AFRICA Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8186 To require a report on the activities and resources required to enhance security and economic partnerships between the United States and Afri- can countries, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 Mr. BROWN of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak- er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju- risdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require a report on the activities and resources required to enhance security and economic partnerships between the United States and African countries, 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 ‘‘Africa Foreign Rela- 4 tions, International Cooperation, and Assistance Act of 5 2020’’ or the ‘‘AFRICA Act of 2020’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8186 IH SEC. 2. REPORT ON ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN 1 THE UNITED STATES AND AFRICAN COUN- 2 TRIES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 1, 2021, the 4 Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary 5 of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 6 committees a report on the activities and resources re- 7 quired to enhance security and economic partnerships be- 8 tween the United States and African countries. 9 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub- 10 section (a) shall include the following: 11 (1) An assessment of the infrastructure acces- 12 sible to the Department of Defense on the continent 13 of Africa. 14 (2) An identification of the ability of the De- 15 partment to conduct freedom of movement on the 16 continent, including identifying the activities of part- 17 ners, allies, and other Federal departments and 18 agencies that are facilitated by the Department’s 19 ability to conduct freedom of movement. 20 (3) Recommendations to meet the requirements 21 identified in paragraph (2), including— 22 (A) dual-use infrastructure projects; 23 (B) military construction; 24 (C) the acquisition of additional mobility 25 capability by African countries or the United 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8186 IH States Armed Forces, including strategic air 1 lift, tactical air lift, or sealift capability; or 2 (D) any other option as determined by the 3 Secretary. 4 (4) Recommendations to expand and strengthen 5 partner and ally capability, including traditional ac- 6 tivities of the combatant commands, train and equip 7 opportunities, partnerships with the National Guard 8 and the United States Coast Guard, and multilateral 9 contributions. 10 (5) Recommendations for enhancing joint exer- 11 cises and training. 12 (6) An analysis of the security, economic, and 13 stability benefits of the recommendations identified 14 under paragraphs (3) through (5). 15 (7)(A) A plan to fully resource United States 16 force posture, capabilities, and stability operations, 17 including— 18 (i) a detailed assessment of the re- 19 sources required to address the elements 20 described in paragraphs (2) through (5), 21 including specific cost estimates for rec- 22 ommended investments or projects; and 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8186 IH (ii) a detailed timeline to achieve the 1 recommendations described in paragraphs 2 (2) through (4). 3 (B) The specific cost estimates required by 4 subparagraph (A)(i) shall, to the maximum ex- 5 tent practicable, include the following: 6 (i) With respect to procurement ac- 7 counts— 8 (I) amounts displayed by ac- 9 count, budget activity, line number, 10 line item, and line item title; and 11 (II) a description of the require- 12 ments for each such amount. 13 (ii) With respect to research, develop- 14 ment, test, and evaluation accounts— 15 (I) amounts displayed by ac- 16 count, budget activity, line number, 17 program element, and program ele- 18 ment title; and 19 (II) a description of the require- 20 ments for each such amount. 21 (iii) With respect to operation and 22 maintenance accounts— 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 8186 IH (I) amounts displayed by account 1 title, budget activity title, line num- 2 ber, and subactivity group title; and 3 (II) a description of the specific 4 manner in which each such amount 5 would be used. 6 (iv) With respect to military personnel 7 accounts— 8 (I) amounts displayed by ac- 9 count, budget activity, budget sub- 10 activity, and budget subactivity title; 11 and 12 (II) a description of the require- 13 ments for each such amount. 14 (v) With respect to each project under 15 military construction accounts (including 16 unspecified minor military construction 17 and amounts for planning and design), the 18 country, location, project title, and project 19 amount for each fiscal year. 20 (vi) With respect to any expenditure 21 or proposed appropriation not described in 22 clauses (i) through (iv), a level of detail 23 equivalent or greater than the level of de- 24 tail provided in the future-years defense 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 8186 IH program submitted pursuant to section 1 221(a) of title 10, United States Code. 2 (c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing the report re- 3 quired under subsection (a), the Secretary shall con- 4 sider— 5 (1) the economic development and stability of 6 African countries; 7 (2) the strategic and economic value of the rela- 8 tionships between the United States and African 9 countries; 10 (3) the military, intelligence, diplomatic, devel- 11 opmental, and humanitarian efforts of China and 12 Russia on the African continent; and 13 (4) the ability of the United States, allies, and 14 partners to combat violent extremist organizations 15 operating in Africa. 16 (d) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 17 may be submitted in classified form, but shall include an 18 unclassified summary. 19 (e) INTERIM BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 20 April 15, 2021, the Secretary of Defense (acting through 21 the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Sec- 22 retary of Defense (Comptroller), and the Director of Cost 23 Assessment and Program Evaluation) and the Chairman 24 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall provide to the congres- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 8186 IH sional defense committees a joint interim briefing, and any 1 written comments the Secretary of Defense and the Chair- 2 man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider necessary, with 3 respect to their assessments of the report anticipated to 4 be submitted under subsection (a). 5 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 6 (1) DUAL-USE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.— 7 The term ‘‘dual-use infrastructure projects’’ means 8 projects that may be used for either military or civil- 9 ian purposes. 10 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 11 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 12 mittees’’ means— 13 (A) the congressional defense committees; 14 and 15 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 16 the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Af- 17 fairs of the House of Representatives. 18 SEC. 3. EXPANDING THE STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 19 IN AFRICA. 20 The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 21 Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall seek to build 22 partner capacity and interoperability in the United States 23 Africa Command area of responsibility through increased 24 partnerships with countries on the African continent, mili- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 8186 IH tary-to-military engagements, and traditional activities of 1 the combatant commands. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Sep 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8186.IH H8186 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS