[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 144 (Thursday, September 7, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S5070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 841. Ms. HIRONO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. ___. ASSESSMENT OF THE EXPANDING GLOBAL INFLUENCE OF 
                   CHINA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY 
                   INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) Assessment.--The Secretary of Defense shall enter into 
     a contract or other agreement with an appropriate entity 
     independent of the Department of Defense to conduct an 
     assessment of the foreign military and non-military influence 
     of the People's Republic of China which could affect the 
     regional and global national security and defense interests 
     of the United States.
       (b) Elements.--The assessment required by subsection (a) 
     shall include an evaluation of the following:
       (1) The expansion by China of military and non-military 
     means of influence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and 
     globally, including, infrastructure investments, influence 
     campaigns, loans, access to military equipment, military 
     training, tourism, media, and access to foreign ports and 
     military bases, and whether such means of influence could 
     affect United States national security or defense interests, 
     including operational access.
       (2) The implications, if any, of such means of influence 
     for the military force posture, access, training, and 
     logistics of the United States and China.
       (3) The United States policy and strategy for mitigating 
     any harmful effects resulting from such means of influence.
       (4) The resources required to implement the policy and 
     strategy, and the plan to address and mitigate any gaps in 
     capabilities or resources necessary for the implementation of 
     the policy and strategy.
       (5) Measures to bolster the roles of allies, partners, and 
     other countries to implement the policy and strategy.
       (6) Any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     congressional defense committees a report on the assessment 
     required pursuant to subsection (a).
       (2) Form.--The report required shall be submitted 
     unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
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