[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3064 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3064
To require a comprehensive, multilateral assessment of the military
requirements of Baltic countries to deter and resist aggression by the
Russian Federation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 3, 2019
Mr. Conaway introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a comprehensive, multilateral assessment of the military
requirements of Baltic countries to deter and resist aggression by the
Russian Federation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Baltic Reassurance Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Russian Federation seeks to diminish the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and recreate its sphere of
influence in Europe using coercion, intimidation, and outright
aggression.
(2) Deterring the Russian Federation from such aggression
is vital for transatlantic security.
(3) The illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian
Federation and its continued engagement of destabilizing and
subversive activities against independent and free states is of
increasing concern.
(4) The Russian Federation also continues to disregard
treaties, international laws and rights to freedom of
navigation, territorial integrity, and sovereign international
borders.
(5) The Russian Federation's continued occupation of
Georgian and Ukrainian territories and the sustained military
buildup in the Russian Federation's Western Military District
and Kaliningrad has threatened continental peace and stability.
(6) The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
are particularly vulnerable to an increasingly aggressive and
subversive Russian Federation.
(7) In a declaration to celebrate 100 years of independence
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania issued on April 3, 2018, the
Trump Administration reaffirmed United States commitments to
these Baltic countries to ``improve military readiness and
capabilities through sustained security assistance'' and
``explore new ideas and opportunities, including air defense,
bilaterally and in NATO, to enhance deterrence across the
region''.
(8) These highly valued NATO allies of the United States
have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to advancing
mutual interests as well as those of the NATO alliance.
(9) The Baltic countries also continue to participate in
United States-led exercises to further promote coordination,
cooperation, and interoperability among allies and partner
countries, and continue to demonstrate their reliability and
commitment to provide for their own defense.
(10) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia each hosts a respected
NATO Center of Excellence that provides expertise to educate
and promote NATO allies and partners in areas of vital interest
to the alliance.
(11) United States support and commitment to allies across
Europe has been a lynchpin for peace and security on the
continent for over 70 years.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress as follows:
(1) The United States is committed to the security of the
Baltic countries and should strengthen cooperation and support
capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving the defense
and security of such countries.
(2) The United States should lead a multilateral effort to
develop a strategy to deepen joint capabilities with Lithuania,
Latvia, Estonia, NATO allies, and other regional partners, to
deter against aggression from the Russian Federation in the
Baltic region, specifically in areas that would strengthen
interoperability, joint capabilities, and military readiness
necessary for Baltic countries to strengthen their national
resilience.
(3) The United States should explore the feasibility of
providing long range, mobile air defense systems in the Baltic
region, including through leveraging cost-sharing mechanisms
and multilateral deployment with NATO allies to reduce
financial burdens on host countries.
SEC. 4. DEFENSE ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation
with appropriate counterparts of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, and other regional
partners, conduct a comprehensive, multilateral assessment of the
military requirements of such countries to deter and resist aggression
by the Russian Federation that--
(1) provides an assessment of past and current initiatives
to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, readiness, and
interoperability of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia's national
defense capabilities; and
(2) assesses the manner in which to meet those objectives,
including future resource requirements and recommendations, by
undertaking activities in the following areas:
(A) Activities to increase the rotational and
forward presence, improve the capabilities, and enhance
the posture and response readiness of the United States
or forces of NATO in the Baltic region.
(B) Activities to improve air defense systems,
including modern air-surveillance capabilities.
(C) Activities to improve counter-unmanned aerial
system capabilities.
(D) Activities to improve command and control
capabilities through increasing communications,
technology, and intelligence capacity and coordination,
including secure and hardened communications.
(E) Activities to improve intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
(F) Activities to enhance maritime domain
awareness.
(G) Activities to improve military and defense
infrastructure, logistics, and access, particularly
transport of military supplies and equipment.
(H) Investments to ammunition stocks and storage.
(I) Activities and training to enhance cyber
security and electronic warfare capabilities.
(J) Bilateral and multilateral training and
exercises.
(K) New and existing cost-sharing mechanisms with
United States and NATO allies to reduce financial
burden.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report that includes each of the following:
(1) A report on the findings of the assessment conducted
pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) A list of any recommendations resulting from such
assessment.
(3) An assessment of the resource requirements to achieve
the objectives described in subsection (a)(1) with respect to
the national defense capability of Baltic countries, including
potential investments by host countries.
(4) A plan for the United States to use appropriate
security cooperation authorities or other authorities to--
(A) facilitate relevant recommendations included in
the list described in paragraph (2);
(B) expand joint training between the Armed Forces
and the military of Lithuania, Latvia, or Estonia,
including with the participation of other NATO allies;
and
(C) support United States foreign military sales
and other equipment transfers to Baltic countries
especially for the activities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (I) of subsection (a)(2).
SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``congressional defense committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.
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