Sec. 1209. Authority to provide assistance to the vetted Syrian opposition
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The Secretary of Defense is authorized, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide assistance, including training, equipment, supplies, stipends, construction of training and associated facilities, and sustainment, to appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition and other appropriately vetted Syrian groups and individuals, through December 31, 2016, for the following purposes: Defending the Syrian people from attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and securing territory controlled by the Syrian opposition.
Protecting the United States, its friends and allies, and the Syrian people from the threats posed by terrorists in Syria. Promoting the conditions for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict in Syria. Not later than 15 days prior to the provision of assistance authorized under subsection
(a)to appropriately vetted recipients for the first time— the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership of the House of Representatives and Senate a report, in unclassified form with a classified annex as appropriate, that contains a description of— the plan for providing such assistance; the requirements and process used to determine appropriately vetted recipients; and the mechanisms and procedures that will be used to monitor and report to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership of the House of Representatives and Senate on unauthorized end-use of provided training and equipment and other violations of relevant law by appropriately vetted recipients; and the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership of the House of Representatives and Senate a report, in unclassified form with a classified annex as appropriate, that contains a description of how such assistance fits within a larger regional strategy. The plan required in subsection (b)(1) shall include, at a minimum, a description of— the goals and objectives of assistance authorized under subsection (a); the concept of operations, timelines, and types of training, equipment, stipends, sustainment, construction, and supplies to be provided; the roles and contributions of partner nations; the number and role of United States Armed Forces personnel involved; any additional military support and sustainment activities; and any other relevant details. Not later than 90 days after the Secretary of Defense submits the report required in subsection (b)(1), and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate a progress report. Such progress report shall, based on the most recent quarterly information, include— any updates to or changes in the plan, strategy, vetting requirements and process, and end-use monitoring mechanisms and procedures, as required in subsection (b)(1); a description of how the threat of attacks against United States or coalition personnel is being mitigated, statistics on any such attacks, including green-on-blue attacks, and how such attacks are being mitigated; a description of the appropriately vetted recipients receiving assistance authorized under subsection (a); the recruitment, throughput, and retention rates of appropriately vetted recipients and equipment; any misuse or loss of provided training and equipment and how such misuse or loss is being mitigated; a description of the command and control of appropriately vetted recipients; an assessment of the operational effectiveness of the appropriately vetted recipients in meeting the purposes specified in subsection (a); a description of sustainment support provided to appropriately vetted recipients pursuant to subsection (a); a list of construction projects carried out under authority in subsection (a); a statement of the amount of funds expended during the period for which the report is submitted, and in aggregate since September 19, 2014, to provide assistance by authorized category pursuant to subsection
(a)and section 149 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 ( Public Law 113–164 ); and an assessment of the effectiveness of the assistance authorized under subsection
(a)as measured against subsections
(b)and (c). For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: The term appropriately vetted means, with respect to elements of the Syrian opposition and other Syrian groups and individuals, at a minimum— assessments of such elements, groups, and individuals for associations with terrorist groups, Shia militias aligned with or supporting the Government of Syria, and groups associated with the Government of Iran. Such groups include, but are not limited to, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Jabhat al Nusrah, Ahrar al Sham, other al-Qaeda related groups, and Hezbollah; and a commitment from such elements, groups, and individuals to promoting the respect for human rights and the rule of law. The term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. The Secretary of Defense may submit a reprogramming or transfer request of funds made available for Overseas Contingency Operations beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on December 31, 2016, to the congressional defense committees to carry out activities authorized under this section. The Secretary of Defense may accept and retain contributions, including assistance in-kind, from foreign governments to provide assistance as authorized by this section. Any funds so accepted by the Secretary shall be credited to appropriations for the appropriate operation and maintenance accounts, except that any funds so accepted by the Secretary shall not be available for obligation until a reprogramming request is submitted to the congressional defense committees. Nothing in this section shall be construed to constitute a specific statutory authorization for the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations wherein hostilities are clearly indicated by the circumstances. Nothing in this section supersedes or alters the continuing obligations of the President to report to Congress pursuant to section 4 of the War Powers Resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1543 ) regarding the use of United States Armed Forces abroad. For purposes of the provision of assistance pursuant to subsection (a), the President may waive any provision of law if the President determines that such provision of law would (but for the waiver) impede national security objectives of the United States by prohibiting, restricting, delaying, or otherwise limiting the provision of such assistance. Such waiver shall not take effect until 30 days after the date on which the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees of such determination and the provision of law to be waived. The Secretary may provide assistance to third countries for purposes of the provision of assistance authorized under this section.
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Sec. 1209
Authority to provide assistance to the vetted Syrian opposition
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