[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1990-S1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
        Collins, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, 
        Mr. Graham, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Moran, 
        Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Warner):
  S.J. Res. 17. A joint resolution requiring the advice and consent of 
the Senate or an Act of Congress to suspend, terminate, or withdraw the

[[Page S1991]]

United States from the North Atlantic Treaty and authorizing related 
litigation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, throughout his time in office, President 
Donald Trump repeatedly disparaged our NATO allies and reportedly 
threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance, the bedrock of European 
and American security for over seventy years. Although our current 
President has recommitted the United States to NATO and our 
transatlantic partnerships, it is still necessary for the Senate to 
consider legislation that prevents any President from withdrawing the 
United States from this critical defense treaty. This legislation would 
not only help address present national security challenges by 
reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Europe, it would also provide 
clarity to important constitutional questions regarding the role of 
Congress in terminating U.S. participation in treaties and alliances. 
Particularly with a treaty obligation that is as central to U.S. 
security as NATO, no President should be allowed to unilaterally 
withdraw without the advice and consent of the Senate.
  Over the past several years, NATO allies, many of whom we have fought 
alongside since World War II and earlier in some cases, have questioned 
our allegiance for the first time in the history of NATO. In response 
to the only invocation of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty following the 9/
11 attacks, more than 1,000 servicemembers from these allied nations 
gave their lives fighting alongside the United States. While the United 
States must continue to press every country to increase defense 
spending to meet the agreed-upon goal of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, and 
ensure that our European allies contribute to their own defense, U.S. 
withdrawal from NATO should not be considered without Congressional 
input. For this reason, we must use our constitutional powers of advice 
and consent and of the purse to block any unilateral executive 
withdrawal, and preemptively authorize legal proceedings to challenge 
any decision to terminate U.S. membership.
  The legislation I am introducing today with Senators Rubio, Collins, 
Blumenthal, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Graham, King, 
Klobuchar, Merkley, Moran, Shaheen, and Warner would provide the 
necessary tools to prevent a President from unilaterally withdrawing 
the United States from the NATO treaty without the consent of Congress. 
The Senate has repeatedly indicated its support for NATO through 
previous legislation, including the original vote of 82-13 in 1949 to 
grant the Senate's consent to join NATO, and the Fiscal Year 2020 
National Defense Authorization Act, which called for the United States 
to ``remain ironclad in its commitment to uphold its obligations under 
the North Atlantic Treaty.''
  I am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill to ensure that 
the safety of the American people is prioritized through our continued 
membership in NATO, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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