H. R. 5515—411 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The President may delegate the 
authority under subparagraph (A) to waive the applica-
tion of paragraph (1)(B) to the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Director of National Intelligence. 
(ii) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days prior to a 
waiver taking effect pursuant to a delegation of the 
authority under subparagraph (A) to waive the applica-
tion of paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National 
Intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that contains the views 
of such Secretaries and Director with respect to the 
waiver. 
(c) FORM.—Each certification and report required under this 
section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex if necessary. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Except as otherwise provided, in this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intel-
ligence of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 
(2) COVERED STATE PARTY.—The term ‘‘covered state party’’ 
means a foreign country that— 
(A) is a state party to the Open Skies Treaty; and 
(B) is a United States ally. 
(3) INFRA-RED OR SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR SENSOR.— 
The term ‘‘infra-red or synthetic aperture radar sensor’’ means 
a sensor that is classified as— 
(A) an infra-red line-scanning device under category 
C of paragraph 1 of Article IV of the Open Skies Treaty; 
or 
(B) a sideways-looking synthetic aperture radar under 
category D of paragraph 1 of Article IV of the Open Skies 
Treaty. 
(4) OBSERVATION FLIGHT.—The term ‘‘observation flight’’ 
has the meaning given such term in Article II of the Open 
Skies Treaty. 
(5) OPEN SKIES TREATY; TREATY.—The term ‘‘Open Skies 
Treaty’’ or ‘‘Treaty’’ means the Treaty on Open Skies, done 
at Helsinki March 24, 1992, and entered into force January 
1, 2002. 
(6) RELEVANT
UNITED
STATES
GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.— 
The term ‘‘relevant United States Government officials’’ means 
the following: 
(A) The Secretary of Energy. 
(B) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(C) The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
(D) The Director of National Intelligence. 
(E) The Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and 
the Commander of U.S. Northern Command in the case 
of an observation flight over the territory of the United 
States.
H. R. 5515—412 
(F) The Commander of U.S. European Command in 
the case of an observation flight other than an observation 
flight described in subparagraph (E). 
(7) SENSOR.—The term ‘‘sensor’’ has the meaning given 
such term in Article II of the Open Skies Treaty. 
SEC. 
1243. 
DETERMINATION 
REQUIRED 
REGARDING 
MATERIAL 
BREACH OF INF TREATY BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. 
(a) DETERMINATION REQUIRED.—Not later than January 15, 
2019, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a determination whether— 
(1) the Russian Federation is in material breach of its 
obligations under the INF Treaty; and 
(2) the prohibitions set forth in Article VI of the INF 
Treaty remain binding on the United States as a matter of 
United States law. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives. 
(2) INF TREATY.—The term ‘‘INF Treaty’’ means the Treaty 
Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate- 
Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, commonly referred to as 
the ‘‘Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty’’, signed 
at Washington December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 
1, 1988. 
SEC. 1244. COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERA-
TION’S MATERIAL BREACH OF THE INF TREATY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the of Congress that— 
(1) the actions undertaken by the Russian Federation in 
violation of the INF Treaty, including the flight-test, production, 
and possession of prohibited systems, have defeated the object 
and purpose of the INF Treaty, and thus constitute a material 
breach of the INF Treaty; 
(2) in light of the Russian Federation’s material breach 
of the INF Treaty, the United States is legally entitled to 
suspend the operation of the INF Treaty in whole or in part 
for so long as the Russian Federation continues to be in mate-
rial breach of the INF Treaty; and 
(3) for so long as the Russian Federation remains in viola-
tion of the INF Treaty, the United States should take actions 
to encourage the Russian Federation to return to compliance 
with the INF Treaty, including by— 
(A) providing additional funds for the capabilities 
identified in section 1243(d) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114– 
92; 129 Stat. 1062) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear 
Forces Treaty Preservation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115– 
91; 131 Stat. 1671); and 
(B) seeking additional missile defense assets in the 
European theater needed to fill military capability gaps 
to protect United States and NATO forces from ground-
H. R. 5515—413 
launched missile systems of the Russian Federation that 
are in noncompliance with the INF Treaty. 
