Title: Commending the United States military servicemembers and NATO allies who successfully planned, coordinated, deployed, and trained as part of the DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 Exercise.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution reaffirms U.S. commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and commends U.S. service members and NATO allies who planned and participated in the DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 training exercise.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1098 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1098

 Commending the United States military servicemembers and NATO allies 
who successfully planned, coordinated, deployed, and trained as part of 
                   the DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 Exercise.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 1, 2020

Mr. Vela (for himself, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Cook, Mr. Costa, Mrs. Davis of 
  California, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. 
   Turner, and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) submitted the following 
resolution; 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the United States military servicemembers and NATO allies 
who successfully planned, coordinated, deployed, and trained as part of 
                   the DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 Exercise.

Whereas United States military planners prepared a concept of operations to 
        deploy 20,000 United States troops and 12,000 pieces of equipment by 
        air, land, and sea, which would have been the largest military 
        deployment from the United States to Europe in over 25 years;
Whereas, as part of DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020, United States civilian and military 
        ships coordinated their movements across the Atlantic Ocean, validating 
        their ability to move thousands of troops and equipment through 
        contested waters during opposed transit convoy operations;
Whereas, additionally, the Army leveraged the use of its Prepositioned Stocks 
        located in Europe that were deployed to exercise sites throughout Europe 
        for sustainment;
Whereas, through this elaborate coordination, the United States military 
        validated its ability to rapidly deploy and sustain massive military 
        capability to deter adversaries from conducting destabilizing 
        hostilities against democratic institutions;
Whereas NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) planned the 
        training and logistics for 37,000 troops across 18 NATO countries that 
        would participate in 6 complex exercises to demonstrate NATO's ability 
        to deter aggression while protecting peace throughout Europe, enhance 
        relationships, readiness, and interoperability among NATO allies, and 
        achieve the objectives of the United States National Defense Strategy 
        and strategic objectives of NATO;
Whereas United States commanders and partner countries quickly adapted exercise 
        plans to the COVID-19 crisis in Europe by adjusting troop movements and 
        activities to protect the force and its readiness from a highly 
        infectious pandemic;
Whereas, by leveraging existing NATO institutions and agreements, NATO forces 
        completed, on short notice, more than 350 flights to transport over 
        1,000 tons of medical supplies, established in excess of 100 field 
        hospitals containing more than 25,000 medical beds, and supported 
        civilian medical and security efforts to respond to a global health 
        emergency;
Whereas, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, military leaders were able to safely 
        proceed with DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 training objectives during two 
        coordinated phases;
Whereas, starting with Allied Spirit, the first phase, United States and Polish 
        forces completed a Division-size wet gap crossing of 6,000 troops and 
        100 vehicles over several hundred feet of river, and the exercise was 
        also able to test casualty evacuation capabilities over arduous terrain, 
        validating United States and Polish forces interoperability in deploying 
        rapidly together; and
Whereas, during the second phase of DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020, in the Emergency 
        Deployment Readiness Exercise, the United States Army validated its 
        ability to surge and rapidly redeploy combat vehicles and over 500 
        troops to Poland under the Department of Defense's Dynamic Force 
        Employment concept, and these flexes in operational plans ensured that 
        military forces could adapt logistical and protective requirements vital 
        in sustaining the force during an emergent threat: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the United States commitment to the NATO 
        alliance that through collective engagement expands America's 
        economic, diplomatic, and military capabilities in responding 
        to adversarial and rogue nations, because through these 
        instruments of power the United States is better able to 
        protect its shared economic security interests in Europe and 
        throughout the world;
            (2) commends United States military servicemembers for 
        their complex operational planning, execution, and response to 
        emerging threats that demonstrated America's military might and 
        ability to quickly adapt to the evolving operational 
        environment in order to achieve its strategic objectives;
            (3) commends the courage and perseverance that United 
        States forces demonstrated while deployed to Europe, as their 
        selfless efforts saved lives in allied nations by directly 
        contributing to NATO's response to COVID-19, and additionally, 
        their resilience enabled DEFENDER-EUROPE 2020 to continue and 
        validate multiple operational capabilities that had long gone 
        untested; and
            (4) commends the NATO allies who participated in DEFENDER-
        EUROPE 2020, which enhanced communications, interoperability, 
        readiness, and sustainment among allied forces, as investing in 
        such exercises is necessary for developing new tactics, 
        technologies, and partnerships that will ensure NATO's 
        strategic advantage over time.
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