[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8001-S8002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4511. Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. 
Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2022 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 title XII, add the following:

Subtitle H--U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act 
                                of 2021

     SEC. 1291. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``U.S.-Greece Defense and 
     Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 1292. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States and Greece are strong allies in the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and have deepened 
     their defense relationship in recent years in response to 
     growing security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean 
     region.
       (2) Greece participates in several NATO missions, including 
     Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean and NATO's 
     mission in Kosovo.
       (3) The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy 
     Partnership Act (title II of division J of Public Law 116-
     94), authorized new security assistance for Greece and 
     Cyprus, lifted the United States prohibition on arms 
     transfers to Cyprus, and authorized the establishment of a 
     United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center to 
     facilitate energy cooperation among the United States, 
     Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.
       (4) The United States has demonstrated its support for the 
     trilateral partnership of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus through 
     joint engagement with Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United 
     States in the ``3+1'' format.
       (5) The United States and Greece have held Strategic 
     Dialogue meetings in Athens, Washington D.C., and virtually, 
     and have committed to hold an upcoming Strategic Dialogue 
     session in 2021 in Washington, D.C.
       (6) In October 2019, the United States and Greece agreed to 
     update the United States-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation 
     Agreement, and the amended agreement officially entered into 
     force on February 13, 2020.
       (7) The amended Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement 
     provides for increased joint United States-Greece and NATO 
     activities at Greek military bases and facilities in Larissa, 
     Stefanovikio, Alexandroupolis, and other parts of central and 
     northern Greece, and allows for infrastructure improvements 
     at the United States Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base on 
     Crete.
       (8) In October 2020, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias 
     announced that Greece hopes to further expand the Mutual 
     Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.
       (9) The United States Naval Support Activity Souda Bay 
     serves as a critical naval logistics hub for the United 
     States Navy's 6th Fleet.
       (10) In June 2020, United States Ambassador to Greece 
     Geoffrey Pyatt characterized the importance of Naval Support 
     Activity Souda Bay as ``our most important platform for the 
     projection of American power into a strategically dynamic 
     Eastern Mediterranean region. From Syria to Libya to the 
     chokepoint of the Black Sea, this is a critically important 
     asset for the United States, as our air force, naval, and 
     other resources are applied to support our Alliance 
     obligations and to help bring peace and stability.''.
       (11) The USS Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, the second of a 
     new class of United States sea-basing ships, is now based out 
     of Souda Bay, the first permanent United States naval 
     deployment at the base.
       (12) The United States cooperates with the Hellenic Armed 
     Forces at facilities in Larissa, Stefanovikio, and 
     Alexandroupolis, where the United States Armed Forces conduct 
     training, refueling, temporary maintenance, storage, and 
     emergency response.
       (13) The United States has conducted a longstanding 
     International Military Education and Training (IMET) program 
     with Greece, and the Government of Greece has committed to 
     provide $3 for every dollar invested by the United States in 
     the program.
       (14) Greece's defense spending in 2020 amounted to an 
     estimated 2.68 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), 
     exceeding NATO's 2 percent of GDP benchmark agreed to at the 
     2014 NATO Summit in Wales.
       (15) Greece is eligible for the delivery of excess defense 
     articles under section 516(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j(c)(2)).
       (16) In September 2020, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos 
     Mitsotakis announced plans to modernize all three branches of 
     the Hellenic Armed Forces, which will strengthen Greece's 
     military position in the Eastern Mediterranean.
       (17) The modernization includes upgrades to the arms of all 
     three branches, including new anti-tank weapons for the 
     Hellenic Army, new heavy-duty torpedoes for the Hellenic 
     Navy, and new guided missiles for the Hellenic Air Force.
       (18) The Hellenic Navy also plans to upgrade its four MEKO 
     200HN frigates and purchase four new multirole frigates of an 
     undisclosed type, to be accompanied by 4 MH-60R anti-
     submarine helicopters.
       (19) The Hellenic Air Force plans to fully upgrade its 
     fleet of F-16 jets to the F-16 Viper variant by 2027 and has 
     expressed interest in participating in the F-35 Joint Strike 
     Fighter program.

