[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S3333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1813. Mr. GRAHAM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2021 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 D of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1242. SENSE OF SENATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GERMANY TO 
                   THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION ALLIANCE 
                   AND THE UNITED STATES AND ON THE CRITICAL 
                   REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN ROBUST UNITED STATES 
                   MILITARY FORCES IN GERMANY.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
       (1) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance 
     is a groundbreaking political and military alliance that 
     ensures freedom and democracy through shared values for all 
     30 member states of the alliance.
       (2) NATO continues to expand, with its newest member, North 
     Macedonia, joining in 2020, showing the continued desire by 
     European nations to join the alliance.
       (3) Germany is a longtime member and a strong ally within 
     NATO and a great friend to the United States.
       (4) While all NATO member nations contribute critical 
     capabilities to the alliance, the Senate encourages all 
     allies within NATO to reach the goal of spending a minimum of 
     2.0 percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense 
     spending as soon as possible to strengthen the alliance even 
     more.
       (5) Germany currently spends roughly 1.54 percent of its 
     Gross Domestic Product on defense. As the strongest economy 
     in Europe, the Senate urges Germany to expedite its timeline 
     to meet the 2.0 percent NATO goal.
       (6) On March 15, 1967, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, was 
     selected as the permanent location for the headquarters of 
     the United States European Command.
       (7) Since its inception, the United States European Command 
     has supported more than 200 named operations and has deployed 
     forces in support of operations and training throughout 
     Europe, Southwest Asia, and Israel.
       (8) On October 1, 2008, the United States established the 
     United States Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
       (9) The United States has approximately 35,000 troops 
     stationed within Germany supporting operations for two United 
     States combatant commands and the NATO alliance.
       (10) The presence of United States military forces in 
     Germany is a strong deterrent against Russian aggression in 
     Europe and strengthens the capability of NATO.
       (11) Germany is one of the Unites States' closest and 
     strongest European allies with both countries sharing common 
     trading partners, institutions, and friendships.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that 
     Germany--
       (1) continues to be a strong ally to the NATO alliance and 
     a great friend to the United States;
       (2) serves as a strategic location for United States 
     military forces that serve as a strong deterrent against 
     Russian military aggression and expansion within Europe; and
       (3) remains a vital political, economic, and security 
     partner which is critical to our continued prosperity and 
     stability.
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