Sec. 1303. Sense of Congress on security assistance to the Baltic countries
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/bill/117/hr/4350/eh/section-1303·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds the following: The United States has cumulatively allocated over $498,965,000 in Department of Defense partner capacity funding for the Baltic countries since fiscal year 2018, including over $219,000,000 for the Baltic security efforts known as the Baltic Security Initiative , executed using sections 332 and 333 of title 10, United States Code, including assistance with respect to air defense, maritime situational awareness, ammunition, C4ISR, anti-tank capability, special forces, and other defense capabilities.
The Secretary of Defense has completed the comprehensive Baltic Defense Assessment required by section 1246 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 and has recommended continued robust, comprehensive investment Baltic security efforts in accordance with that assessment, with assistance executed using such sections 332 and 333. The Secretary of Defense has assessed that the authority granted by such sections 332 and 333 affords the most efficient and effective authority to provide this assistance to the Baltic countries, and that attempting to provide the assistance pursuant to alternate authorities would hamper the Department’s ability to deliver assistance and implement the investment program established by the Baltic Defense Assessment.
Congress strongly supports the robust assistance to accomplish United States strategic objectives in accordance with sections 332 and 333 of title 10, United States Code, including by providing assistance to the Baltic countries using those sections, funded by the Baltic Security Initiative. It is the sense of Congress that the security of the Baltic region is crucial to the security of the NATO alliance and these efforts are critical to ensure continued deterrence against Russian aggression and bolster allied security.