United States-Moldova Defense Partnership Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5174 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5174

To provide for increased defense cooperation between the United States 
                              and Moldova.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 8, 2023

 Ms. Ross (for herself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for increased defense cooperation between the United States 
                              and Moldova.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Moldova Defense 
Partnership Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Moldova is a close partner in the European region and 
        the United States should remain committed to supporting its 
        security and prosperity;
            (2) Moldova's military relies on outdated Soviet era 
        equipment that needs to be replaced;
            (3) senior Moldovan defense officials have stated they need 
        $275 million to modernize Moldova's Armed Forces;
            (4) the United States should increase and deepen efforts to 
        partner with and support the modernization of the Moldovan 
        military;
            (5) it is in the interest of the United States that Moldova 
        continues to transition its military equipment away from 
        Russian-produced platforms and weapons systems through the 
        European Recapitalization Incentive Program;
            (6) the strategic partnership that the United States and 
        Moldova have established over 30 years is mutually beneficial 
        to the national security of both countries;
            (7) the United States needs to support Moldova's reform 
        process consisting of a transition from conscription to an all-
        volunteer/professional force, modernizing equipment from Soviet 
        to Western systems, creating a ``mobile, modular, flexible and 
        function army,'' according to the 2022 statement by Defense 
        Minister Antolie Nosatii, and emphasizing air defense 
        capabilities; and
            (8) the United States should continue to invest in 
        International Military Education and Training programs in 
        Moldova.

SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR THE EUROPEAN RECAPITALIZATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--To the maximum extent feasible, amounts 
appropriated or otherwise made available for the European 
Recapitalization Incentive Program should be considered for Moldova as 
appropriate to assist the country in meeting its defense needs and 
transitioning away from Russian-produced military equipment.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that provides a full 
accounting of all funds distributed under the European Recapitalization 
Incentive Program, including--
            (1) a description of how the funds were used in Moldova; 
        and
            (2) an accounting of remaining equipment in Moldova that 
        was provided by the then-Soviet Union or Russian Federation.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--For purposes of 
subsection (b), the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON LOAN PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of Congress that, as appropriate, the United States 
Government should provide direct loans to Moldova for the procurement 
of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction 
services pursuant to the authority of section 23 of the Arms Export 
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) to support the further development of 
Moldova's military forces.

SEC. 5. IMET COOPERATION WITH MOLDOVA.

    For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, there is authorized 
$1,000,000 for International Military Education and Training assistance 
for Moldova, which may be made available for the following purposes:
            (1) Training of future leaders.
            (2) Fostering a better understanding of the United States.
            (3) Establishing a rapport between the United States Armed 
        Forces and Moldova's military to build partnerships for the 
        future.
            (4) Enhancement of interoperability and capabilities for 
        joint operations.
            (5) Focusing on professional military education, civilian 
        control of the military, and protection of human rights.
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