[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2231. Mr. HAWLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 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 F of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1291. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING NATO DEFENSE 
                   SPENDING.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is vital 
     to the security of the United States and United States 
     allies.
       (2) NATO's military readiness is critical for deterring 
     aggression and responding to threats.
       (3) At the 2014 Wales Summit, NATO member states agreed to 
     aim to spend 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 
     on defense by 2024.
       (4) Many NATO member states have yet to reach this 2% 
     threshold.
       (5) The evolving security environment requires enhanced 
     military capabilities and preparedness.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the Sense of the Senate 
     that--
       (1) each NATO member state should commit above 2 percent of 
     its GDP to defense spending;
       (2) increased defense spending by all NATO members is 
     necessary to ensure the Alliance's military readiness and 
     ability to meet current and future security challenges;
       (3) the United States should continue to encourage and 
     support its NATO allies in meeting and exceeding the 2 
     percent GDP defense spending threshold;
       (4) NATO's military capabilities, interoperability, and 
     readiness should be strengthened through sustained investment 
     by all member states; and
       (5) robust defense spending by all NATO members reinforces 
     the principle of collective defense and demonstrates the 
     Alliance's shared commitment to mutual security.
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