To express the sense of the Senate that the United States faces continuing threats from terrorist groups operating in Syria and Afghanistan and that the precipitous withdrawal of United States forces from either country could put at risk hard-won gains and United States national security.

SA 65. Mr. McCONNELL (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Burr,
Mr. Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer,
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr.
Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. Boozman)
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain
defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the
appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-
Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale
slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. SENSE OF SENATE ON WITHDRAWALS OF UNITED STATES
FORCES FROM SYRIA AND AFGHANISTAN.

(a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The foreign terrorist organization al Qaeda,
responsible for the attacks of September 11, 2001, maintains
a presence in Afghanistan.
(2) The Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, better known by
its acronym ISIS, flourished in the chaos unleashed by the
civil war in Syria and at one point controlled extensive
territory in Iraq and Syria.
(3) Al Qaeda, ISIS, and their affiliates have murdered
thousands of innocent civilians.
(4) Al Qaeda, ISIS, and their affiliates have proven
resilient and have regrouped when the United States and its
partners have withdrawn from the fight against them.
(b) Sense of Senate.--The Senate--
(1) acknowledges that the United States military and our
partners have made significant progress in the campaign
against al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham
(ISIS), and honors the contributions and sacrifice of the
members of the United States Armed Forces who have served on
the front lines of this fight;
(2) recognizes the continuing threat to the homeland and
our allies posed by al Qaeda

[[Page S748]]

and ISIS, which maintain an ability to operate in Syria and
Afghanistan;
(3) expresses concern that Iran has supported the Taliban
in Afghanistan and Hizballah and the Assad regime in Syria,
and has sought to frustrate diplomatic efforts to resolve
conflicts in these two countries;
(4) recognizes the positive role the United States and its
partners have played in Syria and Afghanistan fighting
terrorist groups, countering Iranian aggression, deterring
the further use of chemical weapons, and protecting human
rights;
(5) warns that a precipitous withdrawal of United States
forces from the on-going fight against these groups, without
effective, countervailing efforts to secure gains in Syria
and Afghanistan, could allow terrorists to regroup,
destabilize critical regions, and create vacuums that could
be filled by Iran or Russia, to the detriment of United
States interests and those of our allies;
(6) recognizes that al Qaeda and ISIS pose a global threat,
which merits increased international contributions to the
counterterrorism, diplomatic, and stabilization efforts
underway in Syria and Afghanistan;
(7) recognizes that diplomatic efforts to secure peaceful,
negotiated solutions to the conflicts in Syria and
Afghanistan are necessary to long-term stability and
counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East and South Asia;
(8) acknowledges the progress made by Special
Representative Khalilzad in his efforts to promote
reconciliation in Afghanistan;
(9) calls upon the Administration to conduct a thorough
review of the military and diplomatic strategies in Syria and
Afghanistan, including an assessment of the risk that
withdrawal from those countries could strengthen the power
and influence of Russia and Iran in the Middle East and South
Asia and undermine diplomatic efforts toward negotiated,
peaceful solutions;
(10) requests that the Administration, as part of this
review, solicit the views of Israel, our regional partners,
and other key troop-contributing nations in the fight against
al Qaeda and ISIS;
(11) reiterates support for international diplomatic
efforts to facilitate peaceful, negotiated resolutions to the
on-going conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan on terms that
respect the rights of innocent civilians and deny safe havens
to terrorists;
(12) calls upon the Administration to pursue a strategy
that sets the conditions for the long-term defeat of al Qaeda
and ISIS, as well as the protection of regional partners and
allies, while ensuring that Iran cannot dominate the region
or threaten Israel;
(13) encourages close collaboration between the Executive
Branch and the Legislative Branch to ensure continuing
strong, bipartisan support for United States military
operations in Syria and Afghanistan; and
(14) calls upon the Administration to certify that
conditions have been met for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda
and ISIS before initiating any significant withdrawal of
United States forces from Syria or Afghanistan.
______