[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3001-S3002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 817. 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 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. ___. 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--

[[Page S3002]]

       (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; and
       (2) integrated deterrence requires a whole-of-government 
     approach to deter adversaries and assure United States 
     allies.
       (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 and the 
     Secretary of State shall jointly 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.
       (3) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until 
     December 31, 2026, the Secretary of State and the Secretary 
     of Defense shall brief the Committee on Armed Services and 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives on the outcomes of 
     meetings of the Group.
                                 ______