,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cjhj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ah1 #bjai,mr4 ,sullivan 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,king1 and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to state the policy of the ,united ,states regarding the need for strategic placement of military assets in the ,arctic1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strategic ,arctic ,naval ,focus ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the strategic importance of the ,arctic continues to increase as the ,united ,states and other countries recognize the military significance of the sea lanes and choke points within the region and understand the potential for power projection from the ,arctic into multiple regions4 7#b7 ,on ,january #ai1 #bjah1 ,secretary of ,defense ,james ,mattis released the #bjah ,national ,defense ,strategy of the ,united ,states of ,america in which the ,secretary outlined the reemergence of long-term1 strategic competition by countries classified by the ,national ,security ,strategy as revisionist powers such as ,china and ,russia4 7#c7 ,russia and ,china have conducted military exercises together in the ,arctic1 have agreed to connect the ,northern ,sea ,route1 claimed by ,russia1 with ,china's ,maritime ,silk ,road1 and are working together in developing natural gas resources in the ,arctic4 7#d7 ,the ,government of the ,russian ,federation-- 7,a7 has prioritized the development of ,arctic capabilities and has made significant investments in military infrastructure in the ,arctic1 including the creation of a new ,arctic ,command and the construction or refurbishment of #af deepwater ports and #ad airfields in the region2 7,b7 has approximately #dj icebreakers as of ,may #bjai1 including several nuclear-powered icebreakers1 is currently constructing four icebreakers1 and is planning to build an additional eight icebreakers2 and 7,c7 conducted the largest military exercise since the #aihjs1 ,vostok #bjah1 which included-- 7i7 #cjj1jjj troops2 7ii7 #a1jjj aircraft2 7iii7 #hj ships2 7iv7 #cf1jjj vehicles2 and 7v7 notably1 #c1bjj ,chinese troops1 #cj ,chinese rotary and fixed-wing aircraft1 and #ijj ,chinese tanks4 7#e7 ,the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china-- 7,a7 released1 in ,january #bjah1 its new ,arctic ,strategy1 the ,polar ,silk ,road1 in which it declares itself as a near-,arctic state1 even though its nearest territory to the ,arctic is #ijj miles away2 7,b7 has publicly stated that it seeks to expand its ,belt and ,road ,initiative to the ,arctic region1 including current investment in the natural gas fields in the ,yamal ,peninsula in ,russia1 rare-earth element mines in ,greenland1 and the real estate1 alternative energy1 and fisheries in ,iceland2 and 7,c7 has shown great interest in expanding its ,arctic presence1 including through-- 7i7 the operation of research vessels in the region2 7ii7 the recent construction of the ,xuelong #b1 or ,snow ,dragon ,,ii1 the only polar research boat vessel in the world that can break ice while going forward or backward2 7iii7 a freedom of navigation operation in the ,aleutian ,islands in #bjae2 and 7iv7 its recent plans to develop a #cc1jjj ton nuclear-powered icebreaker4 7#f7 ,the economic significance of the ,arctic continues to grow as countries around the globe begin to understand the magnitude of the natural resources in the ,arctic1 the potential for maritime transportation through1 and economic and trade development in1 the region4 7#g7 ,the ,arctic is home to #ac percent of the world's undiscovered oil1 #cj percent of its undiscovered gas1 an abundance of uranium1 rare earth minerals1 gold1 diamonds1 and millions of square miles of untapped resources1 including abundant fisheries4 7#h7 ,the ,bering ,strait is experiencing significant increases in international traffic from vessels transiting the ,northern ,sea ,route1 increases which are projected to continue if decreases in sea ice coverage continue4 7#i7 ,along a future ice-free ,arctic shipping route1 a ship sailing from ,south ,korea to ,germany would have an average travel time of just #bc days1 compared to #cd days via the ,suez ,canal and #df days via the ,cape of ,good ,hope4 7#aj7 ,in a speech at the ,arctic ,forum in ,september #bjaa1 ,russian ,federation ,president ,vladimir ,putin highlighted the ,northern ,sea ,route as a potential alternative to the ,suez ,canal and has publicly stated plans to invest #aa1djj1jjj1jjj along the ,northern ,sea ,route by #bjbd4 7#aa7 ,increases in human1 maritime1 and resource development activity in the ,arctic region create additional mission requirements for the ,department of ,defense and the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 given-- 7,a7 the strategic focus of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation and the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china on the ,arctic2 7,b7 overlapping territorial claims2 and 7,c7 the potential for maritime accidents1 oil spills1 and illegal fishing near the exclusive economic zone of the ,united ,states4 7#ab7 ,the increasing role of the ,united ,states in the ,arctic has been highlighted in each of the last four ,national ,defense ,authorization ,acts4 7#ac7 ,section #ajfh of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-ib2 #abi ,stat4 #iib7 required a new ,department of ,defense strategy to protect ,united ,states national security interests in the ,arctic region4 7#ad7 ,section #ajie of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbh2 #acj ,stat4 #bdch7 required the ,department of ,defense to