Rep. Van Epps’ Bill To Strengthen Congressional Oversight of U.S. Partnerships with Non NATO Allies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07), a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, and a veteran of the War on Terror, introduced the Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act. This legislation empowers Congress to provide oversight of Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) designations to ensure the United States is not inadvertently supporting terrorist organizations.

Rep. Van Epps stated, “When the United States designates a nation as a Major non-NATO ally, it's a significant move. Giving a country MNNA status is not merely symbolic, it comes with practical benefits as well, including eligibility for defense trade, security cooperation, and expanded bidding on contracts. This legislation strengthens coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress to better assess and support MNNA partners as they confront threats within their own borders.”

He continued, “To ensure Congress has the information it needs to exercise effective oversight, I introduced the Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act. This bill requires the administration to provide Congress with a comprehensive assessment identifying foreign terrorist organizations operating within MNNA countries, as well as each partner’s capacity to counter those threats. Armed with this information, Congress can strengthen these partnerships while safeguarding U.S. national security interests.” 

Read the bill here 

Read the one-pager here

Background: 

The Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act requires the administration to evaluate the extent of terrorist activity in each Major Non-NATO Ally as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to mitigate these terrorist threats to the United States and prevent affiliated individuals from gaining entry to the U.S.

Over time, limited oversight of the MNNA program has created a gap where U.S.- designated terrorist organizations are present in, or operating from, MNNA countries. This bill addresses this gap by providing Congress with regular visibility into where these groups operate, how they function, how partner governments are responding, and whether the United States has the capabilities and resources needed to help our partners mitigate threats before they reach the homeland.