[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2973 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2973
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop, in cooperation with
allies and partners in the Middle East, an integrated maritime domain
awareness and interdiction capability, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 27, 2023
Mrs. Rodgers of Washington (for herself, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Trone, Mrs.
Wagner, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition
to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop, in cooperation with
allies and partners in the Middle East, an integrated maritime domain
awareness and interdiction capability, and for other purposes.
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 ``Maritime Architecture and Response
to International Terrorism In the Middle East Act of 2023'' or the
``MARITIME Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATED MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS AND
INTERDICTION CAPABILITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, shall seek to build upon the historic opportunities
created by the Abraham Accords and the incorporation of Israel into the
area of responsibility of the United States Central Command to develop
a Middle East integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction
capability for the purpose of protecting the people, infrastructure,
and territory of such countries from--
(1) manned and unmanned naval systems, undersea warfare
capabilities, and anti-ship missiles of Iran and groups
affiliated with Iran; and
(2) violent extremist organizations, criminal networks, and
piracy activities that threaten lawful commerce in the
waterways within the area of responsibility of the United
States Naval Forces Central Command.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a strategy for the
cooperation described in subsection (a).
(2) Matters to be included.--The strategy required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the threats posed to ally or
partner countries in the Middle East by--
(i) manned and unmanned naval systems,
undersea warfare capabilities, and anti-ship
missiles of Iran and groups affiliated with
Iran; and
(ii) violent extremist organizations,
criminal networks, and piracy activities that
threaten lawful commerce in the waterways
within the area of responsibility of the United
States Naval Forces Central Command.
(B) A description of existing multilateral maritime
partnerships currently led by the United States Naval
Forces Central Command, including the Combined Maritime
Forces (including its associated Task Forces 150, 151,
152, and 153), the International Maritime Security
Construct, and the Navy's Task Force 59, and a
discussion of the role of such partnerships in building
an integrated maritime security capability.
(C) A description of progress made in advancing the
integration of Israel into the existing multilateral
maritime partnerships described in subparagraph (B).
(D) A description of efforts among countries in the
Middle East to coordinate intelligence, reconnaissance,
and surveillance capabilities and indicators and
warnings with respect to the threats described in
subparagraph (A), and a description of any impediment
to optimizing such efforts.
(E) A description of the current Department of
Defense systems that, in coordination with ally and
partner countries in the Middle East--
(i) provide awareness of and defend against
such threats; and
(ii) address current capability gaps.
(F) An explanation of the manner in which an
integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction
architecture would improve collective security in the
Middle East.
(G) A description of existing and planned efforts
to engage ally and partner countries in the Middle East
in establishing such an architecture.
(H) An identification of the elements of such an
architecture that may be acquired and operated by ally
and partner countries in the Middle East, and a list of
such elements for each such ally and partner.
(I) An identification of the elements of such an
architecture that may only be provided and operated by
members of the United States Armed Forces.
(J) An identification of any challenge to
optimizing such an architecture in the Middle East.
(K) An assessment of progress and key challenges in
the implementation of the strategy required by
paragraph (1) using the metrics identified in
accordance with paragraph (3).
(L) Recommendations for improvements in the
implementation of such strategy based on such metrics.
(M) An assessment of any capabilities or lessons
from the Navy's Task Force 59 that may be leveraged to
support an integrated maritime domain awareness and
interdiction capability in the Middle East.
(N) Any other matter the Secretary of Defense
considers relevant.
(3) Metrics.--The Secretary of Defense shall identify
metrics to assess progress in the implementation of the
strategy required by paragraph (1).
(4) Format.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall
be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.
(c) Feasibility Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a
study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a
fund for an integrated maritime domain awareness and
interdiction capability to protect the people, infrastructure,
and territory of ally and partner countries in the Middle East
from--
(A) manned and unmanned naval systems, undersea
warfare capabilities, and anti-ship missiles of Iran
and groups affiliated with Iran; and
(B) violent extremist organizations, criminal
networks, and piracy activities that threaten lawful
commerce in the waterways of the Middle East.
(2) Element.--The study required by paragraph (1) shall
include an assessment of funds that could be contributed by
ally and partner countries of the United States.
(3) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results
of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(d) Protection of Sensitive Information.--Any activity carried out
under this section shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately
protects sensitive information and the national security interests of
the United States.
(e) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the
Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives.
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