South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Act

Bill: 116-hr-7675
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Brindisi, Anthony [D-NY-22]
Introduced: 2020-07-20
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Congressional oversight

Government information and archives

International law and treaties

International organizations and cooperation

Marine and inland water transportation

Military operations and strategy

Navigation, waterways, harbors
Latest action: action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-07-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Act</b></p> <p>This bill extends updates of the Department of Defense Freedom of Navigation Report under the Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) program through December 31, 2025. The bill requires (1) the report to be submitted on a biannual basis, and (2) each report to document the types and locations of excessive maritime claims that the Armed Forces of the United States have challenged in the previous six months in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all countries by international law. The bill modifies elements of the report to include a summary of each excessive maritime claim challenged jointly with international partners and allies.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7675 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 20, 2020 Mr. Brindisi (for himself, Mr. Byrne , Mr. Balderson , and Mr. Waltz ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To modify and extend the update of the Department of Defense Freedom of Navigation Report.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Act . 2. Modification and extension of update of Department of Defense Freedom of Navigation Report (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 1275 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–328 ; 130 Stat. 2540) is amended— (1) by striking an annual basis and inserting a biannual basis ; and (2) by striking the previous year and inserting the previous 6 months . (b) Elements Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the year and inserting the period ; (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting the number of maritime and overflight challenges to each such claim and before the country ; (3) in paragraph (5), by inserting have been protested by the United States but before have not been challenged ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (6) A summary of each excessive maritime claim challenged jointly with international partners and allies. . (c) Form Subsection (c) of such section is amended by adding at the end before the period the following: and made publicly available . (d) Sunset Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking December 31, 2021 and inserting December 31, 2025 . (e) Conforming amendment The heading of such section is amended by striking annual and inserting biannual .