H.R. 7632: Strategic Hybrid Activities Defense and Operations for the West Act

This bill, known as the Strategic Hybrid Activities Defense and Operations for the West Act (or SHADOW Act), aims to confront the growing threat of hybrid warfare against U.S. interests. Below are the key components of the bill:

Assessment and Engagement

The Secretary of State is required to:

• Assess the ongoing threats of hybrid warfare activities, particularly those affecting U.S. interests in Europe.
• Engage with foreign governments to promote cooperation in countering these hybrid threats, which could destabilize transatlantic relations and the security of U.S. citizens abroad.
• Encourage information sharing among NATO allies regarding hybrid warfare, particularly related to Chinese and Russian cyber activities.

Coordinator for Hybrid Warfare Accountability

The bill establishes the role of a Coordinator for hybrid warfare accountability, who will:

• Be designated by the Secretary of State within 30 days of the bill's enactment.
• Report directly to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.
• Oversee the assessment and integration of information on hybrid warfare activities.
• Identify gaps in understanding hybrid threats and make recommendations to address these gaps.
• Coordinate information sharing among NATO allies and other key partners, such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Support resilience efforts with allies in critical sectors vulnerable to foreign pressure.

Reporting Requirements

The Coordinator must submit several reports to Congress, including:

• Initial identification of the Coordinator and strategy plans within 60 days of designation.
• Annual assessments on hybrid warfare activities for three years, detailing findings, progress on interagency coordination, and actions taken to support resilience with allies.

Reports may be classified when necessary to protect sensitive information.

Definition of Hybrid Warfare Activities

Hybrid warfare activities are defined as using both military and non-military means to influence or destabilize U.S. interests. Examples include:

• Information campaigns against U.S. interests.
• Cyber-attacks.
• Economic coercion.
• Deployment of irregular armed groups.
• Exploitation of migration for political pressure.
• Sabotage of critical infrastructures.
• Targeted assassinations.

Report on Chinese Entities Supporting Russia

The Coordinator is responsible for a report within 180 days identifying Chinese entities that materially support Russia's defense industry. This report will:

• Identify these entities and potentially recommend sanctions or export controls to address their support.
• Be publicly available, although a classified annex may be included for sensitive intelligence.

Definition of Congressional Committees

The bill specifies that the relevant congressional committees for oversight will be the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Senate.

Relevant Companies

None found