I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5174 

To provide for increased defense cooperation between the United States and 

Moldova. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 8, 2023 

Ms. ROSS (for herself and Mr. LAWLER) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide for increased defense cooperation between the 

United States and Moldova. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Moldova 

5 Defense Partnership Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 It is the sense of Congress that— 

8 (1) Moldova is a close partner in the European 

9 region and the United States should remain com10 mitted to supporting its security and prosperity; 


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1 (2) Moldova’s military relies on outdated Soviet 

2 era equipment that needs to be replaced; 

3 (3) senior Moldovan defense officials have stat4 ed they need $275 million to modernize Moldova’s 

5 Armed Forces; 

6 (4) the United States should increase and deep7 en efforts to partner with and support the mod8 ernization of the Moldovan military; 

9 (5) it is in the interest of the United States 

10 that Moldova continues to transition its military 

11 equipment away from Russian-produced platforms 

12 and weapons systems through the European Recapi13 talization Incentive Program; 

14 (6) the strategic partnership that the United 

15 States and Moldova have established over 30 years 

16 is mutually beneficial to the national security of both 

17 countries; 

18 (7) the United States needs to support 

19 Moldova’s reform process consisting of a transition 

20 from conscription to an all-volunteer/professional 

21 force, modernizing equipment from Soviet to West22 ern systems, creating a ‘‘mobile, modular, flexible 

23 and function army,’’ according to the 2022 state24 ment by Defense Minister Antolie Nosatii, and em25 phasizing air defense capabilities; and 


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1 (8) the United States should continue to invest 

2 in International Military Education and Training 

3 programs in Moldova. 

4 SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR THE EUROPEAN RECAPITALIZATION 

5 INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum extent feasible, 

7 amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the 

8 European Recapitalization Incentive Program should be 

9 considered for Moldova as appropriate to assist the coun10 try in meeting its defense needs and transitioning away 

11 from Russian-produced military equipment. 

12 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

14 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re15 port that provides a full accounting of all funds distributed 

16 under the European Recapitalization Incentive Program, 

17 including— 

18 (1) a description of how the funds were used in 

19 Moldova; and 

20 (2) an accounting of remaining equipment in 

21 Moldova that was provided by the then-Soviet Union 

22 or Russian Federation. 

23 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

24 For purposes of subsection (b), the term ‘‘appropriate con25 gressional committees’’ means— 


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1 (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 

2 Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee 

3 on Appropriations of the Senate; and 

4 (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

5 Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee 

6 on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 

7 SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON LOAN PROGRAM. 

8 It is the sense of Congress that, as appropriate, the 

9 United States Government should provide direct loans to 

10 Moldova for the procurement of defense articles, defense 

11 services, and design and construction services pursuant to 

12 the authority of section 23 of the Arms Export Control 

13 Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) to support the further development 

14 of Moldova’s military forces. 

15 SEC. 5. IMET COOPERATION WITH MOLDOVA. 

16 For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, there 

17 is authorized $1,000,000 for International Military Edu18 cation and Training assistance for Moldova, which may 

19 be made available for the following purposes: 

20 (1) Training of future leaders. 

21 (2) Fostering a better understanding of the 

22 United States. 

23 (3) Establishing a rapport between the United 

24 States Armed Forces and Moldova’s military to 

25 build partnerships for the future. 


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1 (4) Enhancement of interoperability and capa2 bilities for joint operations. 

3 (5) Focusing on professional military education, 

4 civilian control of the military, and protection of 

5 human rights. 

Æ 


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