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Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act

12/15/2023, 4:00 PM

Summary of Bill HR 4690

The Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 4690, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Defense to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the United States' ability to respond to and deter aggression in the "gray zone," which refers to conflicts that fall between traditional war and peace.

The bill mandates that the assessment include an evaluation of the capabilities and readiness of the US military to address gray zone threats, as well as an analysis of potential gaps in current strategies and resources. Additionally, the Department of Defense would be required to provide recommendations for improving the US government's ability to counter gray zone aggression.

The Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act has garnered bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing the importance of addressing the evolving nature of modern warfare. Proponents of the bill argue that a comprehensive assessment of the US military's capabilities in the gray zone is necessary to ensure national security and protect American interests abroad. If passed, the Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act would represent a significant step towards enhancing the United States' ability to respond to emerging threats and challenges in an increasingly complex global security environment.

Congressional Summary of HR 4690

Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act

This bill requires the President, the Department of State, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to each provide reports to Congress related to gray zone campaigns or assets. (Gray zone campaigns involve advancing a nation's interests through activities that fall between ordinary statecraft and open warfare without provoking a kinetic military conflict. Gray zone assets are entities or proxies used in gray zone activities.)

Specifically, the bill

  • requires the President to submit a report to Congress on the processes and capabilities by which the United States responds to gray zone campaigns and recommendations to enhance such processes and capabilities;
  • requires the State Department to submit a report to Congress on the department's understanding of the gray zone threat environment and capacity to contribute to coordinated U.S. responses to adversary gray zone campaigns; and
  • expands a required Intelligence Community Assessment regarding Russian gray zone assets to include the gray zone assets of China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Syria. (ODNI must submit this expanded assessment to Congress annually.)

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 4690

Bill HR 4690 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since July 17, 2023. Bill HR 4690 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on July 17, 2023.  Bill HR 4690's most recent activity was Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. as of July 17, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 4690

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
14
Democrat Cosponsors
6
Republican Cosponsors
8
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 4690

Primary Policy Focus

Armed Forces and National Security

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 4690

Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act
Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act
To assess the capacity of the United States to effectively marshal disparate elements of national power to counter adversary political warfare campaigns, and for other purposes.

Comments

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 4690

August Pfluger
August Pfluger
TexasRepublican
Dean Phillips
Dean Phillips
MinnesotaDemocrat
Zachary Nunn
Zachary Nunn
IowaRepublican
Darrell Issa
Darrell Issa
CaliforniaRepublican
Jake Ellzey
Jake Ellzey
TexasRepublican
Donald G. Davis
Donald G. Davis
North CarolinaDemocrat

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