This bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense to carefully evaluate the human rights records of foreign military forces, irregular forces, and groups before providing them with American military support for counterterrorism and special operations activities. The legislation prohibits the use of funds to support any individual or unit that the Secretary of Defense has credible information has committed gross human rights violations, though the Secretary can waive this prohibition in extraordinary circumstances or if the foreign government has taken corrective steps. The bill affects defense officials and the State Department, who must now work together to vet recipients, assess their human rights practices, provide human rights training, and investigate allegations of abuses. The measure applies to ongoing military assistance programs and requires reporting on recipients' human rights records and how the support advances U.S. national security interests. No new funding is authorized by this bill, and it does not authorize covert operations, the introduction of U.S. armed forces into combat, or activities that violate the laws of armed conflict.
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