create criteria to designate a ,department of ,defense ,strategic ,arctic ,port4 7#ae7 ,section #abb of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ia2 #aca ,stat4 #acaj7 authorized the procurement of one polar-class heavy icebreaker vessel4 7#af7 ,section #aea of the ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7,public ,law #aae-bcb2 #acb ,stat4 #afga7 authorized the procurement of five additional polar-class icebreaker vessels and expressed that the ,coast ,guard should-- 7,a7 maintain an inventory of not fewer than six polar-class icebreaker vessels2 7,b7 award a contract for the first new polar-class icebreaker not later than fiscal year #bjai and deliver the icebreaker not later than fiscal year #bjbc2 and 7,c7 deliver the second through sixth polar-class icebreakers at a rate of one vessel per year in fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4 7#ag7 ,in ,january #bjag1 the ,department of ,defense released a report entitled ,report to ,congress on ,strategy to ,protect ,united ,states ,national ,security ,interests in the ,arctic ,region to update the ways and means the ,department of ,defense intends to use to achieve its objectives as it implements the #bjac ,national ,strategy for the ,arctic ,region1 including-- 7,a7 enhancing the capability of ,united ,states forces to defend the homeland and exercise sovereignty2 7,b7 strengthening deterrence at home and abroad2 7,c7 preserving freedom of the seas in the ,arctic2 and 7,d7 evolving the infrastructure and capabilities of the ,department in the ,arctic consistent with changing conditions and needs4 7#ah7 ,the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard ,arctic ,strategic ,outlook released in ,april #bjai states that demonstrating commitment to operational presence1 ,canada1 ,denmark1 and ,norway have made strategic investments in ice-capable patrol ships charged with national or homeland security missions4 ,the ,united ,states is the only ,arctic ,state that has not made similar investments in ice-capable surface maritime security assets4 ,this limits the ability of the ,coast ,guard1 and the ,nation1 to credibly uphold sovereignty or respond to contingencies in the ,arctic4 7#ai7 ,on ,july #af1 #bjai1 ,secretary of ,defense ,mark ,esper stated that the ,arctic is strategic terrain for the ,united ,states4 ,the region has significant economic opportunity1 and must remain free and open4 ,it is also growing more complicated as strategic competitors--,russia and1 increasingly1 ,china--seek to enhance their position in the region4 ,it is critical that the ,arctic remain a secure and stable region where ,u4,s4 national interests are safeguarded1 the ,u4,s4 homeland is defended1 and nations work together to address challenges4 7#bj7 ,on ,january #i1 #bjai1 ,secretary of the ,air ,force ,heather ,wilson and ,chief of ,staff of the ,air ,force ,general ,david ,goldfein wrote that ''' the ,arctic has become even more important to the nation4 ,both a northern approach to the ,united ,states1 as well as a critical location for projecting ,american power1 its geo-strategic significance is difficult to overstate4 7#ba7 ,on ,february #bf1 #bjai1 ,general ,john ,hyten1 ,commander of the ,united ,states ,strategic ,command1 stated that in particular1 the ,arctic is an area that we really need to focus on and really look at investing4 ,that is no longer a buffer zone4 ,we need to be able to operate there4 ,we need to be able to communicate there4 ,we need to have a presence there that we have not invested in in the same way that our adversaries have4 ,and they see that as a vulnerability from us1 whereas it is becoming a strength for them and it is a weakness for us1 we need to flip that equation4 7#bb7 ,on ,february #bf1 #bjai1 ,general ,terrence ,o',shaughnessy1 ,commander of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command stated that it has become clear that defense of the homeland depends on our ability to detect and defeat threats operating both in the ,arctic and passing through the ,arctic4 ,russia's fielding of advanced1 long-range cruise missiles capable of flying through the northern approaches and striking targets in the ,united ,states and ,canada has emerged as the dominant military threat in the ,arctic''' 4 ,meanwhile1 ,china has declared that it is not content to remain a mere observer in the ,arctic and has taken action to normalize its naval and commercial presence in the region in order to increase its access to lucrative resources and shipping routes4 ,i view the ,arctic as the front line in the defense of the ,united ,states and ,canada '''4 7#bc7 ,on ,may #f1 #bjai1 ,admiral ,karl ,schultz1 ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard stated that we talk about the ,arctic as a competitive space4 ,we've seen ,china1 we see ,russia investing extensively4 ,china built icebreakers in the time since we updated our strategy4 ,china's been operating off the ,alaskan ,arctic for a good part of the last six years on an annual basis4 ,the ,coast ,guard is championing increased capabilities in the ,arctic ''' better communications1 better domain awareness ''' ,i want to see the ,arctic remain a peaceful domain4 ,china's a self-declared ,arctic state4 ,they're not one of the eight ,arctic nations1 so for me1 for the service1 its presence equals influence4 7#bd7 ,on ,may #f1 #bjai1 ,secretary of ,state ,mike ,pompeo stated that-- 7,a7 the ,arctic has become an arena for power and for competition1 and the ,united ,states is entering a new age of strategic engagement in the ,arctic1 complete with new threats to the ,arctic and its real estate1 and to all of our interests in that region2 7,b7 ,arctic sea lanes could become the #bast century ,suez and ,panama ,canals2 7,c7 we're concerned about ,russia's claim over the international waters of the ,northern ,sea ,route1 including its newly announced plans to connect it with ,china's ,maritime ,silk ,road2 7,d7 in the ,northern ,sea ,route1 ,moscow already illegally demands other nations request permission to pass1 requires ,russian maritime pilots to be aboard foreign ships1 and threatens to use military force to sink any that fail to comply with their demands2 7,e7 there is a pattern of aggressive ,russian behavior here in the ,arctic and we know ,russian territorial ambitions can turn violent2 and 7,f7 we do not want the ,arctic ,ocean to transform into a new ,south ,china ,sea1 fraught with militarization and competing territorial claims1 nor do we want the fragile ,arctic environment exposed to the same ecological devastation caused by ,china's fishing fleet in the seas off its coast1 or unregulated industrial activity in its own country4 7#be7 ,on ,december #f1 #bjah1 ,secretary of the ,navy ,richard ,spencer stated that we need to have a strategic ,arctic port up in ,alaska4 ,we need to be doing ,f,o,n,o,ps in the northwest--in the northern passage ''' peace through presence with a submarine is a little tough4 7#bf7 ,meanwhile1 the two closest strategic seaports1 as designated by the ,department of ,defense1 to the ,arctic ,circle are the ,port of ,anchorage and the ,port of ,tacoma1 located approximately #a1ejj nautical miles and #b1djj nautical miles away1 respectively1 and approximately #a1ijj nautical miles and #b1hjj nautical miles respectively from ,barrow1 ,alaska4 7#bg7 ,the distance from ,bangor1 ,maine1 to ,key ,west1 ,florida1 is approximately #a1dej nautical miles4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to prioritize ,navy and ,coast ,guard missions1 infrastructure and capability development1 training1 and stationing of assets to meet the growing array of challenges in the ,arctic due to the region's strategic importance to the national security interests of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 that the increasing freedom of navigation and expansion of activity in the ,arctic must be met with increasing deployment of ,navy and ,coast ,guard surface vessels capable of exerting influence through persistent presence in the ,arctic2 7#c7 that1 while the recapitalization of the ,coast ,guard's fleet of cutters and aircraft is needed and important1 the ,coast ,guard must avoid overextending operational assets for remote international missions at the cost of dedicated focus on this domestic area of responsibility with significant international interest and activity2 and 7#d7 that1 although some progress has been made to increase awareness of ,arctic issues and to promote increased military presence in the region1 additional measures shall be taken to protect vital economic1 environmental1 and national security interests of the ,united ,states1 and to show the commitment of the ,united ,states to this emerging strategic choke point of increasing great power competition1 including the formation of an ,arctic ,security ,initiative with the funding and authority to drive-- 7,a7 the creation of a network of strategically advantageous ports in the ,arctic2 7,b7 the long-term homeporting of significant ,coast ,guard assets in the ,arctic2 7,c7 the development of ,navy and ,coast ,guard ship maintenance and repair relationships with facilities located within ,alaska in or near the ,arctic2 7,d7 increased military training for operating in the ,arctic environment2 and 7,e7 the creation of a ,department of ,defense ,center for ,security ,studies for the ,arctic4 #d4 ,report on the strategic naval focus in the ,arctic 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense in consultation with the ,secretary of the department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the development and execution of a strategic plan that focuses on addressing the findings in section #b and the policy stated in section #c4 7b7 ,elements ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include a detailed plan to achieve the following3 7#a7 ,the creation of a ,department of ,defense ,strategic ,arctic ,port by #bjce4 7#b7 ,the establishment of the position of ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary of ,defense for the ,arctic tasked with optimizing the ,unified ,command ,plan for the ,arctic and other overarching strategies for the ,arctic region4 7#c7 ,the procurement of not fewer than four ice-hardened ,navy vessels by #bjcj4 7#d7 ,not fewer than one ice-hardened ,navy vessel on patrol in the ,arctic and able to maintain maritime domain awareness1 conduct training exercises1 and perform national defense operations not fewer than six months of every year4 7#e7 ,not fewer than one major ,coast ,guard cutter on patrol in the ,arctic and able to execute search and rescue operations1 fisheries enforcement1 pollution response1 and support for national defense operations at all times4 7#f7 ,not fewer than two icebreaking vessels permanently stationed within the ,arctic by #bjce4 7#g7 ,sufficient icebreaking activity to keep the ,northwest ,passage sea lanes open for commerce1 national defense1 rescue and recovery operations1 and scientific exploration by #bjcj4 7c7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 #e4 ,arctic defined ,in this ,act1 the term ,arctic has the meaning given that term in section #aab of the ,arctic ,research and ,policy ,act of #aihd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #daaa74