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

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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.
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