,,ii #aaf? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #cjhj ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,decemb] #ah1 #bjai,mr4 ,sullivan 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,k+1 & ,ms4 ,murk[ski7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ,a ,,bill ,to /ate ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates reg>d+ ! ne$ = /rategic placem5t ( milit>y assets 9 ! ,arctic1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,/rategic ,arctic ,naval ,focus ,act ( #bjai4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! /rategic importance ( ! ,arctic cont9ues to increase z ! ,unit$ ,/ates & o!r c\ntries recognize ! milit>y significance ( ! sea lanes & *oke po9ts )9 ! region & und]/& ! pot5tial = p[] projection f ! ,arctic into multiple regions4 7#b7 ,on ,janu>y #ai1 #bjah1 ,secret>y ( ,def5se ,james ,mattis releas$ ! #bjah ,national ,def5se ,/rategy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica 9 :i* ! ,secret>y outl9$ ! reem]g5ce ( long-t]m1 /rategic competition by c\ntries classifi$ by ! ,national ,security ,/rategy z revisioni/ p[]s su* z ,*9a & ,russia4 7#c7 ,russia & ,*9a h conduct$ milit>y ex]cises toge!r 9 ! ,arctic1 h agre$ to connect ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te1 claim$ by ,russia1 ) ,*9a's ,m>itime ,silk ,road1 & are work+ toge!r 9 develop+ natural gas res\rces 9 ! ,arctic4 7#d7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,russian ,f$]ation-- 7,a7 has prioritiz$ ! developm5t ( ,arctic capabilities & has made significant inve/m5ts 9 milit>y infra/ructure 9 ! ,arctic1 includ+ ! creation ( a new ,arctic ,comm& & ! con/ruction or refurbi%m5t ( #af deepwat] ports & #ad airfields 9 ! region2 7,b7 has approximately #dj icebreak]s z ( ,may #bjai1 includ+ sev]al nucle>-p[]$ icebreak]s1 is curr5tly con/ruct+ f\r icebreak]s1 & is plann+ to build an additional eight icebreak]s2 & 7,c7 conduct$ ! l>ge/ milit>y ex]cise s9ce ! #aihjs1 ,vo/ok #bjah1 :i* includ$-- 7i7 #cjj1jjj troops2 7ii7 #a1jjj aircraft2 7iii7 #hj %ips2 7iv7 #cf1jjj vehicles2 & 7v7 notably1 #c1bjj ,*9ese troops1 #cj ,*9ese rot>y & fix$-w+ aircraft1 & #ijj ,*9ese tanks4 7#e7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a-- 7,a7 releas$1 9 ,janu>y #bjah1 its new ,arctic ,/rategy1 ! ,pol> ,silk ,road1 9 :i* x decl>es itself z a ne>-,arctic /ate1 ev5 ?\gh its ne>e/ t]ritory to ! ,arctic is #ijj miles away2 7,b7 has publicly /at$ t x seeks to exp& its ,belt & ,road ,initiative to ! ,arctic region1 includ+ curr5t inve/m5t 9 ! natural gas fields 9 ! ,yamal ,p59sula 9 ,russia1 r>e-e>? elem5t m9es 9 ,gre5l&1 & ! real e/ate1 alt]native en]gy1 & fi%]ies 9 ,icel&2 & 7,c7 has %[n great int]e/ 9 exp&+ its ,arctic pres5ce1 includ+ ?r\gh-- 7i7 ! op]ation ( rese>* vessels 9 ! region2 7ii7 ! rec5t con/ruction ( ! ,xuelong #b1 or ,sn[ ,dragon ,,ii1 ! only pol> rese>* boat vessel 9 ! _w t c break ice :ile go+ =w>d or backw>d2 7iii7 a fre$om ( navigation op]ation 9 ! ,aleutian ,isl&s 9 #bjae2 & 7iv7 its rec5t plans to develop a #cc1jjj ton nucle>-p[]$ icebreak]4 7#f7 ,! economic significance ( ! ,arctic cont9ues to gr[ z c\ntries ar\nd ! globe beg9 to und]/& ! magnitude ( ! natural res\rces 9 ! ,arctic1 ! pot5tial = m>itime transportation ?r\gh1 & economic & trade developm5t 91 ! region4 7#g7 ,! ,arctic is home to #ac p]c5t ( ! _w's undiscov]$ oil1 #cj p]c5t ( its undiscov]$ gas1 an abundance ( uranium1 r>e e>? m9]als1 gold1 diamonds1 & millions ( squ>e miles ( untapp$ res\rces1 includ+ abundant fi%]ies4 7#h7 ,! ,b]+ ,/rait is exp]i5c+ significant increases 9 int]national traffic f vessels transit+ ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te1 increases :i* are project$ to cont9ue if decreases 9 sea ice cov]age cont9ue4 7#i7 ,along a future ice-free ,arctic %ipp+ r\te1 a %ip sail+ f ,s\? ,korea to ,g]many w\ld h an av]age travel "t ( j #bc days1 comp>$ to #cd days via ! ,suez ,canal & #df days via ! ,cape ( ,good ,hope4 7#aj7 ,9 a spee* at ! ,arctic ,=um 9 ,septemb] #bjaa1 ,russian ,f$]ation ,presid5t ,vladimir ,put9 highlight$ ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te z a pot5tial alt]native to ! ,suez ,canal & has publicly /at$ plans to inve/ #aa1djj1jjj1jjj along ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te by #bjbd4 7#aa7 ,increases 9 human1 m>itime1 & res\rce developm5t activity 9 ! ,arctic region create additional mission requirem5ts = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security1 giv5-- 7,a7 ! /rategic focus ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,russian ,f$]ation & ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a on ! ,arctic2 7,b7 ov]lapp+ t]ritorial claims2 & 7,c7 ! pot5tial = m>itime accid5ts1 oil spills1 & illegal fi%+ ne> ! exclusive economic zone ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 7#ab7 ,! increas+ role ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 ! ,arctic has be5 highlight$ 9 ea* ( ! la/ f\r ,national ,def5se ,au?orization ,acts4 7#ac7 ,section #ajfh ( ! ,national ,def5se ,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjaf 7,public ,law #aad-ib2 #abi ,/at4 #iib7 requir$ a new ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se /rategy to protect ,unit$ ,/ates national security int]e/s 9 ! ,arctic region4 7#ad7 ,section #ajie ( ! ,national ,def5se ,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbh2 #acj ,/at4 #bdch7 requir$ ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se to create crit]ia to designate a ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ,/rategic ,arctic ,port4 7#ae7 ,section #abb ( ! ,national ,def5se ,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ia2 #aca ,/at4 #acaj7 au?oriz$ ! procurem5t ( "o pol>-class heavy icebreak] vessel4 7#af7 ,section #aea ( ! ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,def5se ,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjai 7,public ,law #aae-bcb2 #acb ,/at4 #afga7 au?oriz$ ! procurem5t ( five additional pol>-class icebreak] vessels & express$ t ! ,coa/ ,gu>d %\ld-- 7,a7 ma9ta9 an inv5tory ( n few] ?an six pol>-class icebreak] vessels2 7,b7 aw>d a contract = ! fir/ new pol>-class icebreak] n lat] ?an fiscal ye> #bjai & deliv] ! icebreak] n lat] ?an fiscal ye> #bjbc2 & 7,c7 deliv] ! second ?r\gh six? pol>-class icebreak]s at a rate ( "o vessel p] ye> 9 fiscal ye>s #bjbe ?r\gh #bjbi4 7#ag7 ,9 ,janu>y #bjag1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se releas$ a report entitl$ ,report to ,congress on ,/rategy to ,protect ,unit$ ,/ates ,national ,security ,int]e/s 9 ! ,arctic ,region to update ! ways & means ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se int5ds to use to a*ieve its objectives z x implem5ts ! #bjac ,national ,/rategy = ! ,arctic ,region1 includ+-- 7,a7 enhanc+ ! capability ( ,unit$ ,/ates =ces to def5d ! homel& & ex]cise sov]eignty2 7,b7 /r5g!n+ det]r5ce at home & abroad2 7,c7 pres]v+ fre$om ( ! seas 9 ! ,arctic2 & 7,d7 evolv+ ! infra/ructure & capabilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t 9 ! ,arctic consi/5t ) *ang+ conditions & ne$s4 7#ah7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ,coa/ ,gu>d ,arctic ,/rategic ,outlook releas$ 9 ,april #bjai /ates t demon/rat+ commitm5t to op]ational pres5ce1 ,canada1 ,d5m>k1 & ,norway h made /rategic inve/m5ts 9 ice-capable patrol %ips *>g$ ) national or homel& security missions4 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates is ! only ,arctic ,/ate t has n made simil> inve/m5ts 9 ice-capable surface m>itime security assets4 ,?is limits ! ability ( ! ,coa/ ,gu>d1 & ! ,nation1 to cr$ibly uphold sov]eignty or respond to cont+5cies 9 ! ,arctic4 