[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 98 (Monday, June 20, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 501--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON RUSSIAN 
                          MILITARY AGGRESSION

  Mr. PERDUE (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
Risch, and Mr. Gardner) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 501

       Whereas, on May 25, 1972, the United States and the Soviet 
     Union signed the Agreement Between the Government of The 
     United States of America and the Government of The Union of 
     Soviet Socialist Republics on the Prevention of Incidents On 
     and Over the High Seas (the ``Agreement''). Russia and the 
     United States remain parties to the Agreement;
       Whereas Article IV of the Agreement provides that 
     ``Commanders of aircraft of the Parties shall use the 
     greatest caution and prudence in approaching aircraft and 
     ships of the other Party operating on and over the high seas, 
     and . . . shall not permit simulated attacks by the simulated 
     use of weapons against aircraft and ships, or performance of 
     various aerobatics over ships'';
       Whereas, on January 25, 2016, a Russian Su-27 air-
     superiority fighter flew within 15 feet of a United States 
     Air Force RC-135U aircraft flying a routine patrol in 
     international airspace over the Black Seal;
       Whereas, on April 11, 2016, the USS DONALD COOK, an 
     Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was repeatedly 
     buzzed by Russian Su-24 attack aircraft while operating in 
     the Baltic Sea. United States officials described the low-
     passes as having a ``simulated attack profile'';
       Whereas, on April 12, 2014, a Russian Su-24 again conducted 
     close-range low altitude passes for about 90 minutes near the 
     DONALD COOK;
       Whereas the United States European Command expressed ``deep 
     concerns'' about the April 11 and 12, 2016, Russian close-
     range passes over the DONALD COOK and stated that the 
     maneuvers were ``unprofessional and unsafe'';
       Whereas, on April 14, 2016, a Russian Su-27 barrel-rolled 
     over a United States reconnaissance aircraft operating in 
     international airspace over the Baltic Sea, at one point 
     coming within 50 feet of the United States plane. The 
     Pentagon condemned the maneuver as ``erratic and 
     aggressive'';
       Whereas, on April 20, 2016, Russian Permanent 
     Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO) Alexander Grushko accused United States military 
     aircraft and vessels operating in international waters as 
     attempting ``to exercise military pressure on Russia'' and 
     promised to ``take all necessary measures [and] precautions, 
     to compensate for these attempts to use military force'';
       Whereas, on April 29, 2016, another Russian Su-27 performed 
     another barrel-roll over a United States Air Force RC-135 
     reconnaissance plane, this time coming within approximately 
     100 feet of the aircraft;
       Whereas the commander of the United States Cyber Command, 
     Admiral Mike Rogers, warned Congress during a Senate hearing 
     that Russia and China can now launch crippling cyberattacks 
     on the electric grid and other critical infrastructures of 
     the United States;
       Whereas Russia's military build-up and increasing Anti-
     Access/Area Denial capabilities in Kaliningrad and its 
     expanded operations in the Arctic, the Black Sea, the eastern 
     Mediterranean Sea, and in Syria aim to deny United States 
     access to key areas of Eurasia and often pose direct 
     challenges to stated United States interests;
       Whereas the United States has determined that in 2015, 
     Russia continued to be in violation of obligations under the 
     Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of 
     Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of their 
     Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (the ``INF 
     Treaty''), signed in Washington, D.C. on December 8, 1987, 
     and entered into force June 1, 1988, not to possess, produce, 
     or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range 
     capability of 500 km to 5,500 km, or to possess or produce 
     launchers of such missiles; and
       Whereas General Philip Breedlove, Commander of United 
     States European Command, stated that ``we face a resurgent 
     and aggressive Russia, and as we have continued to witness 
     these last two years, Russia continues to seek to extend its 
     influence on its periphery and beyond'': Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the recent dangerous and unprofessional 
     Russian intercepts of United States-flagged aircraft and 
     vessels;
       (2) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     cease provocative military maneuvers that endanger United 
     States forces and those of its allies;
       (3) calls on the United States, its European allies, and 
     the international community to continue to apply pressure on 
     the Government of the Russian Federation to cease its 
     provocative international behavior; and
       (4) reaffirms the right of the United States to operate 
     military aircraft and vessels in international airspace and 
     waters.

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