Coordinated Counterterrorism Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5148
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-11T21:29:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5148: Coordinated Counterterrorism Act
Purpose
This bill aims to broaden U.S. foreign assistance for counterterrorism efforts by expanding the types of foreign units that can receive support from the Department of State's counterterrorism bureau. It focuses on enhancing global cooperation to combat terrorism through more inclusive aid programs.
Key Provisions
- Broadened Scope of Assistance: Amends Section 571 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend antiterrorism aid beyond foreign law enforcement to also include intelligence and military units. This aid helps these units better identify, capture, and prosecute terrorists.
- Inclusion of Information Sharing: Adds a provision allowing assistance to include sharing information between U.S. law enforcement agencies and foreign partners.
- Minor Technical Update: Inserts a comma for clarity in the existing text on training services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, Section 571 limited antiterrorism assistance primarily to foreign law enforcement agencies. The bill expands this to explicitly cover counterterrorism-focused intelligence and military units, allowing for more flexible use of funding.
- Introduces a new element of information sharing with U.S. agencies, which was not previously specified in this section, enabling closer operational ties with allies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of State gains greater flexibility in allocating counterterrorism funds, potentially streamlining aid to diverse foreign partners and improving coordination with U.S. law enforcement.
- On Citizens and International Relations: U.S. citizens may benefit indirectly from stronger global counterterrorism networks that reduce terrorism threats abroad and at home. It could enhance U.S. alliances with foreign governments by providing tailored military and intelligence support, fostering better diplomatic and security ties.
- No direct impacts on U.S. citizens' daily lives are outlined, but it may influence foreign policy priorities toward proactive terrorism prevention.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. Department of State: Directly responsible for administering the expanded counterterrorism funding through its bureau.
- Foreign Governments: Particularly their law enforcement, intelligence, and military units focused on counterterrorism, who can now access broader U.S. assistance.
- U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies: Benefit from new information-sharing mechanisms with international partners.
- Congress: Oversees foreign aid appropriations and foreign policy implementation.
Notable Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the legal framework for foreign assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act without altering core congressional oversight requirements, ensuring aid remains tied to counterterrorism goals.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional authority over foreign affairs and appropriations; no apparent conflicts with due process or privacy rights, as it focuses on international cooperation.
- Political: Signals a U.S. commitment to comprehensive counterterrorism strategies, potentially influencing bipartisan support for foreign aid while raising questions about the risks of arming foreign military units (though safeguards from the original act likely apply).
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Coordinated Counterterrorism Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (2 pages)