7#ai7 ,on ,july #af1 #bjai1 ,secret>y ( ,def5se ,m>k ,esp] /at$ t the ,arctic is /rategic t]ra9 = ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 ,! region has significant economic opportunity1 & mu/ rema9 free & op54 ,x is also gr[+ m complicat$ z /rategic competitors--,russia &1 increas+ly1 ,*9a--seek to enhance _! position 9 ! region4 ,x is critical t ! ,arctic rema9 a secure & /able region :]e ,u4,s4 national int]e/s are safegu>d$1 ! ,u4,s4 homel& is def5d$1 & nations "w toge!r to address *all5ges4 7#bj7 ,on ,janu>y #i1 #bjai1 ,secret>y ( ! ,air ,=ce ,hea!r ,wilson & ,*ief ( ,/aff ( ! ,air ,=ce ,g5]al ,david ,goldfe9 wrote t ''' ! ,arctic has become ev5 m important to ! nation4 ,bo? a nor!rn approa* to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 z well z a critical location = project+ ,am]ican p[]1 its geo-/rategic significance is difficult to ov]/ate4 7#ba7 ,on ,febru>y #bf1 #bjai1 ,g5]al ,john ,hyt51 ,comm&] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,/rategic ,comm&1 /at$ t in p>ticul>1 ! ,arctic is an area t we really ne$ to focus on & really look at inve/+4 ,t is no long] a buff] zone4 ,we ne$ to be able to op]ate !re4 ,we ne$ to be able to communicate !re4 ,we ne$ to h a pres5ce !re t we h n inve/$ 9 9 ! same way t our adv]s>ies h4 ,& !y see t z a vuln]ability f u1 :]eas x is becom+ a /r5g? = !m & x is a weakness = u1 we ne$ to flip t equation4 7#bb7 ,on ,febru>y #bf1 #bjai1 ,g5]al ,t]r5ce ,o',%aughnessy1 ,comm&] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,nor!rn ,comm& /at$ t it has become cle> t def5se ( ! homel& dep5ds on our ability to detect & defeat ?reats op]at+ bo? 9 ! ,arctic & pass+ ?r\gh ! ,arctic4 ,russia's field+ ( advanc$1 long-range cruise missiles capable ( fly+ ?r\gh ! nor!rn approa*es & /rik+ t>gets 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,canada has em]g$ z ! dom9ant milit>y ?reat 9 ! ,arctic''' 4 ,mean:ile1 ,*9a has decl>$ t x is n cont5t to rema9 a m]e obs]v] 9 ! ,arctic & has tak5 action to normalize its naval & comm]cial pres5ce 9 ! region 9 ord] to increase its access to lucrative res\rces & %ipp+ r\tes4 ,i view ! ,arctic z ! front l9e 9 ! def5se ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,canada '''4 7#bc7 ,on ,may #f1 #bjai1 ,admiral ,k>l ,s*ultz1 ,comm&ant ( ! ,coa/ ,gu>d /at$ t we talk ab\t ! ,arctic z a competitive space4 ,we've se5 ,*9a1 we see ,russia inve/+ ext5sively4 ,*9a built icebreak]s 9 ! "t s9ce we updat$ our /rategy4 ,*9a's be5 op]at+ (f ! ,alaskan ,arctic = a good "p ( ! la/ six ye>s on an annual basis4 ,! ,coa/ ,gu>d is *ampion+ increas$ capabilities 9 ! ,arctic ''' bett] communications1 bett] doma9 aw>5ess ''' ,i want to see ! ,arctic rema9 a peaceful doma94 ,*9a's a self-decl>$ ,arctic /ate4 ,!y're n "o ( ! eight ,arctic nations1 s = me1 = ! s]vice1 its pres5ce equals influ5ce4 7#bd7 ,on ,may #f1 #bjai1 ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,mike ,pompeo /at$ t-- 7,a7 ! ,arctic has become an ar5a = p[] & = competition1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates is ent]+ a new age ( /rategic engagem5t 9 ! ,arctic1 complete ) new ?reats to ! ,arctic & its real e/ate1 & to all ( our int]e/s 9 t region2 7,b7 ,arctic sea lanes c\ld become ! #ba/ c5tury ,suez & ,panama ,canals2 7,c7 we're conc]n$ ab\t ,russia's claim ov] ! int]national wat]s ( ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te1 includ+ its newly ann\nc$ plans to connect x ) ,*9a's ,m>itime ,silk ,road2 7,d7 in ! ,nor!rn ,sea ,r\te1 ,mosc[ already illegally dem&s o!r nations reque/ p]mission to pass1 requires ,russian m>itime pilots to be abo>d =eign %ips1 & ?reat5s to use milit>y =ce to s9k any t fail to comply ) _! dem&s2 7,e7 !re is a patt]n ( aggressive ,russian behavior "h 9 ! ,arctic & we "k ,russian t]ritorial ambitions c turn viol5t2 & 7,f7 we d