Thread by @JJSchroden

With the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act having been passed (& now sitting on President Trump's desk for signature or veto), thought I'd put together a THREAD on what it says about #Afghanistan. 1/n

SEC. 1212. EXTENSION OF THE AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM.

Extends the program through through 2022 (and appears to expand the number allowed by 120 slots). 2/n

SEC. 1213. EXTENSION & MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT FOR RECONCILIATION ACTIVITIES LED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN.

Extends #DOD ability to provide funding to cover certain costs of participants in peace talks (which includes #Taliban) through 2021 & adds some restrictions. 3/n

SEC. 1214. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF COMMANDERS’ EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM.

Extends CERP authority through 2021 but reduces threshold to $2M. 4/n

SEC. 1215. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS TO REDUCE DEPLOYMENT TO #AFGHANISTAN.

Requires SECDEF to provide a specific report to Congress before US troops in AFG can be reduced below the level when the bill is signed into law (or 2000, whichever is less). 5/n

SEC. 1216. MODIFICATIONS TO IMMUNITY FROM SEIZURE UNDER JUDICIAL PROCESS OF CULTURAL OBJECTS.

Allows for various cultural objects to be brought to the US (w/concurrence of #Afghanistan's govt) for various temporary reasons. 6/n

SEC. 1217. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF UNITED STATES TALKS WITH #TALIBAN OFFICIALS AND #AFGHANISTAN’S COMPREHENSIVE PEACE PROCESS

Requires SECSTATE to submit *all* documents associated with the US-TB agreement (including secret annexes) to relevant Congressional committees... 7/n

...also requires a new quarterly report that addresses #Taliban adherence to that agreement, along w/a host of other issues pertaining to #Afghanistan of interest to Congress. 8/n

SEC. 1218. STRATEGY FOR POST-CONFLICT ENGAGEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN.

Requires SECSTATE & @USAID to submit this strategy w/in 120 days after a final reconciliation agreement is reached between the Government of #Afghanistan and the #Taliban/ 9/n

SEC. 1219. MODIFICATION TO REPORT ON ENHANCING SECURITY AND STABILITY IN AFGHANISTAN.

Requires #DOD's biannual report to add more info on #CIVCAS & include again the district control assessment that DOD discontinued for reasons I describe here👇 10/n
warontherocks.com/2019/05/milita…

SEC. 1220. REPORT ON OPERATION FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.

Requires a year-end summary report on OFS (the US-only operation in #Afghanistan) for FYs 2021 through 2023. 11/n

SEC. 1521. #AFGHANISTAN SECURITY FORCES FUND.

Allows SECDEF to accept equipment that was purchased for the #ANDSF but that they don't want. Requires no less than $10M (w/goal of $29M) to be spent on integration of women into the ANDSF.... 12/n

...requires #DOD to certify that the govt of #Afghanistan is making progress in a host of areas & if not, to withhold 5-15% of funding for #ANDSF. And strongly hints that Congress is not okay w/increasing provision of on-budget funding to the Afghan govt. 13/n

SEC. 4302. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS

Sets #Afghanistan Security Forces Fund FY21 amount at $4.015B

END. 14/14