[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6065-H6067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE AND THE NORTH
ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
the
[[Page H6066]]
Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration
of the resolution (H. Res. 256) expressing support for the countries of
Eastern Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and ask for
its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, reserving my right to object, although I
don't intend to object, I want to, first of all, thank the chairman for
bringing this resolution to the floor.
The Foreign Affairs Committee marked up this resolution awhile back.
It passed unanimously, and we were under the impression that it might
come up for debate on Tuesday under suspension. That is what should
have happened.
Members should have had the opportunity to debate this in the House
before the NATO summit meeting began this morning, and sent a clear
message that this body stands with NATO, that we support this alliance,
the most successful in history, that our allies can count on American
leadership and American resolve.
Instead, we are rushing it through today, after the summit is halfway
over and after President Trump has again insulted our closest friends
on the global stage.
This is an important resolution. It should not be swept under the rug
because it is important that this body stand up for NATO, even if we
are late to the game.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The reservation is withdrawn.
Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 256
Whereas the United States has shown strong commitment to
the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
democratic development of the countries that emerged from the
ashes of the former Soviet Union and the communist bloc it
once dominated;
Whereas many of these countries have, during the past three
decades, undertaken the considerable political and economic
reforms necessary to achieve the aspirations for European and
Euro-Atlantic integration, or are continuing to do so;
Whereas the incorporation of Eastern European countries
into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has
contributed toward a vision of Europe that is aimed at
promoting stability and cooperation, at building a Europe
whole and free, united in peace, democracy and common values;
Whereas the mission of NATO since its founding in 1949 is
to promote democratic values, cooperation on defense and
security issues, and the peaceful resolution of disputes;
Whereas NATO remains the most important and critical
security link between the United States and Europe;
Whereas NATO allies and partners in Central and Eastern
Europe, including countries of the Western Balkans, and the
former Soviet Union have stood alongside the United States in
joint peace operations in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan,
Iraq, and elsewhere around the globe;
Whereas Russia's aggressive actions against neighboring
members of the NATO Alliance and nearby NATO partner
countries, including its many violations of Baltic airspace,
occupation of Georgian territory in 2008, annexation of
Crimea in 2014, and continued threats to Moldovan territorial
integrity and sovereignty, not only violate its commitments
under the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) agreements but are
also key contributors to Europe's instability;
Whereas NATO reaffirmed its military security commitment to
the Baltic States in response to increased Russian military
activities;
Whereas NATO allies increased their assistance to NATO
partner countries by endorsing the Substantial NATO-Georgia
Package in support of Georgia at the Wales Summit, the
Comprehensive Assistance Package in support of Ukraine at the
Warsaw Summit, and developed a phased Defense and Related
Security Capacity Building package in support of Moldova;
Whereas the European Reassurance Initiative represents the
United States commitment to enduring peace, stability, and
territorial integrity in Europe as members and partners of
the NATO Alliance;
Whereas British Prime Minister Theresa May stated, ``On
defense and security cooperation, we're united in our
recognition of NATO as the bulwark of our collective defense
and we reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to this
alliance. We're 100% behind NATO.'';
Whereas Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid stated, ``Our
NATO allies can rely on us to act as agreed in recent summits
in Chicago, Wales and Warsaw, our UN partners have
appreciated and respected our role in peacekeeping operations
and our European partners know that Estonia is a reliable
partner when there is a crisis'' and Estonian Prime Minister
Juri Ratas stated, ``Our commitment to NATO is steadfast.'';
Whereas Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis stated, ``We
[Latvia] continue increasing our defense spending
consistently on our own, and our allies appreciate that. A
historic decision on deployment of four multinational
battalions in the Baltic States and Poland was made at the
NATO Summit in Warsaw this summer. This is by far the most
serious proof of NATO's readiness to defend independence of
the Eastern European countries, including Latvia.'';
Whereas Czech Republic Prime Minster Bohuslav Sobotka
stated, ``NATO is the basis for our security'' and that he
hopes ``the United States will remain a solid NATO
partner.''; and
Whereas the United States must remain committed to our NATO
allies in the face of any aggression irrespective of their
ability to meet the NATO benchmark of spending: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns any threat to the sovereignty, territorial
integrity, freedom and democracy of the Baltic States;
(2) condemns the clear, gross, and uncorrected ongoing
violation of the Helsinki principles by the Russian
Federation with respect to the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Ukraine;
(3) supports keeping United States sanctions imposed
against Russia relating to Crimea in effect until Ukraine's
sovereignty over Crimea has been restored, as well as
sanctions relating to the Donbas until the Minsk agreements
are fully implemented;
(4) considers it essential for the United States to
maintain and increase political, economic, and security
support for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;
(5) appreciates the spirit of friendship of the countries
of Central and Eastern Europe, including those of the Western
Balkans, their commitment to collective security, and their
contributions, past and present, to peace operations around
the globe;
(6) supports keeping the door to NATO membership open to
those countries that are eligible to join the Alliance and
meet all the necessary requirements for membership;
(7) supports and encourages the democratic aspirations of
the people of all countries concerned, including Ukraine,
Georgia, and Moldova; and
(8) calls for continued support to the United States
European Reassurance Initiative.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce of California
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text
at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after resolving clause and insert the following:
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) affirms the United States enduring commitment to and
friendship with its NATO allies;
(2) pledges that the United States will continue to
maintain strong leadership and strengthen its commitments to
NATO;
(3) condemns any threat to the sovereignty, territorial
integrity, freedom and democracy of NATO allies;
(4) condemns the clear, gross, and uncorrected ongoing
violation of the Helsinki principles by Russia with respect
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;
(5) supports keeping United States sanctions imposed
against Russia relating to Crimea in effect until Ukraine's
sovereignty over Crimea has been restored, as well as
sanctions relating to the Donbas until the Minsk agreements
are fully implemented;
(6) considers it essential for the United States to
maintain and increase political, economic, and security
support for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;
(7) appreciates the spirit of friendship of the countries
of Central and Eastern Europe, including those of the Western
Balkans, their commitment to collective security, and their
contributions, past and present, to peace operations around
the globe;
(8) calls for the United States to continue to support the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe to secure their
electoral processes from foreign threats;
(9) supports and encourages the democratic aspirations of
the people of all countries concerned, including Ukraine,
Georgia, and Moldova;
(10) encourages the countries of Europe to continue to
invest in the individual, regional, and collective defense;
(11) calls on all NATO allies whose current proportion of
gross domestic product spent on defense is below the 2
percent guideline to meet that guideline;
(12) honors the men and women who served under NATO and
gave their lives to promote peace, security, and
international cooperation since 1949; and
[[Page H6067]]
(13) calls for continued support to the United States'
European Deterrence Initiative.
Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Royce of California
Mr. ROYCE of California. I have an amendment to the preamble at the
desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas the United States has shown strong commitment to
the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
democratic development of the countries that emerged from the
ashes of the former Soviet Union and the communist bloc it
once dominated;
Whereas many of these countries have, during the past three
decades, undertaken the extensive political and economic
reforms necessary to achieve their aspirations for European
and Euro-Atlantic integration, or are continuing to do so;
Whereas the incorporation of Central and Eastern European
countries into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
has contributed to a vision of Europe that is whole and free
and united in peace, democracy, and common values;
Whereas the mission of NATO since its founding in 1949 is
to defend its members from aggression, enhance cooperation on
defense and security issues, and promote the peaceful
resolution of disputes;
Whereas NATO remains the most important and critical
security link between the United States and Europe;
Whereas on November 16, 2016, former President Barack Obama
stated, ``NATO, the world's greatest alliance, is as strong
and as ready as it's ever been and I am confident that just
as America's commitment to the transatlantic alliance has
endured for seven decades--whether it's been under a
Democratic or Republican administration--that commitment will
continue, including our pledge and our treaty obligation to
defend every ally.'';
Whereas on July 6, 2017, President Donald J. Trump
reiterated the United States' support of NATO by saying, ``To
those who would criticize our tough stance, I would point out
that the United States has demonstrated not merely with words
but with its actions that we stand firmly behind Article 5,
the mutual defense commitment.'';
Whereas NATO allies and partners in Central and Eastern
Europe, including countries of the Western Balkans, and the
former Soviet Union have stood alongside the United States in
joint peace operations in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan,
Iraq, and elsewhere around the globe;
Whereas NATO established the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council to promote, among other priorities, counter-
terrorism, non-proliferation, and crisis management
cooperation as well as advancing values, including respect of
international law and peaceful resolution of disputes;
Whereas Russia's aggressive actions against members of the
NATO Alliance and nearby NATO partner countries, including
its many violations of Baltic airspace, occupation of
Georgian territory in 2008, illegal occupation of Crimea
since 2014, and continued threats to Moldovan territorial
integrity and sovereignty, not only violate its commitments
under the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) agreements but also
foment instability in Europe;
Whereas NATO allies increased their assistance to NATO
partner countries by endorsing the Substantial NATO-Georgia
Package in support of Georgia at the Wales Summit, the
Comprehensive Assistance Package in support of Ukraine at the
Warsaw Summit, and developed a phased Defense and Related
Security Capacity Building package in support of Moldova;
Whereas the European Deterrence Initiative represents the
United States commitment to enduring peace, stability, and
territorial integrity in Europe as members and partners of
the NATO Alliance;
Whereas from September 14 through September 20, 2017,
Russia held a large-scale military exercise in Belarus known
as Zapad 2017;
Whereas the last Zapad exercise was in 2013 which laid the
foundations for Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea;
Whereas NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed
concerns about Russia's lack of transparency regarding
military exercises;
Whereas Secretary-General Stoltenberg also stated, ``Russia
is our neighbor....We don't want to isolate Russia; we don't
want a new Cold War.'';
Whereas the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces
of Russia, Valery Gerasimov, wrote in 2013 that
``informational conflict'' is a key part of war;
Whereas Baltic and NATO officials believe that Russia was
likely responsible for interruptions in Latvia's mobile
communications network before the Zapad exercise;
Whereas three Baltic Russian-language news sites known
collectively as Baltnews are secretly owned by Rossiya
Segodnya, a news agency owned and operated by the Russian
Government;
Whereas on June 28, 2017, Vesko Garcevic, Montenegro's
ambassador to NATO from 2010 through 2014, testified before
the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia has provided
support to extremist groups and even used the country's
religious institutions to oppose closer ties to the Western
world;
Whereas on April 4, 2018, Russia began a live-fire military
exercise in the Baltic Sea, just outside of the territorial
waters of NATO member countries, in a move a top Latvian
defense official called a ``show of force'' just a day after
Baltic leaders met with President Trump;
Whereas at the Wales Summit in 2014, all 28 members of the
NATO alliance declared their intention to move towards a
minimum security investment of 2 percent of their gross
domestic product on defense within a decade;
Whereas on June 8, 2018, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg
spoke of increases in defense investments by European allies,
that ``Allies are making real progress on all aspects of
burden sharing, cash, capabilities and contributions... But
of course, we still have more work to do. Burden sharing will
be a key theme of our Summit next month. And I expect all
Allies to continue their efforts.''; and
Whereas the commitment to collective defense in Article 5
of the North Atlantic Treaty remains at the heart of the
Alliance: Now, therefore, be it
Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``A resolution
expressing support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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