(b) CERTIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 1, 2018, the 
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees a certification as to whether each of the requirements 
described in paragraph (2) have been met. 
(2) 
REQUIREMENTS
DESCRIBED.—The 
requirements 
described in this paragraph are the following: 
(A) Each requirement of section 1290 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2555; 22 U.S.C. 2593e) has been 
fully implemented and is continuing to be fully imple-
mented. 
(B) The President has notified the appropriate congres-
sional committees under such section 1290 of the imposition 
of measures described in subsection (c) of such section 
with respect to each person identified in a report under 
subsection (a) of such section, including a detailed descrip-
tion of the imposition of all such measures. 
(C) The President has submitted the report required 
by section 1244(c) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 
1674) (relating to report on plan to impose additional sanc-
tions with respect to the Russian Federation). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
and 
(B) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed 
Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
(2) INF TREATY.—The term ‘‘INF Treaty’’ means the Treaty 
between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate- 
Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, signed at Washington 
December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988. 
SEC. 1245. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW START TREATY. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 2018, the President 
shall— 
(1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report as to whether— 
(A) the President has raised the issue of covered Rus-
sian systems in the appropriate fora with the Russian 
Federation under Article V of the New START Treaty 
or otherwise; and 
(B) if the President has raised the issue of covered 
Russian systems as described in subparagraph (A), the 
Russian Federation has responded to the United States 
as to whether the Russian Federation will agree to declare 
the covered Russian systems as strategic offensive arms 
or otherwise pursuant to the New START Treaty;
H. R. 5515—414 
(2) notify the appropriate congressional committees as to 
whether the position of the Russian Federation threatens the 
viability of the New START Treaty or requires appropriate 
United States political, economic, or military responses; and 
(3) submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
assessing the extent to which the nuclear modernization and 
infrastructure recapitalization programs of the Department of 
Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration have 
met the requirements described in the resolution of ratification 
to accompany the New START Treaty, specifically the require-
ments described in subsections (a)(9), (a)(11), and (a)(13) of 
such resolution of ratification. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives. 
(2) COVERED RUSSIAN SYSTEMS.—The term ‘‘covered Rus-
sian systems’’ means the following: 
(A) The heavy intercontinental missile system known 
as ‘‘Sarmat’’ or otherwise identified. 
(B) An air-launched nuclear-powered cruise missile 
known as ‘‘X-101’’ or otherwise identified. 
(C) An unmanned underwater vehicle known as ‘‘Status 
6’’ or otherwise identified. 
(D) The long-distance guided flight hypersonic weapons 
system known by ‘‘Avanguard’’ or otherwise identified. 
(3) NEW START TREATY.—The term ‘‘New START Treaty’’ 
means the Treaty between the United States of America and 
the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction 
and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed at Prague 
April 8, 2010, and entered into force February 5, 2011. 
SEC. 1246. MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF UKRAINE SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE. 
