Measure targets counterterrorism enhancement, extremism

House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) reintroduced the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) Act (H.R. 567), which authorizes an interagency program to strengthen counterterrorism operations and while improving the coordination of assistance to address rising extremism.

The TSCTP program, which was established in 2005, is a multi-agency effort to aid partners in West and North Africa to increase immediate and long-term capabilities to address terrorist threats in the region.

“In the last year alone, ISIS and Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist attacks in the Sahel have more than doubled, killing over 4,000 people,” McCaul said. “A military response alone will not address this threat. That is why it’s so important for a strong, coordinated U.S. response that appropriately balances our diplomatic, development, and defense efforts to build partner countries’ capacity to combat terrorism and address the root causes of extremism.”

McCaul indicated the United States has learned first-hand the groups, left unabated and exploiting safe havens, pose grave threats to U.S. national security interests.

The bill would also increase congressional oversight and ensure more effective use of taxpayer funds.