; and (4) ensure awareness of and making use of best practices in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of security assistance. (d) Exception The requirements of this section shall not apply if the Secretary of State certifies to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the Department of State has established an alternative mechanism for the effective coordination of security assistance. Such certification shall describe such alternative mechanism to achieve the objectives described in this section. 205. Database for security assistance (a) In general The President should seek to ensure that the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and other appropriate Federal agencies are able to share a common database of information that permits the identification of security assistance programs and funding by country. (b) GAO report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that assesses existing barriers to data sharing and exchanges that would assist in planning, assessing, and tracking security assistance. 206. Notification of chief of mission concurrence for support of special operations to combat terrorism (a) In general The Secretary of State shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate written notice when a chief of mission has exercised concurrence with respect to the exercise of authority to provide support of special operations to combat terrorism, including, at a minimum, identification of the relevant country. (b) Briefings Upon the request of a committee specified in subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall provide to such committee a briefing regarding matters within the competence of the Department of State related to the concurrence described in such subsection. 207.