Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, since 2005, the United States has been actively involved in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, which is an interagency program to assist partner countries in the Sahel and Maghreb regions of Africa, including Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Mali, to address terrorist threats and prevent the spread of violent extremism.

This legislation is needed due to the continued high rate of terrorist activity on the continent, and this Partnership helps coordinate our diplomatic, defense, and development efforts to counter those threats.

Recently, the Pentagon, under the President's direction, has been re- evaluating our troop presence in Africa, which means the United States will need to rely more heavily on strategic partnerships built up over years. This bill would do that.

The bill directs the Departments of State and Defense as well as USAID to develop a comprehensive, interagency strategy for U.S.-Africa counterterrorism cooperation. It also improves monitoring and evaluation of the Partnership's programs to help guide whether efforts should be refocused on certain aspects of building partnership capacity.

Success in mitigating terrorism and violent extremism in Africa and elsewhere around the globe is predicated on our ability to work closely with our allies and combat violent extremism in a consistent and effective manner. This piece of legislation allows us to do just that.

I'd like to thank Ranking Member McCaul for his important work on this issue and introducing this legislation with me. I urge my colleagues to support this package.

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