U.S.—Ukraine Security Cooperation Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-hr-3047
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
Introduced: 2019-05-30
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances

Conflicts and wars

Congressional oversight

Detention of persons

Europe

Foreign aid and international relief

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Human rights

International organizations and cooperation

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Military education and training

Military operations and strategy

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Rule of law and government transparency

Russia

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Ukraine
Latest action: action_date: 2019-05-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>U.S.-Ukraine Security Cooperation Enhancement Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President to treat Ukraine as a major non-NATO ally for purposes of the transfer of defense articles and services until Ukraine accedes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (Major non-NATO ally status confers various benefits, such as priority for receiving certain excess defense articles.) The bill also expands the Department of Defense's authority to provide security assistance to Ukraine to include the provision of anti-tank, anti-ship, and antiaircraft weapons systems. </p> <p>The Department of State shall report to Congress a review of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, an assessment of threats to Ukrainian independence, and an assessment of Ukraine's asymmetric capability to counter Russian aggression. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3047 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 30, 2019 Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. Engel , Mr. Kinzinger , and Mr. Keating ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To provide support to Ukraine to defend its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the U.S.—Ukraine Security Cooperation Enhancement Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) In fiscal year 2019, the United States provided Ukraine with $423,400,000 in security assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ). (2) Ukraine has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country and the United States has consistently welcomed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, reaffirmed by the 2008 Bucharest Declaration. (3) Ukraine has contributed substantially to Euro-Atlantic peace and security through participation in missions for the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and with the multinational NATO forces in Kosovo. 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that United States assistance to Ukraine under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act should be increased to provide opportunities to establish and build long-term bilateral defense relationships and to achieve important goals, including the effective use, security, and storage of United States-origin defense articles. 4. Statement of policy It shall be the policy of the United States to— (1) support Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders; (2) support the right of the people of Ukraine to freely determine their future and make independent, sovereign choices on foreign and security policy, including with respect to their country's relationship with other nations and international organizations, without interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries; (3) support Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression through the delivery of United States security assistance; (4) support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic and European integration; (5) reject any territorial changes effected by force, including the illegal invasions and occupations of Crimea and the Donbass by the Russian Federation and Russian-backed separatists; (6) condemn the ongoing detentions of the 24 Ukrainian sailors taken during the November 25, 2018, attack by Russia in the Kerch Strait; (7) urge Russia to fully implement the Minsk II process of February 11, 2015, support the establishment of international security mechanisms in the Donbass, and ensure the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees, all of which are important for lasting peace and security on the ground; (8) support continued development of democratic values in Ukraine, including strengthening rule of law, public sector transparency and accountability, as well as anticorruption efforts; and (9) in consultation with the Government of Ukraine, enhance Ukraine’s deterrence, resilience, and self-defense, including through appropriate arms transfers and sales of lethal defense articles for Ukraine’s armed forces, as well as improve Ukraine’s ability to respond to Russian-supported cyber attacks, so that it can defend against threats to its people, territorial integrity, or national security. 5. Major non-NATO ally status for Ukraine During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which Ukraine accedes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as referenced in the 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration, the President may determine that, for purposes of the transfer or possible transfer of defense articles or defense services under the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), or any other provision of law, Ukraine shall be treated as a major non-NATO ally, as defined in section 644(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2403 (q)). 6. Modification to authority to provide security assistance to Ukraine Section 1250(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92 ; 129 Stat. 1086) is amended— (1) by striking and small arms and inserting small arms ; and (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: , anti-tank weapons systems, anti-ship weapons systems, and anti-aircraft weapons systems. . 7. Report relating to security assistance for Ukraine (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate United States departments and agencies, shall submit to Congress a report reviewing United States security assistance to the Government of Ukraine that includes each of the following: (1) A detailed review of all United States security assistance programs to the Government of Ukraine, from fiscal year 2014 to the date of the submission of the report. (2) An assessment of threats to Ukrainian independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. (3) An assessment of Ukraine’s needs for lethal defense articles for offensive and defensive needs. (4) An assessment of Ukraine’s asymmetric capabilities to counter Russian hybrid warfare and aggression. (5) An assessment of the international military education and training programs offered to Ukraine by the United States and options for increasing these programs. (b) Form The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.