[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2620-S2621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 469. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 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

[[Page S2621]]

year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place in subtitle D of title XII, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. ___. CERTIFICATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NUCLEAR 
                   CONSULTATIVE GROUP.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The United States extended deterrence commitment to the 
     Republic of Korea is ironclad and enduring.
       (2) Such extended deterrence relies on the full range of 
     defense capabilities, including conventional and nuclear 
     forces of the United States.
       (3) The establishment of the Nuclear Consultative Group 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Group'') between the 
     United States and the Republic of Korea during President Yoon 
     Suk Yeol's visit to the United States on April 26, 2023, 
     reflected a recognition of the accelerating threat posed by 
     the nuclear weapons and missile program of the Democratic 
     People's Republic of Korea and a requirement to adjust the 
     alliances approach to deterring the Democratic People's 
     Republic of Korea.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Group will strengthen the alliance between the 
     governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea by 
     deepening the ability of such governments to plan, consult, 
     and conduct exercises on issues related to nuclear 
     deterrence;
       (2) integrated deterrence requires a whole-of-government 
     approach to deter adversaries and assure United States 
     allies; and
       (3) the Group should be executed as a 2+2 construct with 
     the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State serving 
     as co-leads.
       (c)  Report on the Implementation of the Nuclear 
     Consultative Group.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the 
     congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives a report that includes a 
     description of each of the following:
       (A) The organization of the Group, including co-chairs and 
     interagency participants of the Group who are representatives 
     of the United States.
       (B) The scope of the activities of the Group and how such 
     activities connect to the Security Consultative Mechanism and 
     the Military Consultative Mechanism between the Republic of 
     Korea and the United States.
       (C) The relationship of the Group to existing extended 
     deterrence mechanisms of the Republic of Korea and the United 
     States, including the Korean Integrated Defense Dialogue, the 
     Deterrence Strategy Committee, and the Extended Deterrence 
     Consultative Group.
       (D) The frequency and circumstances under which the Group 
     convenes.
       (E) The scope of activities the Group addresses, including 
     strategic planning, crisis consultation, and exercises.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
     annex
       (d) Certification.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 
     Congress a certification that--
       (A) the United States policy of extended deterrence of the 
     Democratic People's Republic of Korea--
       (i) has the necessary posture and capabilities to deter 
     conventional and nuclear threats of the Democratic People's 
     Republic of Korea;
       (ii) has the necessary posture and capabilities to assure 
     the Government of the Republic of Korea and its people of the 
     effectiveness of extended deterrence; and
       (B) that the Federal Government plans fully integrate 
     conventional and nuclear capabilities for the deterrence, and 
     if necessary, the defeat, of aggression by the Democratic 
     People's Republic of Korea.
       (2) Form.--The certification required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.
                                 ______