S.Amdt. 5887

SA 5887. Mr. TILLIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1230. UNITED STATES SENATE NATO OBSERVER GROUP.

(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Senate
a group of Senators to address and advise on matters relating
to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to be known as the
``Senate NATO Observer Group''.
(b) Functions.--The Senate NATO Observer Group shall--
(1) serve as a forum for addressing matters relating to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization that fall within the
jurisdictions of 2 or more committees of the Senate;
(2) advise the Senate on issues relating to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, including North Atlantic Treaty
Organization enlargement; and
(3) with respect to any matter involving the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization and the United States Government,
particularly during negotiations on North Atlantic Treaty
Organization enlargement, engage in close interactions
between and among the executive branch, the Senate, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, any other member country of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and any country that is a
candidate for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.
(c) Appointment of Members.--
(1) In general.--Beginning in the 120th Congress, not later
than 60 days after the date on which of the first session of
each Congress convenes, the majority leader and the minority
leader of the Senate shall each appoint to the Senate NATO
Observer Group not more than 7 Senators.
(2) Co-chairs.--Of the members appointed under paragraph
(1), the majority leader and the minority leader of the
Senate shall each appoint 1 co-chairperson of the Senate NATO
Observer Group.
(3) Ex officio members.--The Senate NATO Observer Group
shall include, as ex officio members, the chair and ranking
member of each of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.
(d) Use of Foreign Currencies.--Beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, the co-chairs of the Senate NATO
Observer Group are authorized to use funds in accordance with
the provisions of law relating to foreign currencies, as
codified in section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, for
activities critical to carrying out the functions of the
Senate NATO Observer Group.
(e) Report.--Not less frequently than annually, the Senate
NATO Observer Group shall submit to the majority leader and
minority leader of the Senate and the chairperson and ranking
member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report on the activities undertaken by the Senate NATO
Observer Group during the preceding fiscal year, including
with respect to travel, legislative efforts, and public
diplomacy initiatives.
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