Section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 1068), as most 
recently amended by section 1234 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 
Stat. 1659), is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (8); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph (16); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (11) and 
(13) through (15) as paragraphs (8) through (13), respec-
tively; 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (13) (as redesignated 
by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph) the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(14) Training required to maintain and employ systems 
and capabilities described in paragraphs (1) through (13).’’; 
and 
(E) by redesignating paragraph (16) (as redesignated 
by subparagraph (B) of this paragraph) as paragraph (15); 
(2) in subsection (c)—
H. R. 5515—415 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘50 percent of the 
funds available for fiscal year 2018 pursuant to subsection 
(f)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘50 percent of the funds available 
for fiscal year 2019 pursuant to subsection (f)(4)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The certification described’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The certification described’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘in such areas’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘defense industrial sector’’ and inserting ‘‘in 
such areas as described in subparagraph (B)’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a).’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) AREAS DESCRIBED.—The areas described in this 
subparagraph are— 
‘‘(i) strengthening civilian control of the military; 
‘‘(ii) enhanced cooperation and coordination with 
Verkhovna Rada efforts to exercise oversight of the 
Ministry of Defense and military forces; 
‘‘(iii) increased transparency and accountability in 
defense procurement; 
‘‘(iv) improvement in transparency, accountability, 
sustainment, and inventory management in the 
defense industrial sector; and 
‘‘(v) protection of proprietary or sensitive tech-
nologies as such technologies relate to foreign military 
sales or transfers.’’; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘The certification shall’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) ASSESSMENT.—The certification shall’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2019’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) LETHAL ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds available for fiscal 
year 2019 pursuant to subsection (f)(4), $50,000,000 shall be 
available only for lethal assistance described in paragraphs 
(2) and (3) of subsection (b).’’; 
(3) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2019, $250,000,000.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘December 31, 2020’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. 
SEC. 1247. EXTENSION OF LIMITATION ON MILITARY COOPERATION 
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE RUSSIAN FED-
ERATION. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (a) of section 1232 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 
328; 130 Stat. 2488), as amended by section 1231 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115– 
91), is further amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2017 or 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2017, 2018, or 2019’’. 
(b) 
RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Such 
section 
is 
further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new sub-
section (e):
H. R. 5515—416 
‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall 
be construed to limit bilateral military-to-military dialogue between 
the United States and the Russian Federation for the purpose 
of reducing the risk of conflict.’’. 
SEC. 1248. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ENHANCING DETERRENCE 
AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN EUROPE. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—To protect the national security 
of the United States and fulfill the ironclad commitment of the 
United States to its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty, 
it is the policy of the United States to pursue, in full coordination 
with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an integrated 
approach to strengthening the defense of allies and partners in 
Europe as part of a broader, long-term strategy backed by all 
elements of United States national power to deter and, if necessary, 
defeat Russian aggression. 
(b) SENSE
OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 
in order to strengthen the defense of United States allies and 
partners in Europe, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Secretary of State and in consultation with the commander 
of United States European Command, should— 
(1) prioritize the need for additional United States forward 
presence in Europe, especially increased forward-stationed com-
bat enablers to enhance United States capability and capacity; 
(2) review the balance of United States presence in Europe 
between rotationally deployed and forward-stationed forces to 
assure allies and partners in Europe and deter Russian aggres-
sion; 
(3) support robust United States security cooperation with, 
and security assistance for, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, 
including through continuous and enduring presence of United 
States forces, training and support activities of United States 
special operations forces, and increased joint training and exer-
cises to deter aggression, promote interoperability, build resil-
ience, and enable NATO to take collective action if required; 
(4) continue rotational deployments of United States forces 
to southeastern Europe, including Romania and Bulgaria; 
(5) support enhanced defense cooperation with Poland, 
