS and the Com- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4862.IH H4862 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4862 IH bined Joint Task Force—Operation Inherent Re- 1 solve. 2 (2) In 2014, His Majesty King Abdullah stated 3 that ‘‘Jordanians and Americans have been standing 4 shoulder to shoulder against extremism for many 5 years, but to a new level with this coalition against 6 ISIL’’. 7 (3) On February 3, 2015, the United States 8 signed a 3-year memorandum of understanding with 9 Jordan, pledging to provide the kingdom with 10 $1,000,000,000 annually in United States foreign 11 assistance, subject to the approval of Congress. 12 (4) On February 14, 2018, the United States 13 signed a new 5-year Memorandum of Understanding 14 with Jordan in which the United States pledged to 15 provide no less than $1,275,000,000 per year, sub- 16 ject to congressional appropriations, in United 17 States bilateral foreign assistance to Jordan. 18 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 19 It is the sense of Congress that— 20 (1) Jordan plays a critical role in responding to 21 the overwhelming humanitarian needs created by the 22 conflict in Syria; 23 (2) Jordan, the United States, and other part- 24 ners should continue working together to address 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4862.IH H4862 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4862 IH this humanitarian crisis and promote regional sta- 1 bility, including through support for refugees in Jor- 2 dan and internally displaced people along the Jor- 3 dan-Syria border and the creation of conditions in- 4 side Syria that will allow for the secure, dignified, 5 and voluntary return of people displaced by the cri- 6 sis; and 7 (3) the United States should continue to assist 8 Jordan in creating sustainable economic develop- 9 ment. 10 SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF UNITED STATES-JORDAN 11 DEFENSE COOPERATION ACT OF 2015. 12 Section 5(a) of the United States-Jordan Defense Co- 13 operation Act of 2015 (22 U.S.C. 2753 note) is amend- 14 ed— 15 (1) by striking ‘‘During the 3-year period’’ and 16 inserting ‘‘During the period’’; and 17 (2) by inserting ‘‘and ending on December 31, 18 2024’’ after ‘‘enactment of this Act’’. 19 SEC. 5. PURSUING INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR JORDAN. 20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 21 end of the transition period, the Chief Executive Officer 22 of the United States International Development Finance 23 Corporation shall issue a call for proposals pursuing in- 24 vestment funds with a focus on Jordan, whether as a spe- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4862.IH H4862 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 4862 IH cific country fund or as part of a regional fund with Jor- 1 dan as a significant focus. 2 (b) BRIEFING.—Following the completion of the call 3 process in subsection (a), the Chief Executive Officer of 4 the United States International Development Finance 5 Corporation shall brief the appropriate congressional com- 6 mittees describing the call process, any proposals sub- 7 mitted, and any funds approved pursuant to section 8 1421(c) of the BUILD Act (22 U.S.C. 9621). 9 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 10 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 11 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 12 mittees’’ means— 13 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 14 the Committee on Appropriations of the House 15 of Representatives; and 16 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations 17 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 18 Senate. 19 (2) TRANSITION PERIOD.—The term ‘‘transi- 20 tion period’’ has the meaning given such term in sec- 21 tion 1461 of the BUILD Act of 2018 (Public Law 22 115–254; 22 U.S.C. 9681). 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:38 Oct 29, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4862.IH H4862 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS