[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  SENATE RESOLUTION 298--CONCURRING WITH THE DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE 
       UNITED STATES FROM THE INF TREATY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Blunt, 
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. 
Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 298

       Whereas, since 2014, the United States Government has found 
     the Russian Federation to be in violation of the limitations 
     in 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, together 
     with the Memorandum of Understanding and Two Protocols, 
     signed at Washington December 8, 1987, and entered into force 
     June 1, 1988 (commonly referred to as the ``INF Treaty'');
       Whereas, per Article XV of the INF Treaty, ``Each Party 
     shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right 
     to withdraw from this Treaty if it decides that extraordinary 
     events related to the subject matter of this Treaty have 
     jeopardized its supreme interests. It shall give notice of 
     its decision to withdraw to the other Party six months prior 
     to withdrawal from this Treaty.'';
       Whereas, on February 2, 2019, the United States notified 
     the Russian Federation of its intent to withdraw from the INF 
     Treaty;
       Whereas the period of six month notice, required by Article 
     XV of the INF Treaty, will close on August 2, 2019; and
       Whereas, during the six month notice period, the Russian 
     Federation made no attempt to return to compliance with the 
     terms of the INF Treaty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) in accordance with all powers delegated and implied to 
     Congress, concurs with the decision to withdraw the United 
     States from the INF Treaty; and
       (2) declares that--
       (A) the United States is freed and exonerated from the 
     stipulations of the INF Treaty; and
       (B) the treaty shall not be regarded as legally obligatory 
     on the Government or citizens of the United States.

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