[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7246 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7246
To reiterate the support of the Congress of the United States for the
relationship between the United States and the Federal Republic of
Germany, to prevent the weakening of the deterrence capacity of the
United States in Europe, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2020
Mr. Engel 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 reiterate the support of the Congress of the United States for the
relationship between the United States and the Federal Republic of
Germany, to prevent the weakening of the deterrence capacity of the
United States in Europe, 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 ``Maintaining United States National
Security Interests in Europe Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The 2017 National Security Strategy states, ``the
United States will deepen collaboration with our European
allies and partners to confront forces threatening to undermine
our common values, security interests, and shared vision. The
United States and Europe will work together to counter Russian
subversion and aggression, and the threats posed by North Korea
and Iran. We will continue to advance our shared principles and
interests in international forums.''.
(2) After the end of World War II, the presence of foreign
military forces in Germany was governed by a law signed in
April 1949 that allowed France, the United Kingdom, and the
United States to retain forces in Germany.
(3) The initial law was succeeded by the Convention on the
Presence of Foreign Forces in the Federal Republic of Germany,
signed at Paris on October 23, 1954, allowing eight North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, specifically
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom, and the United States, to maintain a long-
term presence of military forces in Germany.
(4) Germany has made significant contributions to the NATO
alliance and, by hosting the largest United States Armed Forces
presence in Europe, Germany has borne a significant burden in
the interest of collective security.
(5) As of June 2020, the United States presence in various
locations in Germany, including in Stuttgart at the United
States European Command and the United States Africa Command,
consists of--
(A) approximately--
(i) 35,000 members of the Armed Forces;
(ii) 10,000 Department of Defense civilian
employees; and
(iii) 2,000 defense contractors;
(B) personnel of the Department of State and other
United States Government agencies; and
(C) the dependents of individuals described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(6) The United States presence in Europe, including in
Germany--
(A) protects and defends the United States and
United States allies and partners by deterring conflict
with Russia and other adversaries;
(B) strengthens and supports the NATO alliance and
critical partnerships in Europe; and
(C) serves as an essential support platform for
carrying out vital national security engagements in
Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
(7) The deep bilateral ties between the United States and
Germany have led to decades of economic prosperity for both
countries and their allies and have strengthened human rights
and democracy around the world.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should continue to maintain and
strengthen the bilateral relationship with Germany and other
European allies;
(2) the United States should maintain a robust military
presence in Germany so as to deter further aggression from
Russia or aggression from other adversaries against the United
States and its allies and partners; and
(3) the United States should remain committed to strong
collaboration with European allies as outlined in the 2017
National Security Strategy.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO WITHDRAW THE ARMED FORCES FROM
EUROPE.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds are
authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to take any
action--
(1) to withdraw or otherwise reduce the overall presence,
including rotational presence, of members of the Armed Forces
or civilian employees of the Department of Defense in Europe;
(2) to close or otherwise change the status of any base or
other facility of the Armed Forces located in Europe; or
(3) to withdraw or otherwise reduce the overall presence of
Armed Forces assets in Europe.
(b) Exceptions.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not
apply if--
(1) a host government transmits to the United States
Government a written request for such a withdrawal or other
reduction; or
(2)(A) the President declares the intent to take an action
described in subsection (a);
(B) not later than 180 days before the intended
date of such action, the President submits to the
appropriate committees of Congress notice of such
intent that includes--
(i) a justification for the action;
(ii) as applicable--
(I) the number of members of the
Armed Forces or civilian employees of
the Department of Defense to be
withdrawn or reduced;
(II) a description of any Armed
Forces assets to be withdrawn or
reduced; and
(III) a description of any base or
facility of the United States Armed
Forces in Europe to be subject to
closure or change of status;
(iii) an explanation of the national
security benefit of the action to the United
States and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization; and
(iv) a plan to offset the reduction in
United States and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization conventional deterrence against
Russian aggression caused by the action; and
(C) the action is expressly authorized by a joint
resolution or bill enacted after the date of the
declaration described in subparagraph (A).
(c) Public Testimony.--Not later than 14 days after the submission
of the notice described in subsection (b)(2)(B), the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Defense shall testify before the appropriate
committees of Congress in public session on such action.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE ARMED FORCES
FROM GERMANY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report that details the decision-making process used to
arrive at the decision to withdraw members of the Armed Forces from
Germany that was announced on June 15, 2020.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of whether any withdrawal or reduction in
United States Armed Forces personnel in Germany was ordered by
a Presidential directive.
(2) A description of the interagency process undertaken to
inform the decision outlined in any such Presidential directive
or other document calling for such a withdrawal or reduction.
(3) A description of the communications with the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Government of Germany, or
other member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization about the potential decision to change the United
States force posture in Germany.
(4) An analysis of the United States national security
implications of the proposed withdrawal or reduction of the
Armed Forces presence in Germany.
SEC. 5. APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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