“A bill to establish the Senate NATO Observer Group, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes within the Senate the Senate NATO Observer Group to address and advise on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) matters. The group serves as (1) a forum for NATO-related issues spanning multiple Senate committees; (2) an advisor to the Senate on NATO issues, including enlargement; and (3) a liaison for interactions among the executive branch, Senate, NATO, NATO members, and membership candidates, particularly during enlargement negotiations. This section specifies group membership as follows: (1) for the 119th Congress, as designated by the majority and minority leaders in the Congressional Record at the first session's start; and (2) beginning with the 120th Congress, up to seven Senators appointed by each leader within 60 days of the first session, with each leader appointing one co-chair. This section authorizes each co-chair and one designated staff member to engage in foreign travel for official purposes if approved by the other co-chair; designates the Senate Office of Interparliamentary Services to provide administrative and protocol support; authorizes the co-chairs to use foreign currencies under 22 U.S.C. 1754 (i.e., excess local currencies and limited per diem equivalents for congressional travel) for group functions; and requires the group to submit at least an annual report to Senate leaders and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair and ranking member on its activities, including travel, legislative efforts, and public diplomacy.