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This bill seeks to improve oversight of U.S. assistance to Afghanistan while strengthening the Afghan government and combatting corruption. It also aims to address security challenges facing the Afghan government in the wake of U.S. and coalition military personnel withdrawing from the country.

This bill authorizes funding to support anti-corruption programs and audits within the Afghan government. Funding would also go to the Afghan National Security Forces, the country’s police force, and watchdog groups that monitor human rights and civil society in Afghanistan.

Annual reports would be given to Congress and relevant agencies on potential cases of corruption by officials in the Afghan government (or their relatives). The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would report on the U.S. military’s long-term programs to improve coordination between U.S. development agencies, the military, and the Commander’s Emergency Response Program.

The Secretary of State would be asked to develop a multi-year strategy to promote accountability in Afghanistan between federal agencies and the Afghan government.

","official_title":"A bill to support enhanced accountability for United States assistance to Afghanistan, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Afghanistan Accountability Act of 2015","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Afghanistan Accountability Act of 2015\n\nTITLE I--EFFECTIVE AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY\n\n(Sec. 102) This bill expresses the sense of Congress with respect to U.S. assistance and accountability in Afghanistan, including that:\n\n the National Unity Government of Afghanistan has made a substantial commitment to reform that should be supported but also subject to heightened scrutiny by the Afghan people and international donors; the international community should work closely with the new government in supporting development priorities; the U.S. government should deepen its dialogue on anti-corruption efforts with the government of Afghanistan; the United States should encourage Afghanistan's participation in the Open Government Partnership in which government and civil society collaborate to promote transparency, fight corruption, and use technologies to strengthen government; the United States should urge the government of Afghanistan to build upon existing anti-money launderi...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"People in Afghanistan, people in the U.S. with ties to Afghanistan, U.S. agencies undertaking development programs in Afghanistan, the U.S. military, the GAO, the Secretary of State, and U.S./Afghanistan diplomatic relations. 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Elliott

Increasing Oversight of Aid Sent to Afghanistan