IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 397 

Solemnly reaffirming the commitment of the United States to the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization’s principle of collective defense as enumerated in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 21, 2017 

Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin (for himself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MCCARTHY, Mr. 

HOYER, Mr. ROYCE of California, and Mr. ENGEL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Solemnly reaffirming the commitment of the United States 

to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s principle 

of collective defense as enumerated in Article 5 of the 

North Atlantic Treaty. 

Whereas more than 250,000 Americans died in the Second 

World War to liberate Europe from the scourge of genocidal fascism; 

Whereas in the wake of the cataclysm of the Second World 

War, the United States, Canada, and European partners 

founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 

in Washington in 1949; 

Whereas the foundation of NATO is collective defense as enumerated in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty which 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 397 IH 

states that, ‘‘The Parties agree that an armed attack 

against one or more of them in Europe or North America 

shall be considered an attack against them all.’’; 

Whereas NATO is one of the most successful military alliances in history, deterring the outbreak of another world 

war, protecting the territorial integrity of its members, 

and seeing the Cold War through to a peaceful conclusion; 

Whereas Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty has only been 

invoked once in history when alliance members came to 

the aid of the United States following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; 

Whereas NATO allies and partners, including Canada and 

countries in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe, including countries of the Western Balkans, and the former 

Soviet Union have stood alongside the United States in 

joint operations in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, 

Iraq, and elsewhere around the globe; 

Whereas NATO remains the foundation of United States foreign policy of promoting a Europe that is whole, free, 

and at peace; 

Whereas at the Wales Summit in 2014, NATO leaders 

agreed that each alliance member would spend at least 

two percent of its nation’s gross domestic product on defense by 2024; 

Whereas multiple Presidents have reaffirmed the commitment 

of the United States to the collective defense guarantees 

in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty; and 

Whereas the Constitution of the United States grants Congress the sole power to declare war: Now, therefore, be 

it 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 397 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) solemnly reaffirms the commitment of the 

3 United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organi4 zation’s principle of collective defense as enumerated 

5 in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty; 

6 (2) strongly supports the decision at the NATO 

7 Wales Summit in 2014 that each alliance member 

8 would spend at least two percent of its nation’s 

9 gross domestic product on defense by 2024; 

10 (3) condemns any threat to the sovereignty, ter11 ritorial integrity, freedom and democracy of any 

12 NATO ally; and 

13 (4) welcomes the Republic of Montenegro as the 

14 29th member of the NATO Alliance. 

Æ 


asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS