Eastern European Security Act

Bill: 116-hr-2444
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
Introduced: 2019-05-01
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances

Arms control and nonproliferation

Collective security

Congressional oversight

Europe

Foreign aid and international relief

Foreign loans and debt

Interest, dividends, interest rates

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Military operations and strategy

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Russia

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Latest action: action_date: 2021-01-13
text: Became Public Law No: 116-332.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Eastern European Security Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President to make direct loans to countries that joined the&nbsp;North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after March 1, 1999, for the purchase of U.S. defense articles. The President may (1) make such loans with lower interest rates than required by statute, and (2) charge fees associated with such loans. Before making such a loan, the Department of State shall certify to Congress that the receiving country is (1) making demonstrable progress toward meeting its NATO defense-spending obligations, and (2) respecting the country's constitution and upholding democratic values.</p>

action_date: 2020-03-09
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Eastern European Security Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President to make direct loans to countries that joined the&nbsp;North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after March 1, 1999, for the purchase of U.S. defense articles. The President may (1) make such loans with lower interest rates than required by statute, and (2) charge fees associated with such loans. Before making such a loan, the Department of State shall certify to Congress that the receiving country is (1) making demonstrable progress toward meeting its NATO defense-spending obligations, and (2) respecting the country's constitution and upholding democratic values.</p>

action_date: 2021-01-01
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><b>Eastern European Security Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President to make direct loans to countries that joined the&nbsp;North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after March 1, 1999, for the purchase of U.S. defense articles. The President may (1) make such loans with lower interest rates than required by statute, and (2) charge fees associated with such loans. Before making such a loan, the Department of State shall certify to Congress that the receiving country is (1) making demonstrable progress toward meeting its NATO defense-spending obligations, and (2) respecting the country's constitution and upholding democratic values.</p>

action_date: 2021-01-13
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><b>Eastern European Security Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President to make direct loans to countries that joined the&nbsp;North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after March 1, 1999, for the purchase of U.S. defense articles. The President may (1) make such loans with lower interest rates than required by statute, and (2) charge fees associated with such loans. Before making such a loan, the Department of State shall certify to Congress that the receiving country is (1) making demonstrable progress toward meeting its NATO defense-spending obligations, and (2) respecting the country's constitution and upholding democratic values.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2444 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2019 Mr. McCaul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of State to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eastern European Security Act . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States for member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that were formerly part of the Soviet Eastern Bloc— (1) to have modern and effective defense articles that are in use and easily integrated with those used by the United States and other NATO allies; and (2) not use or be dependent on Russian or former Soviet-era defense articles. 3. Foreign military loan authority (a) In general Subject to the notification requirements under subsection (b), the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized— (1) to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ) to NATO countries that joined the alliance after March 1, 1999, notwithstanding the minimum interest rate required by subsection (c)(1) of such section; and (2) to charge fees for such loans under paragraph (1), which shall be collected from borrowers in accordance with section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and which may be used to cover the costs of such loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. (b) Notification A loan may not be made under the authority provided by subsection (a) unless the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification, not fewer than fifteen days before entering into an agreement to make such loan, that— (1) the recipient country is making demonstrable progress toward meeting its spending obligations in accordance with the 2014 NATO Wales Summit; and (2) the government of such recipient country is respecting that country’s constitution and upholds democratic values such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and the rights of religious minorities. (c) Repayment A loan made under the authority provided by subsection (a) shall be repaid in not more than 12 years, but may include a grace period of up to one year on the repayment of the principal. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

tv_txt: I One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty H. R. 2444 AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of State to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eastern European Security Act . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States to— (1) deter aggression against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies by Russia or any other adversary; (2) assist NATO allies in acquiring and deploying modern, NATO interoperable military equipment and reducing their dependence on Russian or former Soviet-era defense articles; (3) ensure that NATO allies meet alliance defense commitments, including through adequate investments in national defense; (4) supplement existing grant assistance to key allies through foreign military financing loans, at rates competitive with those already available on commercial markets, to purchase NATO-interoperable military equipment; and (5) work to maintain and strengthen the democratic institutions and practices of all NATO allies, in accordance with the goals of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 3. Foreign military loan authority (a) In general Beginning in fiscal year 2021, subject to the notification requirements under subsection (b) and to the availability of appropriations, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized— (1) to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ) to NATO member countries that joined the alliance after March 1, 1999, notwithstanding the minimum interest rate required by subsection (c)(1) of such section; and (2) to charge fees for such loans under paragraph (1), which shall be collected from borrowers in accordance with section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and which may be used to cover the costs of such loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. (b) Notification A loan may not be made under the authority provided by subsection (a) unless the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification, not fewer than fifteen days before entering into an agreement to make such loan, that— (1) the recipient country is making demonstrable progress toward meeting its defense spending commitments in accordance with the 2014 NATO Wales Summit Declaration; and (2) the government of such recipient country is respecting that country’s constitution and upholds democratic values such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and the rights of religious minorities. (c) Repayment A loan made under the authority provided by subsection (a) shall be repaid in not more than 12 years, but may include a grace period of up to 1 year on the repayment of the principal. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.

tv_txt: IIB 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2444 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2020 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of State to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eastern European Security Act . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States to— (1) deter aggression against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies by Russia or any other adversary; (2) assist NATO allies in acquiring and deploying modern, NATO interoperable military equipment and reducing their dependence on Russian or former Soviet-era defense articles; (3) ensure that NATO allies meet alliance defense commitments, including through adequate investments in national defense; (4) supplement existing grant assistance to key allies through foreign military financing loans, at rates competitive with those already available on commercial markets, to purchase NATO-interoperable military equipment; and (5) work to maintain and strengthen the democratic institutions and practices of all NATO allies, in accordance with the goals of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 3. Foreign military loan authority (a) In general Beginning in fiscal year 2021, subject to the notification requirements under subsection (b) and to the availability of appropriations, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized— (1) to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ) to NATO member countries that joined the alliance after March 1, 1999, notwithstanding the minimum interest rate required by subsection (c)(1) of such section; and (2) to charge fees for such loans under paragraph (1), which shall be collected from borrowers in accordance with section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and which may be used to cover the costs of such loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. (b) Notification A loan may not be made under the authority provided by subsection (a) unless the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification, not fewer than fifteen days before entering into an agreement to make such loan, that— (1) the recipient country is making demonstrable progress toward meeting its defense spending commitments in accordance with the 2014 NATO Wales Summit Declaration; and (2) the government of such recipient country is respecting that country’s constitution and upholds democratic values such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and the rights of religious minorities. (c) Repayment A loan made under the authority provided by subsection (a) shall be repaid in not more than 12 years, but may include a grace period of up to 1 year on the repayment of the principal. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives March 9, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2444 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of State to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eastern European Security Act . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States to— (1) deter aggression against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies by Russia or any other adversary; (2) assist NATO allies in acquiring and deploying modern, NATO interoperable military equipment and reducing their dependence on Russian or former Soviet-era defense articles; (3) ensure that NATO allies meet alliance defense commitments, including through adequate investments in national defense; (4) supplement existing grant assistance to key allies through foreign military financing loans, at rates competitive with those already available on commercial markets, to purchase NATO-interoperable military equipment; and (5) work to maintain and strengthen the democratic institutions and practices of all NATO allies, in accordance with the goals of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. 3. Foreign military loan authority (a) In general Beginning in fiscal year 2021, subject to the notification requirements under subsection (b) and to the availability of appropriations, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized— (1) to make direct loans under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2763 ) to NATO member countries that joined the alliance after March 1, 1999, notwithstanding the minimum interest rate required by subsection (c)(1) of such section; and (2) to charge fees for such loans under paragraph (1), which shall be collected from borrowers in accordance with section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and which may be used to cover the costs of such loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. (b) Notification A loan may not be made under the authority provided by subsection (a) unless the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification, not fewer than fifteen days before entering into an agreement to make such loan, that— (1) the recipient country is making demonstrable progress toward meeting its defense spending commitments in accordance with the 2014 NATO Wales Summit Declaration; and (2) the government of such recipient country is respecting that country’s constitution and upholds democratic values such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the rule of law, and the rights of religious minorities. (c) Repayment A loan made under the authority provided by subsection (a) shall be repaid in not more than 12 years, but may include a grace period of up to 1 year on the repayment of the principal. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

Passed the House of Representatives March 9, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.