Sec. 1281. INCREASED PRESENCE OF UNITED STATES GROUND FORCES IN EASTERN EUROPE TO DETER AGGRESSION ON THE BORDER OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

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## SEC. 1281 INCREASED PRESENCE OF UNITED STATES GROUND FORCES IN EASTERN EUROPE TO DETER AGGRESSION ON THE BORDER OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION ###

(a)Report Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report setting forth an assessment of options for expanding the presence of United States ground forces of the size of a Brigade Combat Team in Eastern Europe to respond, along with European allies and partners, to the security challenges posed by Russia and increase the combat capability of forces able to respond to unconventional or hybrid warfare tactics such as those used by the Russian Federation in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. ###

(b)Elements The report under this section shall include the following: ####

(1)An evaluation of the optimal location or locations of the enhanced ground force presence described in subsection

(a)that considers such factors as— #####

(A)proximity, suitability, and availability of maneuver and gunnery training areas; #####

(B)transportation capabilities; #####

(C)availability of facilities, including for potential equipment storage and prepositioning; #####

(D)ability to conduct multinational training and exercises; #####

(E)a site or sites for prepositioning of equipment, a rotational presence or permanent presence of troops, or a combination of options; and #####

(F)costs. ####

(2)A description of any initiatives by other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other European allies and partners, for enhancing force presence on a permanent or rotational basis in Eastern Europe to match or exceed the potential increased presence of United States ground forces in the region. ###

(c)Additional Element on Reduction in Troop Levels or Materiel In addition to the matters specified in subsection (b), the report under this section shall also include an assessment of any impacts on United States national security interests in Europe of any proposed Brigade-sized or other significant reduction in United States troop levels or materiel in Europe. ###

(d)Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined In this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means— ####

(1)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and ####

(2)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. # TITLE XIII COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION