Sec. 1332. Secretary of Defense Strategic Competition Initiative

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The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may provide funds for one or more Department of Defense activities or programs described in subsection

(b)that advance United States national security objectives for strategic competition by supporting Department of Defense efforts to compete below the threshold of armed conflict and by supporting other Federal departments and agencies in advancing United States strategic interests. Activities and programs for which funds may be provided under subsection

(a)are the following: The provision of funds to pay for personnel expenses of foreign defense or security personnel for bilateral or regional security cooperation programs and joint exercises, in accordance with section 321 of title 10, United States Code. Activities to build the institutional capacity of foreign national security forces, including efforts to counter corruption, in accordance with section 332 of title 10, United States Code. Activities to build the capabilities of the United States joint force and the security forces of United States allies and partners relating to irregular warfare. Activities to expose and disprove foreign malign influence and disinformation, and to expose and deter coercion and subversion. Amounts made available for activities carried out pursuant to subsection

(a)in a fiscal year may be derived only from amounts authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide. Any amount provided by the Secretary of Defense during any fiscal year pursuant to subsection

(a)for an activity or program described in subsection

(b)shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for that activity or program for that fiscal year. Of funds made available under this section for any fiscal year— not more than $20,000,000 in each fiscal year is authorized to be obligated and expended under this section; and not more than $3,000,000 may be used to pay for personnel expenses under subsection (b)(1). Funds may not be provided under this section for any activity that has been denied authorization by Congress. Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the use of the authority under subsection (a). The Secretary of Defense shall develop and submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for an initiative to support programs and activities for strategic competition in the areas of responsibility of United States Southern Command and United States Africa Command. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees the plan developed under paragraph (1). The authority under subsection

(a)shall terminate on September 30, 2024.