Portman urges passage of Defense Bill to address security threats
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is urging passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. Portman discussed the need to address growing national security threats around the world, including continued Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. Portman urged adoption of his amendments that will help the U.S. better assist the Ukrainians as they defend their sovereignty.
The Senate is set to vote Tuesday, June 16 to wrap up debate on the bill.
The first of Portman's amendments modifies a section of the NDAA that authorizes $300 million in military assistance to Ukraine.
This section, as amended, directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a number of critical capabilities the Ukrainians need to defend themselves, including real-time intelligence, counter-artillery radars, defensive lethal assistance, UAVs, secure communications, and training to develop key combat, planning, and support capabilities.
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Half of that $300 million is fenced off until at least $60 million is spent on the most important capabilities the Ukrainians need and have requested: real-time intelligence, defensive lethal assistance, and counter-artillery radars. If the Administration fails to use this money for the purposes specified, they must use it to support other nations facing an increased risk of Russian aggression.
The second amendment studies the implications of the conflict in Ukraine for the U.S. military. It would require an assessment of U.S. and NATO efforts in eastern Ukraine based on lessons learned from the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the Russians and separatists. This assessment will include, among other things, a report of the implications of Russia’s information war and the implications the conflict has for armored warfare equipment, such as Abrams tanks made in Lima, Ohio.
Portman has also offered another Ukraine-related amendment to the NDAA and State Department Authorization that will require the State Department to submit to Congress a list of all applications for export licenses for military equipment and assistance to Ukraine with status updates every three months. This reporting requirement will end when the President certifies that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been restored.
“The situation in Ukraine has deteriorated significantly in the last year or so," Portman said. "And it has because Russia not only invaded Crimea and took that part of Ukraine, but they are also continuing their aggression on the border of Ukraine. This affects us as Americans because Ukraine is our ally and Ukraine is a country that has decided to stand with us. It’s time for us and the other NATO countries to stand with them.
“Our policy toward Ukraine has been not just insufficient but piecemeal. We haven’t had a strategy to deal with this issue. What my amendment attempts to do is to take the language that is in the underlying legislation and improve it so that we have a more comprehensive strategy in Ukraine, which is incredibly important not just for Ukraine, but also for international order.
“I visited Ukraine in April and got to see some of the consequences firsthand…Ukraine is in a state of war and it’s under siege. It makes it much more difficult for Ukraine to do what they know they need to do which is improve their economy, deal with corruption, have more transparency…they are attempting to do that but it’s difficult when they have this conflict on their border. Russian aggression in Ukraine won’t just go away or resolve itself simply because we wish it to. It will take a comprehensive strategy and coordinated political, military, and economic actions to change the current dynamic."