HR 1385
Strengthening Cooperation and Security in the Middle East Act
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Bill overview
This bill directs the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy and report on increasing membership in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA). The report will analyze the strategic benefits of CSIPA, particularly in response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and recommend steps to expand the agreement’s membership and collaboration with allied countries. It also requires the development of a strategy for engaging other nations in CSIPA and a briefing on its implementation.
Key provisions
- Requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to develop a report on CSIPA membership.
- The report must analyze strategic benefits, Houthi attacks, and potential for expanded collaboration.
- Requires the development of a strategy to engage allied countries in CSIPA.
- Demands a briefing on the implementation of the strategy.
- Specifies the congressional committees to receive the report and briefing.
Who is affected
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Defense
- Congress
- Allied countries in the Middle East
- Bahrain
Notable changes
- Focuses on expanding the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA).
- Specifically addresses the need to respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
- Requires a strategic approach to engaging new members beyond Bahrain.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Thomas H. Kean
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 1385
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To require the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a strategy to increase membership in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘
Strengthening Cooperation and Security in the Middle East Act
”.Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes a strategy to increase membership in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA), done at Washington, DC on September 9–13, 2023.
The report required by paragraph (1) shall also include—
an analysis of—
the comprehensive strategic benefits of CSIPA, including improving joint military readiness in the Middle East, enhancing shared economic interests, collaborating on advanced technological and scientific pursuits, and building stronger regional alliances to improve stability and counter mutual threats;
the role of CSIPA in supporting rapid and effective responses following the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels the Red Sea that occurred since October 7, 2023;
how the CSIPA framework can leverage the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquartered in Bahrain for projecting strength in the region and supporting immediate responses to imminent threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran or other adversaries of the United States;
the long-term benefits of widened membership in CSIPA;
how the framework of CSIPA can be altered to foster broader regional security integration, bolster mutual deterrence against external threats, and expand cooperation in the fields of commerce, science, and technology;
requirements for resources and capabilities that can be provided to expand CSIPA membership; and
domestic and regional factors or barriers among allied countries of the United States and Bahrain that may be limiting the expansion of CSIPA; and
recommendations for areas of further collaboration between the United States and other CSIPA members.
Not later than 180 days after the submission of the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy on how to best engage allied countries in the Middle East and outside of the Middle East to join CSIPA and affirmative steps the Administration can take to increase membership in that agreement.
Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary develops the strategy required by this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on a plan for implementing the strategy.
The report required by subsection (a) and the strategy required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means—
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.