National Security Revitalization Act
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 1995 | House · vote #145 | On Passage | Passed | 241–181 | See who voted → |
| Feb 16, 1995 | House · vote #144 | On Motion to Recommit with Instructions | Failed | 197–225 | See who voted → |
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Findings, Policy, and Purposes
Title II: Missile Defense
Title III: Revitalization of National Security Commission
Title IV: Command of United States Forces
Title V: United Nations
Title VI: Revitalization and Expansion of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
Title VII: Budget Firewalls
National Security Revitalization Act - Title I: Findings, Policy, and Purposes - Sets forth as purposes of this Act: (1) to establish a commission to reassess U.S. military needs and reverse the decline in defense spending; (2) to commit to acceleration of the development and deployment of theater and national ballistic missile defense capabilities; (3) to restrict deployment of U.S. forces to missions that are in the national interest; (4) to maintain U.S. command of U.S.
forces participating in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations and to reduce the cost to the United States of such operations; and (5) to reemphasize the U.S. commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Title II: Missile Defense - Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to: (1) develop for deployment at the earliest possible date a cost- and operationally-effective antiballistic missile system to protect the United States against ballistic missile attacks; and (2) develop for expeditious deployment advanced theater missile defense systems. Requires a plan with respect to the deployment of such systems to be submitted to specified congressional committees within 60 days after enactment of this Act.
Title III: Revitalization of National Security Commission - Establishes the Revitalization of National Security Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the long-term U.S. national security needs. Requires an interim and final report from the Commission to designated congressional committees on its assessments and recommendations. Provides funding.
Title IV: Command of United States Forces - Prohibits funds made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) from being obligated or expended for activities of any element of the armed forces that after the date of enactment of this Act is placed under the command or operational control of a foreign national acting on behalf of the UN for international peacekeeping or peace enforcement purposes. Waives such prohibition if the President, at least 15 days in advance, certifies to the Congress that such command or control is necessary to protect U.S. national security interests. Allows the President, in emergency situations, to allow such foreign command or control without the advance notification, but requires congressional notification within 48 hours after such action. Outlines certification requirements. Waives all such requirements when less than 50 members of U.S. armed forces are involved. Requires the President to submit to the Congress a memorandum of legal points and authorities explaining why the foreign placement of U.S. military personnel does not violate the Constitution. Excepts ongoing operations in Macedonia from the above requirements.
(Sec. 402) Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (the Act) to require approval by the Congress, by law, of any presidential action taken which makes available to the UN Security Council, or a foreign national acting on behalf of the UN, U.S. armed forces for international peace and security activities. Provides exceptions: (l) in the case of presidential certifications, as above; and (2) when such action is authorized by law. Outlines certification requirements and provides an exception for: (1) actions requiring less than 50 U.S. military personnel; and (2) ongoing operations in Macedonia. Requires the President to submit to the Congress the same legal memorandum as required above.
Title V: United Nations - Amends the Act to specifically limit the U.S. assessment for UN expenditures in support of international peacekeeping operations. Requires crediting for the United States by the UN for the costs of U.S. support for, or participation in, such activities. Directs the President to annually submit to designated congressional committees a report on the total amount of any fiscal year's national defense funds that are expended to support such activities.
(Sec. 502) Codifies within the Act specified provisions of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 concerning the required notification to the Congress of proposed UN peacekeeping activities. Requires within such notification a description of any uncovered U.S. assistance to or support for such activities. Excludes from such notification any intelligence activities reportable under title V of the National Security Act of 1947. Defines a new UN peacekeeping operation as one to be expanded by more than 25 percent during the period covered, or one to be authorized to operate in a country in which it was not previously authorized.
(Sec. 503) Requires presidential notification to designated congressional committees within 15 days: (1) after receipt by the United States of a billing request from the UN for the U.S. contribution toward UN peacekeeping activities; or (2) before the U.S. obligates funds for such contributions (except for emergencies, in which case notification is required within 48 hours of such obligation).
(Sec. 504) Requires, in a report required under the Act, a description of the anticipated budget for the next fiscal year for U.S. participation in UN peacekeeping activities (excluding intelligence activities reportable under title V of the National Security Act of 1947).
(Sec. 506) Authorizes the Secretary, in emergency circumstances, to waive the requirement for reimbursement to the United States for in-kind contributions to UN peacekeeping activities. Requires appropriate notification to the designated congressional committees. Directs the Secretary of State to ensure that U.S. goods provided by DOD on a reimbursable basis for UN peacekeeping activities are reimbursed at the appropriate value. Directs the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN to report to the designated congressional committees on all U.S. action taken to achieve such objectives.
(Sec. 507) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used in any fiscal year to pay any U.S. assessed or voluntary contribution for UN peacekeeping activities until the Secretary certifies to the Congress that the UN has reimbursed DOD directly for all goods and services provided during the previous fiscal year for such activities.
(Sec. 508) States that, beginning October 1, 1995, funds made available to DOD shall be available for UN peacekeeping activities or their related incremental costs only to the extent that the Congress has by law specifically made those funds available for such purpose.
(Sec. 509) Codifies within the Act a specified provision which limits the use of funds authorized for Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities for payment of the U.S. assessed contribution for a UN peacekeeping operation to 25 percent of the total amount of all assessed contributions for such operation.
(Sec. 510) Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended for U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping activities unless the Secretary of State determines and certifies to the designated congressional committees that U.S. manufacturers and suppliers are being given opportunities equal to foreign manufacturers and suppliers to provide equipment, material, and services for such activities.
(Sec. 511) Withholds specified percentages of U.S. assessed and voluntary contributions toward UN peacekeeping activities until receipt by the Congress of a certification by the President that the UN, through its Office of Inspector General, has undertaken certain prescribed activities with respect to a financial and management accounting of UN peacekeeping activities.
(Sec. 512) Requires the President, before intelligence is provided to the UN by the United States, to ensure that the CIA Director has established guidelines governing the provision of intelligence to the UN which protects intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with provisions of the National Security Act of 1947. Requires periodic reports from the President on the types and purposes of intelligence provided to the UN, and special reports concerning any unauthorized disclosure of intelligence. Directs the Secretary of State to work with the UN to improve the handling, processing, dissemination, and management of all intelligence provided to it by its members.
Title VI: Revitalization and Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO Revitalization and Expansion Act of 1995 - Declares that it should be U.S. policy: (1) to continue the commitment to an active leadership role in NATO; (2) to join with NATO allies to redefine the role of the alliance in the post-Cold War world, taking into account specified factors; (3) to affirm that NATO military planning should include joint military operations beyond the geographic bounds of the alliance under the North Atlantic Treaty when the shared interests of the United States and other member countries require such actions to defend vital interests; (4) that Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia should be permitted to join NATO by January 10, 1999, as long as each country meets specified standards and undertakes certain commitments; (5) that the United States and other NATO member nations should furnish appropriate assistance to enable such countries to achieve membership by such date; and (6) that other European countries, particularly the Baltic states and Ukraine, may be in a position to achieve NATO membership at a future date.
(Sec. 604) Directs the President to establish a program to assist the transition to full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and any other European country emerging from communist domination that is designated by the President. Outlines types of assistance to be provided. Requires annual reports from the President to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress made in implementing this section.
Title VII: Budget Firewalls - Expresses the sense of the Congress that so-called "budget firewalls" between defense and domestic discretionary spending should be established for each of FY 1996 through 1998.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Hearings held.