To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with United States military operations, and for other purposes.

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

H.R.9696 through Congress

H.R.9696 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

HouseDec 27, 2022IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No Senate action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related Senate measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the Senate stage of H.R.9696.

Related Senate bill: S.4108 Protection of Civilians in Military Operations Act

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 27, 2022

This bill requires the Department of Defense to assign personnel to specified offices and commands to be responsible for providing guidance related to the prevention of harm to civilians.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · D–CA

Committees

Armed Services Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Dec 27, 2022
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Dec 27, 2022
Introduced in House
Dec 27, 2022
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Dec 27, 2022 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.9696 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9696, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with United States military operations, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-12-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr9696/BILLS-117hr9696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.9696 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.9696 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9696, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with United States military operations, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-12-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr9696/BILLS-117hr9696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9696 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.9696 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9696, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with United States military operations, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-12-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr9696/BILLS-117hr9696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9696 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.9696 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9696, 117th Congress: To direct the Secretary of Defense to provide certain resources to implement the Department of Defense policy on civilian harm in connection with United States military operations, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/9696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-12-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr9696/BILLS-117hr9696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9696 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.