     SEC. 1293. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern 
     Mediterranean region and the United States should remain 
     committed to supporting its security and prosperity;
       (2) the 3+1 format of cooperation among Cyprus, Greece, 
     Israel, and the United States has been a successful forum to 
     cooperate on energy issues and should be expanded to include 
     other areas of common concern to the members;
       (3) the United States should increase and deepen efforts to 
     partner with and support the modernization of the Greek 
     military;
       (4) it is in the interests of the United States that Greece 
     continue to transition its military equipment away from 
     Russian-produced platforms and weapons systems through the 
     European Recapitalization Investment Program;
       (5) the United States Government should continue to deepen 
     strong partnerships with the Greek military, especially in 
     co-development and co-production opportunities with the Greek 
     Navy;
       (6) the naval partnerships with Greece at Souda Bay and 
     Alexandroupolis are mutually beneficial to the national 
     security of the United States and Greece;
       (7) the United States should, as appropriate, support the 
     sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Greece;

[[Page S8002]]

       (8) the United States Government should continue to invest 
     in International Military Education and Training (IMET) 
     programs in Greece;
       (9) the United States Government should support joint 
     maritime security cooperation exercises with Cyprus, Greece, 
     and Israel;
       (10) in accordance with its legal authorities and project 
     selection criteria, the United States Development Finance 
     Corporation should consider supporting private investment in 
     strategic infrastructure projects in Greece, to include 
     shipyards and ports that contribute to the security of the 
     region and Greece's prosperity;
       (11) the extension of the Mutual Defense Cooperation 
     Agreement with Greece for a period of five years includes 
     deepened partnerships at Greek military facilities throughout 
     the country and is a welcome development; and
       (12) the United States Government should establish the 
     United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center as 
     authorized in the Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Security 
     Partnership Act of 2019.

     SEC. 1294. FUNDING FOR EUROPEAN RECAPITALIZATION INCENTIVE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--To the maximum extent feasible, of the 
     funds appropriated for the European Recapitalization 
     Incentive Program, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026 should be considered for Greece as appropriate 
     to assist the country in meeting its defense needs and 
     transitioning away from Russian-produced military equipment.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
     provides a full accounting of all funds distributed under the 
     European Recapitalization Incentive Program, including--
       (1) identification of each recipient country;
       (2) a description of how the funds were used; and
       (3) an accounting of remaining equipment in recipient 
     countries that was provided by the then-Soviet Union or 
     Russian Federation.

     SEC. 1295. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON LOAN PROGRAM.

       It is the sense of Congress that, as appropriate, the 
     United States Government should provide direct loans to 
     Greece for the procurement of defense articles, defense 
     services, and design and construction services pursuant to 
     the authority of section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act 
     (22 U.S.C. 2763) to support the further development of 
     Greece's military forces.

     SEC. 1296. TRANSFER OF F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT TO 
                   GREECE.

       The President is authorized to expedite delivery of any 
     future F-35 aircraft to Greece once Greece is prepared to 
     move forward with such a purchase on such terms and 
     conditions as the President may require. Such transfer shall 
     be submitted to Congress pursuant to the certification 
     requirements under section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act 
     (22 U.S.C. 2776).

     SEC. 1297. IMET COOPERATION WITH GREECE.

       Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each of 
     fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for International Military 
     Education and Training (IMET) assistance, $1,800,000 shall be 
     made available for Greece, to the maximum extent practicable. 
     The assistance shall be made available for the following 
     purposes:
       (1) Training of future leaders.
       (2) Fostering a better understanding of the United States.
       (3) Establishing a rapport between the United States Armed 
     Forces and Greece's military to build partnerships for the 
     future.
       (4) Enhancement of interoperability and capabilities for 
     joint operations.
       (5) Focusing on professional military education, civilian 
     control of the military, and protection of human rights.

     SEC. 1298. CYPRUS, GREECE, ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED STATES 3+1 
                   INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a group, to be 
     known as the ``Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States 
     3+1 Interparliamentary Group'', to serve as a legislative 
     component to the 3+1 process launched in Jerusalem in March 
     2019.
       (b) Membership.--The Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United 
     States 3+1 Interparliamentary Group shall include a group of 
     not more than 6 United States Senators, to be known as the 
     ``United States group'', who shall be appointed jointly by 
     the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate.
       (c) Meetings.--Not less frequently than once each year, the 
     United States group shall meet with members of the 3+1 group 
     to discuss issues on the agenda of the 3+1 deliberations of 
     the Governments of Greece, Israel, Cyprus, and the United 
     States to include maritime security, defense cooperation, 
     energy initiatives, and countering malign influence efforts 
     by the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation.

     SEC. 1299. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

       In this subtitle, the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
                                 ______