including continued presence of United States forces in Poland 
and increased training, exercises, and other activities focused 
on improving effective joint response in a crisis; 
(6) conduct exercises focused on demonstrating the capa-
bility to flow United States forces from the continental United 
States and surge forces from central to eastern Europe in 
a nonpermissive environment; 
(7) focus training activities of United States forces in 
Europe, including joint training with allied forces, on operating 
against adversary cyber, electronic warfare, and information 
operations capabilities; 
(8) support robust security sector assistance for Ukraine, 
including defensive lethal assistance, while promoting nec-
essary reforms of the defense institutions of Ukraine; 
(9) support robust security sector assistance for Georgia, 
including defensive lethal assistance, to strengthen the defense 
capabilities and readiness of Georgia, and improve interoper-
ability with NATO forces;
H. R. 5515—417 
(10) execute enhanced military-to-military engagement 
between the United States and the militaries of the countries 
of the Western Balkans to promote interoperability with NATO, 
civilian control of the military, procurement reforms, and 
regional security cooperation; 
(11) develop and implement a comprehensive security 
cooperation strategy that integrates support for allies and part-
ners in Europe, especially the allies and partners most directly 
threatened by Russian aggression and malign influence; and 
(12) in NATO or through other multilateral formats— 
(A) promote reforms to accelerate the speed of decision 
and deployability within NATO; 
(B) promote a more robust NATO defense planning 
process; 
(C) pursue planning agreements with allies and part-
ners in Europe on rules of engagement and arrangements 
for command and control, access, transit, and support in 
crisis situations, which occur prior to an invocation of 
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty by the North Atlantic 
Council; 
(D) promote NATO operational readiness as a key ele-
ment of alliance burden sharing alongside spending 
commitments made at the 2014 Wales Summit; 
(E) explore transitioning the Baltic air policing mission 
of NATO to a Baltic air defense mission; 
(F) support multilateral efforts to improve maritime 
domain awareness in the Baltic Sea; 
(G) support enhanced NATO-European Union coopera-
tion, especially with respect to capability development and 
defense planning; 
(H) support coordinated NATO and European Union 
actions on expediting or waiving diplomatic clearances for 
the movement of United States and allied forces during 
contingencies; 
(I) support cooperative investment frameworks that 
promote increased military mobility in Europe; 
(J) expand cooperation and joint planning with allies 
and partners on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnais-
sance; 
(K) promote efforts to improve the capability and readi-
ness of NATO Standing Maritime Groups; 
(L) encourage regular review and update of the Alliance 
Maritime Strategy of NATO to reflect the changing military 
balance in the Black Sea and increased military activity 
in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans; 
(M) explore increasing the frequency, scale, and scope 
of NATO and other multilateral exercises in the Black 
Sea with the participation of Ukraine and Georgia; 
(N) promote integration of United States Marines in 
Norway with the United Kingdom-led Joint Expeditionary 
Force to increase multilateral cooperation and interoper-
ability between NATO and regional partners such as Swe-
den and Finland; and 
(O) affirm support for the Open Door policy of NATO, 
including the eventual membership of Georgia in NATO.
H. R. 5515—418 
Subtitle E—Matters Relating to the Indo- 
Pacific Region 
SEC. 1251. NAME OF UNITED STATES INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The combatant command known as the 
United States Pacific Command shall be known as the ‘‘United 
States Indo-Pacific Command’’. Any reference to the United States 
Pacific Command in any law, regulation, map, document, record, 
or other paper of the United States shall be considered to be 
a reference to the United States Indo-Pacific Command. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) 
ANNUAL
REPORT
ON
NON-FEDERALIZED
SERVICE 
NATIONAL
GUARD
PERSONNEL, 
TRAINING, 
AND
EQUIPMENT 
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 10504 of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by section 1071(a)(31), is further amended in sub-
section (c), as redesignated by such section, in paragraph (3)(H) 
by striking ‘‘United States Pacific Command’’ and inserting 
‘‘United States Indo-Pacific Command’’. 
(2) CONTRACTING WITH THE ENEMY.—Section 843(4) of the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 
10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by striking ‘‘United States 
Pacific Command’’ and inserting ‘‘United States Indo-Pacific 
Command’’. 
SEC. 1252. REDESIGNATION, EXPANSION, AND EXTENSION OF SOUTH-
EAST ASIA MARITIME SECURITY INITIATIVE. 
(a) REDESIGNATION AS INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME SECURITY INITIA-
TIVE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a)(2) of section 1263 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (10 
U.S.C. 333 note) is amended by striking ‘‘the ‘Southeast Asia 
Maritime Security Initiative’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘the ‘Indo-Pacific 
Maritime Security Initiative’ ’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such section 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1263. INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME SECURITY INITIATIVE.’’. 
(b) EXPANSION.— 
(1) EXPANSION
OF
REGION
TO
RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE
AND 
TRAINING.—Subsection (a)(1) of such section is amended by 
inserting ‘‘and the Indian Ocean’’ after ‘‘South China Sea’’ in 
the matter preceding subparagraph (A). 
