The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S812-S815 on Jan. 31, 2019.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 89. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. 335. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this title may be construed as an authorization for the use of military force.
______
SA 90. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
In section 205(a), insert after ``establishment of the United States Development Finance Corporation'' the following: ``(which means the end of the transition period, as defined in section 1461 of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115-254))''.
______
SA 91. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 18, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
(3) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
______
SA 92. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 65 proposed by Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Burr, Mr. Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. Boozman) to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike ``ON WITHDRAWALS OF UNITED STATES FORCES FROM SYRIA AND AFGHANISTAN'' and all that follows through ``Syria or Afghanistan'' and insert:
``SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRANSITION OF MILITARY AND SECURITY OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) After al Qaeda attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, the United States Government rightly sought to bring to justice those who attacked us, to eliminate al Qaeda's safe havens and training camps in Afghanistan.
(2) Members of the Armed Forces, intelligence personnel, and diplomatic corps have skillfully achieved these objectives, culminating in the death of Osama bin Laden.
(3) Operation Enduring Freedom was the longest military operation in United States history, and combined with Operation Freedom's Sentinel the United States' involvement in Afghanistan has exceeded $1,000,000,000,000 in costs to the United States taxpayer and continues to cost taxpayers over $45,000,000,000 a year.
(4) Members of the United States Armed Forces have served in Afghanistan valiantly and with honor, and many have sacrificed their lives and health in service to their country;
(5) The United States has suffered more than 2,000 deaths in Afghanistan (including at least 13 in 2018), and the United States has dropped more than 5,200 bombs in 2018, a record high.
(6) Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, reflecting consensus within United States and international security experts, has concluded that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, stating, ``It's all working to achieve a political reconciliation, not a military victory. The victory will be a political reconciliation.''
(7) Over the past 17 years, the mission of the United States has evolved to include a prolonged nation-building effort in Afghanistan.
(8) Such nation-building efforts in Afghanistan are undermined by endemic corruption, high illiteracy, tribal fractions, and a historic aversion to a strong central government in that country.
(9) The United States Government will continue to support the development of Afghanistan with a strong diplomatic and counterterrorism presence in the region.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the announcement by Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad that the United States and the Taliban agreed on a draft framework that could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan and that ``[t]he Taliban have committed, to [the Administration's] satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals'' should be welcomed and a reflection of an appropriate diplomatic approach to end U.S. military involvement in the country.
(2) the President should complete the transition of the responsibility for military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan as soon as possible but no later than September 18, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the enactment of Public Law 107-40, the Authorization for Use of Military Force against those responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001, in conjunction with efforts to turn the draft framework into a durable peace between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban;
(3) the U.S. should re-double diplomatic efforts to support our Afghan partners as they prepare to hold presidential elections in 2019;
(4) any cost savings resulting from a troop withdrawal should be re-programmed to increase bilateral humanitarian assistance and to maintain gains in human rights to include advances made for women and girls to Afghanistan in an amount no less than one percent of the annual cost to the U.S. budget of our military engagement in Afghanistan in fiscal year 2018; and
(5) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President should submit to Congress a report--
(A) including a plan for the complete transition of all military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan.
(B) assessing the likely humanitarian needs of Afghanistan in the ten years following a U.S. military withdrawal; and
(C) assessing efforts by Special Representative Khalilzad to turn the draft framework reached with the Taliban into a durable peace agreement between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
______
SA 93. Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 43, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
(5) Threshold for application to contracts.--The authority to adopt and enforce measures under subsection (a) to restrict contracting for goods and services shall not apply to contracts with a value of less than $1,000,000.
______
SA 94. Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 43, strike lines 12 through 20.
______
SA 95. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-
Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES BILATERAL
ASSISTANCE TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The dire health and economic conditions facing the Palestinian people has created a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza. The United States has long been a leader in helping address the plight of innocent civilians.
(2) These fragile conditions could contribute to circumstances that would undermine Israel's security and stability in the region.
(3) The Department of State has failed to obligate any of the funds Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018, $302,750,000 and $257,500,000, respectively, for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Executive branch should expend during fiscal year 2019 for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza--
(A) $196,500,000 for the Economic Support Fund;
(B) $60,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; and
(C) $1,000,000 for Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs; and
(2) this funding is focused primarily on providing food, medical care, and other humanitarian goods and services and these expenditures must be consistent with the restrictions outlined in the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of Public Law 115-141) and shall only be provided through nongovernmental organizations and shall not directly benefit the Palestinian Authority.
______
SA 96. Mr. MENENDEZ proposed an amendment to amendment SA 65 proposed by Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Burr, Mr. Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. Boozman) to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; as follows:
At the end of the amendment, add the following:
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of the use of military force.
______
SA 97. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. CLARIFICATION OF DEADLINE FOR REPORT ON ESTABLISHING
AN ENTERPRISE FUND FOR JORDAN.
For purposes of section 205(a), the term ``establishment of the United States Development Finance Corporation'' means the end of the transition period, as defined in section 1461 of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115-254).
______
SA 98. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. FORM OF REPORT ON THE COOPERATION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND ISRAEL WITH RESPECT TO COUNTERING
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.
