I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7246 
To reiterate the support of the Congress of the United States for the relation-
ship between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany, 
to prevent the weakening of the deterrence capacity of the United States 
in Europe, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 18, 2020 
Mr. ENGEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To reiterate the support of the Congress of the United States 
for the relationship between the United States and the 
Federal Republic of Germany, to prevent the weakening 
of the deterrence capacity of the United States in Eu-
rope, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maintaining United 
States National Security Interests in Europe Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The 2017 National Security Strategy states, 
‘‘the United States will deepen collaboration with 
our European allies and partners to confront forces 
threatening to undermine our common values, secu-
rity interests, and shared vision. The United States 
and Europe will work together to counter Russian 
subversion and aggression, and the threats posed by 
North Korea and Iran. We will continue to advance 
our shared principles and interests in international 
forums.’’. 
(2) After the end of World War II, the presence 
of foreign military forces in Germany was governed 
by a law signed in April 1949 that allowed France, 
the United Kingdom, and the United States to re-
tain forces in Germany. 
(3) The initial law was succeeded by the Con-
vention on the Presence of Foreign Forces in the 
Federal Republic of Germany, signed at Paris on 
October 23, 1954, allowing eight North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) members, specifically 
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, 
the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the 
United States, to maintain a long-term presence of 
military forces in Germany. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
(4) Germany has made significant contributions 
to the NATO alliance and, by hosting the largest 
United States Armed Forces presence in Europe, 
Germany has borne a significant burden in the inter-
est of collective security. 
(5) As of June 2020, the United States pres-
ence in various locations in Germany, including in 
Stuttgart at the United States European Command 
and the United States Africa Command, consists 
of— 
(A) approximately— 
(i) 35,000 members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(ii) 10,000 Department of Defense ci-
vilian employees; and 
(iii) 2,000 defense contractors; 
(B) personnel of the Department of State 
and other United States Government agencies; 
and 
(C) the dependents of individuals described 
in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
(6) The United States presence in Europe, in-
cluding in Germany— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) protects and defends the United States 
and United States allies and partners by deter-
ring conflict with Russia and other adversaries; 
(B) strengthens and supports the NATO 
alliance and critical partnerships in Europe; 
and 
(C) serves as an essential support platform 
for carrying out vital national security engage-
ments in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa, 
and Europe. 
(7) The deep bilateral ties between the United 
States and Germany have led to decades of economic 
prosperity for both countries and their allies and 
have strengthened human rights and democracy 
around the world. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the United States should continue to main-
tain and strengthen the bilateral relationship with 
Germany and other European allies; 
(2) the United States should maintain a robust 
military presence in Germany so as to deter further 
aggression from Russia or aggression from other ad-
versaries against the United States and its allies and 
partners; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
(3) the United States should remain committed 
to strong collaboration with European allies as out-
lined in the 2017 National Security Strategy. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO WITHDRAW 
THE ARMED FORCES FROM EUROPE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Fed-
eral funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise 
made available to take any action— 
(1) to withdraw or otherwise reduce the overall 
presence, including rotational presence, of members 
of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the De-
partment of Defense in Europe; 
(2) to close or otherwise change the status of 
any base or other facility of the Armed Forces lo-
cated in Europe; or 
(3) to withdraw or otherwise reduce the overall 
presence of Armed Forces assets in Europe. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The prohibition under subsection 
(a) shall not apply if— 
(1) a host government transmits to the United 
States Government a written request for such a 
withdrawal or other reduction; or 
(2)(A) the President declares the intent to take 
an action described in subsection (a); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) not later than 180 days before the in-
tended date of such action, the President sub-
mits to the appropriate committees of Congress 
notice of such intent that includes— 
(i) a justification for the action; 
(ii) as applicable— 
(I) the number of members of the 
Armed Forces or civilian employees of 
the Department of Defense to be 
withdrawn or reduced; 
(II) a description of any Armed 
Forces assets to be withdrawn or re-
duced; and 
(III) a description of any base or 
facility of the United States Armed 
Forces in Europe to be subject to clo-
sure or change of status; 
(iii) an explanation of the national se-
curity benefit of the action to the United 
States and the North Atlantic Treaty Or-
ganization; and 
(iv) a plan to offset the reduction in 
United States and North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization 
conventional 
deterrence 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
against Russian aggression caused by the 
action; and 
(C) the action is expressly authorized by a 
joint resolution or bill enacted after the date of 
the declaration described in subparagraph (A). 
(c) PUBLIC TESTIMONY.—Not later than 14 days 
after the submission of the notice described in subsection 
(b)(2)(B), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of De-
fense shall testify before the appropriate committees of 
Congress in public session on such action. 
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON DECISION TO WITH-
DRAW THE ARMED FORCES FROM GERMANY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of De-
fense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
that details the decision-making process used to arrive at 
the decision to withdraw members of the Armed Forces 
from Germany that was announced on June 15, 2020. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of whether any withdrawal 
or reduction in United States Armed Forces per-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
sonnel in Germany was ordered by a Presidential di-
rective. 
(2) A description of the interagency process un-
dertaken to inform the decision outlined in any such 
Presidential directive or other document calling for 
such a withdrawal or reduction. 
(3) A description of the communications with 
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Govern-
ment of Germany, or other member countries of the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization about the poten-
tial decision to change the United States force pos-
ture in Germany. 
(4) An analysis of the United States national 
security implications of the proposed withdrawal or 
reduction of the Armed Forces presence in Germany. 
SEC. 5. APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of 
Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Armed Services, the Select Committee 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS
on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:05 Jul 23, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7246.IH
H7246
tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with BILLS