[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3864-S3865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 156--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 10-
         YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF NATO ALLIED COMMAND TRANSFORMATION

  Mr. WARNER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 156

       Whereas, on June 19, 2003, NATO's Allied Command 
     Transformation (ACT), was formally established to increase 
     military effectiveness and prepare the Alliance for future 
     security challenges;
       Whereas, on June 19, 2013, the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of 
     the establishment of NATO ACT;
       Whereas the security of the United States and its NATO 
     allies have been enhanced by the establishment and continued 
     work of NATO ACT;
       Whereas, for the past 10 years, ACT has been leading the 
     charge for NATO military transformation, and providing 
     relevant and timely support to NATO operations, and 
     developing partnerships around the globe to adapt to the 
     changing global security environment;
       Whereas ACT is the only NATO headquarters in the United 
     States, and the only permanent NATO headquarters outside of 
     Europe;
       Whereas ACT provides state of the art education, training, 
     and application of best practices and lessons learned from 
     past operations, and equips Alliance troops with the tools 
     they need to win today's wars;

[[Page S3865]]

       Whereas ACT improves NATO's defense planning and develops 
     compatible equipment and common standards necessary to keep 
     Alliance capabilities aligned;
       Whereas NATO ACT has been integral to a NATO mission of 
     promoting a Europe that is whole, undivided, free, and at 
     peace;
       Whereas NATO ACT strengthened the ability of NATO to 
     perform a full range of missions throughout the world;
       Whereas NATO ACT has provided crucial support and 
     participation in the NATO International Security Assistance 
     Force in Afghanistan, as NATO endeavors to help the people of 
     Afghanistan create the conditions necessary for security and 
     successful development and reconstruction;
       Whereas ACT employs personnel from 26 NATO member nations 
     and 6 NATO Partner nations and contributes more than 
     $100,000,000 annually to the local economy;
       Whereas NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic 
     security cooperation and an enduring instrument for promoting 
     stability in Europe and throughout the world for over 60 
     years, representing the vital transatlantic bond of 
     solidarity between the United States and Europe, as NATO 
     nations share similar values and interests and are committed 
     to the maintenance of democratic principles;
       Whereas the Chicago Summit Communique affirms that all NATO 
     members ``are determined that NATO will continue to play its 
     unique and essential role in ensuring our common defense and 
     security'' and that NATO ``continues to be effective in a 
     changing world, against new threats, with new capabilities 
     and new partners'';
       Whereas, through the Alliance, the United States and Europe 
     are effective and steadfast partners in security, and ACT is 
     well positioned to contribute to the strength of the Alliance 
     on both continents;
       Whereas NATO ACT has done much to help NATO meet the global 
     challenges of the 21st century, including the threat of 
     terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, 
     instability caused by failed states, and threats to global 
     energy security; and
       Whereas the 10th anniversary of NATO ACT is an opportunity 
     to enhance and more deeply entrench those principles, which 
     continue to bind the alliance together and guide our efforts 
     today: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the establishment of 
     NATO Allied Command Transformation (NATO ACT);
       (2) recognizes NATO ACT's leading role to continue to 
     transform alliance forces and capabilities, using new 
     concepts such as the NATO Response Force and new doctrines in 
     order to improve the alliance's military effectiveness;
       (3) expresses appreciation for the continuing and close 
     partnership between the United States Government and NATO to 
     transform the alliance;
       (4) remembers the 65 years NATO has served to ensure peace, 
     security, and stability in Europe throughout the world, and 
     urges the United States Government to continue to seek new 
     ways to deepen and expand its important relationships with 
     NATO;
       (5) recognizes the service of the brave men and women who 
     have served to safeguard the freedom and security of the 
     United States and the whole of the transatlantic alliance;
       (6) honors the sacrifices of United States personnel, 
     allies of the North American Treaty Organization (referred to 
     in this resolution as ``NATO''), and partners in Afghanistan;
       (7) Recognizes the outstanding partnership between the 
     local community in Norfolk, Virginia and NATO personnel 
     assigned to ACT;
       (8) reaffirms that NATO, through the new Strategic Concept, 
     is oriented toward the changing international security 
     environment and the challenges of the future;
       (9) urges all NATO members to take concrete steps to 
     implement the Strategic Concept and to utilize the taskings 
     from the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, to address 
     current NATO operations, future capabilities and burden-
     sharing issues, and strengthen the relationship between NATO 
     and partners around the world; and
       (10) conveys appreciation for the steadfast partnership 
     between NATO and the United States.

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