[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4305 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4305
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to
further enhance the assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine
to defend against further aggression by Russia and Russian-backed
separatists against Ukraine, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 18, 2015
Mr. Hunter 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 amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to
further enhance the assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine
to defend against further aggression by Russia and Russian-backed
separatists against Ukraine, 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 ``Ukrainian Warfighter Assistance
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Ukraine's border is 6,995 kilometers long, including
1,974 kilometers of controlled border with Russia, 195
kilometers of an administrative line with Crimea, and 409
kilometers of border in the east that is currently
uncontrolled.
(2) Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
in 2014, 64 Ukrainian border guards have been killed and
another 391 have been wounded.
(3) Implementation of the Minsk Agreement will require the
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine to reestablish border
checkpoints in currently uncontrolled territory and to monitor
the border to verify full implementation of the Agreement.
(4) Ukraine has already ordered the development of
engineering and technical systems to strengthen the controlled
border between Ukraine and Russia, Ukranian maritime borders,
and areas adjacent to the uncontrolled territory and occupied
Crimea.
(5) Russian unmanned aerial vehicles are being used for
correction of Russian-backed separatist artillery fire, and
Russian-backed separatists continue to compromise Ukrainian
tactical communication networks.
(6) A Ukrainian early warning network is needed to warn of
any new aggression on the border.
(7) Ukrainian anti-tank guided missiles require
modernization to increase soldier survivability.
(8) Because future military operations in eastern Ukraine
will rely heavily on special operations forces, special
operations training is a high priority for the armed forces of
Ukraine.
(9) Section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92) rightfully called for
the United States to provide to Ukraine critical training and
equipment to enhance the capabilities of the military and other
security forces of Ukraine to defend against further aggression
from Russia and Russian-backed separatists.
(10) The assistance provided to Ukraine under such section
must be enhanced even further to adapt to the current threats
facing Ukraine.
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF UKRAINE SECURITY ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE.
Section 1250(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and jamming counter-
measures against such systems'' after ``surveillance systems'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) as
paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new
paragraph:
``(7) Electro-optical/infrared sensor and multi-mode radar
equipped early warning systems.'';
(4) in paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by striking
``(7)'' and inserting ``(8)''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(11) Training for the staff officers and leadership of
the military and other security forces of the Government of
Ukraine.
``(12) Assistance to Ukraine to develop the ability to
domestically produce anti-armor weapon systems.
``(13) Equipment and technical assistance provided directly
to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the purpose of
developing a comprehensive and routine surveillance network.
``(14) Construction of a special forces training center and
assistance in developing a special forces training program.''.
SEC. 4. BORDER GUARD PRIORITIZATION.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States
that the Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of
State, when providing equipment and technical assistance to the
Government of Ukraine, shall give priority to assistance for purposes
of protecting and monitoring the borders of Ukraine.
(b) Modification of Report on Military Assistance to Ukraine.--
Section 1275(c) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law
113-291; 128 Stat. 3591) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(8) An assessment of the extent to which the Secretary of
Defense has prioritized, or is prioritizing, the security
assistance provided, or to be provided, to the Government of
Ukraine for the purposes of protecting and monitoring the
borders of Ukraine.''.
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