(2) RECIPIENT COUNTRIES OF ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING GEN-
ERALLY.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking the comma at the 
end and inserting a period; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(6) Bangladesh. 
‘‘(7) Sri Lanka.’’. 
(3) COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF CERTAIN INCRE-
MENTAL
EXPENSES.—Subsection (e)(2) of such section is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) India.’’. 
(c) EXTENSION.—Subsection (h) of such section is amended by 
striking ‘‘September 30, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2025’’.
H. R. 5515—419 
SEC. 1253. REDESIGNATION AND MODIFICATION OF SENSE OF CON-
GRESS AND INITIATIVE FOR THE INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC 
REGION. 
(a) REDESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1251 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Indo-Asia-Pacific’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Indo-Pacific’’. 
(2) HEADING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of such section 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1251. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND INITIATIVE FOR THE INDO- 
PACIFIC REGION.’’. 
(B) SUBSECTION
HEADINGS.—Such section is further 
amended in the headings of subsections (b) and (f) by 
striking ‘‘INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC’’ and inserting ‘‘INDO-PACIFIC’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION
OF
INITIATIVE.—Such section is further 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting 
the following new paragraphs (1) through (4): 
‘‘(1) Activities to increase the rotational and forward pres-
ence, improve the capabilities, and enhance the posture of 
the United States Armed Forces in the Indo-Pacific region— 
‘‘(A) consistent with the National Defense Strategy; 
and 
‘‘(B) to the extent required to minimize the risk of 
execution of the contingency plans of the Department of 
Defense. 
‘‘(2) Activities to improve military and defense infrastruc-
ture, basing, logistics, and assured access in the Indo-Pacific 
region to enhance the responsiveness, survivability, and oper-
ational resilience of the United States Armed Forces in the 
Indo-Pacific region. 
‘‘(3) Activities to enhance the storage and pre-positioning 
in the Indo-Pacific region of equipment and munitions of the 
United States Armed Forces. 
‘‘(4) Bilateral and multilateral military training and exer-
cises with allies and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘security capacity’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘of allies’’ in subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘security 
capacity of allies’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (i) through (v) as sub-
paragraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘only’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC STABILITY INITIA-
TIVE.— 
‘‘(1) PLAN REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2019, the 
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 
of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
H. R. 5515—420 
committees a future years plan on activities and resources 
of the Initiative. 
‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY.—The plan shall apply to the Initia-
tive with respect to fiscal year 2020 and at least the four 
succeeding fiscal years. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required under paragraph (1) 
shall include each of the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the objectives of the Initiative. 
‘‘(B) A description of the manner in which such objec-
tives support implementation of the National Defense 
Strategy and reduce the risk of execution of the contingency 
plans of the Department of Defense by improving the oper-
ational resilience of United States forces in the Indo-Pacific 
region. 
‘‘(C) An assessment of the resource requirements to 
achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(D) An assessment of any additional rotational or 
permanently stationed United States forces in the Indo- 
Pacific region required to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(E) An assessment of the logistics requirements, 
including force enablers, equipment, supplies, storage, and 
maintenance, to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(F) An identification and assessment of required infra-
structure investments to achieve such objectives, including 
potential infrastructure investments by host countries and 
new construction or upgrades of existing sites that would 
be funded by the United States. 
‘‘(G) An assessment of any new agreements, or changes 
to existing agreements, with other countries for assured 
access required to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(H) An assessment of security cooperation investments 
required to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(3) FORM.—The plan required under paragraph (1) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex.’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) INCLUSION
IN
BUDGET
MATERIALS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall include in the budget materials submitted by the 
Secretary in support of the budget of the President for fiscal year 
2020 (submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States 
Code) the plan required under paragraph (1).’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ 
means— 
‘‘(1) the congressional defense committees; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives.’’. 
