[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 133 (Friday, August 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S5302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3517. Mr. TILLIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2026 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, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. UNITED STATES SENATE NATO OBSERVER GROUP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Senate 
     a group of Senators to address and advise on matters relating 
     to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to be known as the 
     ``Senate NATO Observer Group''.
       (b) Functions.--The Senate NATO Observer Group shall--
       (1) serve as a forum for addressing matters relating to the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization that fall within the 
     jurisdictions of 2 or more committees of the Senate;
       (2) advise the Senate on issues relating to the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization, including North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization enlargement; and
       (3) with respect to any matter involving the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization and the United States Government, 
     particularly during negotiations on North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization enlargement, engage in close interactions 
     between and among the executive branch, the Senate, the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization, any other member country of the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and any country that is a 
     candidate for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization.
       (c) Appointment of Members.--
       (1) 119th congress.--During the 119th Congress, the Senate 
     NATO Observer Group shall exist in the manner established by 
     the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate in 
     the Congressional Record at the beginning of first session of 
     the 119th Congress.
       (2) Subsequent congresses.--
       (A) Appointment.--Beginning in the 120th Congress, not 
     later than 60 days after the date on which of the first 
     session of each Congress convenes, the majority leader and 
     the minority leader of the Senate shall each appoint to the 
     Senate NATO Observer Group not more than 7 Senators.
       (B) Co-chairs.--Of the members appointed under subparagraph 
     (A), the majority leader and the minority leader of the 
     Senate shall each appoint 1 co-chairperson of the Senate NATO 
     Observer Group.
       (d) Foreign Travel.--Each co-chair of the Senate NATO 
     Observer Group and 1 designated staff member may engage in 
     foreign travel for official purposes if such travel is 
     authorized by the other co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer 
     Group.
       (e) Interparliamentary Services.--The Office of 
     Interparliamentary Services of the Senate shall be designated 
     to provide administrative support and protocol functions to 
     the Senate NATO Observer Group, and for special delegations 
     or travel authorized by the majority leader or the minority 
     leader of the Senate.
       (f) Use of Foreign Currencies.--Beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the co-chairs of the Senate NATO 
     Observer Group are authorized to use funds in accordance with 
     the provisions of law relating to foreign currencies, as 
     codified in section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, for 
     activities critical to carrying out the functions of the 
     Senate NATO Observer Group.
       (g) Report.--Not less frequently than annually, the Senate 
     NATO Observer Group shall submit to the majority leader and 
     minority leader of the Senate and the chairperson and ranking 
     member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a 
     report on the activities undertaken by the Senate NATO 
     Observer Group during the preceding fiscal year, including 
     with respect to travel, legislative efforts, and public 
     diplomacy initiatives.
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