Upholding America's Nuclear Commitments Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1796
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-09-12
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances

Arms control and nonproliferation

Asia

Congressional oversight

Defense spending

Europe

International law and treaties

Military operations and strategy

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Nuclear weapons

Russia
Latest action: action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-09-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Upholding America's Nuclear Commitments Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Defense to report to the congressional defense committees on the Russian Federation's new ground-launched cruise missile (SSC-8). Funds authorized in FY2018 for the research and development program for the dual-capable road-mobile ground-launched missile system with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers may not be obligated or expended until the committees receive the report.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1796 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 12, 2017 Ms. Warren (for herself and Mr. Lee ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To require a report on the military and security ramifications of the new ground-launched cruise missile of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Upholding America’s Nuclear Commitments Act of 2017 . 2. Report on military and security ramifications of Russia’s ground-launched cruise missile (a) Report required (1) In general The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report including the following elements: (A) A description of the status of the Russian Federation’s new ground-launched cruise missile (SSC–8), its capabilities, and the threat it poses to the allies and assets of the United States in Europe and Asia. (B) An assessment of whether the United States faces significant military disadvantages with the introduction of the SSC–8 to the European continent. (C) An assessment of capability gaps that a new United States ground-launched intermediate-range missile with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers would address in Europe and Asia and whether such a missile is the preferred military response to Russian Federation violations of the INF Treaty. (D) The timeline for fielding such a ground-launched intermediate-range missile, including time for research, development, and deployment of the system, and the total cost for development and deployment of the system. (E) An assessment of the willingness of countries in Europe or the Asia-Pacific region to complete the legal requirements to host a ground-launched intermediate-range missile with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers for counterforce or countervailing strike missions against the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. (F) An assessment of the North Atlantic Council’s willingness to endorse development of a ground-launched intermediate-range missile as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s collective response to the failure of the Russian Federation to comply with the INF Treaty. (G) A determination of whether the United States developing, producing, or flight-testing a ground-launched intermediate-range missile would be compliant with the INF Treaty. (2) Form The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (b) Limitation on use of funds None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2018 for a research and development program for a dual-capable road-mobile ground-launched missile system with a maximum range of 5,500 kilometers may be obligated or expended until the report required by subsection (a) is received by the congressional defense committees. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Congressional defense committees The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. (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.