SEC. 1254. ASSESSMENT OF AND REPORT ON GEOPOLITICAL CONDI-
TIONS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
select and enter into an agreement with an entity independent 
of the Department of Defense to conduct an assessment of
H. R. 5515—421 
the geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific region that are 
necessary for the successful implementation of the National 
Defense Strategy. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The assessment required 
by paragraph (1) shall include a determination of the geo-
political conditions in the Indo-Pacific region, including any 
change in economic and political relations, that are necessary 
to support United States military requirements for forward 
defense, assured access, extensive forward basing, and alliance 
and partnership formation and strengthening in such region. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the independent entity selected under sub-
section (a) shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report on the results of the assessment conducted under that 
subsection. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPORT.—The Secretary shall 
provide the independent entity selected under subsection (a) with 
timely access to appropriate information, data, resources, and anal-
yses necessary for the independent entity to conduct the assessment 
required by that subsection in a thorough and independent manner. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 1255. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EXTENDED NUCLEAR DETER-
RENCE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the nuclear program of the Democratic People’s Republic 
of Korea poses a critical national security threat not only to 
the United States, but to the security and stability of the 
entire Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea, Japan, and 
Australia; 
(2) the nuclear and conventional forces of the United States 
continue to play a fundamental role in deterring aggression 
against its interests and the interests of its allies in the Indo- 
Pacific region and beyond; 
(3) the United States stands unwaveringly behind its treaty 
obligations and assurances, including those related to defense 
and extended nuclear deterrence, to South Korea, Japan, and 
Australia; 
(4) 
the 
complete, 
verifiable, 
and 
irreversible 
denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 
remains a central foreign policy objective of the United States; 
(5) the status of any denuclearization or end-of-conflict 
agreement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 
should not supersede such treaty obligations and assurances 
described in paragraph (3); and 
(6) the presence of United States Forces on the Korean 
Peninsula should remain strong and enduring. 
SEC. 1256. REINSTATEMENT OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITH 
RESPECT TO UNITED STATES-HONG KONG RELATIONS. 
Section 301 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 
1992 (22 U.S.C. 5731) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
H. R. 5515—422 
(A) by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
IN GENERAL.— Not later than’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘March 31, 1993’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘March 31, 2006’’ and inserting ‘‘March 31, 2019, 
and annually thereafter through 2024,’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘transmit to the Speaker’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘the Senate’’ and inserting ‘‘submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: 
‘‘(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form and shall be published on a publicly 
available website of the Department of State. 
‘‘(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means— 
‘‘(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the Senate; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.’’. 
SEC. 1257. STRENGTHENING TAIWAN’S FORCE READINESS. 
(a) DEFENSE ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in 
consultation with appropriate counterparts of Taiwan, conduct a 
comprehensive assessment of Taiwan’s military forces, particularly 
Taiwan’s reserves. The assessment shall provide recommendations 
to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, readiness, and resilience 
of Taiwan’s self-defense capability in the following areas: 
(1) Personnel management and force development, particu-
larly reserve forces. 
(2) Recruitment, training, and military programs. 
(3) Command, control, communications and intelligence. 
(4) Technology research and development. 
(5) Defense article procurement and logistics. 
(6) Strategic planning and resource management. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report containing each 
of the following: 
(A) A summary of the assessment conducted pursuant 
to subsection (a). 
(B) A list of any recommendations resulting from such 
assessment. 
(C) A plan for the United States, including by using 
appropriate security cooperation authorities, to— 
(i) facilitate any relevant recommendations from 
such list; 
(ii) expand senior military-to-military engagement 
and joint training by the United States Armed Forces 
with the military of Taiwan; and 
(iii) support United States foreign military sales 
and other equipment transfers to Taiwan, particularly 
for developing asymmetric warfare capabilities. 
