119-hr4691

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4691 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4691

 To require the Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to 
develop and maintain written counterterrorism strategies for countries 
 and regions where there is a significant terrorist threat or ongoing 
 United States counterterrorism engagement.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 23, 2025

 Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require the Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to 
develop and maintain written counterterrorism strategies for countries 
 and regions where there is a significant terrorist threat or ongoing 
 United States counterterrorism engagement.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Responsive Counterterrorism Policy 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGIES.

    (a) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall direct the 
 Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to develop and 
 maintain a written counterterrorism

    (CT) strategy for each 
 country or region where there is a significant terrorist threat 
 or ongoing United States CT engagement in order to enhance the 
 effectiveness, coordination, and accountability of United 
 States CT policy.

    (2) === Purpose ===
-Each strategy required by this subsection is 
 intended to be distinct from the Department's annual Country 
 Reports on Terrorism and is to serve as a forward-looking, 
 operational planning document that is specific to the Bureau of 
 Counterterrorism.

    (b) Matters To Be Included.--

    (1) In general.--Each strategy required by subsection

    (a) shall--
        (A) identify the specific threats posed, articulate 
 clear objectives, outline coordinated actions with 
 interagency partners and international partners, and 
 describe metrics for assessing progress and success;
        (B) specifically describe how coordination with 
 such partners will be carried out, including clearly 
 defined roles, responsibilities, and mechanisms for 
 collaboration;
            (C) take into account local political, economic, 
 and social dynamics and should align with broader 
 United States foreign policy goals; and
            (D) ensure that the Bureau of Counterterrorism 
 shall serve as the lead entity with respect to such 
 strategies.

    (2) Interagency and international partners.--For the 
 purposes of paragraph

    (1)
        (A) --
        (A) interagency partners shall include all relevant 
 bureaus, offices, and components of United States 
 Government departments and agencies that contribute to 
 CT efforts in any capacity; and
        (B) international partners shall include all 
 foreign government entities and local actors that are 
 actively engaged in, and demonstrably committed to, CT 
 efforts within their respective countries or regions.

    (3) References.--Any references to other United States 
 Government department or agency or international partner is 
 intended to articulate the Bureau of Counterterrorism's 
 understanding of ongoing efforts, coordination mechanisms, and 
 areas of engagement, and not to imply shared authorship or 
 responsibility for any strategic documents.

    (4) Updates.--Each strategy required by subsection

    (a) shall be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, or more 
 frequently if significant changes in threat dynamics or policy 
 priorities occur. Each such update should incorporate lessons 
 learned and reflect changes in operational context or strategic 
 priorities.
            (c) Congressional Briefings.--

    (1) Initial briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the 
 date of the enactment of this Act, the Bureau of 
 Counterterrorism shall brief Congress on the countries and 
 regions for which it plans to develop the strategies required 
 by subsection

    (a) , including the criteria used to prioritize 
 such strategies.

    (2) Annual briefings.--The Bureau of Counterterrorism shall 
 brief Congress annually on the development, implementation, and 
 updates to the strategies required by subsection

    (a) , including 
 how the strategies inform programmatic funding and diplomatic 
 engagement.
 <all>