Rep. Schneider Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Require National Intelligence Estimate on Iranian Proxy Forces
Estimate would examine Iranian support for Hizballah and presence in Syria and on border with Israel
Today, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to require a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's support for proxy forces. The bill would also require the Administration to report to Congress with a strategy to prevent Iran from expanding its power in Syria and Lebanon.
An NIE represents the U.S. intelligence community's most authoritative assessment of a specific national-security issue, and is a classified document produced by the Director of National Intelligence with coordination from 16 agencies in the U.S. intelligence community.
"Iran is a very bad actor in a volatile region, and the United States and our allies must stand up to their destabilizing activities," said Schneider. "A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) is an important step to understanding the full extent of Iran's support for proxy forces, as well as toward developing a comprehensive strategy to limit Iran's malign influence. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill to address Iran's threat to regional stability and protect the national security of America and our allies."
Among the information required by H.R. 4012, the NIE on Iranian Proxy Forces Act is:
- A description of arms or related material transferred by Iran to Hizballah since March 2011.
- A description of Iranian and Iranian-controlled personnel operating within Syria.
- A description of rocket–producing facilities in Lebanon for non-state actors, as well as analysis of the foreign and domestic supply chains that support these facilities.
- A description Russia's tactical and strategic collaboration with Iranian and Hizballah elements in Syria.
- A description of the threat posed to Israel and other United States partners in the Middle East by the transfer of arms or related material to Hizballah from Iran.
The bipartisan legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Luis Correa (D-CA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gene Green (D-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Ted Poe (R-TX), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and Ted Yoho (R-FL),