(2) APPROPRIATE SECURITY COOPERATION AUTHORITIES.—For 
purposes of the plan described in paragraph (1)(C), the term 
‘‘appropriate security cooperation authorities’’ means—
H. R. 5515—423 
(A) section 311 of title 10, United States Code (relating 
to exchange of defense personnel); 
(B) section 332 such title (relating to defense institution 
building); and 
(C) other security cooperation authorities under 
chapter 16 of such title. 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(A) the congressional defense committees; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives. 
SEC. 1258. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TAIWAN. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and 
the ‘‘Six Assurances’’ are both cornerstones of United States 
relations with Taiwan; 
(2) the United States should strengthen defense and secu-
rity cooperation with Taiwan to support the development of 
capable, ready, and modern defense forces necessary for Taiwan 
to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; 
(3) the United States should strongly support the acquisi-
tion by Taiwan of defensive weapons through foreign military 
sales, direct commercial sales, and industrial cooperation, with 
a particular emphasis on asymmetric warfare and undersea 
warfare capabilities, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act; 
(4) the United States should improve the predictability 
of arms sales to Taiwan by ensuring timely review of and 
response to requests of Taiwan for defense articles and defense 
services; 
(5) the Secretary of Defense should promote Department 
of Defense policies concerning exchanges that enhance the secu-
rity of Taiwan, including— 
(A) opportunities for practical training and military 
exercises with Taiwan; and 
(B) exchanges between senior defense officials and gen-
eral officers of the United States and Taiwan consistent 
with the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115–135); 
(6) the United States and Taiwan should expand coopera-
tion in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; and 
(7) the Secretary of Defense should consider supporting 
the visit of a United States hospital ship to Taiwan as part 
of the annual ‘‘Pacific Partnership’’ mission in order to improve 
disaster response planning and preparedness as well as to 
strengthen cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. 
SEC. 1259. PROHIBITION ON PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE’S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN RIM OF THE PACIFIC (RIMPAC) 
NAVAL EXERCISES. 
(a) CONDITIONS FOR FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN RIMPAC.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall not enable 
or facilitate the participation of the People’s Republic of China 
in any Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise unless 
the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees 
that China has—
H. R. 5515—424 
(A) ceased all land reclamation activities in the South 
China Sea; 
(B) removed all weapons from its land reclamation 
sites; and 
(C) established a consistent four-year track record of 
taking actions toward stabilizing the region. 
(2) FORM.—The certification under paragraph (1) shall be 
in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex as 
necessary. 
(b) NATIONAL SECURITY WAIVER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may waive the 
certification requirement under subsection (a) if the Secretary 
determines the waiver is in the national security interest of 
the United States and submits to the congressional defense 
committees a detailed justification for the waiver. 
(2) FORM.—The justification required under paragraph (1) 
shall be in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex 
as necessary. 
SEC. 1260. MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT ON MILITARY AND 
SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE PEOPLE’S 
REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 
Section 1202(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2000 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (16) and (17) 
through (23) as paragraphs (7) through (17) and (19) through 
(25), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new para-
graph (6): 
‘‘(6) China’s overseas military basing and logistics infra-
structure.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking 
‘‘including technology transfers and espionage’’ in the first sen-
tence and inserting ‘‘including by espionage and technology 
transfers through investment, industrial espionage, cybertheft, 
academia, and other means’’; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (17), as so redesignated, 
the following new paragraph (18): 
‘‘(18) An assessment of relations between China and the 
Russian Federation with respect to security and military mat-
ters.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(26) The relationship between Chinese overseas invest-
ment, including initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, 
and Chinese security and military strategy objectives. 
‘‘(27) Efforts by the Government of the People’s Republic 
of China to influence the media, cultural institutions, business, 
and academic and policy communities of the United States 
to be more favorable to its security and military strategy and 
objectives. 
‘‘(28) Efforts by the Government of the People’s Republic 
of China to use nonmilitary tools in other countries, including 
diplomacy and political coercion, information operations, and 
economic pressure, including predatory lending practices, to 
support its security and military objectives.’’.