The report required under section 123(d) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
______
SA 99. Mr. TOOMEY (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Johnson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. REPORT ON UNITED STATES POLICY IN SYRIA.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The regime of Bashar al Assad has committed gross atrocities against the people of Syria.
(2) The commission of these atrocities led to the eruption, and continuation, of the Syrian civil war.
(3) The ensuing conflict has resulted in the death of over 400,000 Syrian civilians.
(4) The Syrian civil war has caused over 5,500,000 Syrians to flee their country as refugees and over 6,000,000 others to be displaced from their homes inside Syria.
(5) The Assad regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons against its own people.
(6) In 2011 the Assad regime released from its prisons many of the terrorists who would subsequently lead the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
(7) ISIS has organized, executed, and inspired countless terror attacks throughout the world since its emergence, including in the United States.
(8) By the end of 2014, ISIS controlled one third of the territory of Syria and one third of the territory of Iraq.
(9) Since 2014, the United States has lead Operation Inherent Resolve, with the help of allies, to degrade and destroy ISIS.
(10) Approximately 2,000 members of the United States Armed Forces are deployed to Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve.
(11) The United States and its allies have succeeded in seizing back nearly all the physical territory held by ISIS in 2014.
(12) Tens of thousands of ISIS terrorists remain in Syria and Iraq despite having lost much of their territorial
``Caliphate''.
(13) The Islamic State continues to pose a threat to the security of the United States and that of its allies.
(14) Syrian Kurdish fighters in the People's Protection Units, or YPG, have served as effective and trustworthy allies in the fight against ISIS.
(15) The Government of Turkey views these Kurdish forces as an enemy and has expressed its intention to destroy them.
(16) The support of the Russian and Iranian regimes in Syria has been invaluable to the reinforcement of the Assad government.
(17) Russian-backed forces have directly assaulted United States Armed Forces deployed in Syria on at least one occasion.
(18) The Government of Iran seeks to entrench its presence in Syria as a means of supporting its terrorist proxies, like Hezbollah and Hamas, and harming its enemies, like Israel.
(19) Ensuring the existence of Israel, America's most important ally in the Middle East, remains a key United States interest in the region.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the pursuit of a clear, publicly-articulated strategy will guide any withdrawal of United States Armed Forces in Syria;
(2) such a strategy aims to ensure that the Syrian civil war ends through peaceful, political means;
(3) such a strategy includes the consideration of and planning for the security interests of the Syrian Kurdish allies of the United States;
(4) such a strategy recognizes that ISIS and al Qaeda terrorists in Syria continue to pose a threat to the United States and its allies;
(5) such a strategy includes among its objectives the complete degradation and long-term destruction of ISIS;
(6) such a strategy will seek to prevent the emergence of another terrorist group in Syria capable of threatening the security of the United States once ISIS is defeated;
(7) such a strategy recognizes the destabilizing impact of Iran in Syria; and
(8) such a strategy includes among its objectives the removal of all Iranian-commanded forces from Syria.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report detailing United States policy in Syria.
(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
______
SA 100. Mr. GARDNER (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
TITLE V--CYBERSECURITY SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRAN
SEC. 501. MANDATORY SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRAN RELATING
TO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES UNDERMINING
CYBERSECURITY.
(a) Investigation.--The President shall initiate an investigation into the possible designation of an Iranian person under subsection (b) upon receipt by the President of credible information indicating that the person has engaged in conduct described in that subsection.
(b) Designation.--The President shall designate under this subsection any Iranian person that the President determines has directly or indirectly--
(1) engaged in significant activities undermining cybersecurity conducted by the Government of Iran; or
(2) acted for or on behalf of the Government of Iran in connection with such activities.
(c) Sanctions.--The President shall block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of any Iranian person designated under subsection (b) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
(d) Suspension of Sanctions.--
(1) In general.--The President may suspend the application of sanctions under subsection (c) with respect to an Iranian person only if the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees in writing a certification described in paragraph (2) and a detailed justification for the certification.
(2) Certification described.--
(A) In general.--A certification described in this paragraph with respect to an Iranian person is a certification by the President that--
(i) the person has not, during the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the certification, directly or indirectly engaged in activities that would qualify the person for designation under subsection (b); and
(ii) the person is not expected to resume any such activities.
(B) Form of certification.--The certification described in subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
(e) Reimposition of Sanctions.--If sanctions are suspended with respect to an Iranian person under subsection (d), such sanctions shall be reinstated if the President determines that the person has resumed the activity that resulted in the initial imposition of sanctions or has engaged in any other activity subject to sanctions relating to the involvement of the person in significant activities undermining cybersecurity on behalf of the Government of Iran.
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.), or any other provision of law.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes significant activities undermining cybersecurity conducted by the Government of Iran, a person owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Government, or any person acting for or on behalf of that Government.
(2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the extent to which a foreign government has provided material support to the Government of Iran, to any person owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Government, or to any person acting for or on behalf of that Government, in connection with the conduct of significant activities undermining cybersecurity.
(B) A strategy to counter efforts by Iran to conduct significant activities undermining cybersecurity directed against the United States that includes a description of efforts to engage foreign governments in preventing the Government of Iran, persons owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Government, and persons acting for or on behalf of that Government from conducting significant activities undermining cybersecurity.
(3) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in an unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
____________________
