WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) have introduced the Stabilization and Reconstruction Civilian Management Act of 2004, H.R. 3996, legislation to improve federal coordination to undertake post-conflict stabilization, reconstruction and civilian management.
“This bill is an important first step in reconfiguring the U.S. Government to strengthen our ability to deal with complex emergencies overseas,” Rep. Adam Schiff said. “It will both redistribute the burden for these operations, which has fallen disproportionately on the Department of Defense, and institutionalize the expertise in handling these crises within the State Department.”
"On a scale of 1 to 10, the performance of our troops during the war was an ‘11.’" But it is clear the United States needs to reexamine how we handle post-conflict scenarios," said Shays. "Our legislation creates a response corps that can address many of the non-security missions that have burdened our military. Senators Lugar and Biden have done a tremendous service by convening a bipartisan policy advisory group to discuss U.S. response in to post-conflict reconstruction problems, and arriving at the recommendations embodied in this legislation. I am grateful to join Adam Schiff in introducing it."
U.S. Senators and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Ranking Member Joseph Biden (D-DE) introduced the Senate version of this bill, S. 2171, in February.
Specifically, this bill will:
- Urge the President to establish a Stabilization and Reconstruction Coordinating Committee to be chaired by the National Security Advisor.
- Authorize the creation of an office within the State Department to be the focal point for coordinating the civilian component of stabilization and reconstruction missions and to ensure that civilian components of the United States Government are prepared for joint civilian-military operations.
- Authorize the Secretary of State to create a Response Readiness Corps with both active duty and reserve components, drawn from across the federal government and the private sector, available to be called upon to respond to emerging international crises.
- Urge the Foreign Service Institute to work with the National Defense University and the Army War College to establish an educational and training curriculum to bring together civilian and military personnel to enhance their abilities to meet the challenges of post-conflict and reconstruction operations.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. He founded and is a Co-Chair of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and is a member of the Committee on International Relations.