n want ! ,arctic ,ocean to trans=m into a new ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 fraught ) milit>ization & compet+ t]ritorial claims1 nor d we want ! fragile ,arctic environm5t expos$ to ! same ecological deva/ation caus$ by ,*9a's fi%+ fleet 9 ! seas (f its coa/1 or unregulat$ indu/rial activity 9 its own c\ntry4 7#be7 ,on ,decemb] #f1 #bjah1 ,secret>y ( ! ,navy ,ri*>d ,sp5c] /at$ t we ne$ to h a /rategic ,arctic port up 9 ,alaska4 ,we ne$ to be do+ ,f,o,n,o,ps 9 ! nor?we/--9 ! nor!rn passage ''' peace ?r\gh pres5ce ) a subm>9e is a little t\gh4 7#bf7 ,mean:ile1 ! two close/ /rategic seaports1 z designat$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 to ! ,arctic ,circle are ! ,port ( ,an*orage & ! ,port ( ,tacoma1 locat$ approximately #a1ejj nautical miles & #b1djj nautical miles away1 respectively1 & approximately #a1ijj nautical miles & #b1hjj nautical miles respectively f ,b>r[1 ,alaska4 7#bg7 ,! di/ance f ,bangor1 ,ma9e1 to ,key ,we/1 ,florida1 is approximately #a1dej nautical miles4 #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates-- 7#a7 to prioritize ,navy & ,coa/ ,gu>d missions1 infra/ructure & capability developm5t1 tra9+1 & /ation+ ( assets to meet ! gr[+ array ( *all5ges 9 ! ,arctic due to ! region's /rategic importance to ! national security int]e/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#b7 t ! increas+ fre$om ( navigation & expansion ( activity 9 ! ,arctic mu/ be met ) increas+ deploym5t ( ,navy & ,coa/ ,gu>d surface vessels capable ( ex]t+ influ5ce ?r\gh p]si/5t pres5ce 9 ! ,arctic2 7#c7 t1 :ile ! recapitalization ( ! ,coa/ ,gu>d's fleet ( cutt]s & aircraft is ne$$ & important1 ! ,coa/ ,gu>d mu/ avoid ov]ext5d+ op]ational assets = remote int]national missions at ! co/ ( d$icat$ focus on ?is dome/ic area ( responsibility ) significant int]national int]e/ & activity2 & 7#d7 t1 al?\gh "s progress has be5 made to increase aw>5ess ( ,arctic issues & to promote increas$ milit>y pres5ce 9 ! region1 additional measures %all be tak5 to protect vital economic1 environm5tal1 & national security int]e/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & to %[ ! commitm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ?is em]g+ /rategic *oke po9t ( increas+ great p[] competition1 includ+ ! =mation ( an ,arctic ,security ,initiative ) ! fund+ & au?ority to drive-- 7,a7 ! creation ( a network ( /rategically advantage\s ports 9 ! ,arctic2 7,b7 ! long-t]m homeport+ ( significant ,coa/ ,gu>d assets 9 ! ,arctic2 7,c7 ! developm5t ( ,navy & ,coa/ ,gu>d %ip ma9t5ance & repair relation%ips ) facilities locat$ )9 ,alaska 9 or ne> ! ,arctic2 7,d7 increas$ milit>y tra9+ = op]at+ 9 ! ,arctic environm5t2 & 7,e7 ! creation ( a ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ,c5t] = ,security ,/udies = ! ,arctic4 #d4 ,report on ! /rategic naval focus 9 ! ,arctic 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se 9 consultation ) ! ,secret>y ( ! dep>tm5t 9 :i* ! ,coa/ ,gu>d is op]at+ %all submit to ! appropriate committees ( ,congress a report on ! developm5t & execution ( a /rategic plan t focuses on address+ ! f9d+s 9 section #b & ! policy /at$ 9 section #c4 7b7 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by subsection 7a7 %all include a detail$ plan to a*ieve ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! creation ( a ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ,/rategic ,arctic ,port by #bjce4 7#b7 ,! e/abli%m5t ( ! position ( ,deputy ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,def5se = ! ,arctic task$ ) optimiz+ ! ,unifi$ ,comm& ,plan = ! ,arctic & o!r ov]>*+ /rategies = ! ,arctic region4 7#c7 ,! procurem5t ( n few] ?an f\r ice-h>d5$ ,navy vessels by #bjcj4 7#d7 ,n few] ?an "o ice-h>d5$ ,navy vessel on patrol 9 ! ,arctic & able to ma9ta9 m>itime doma9 aw>5ess1 conduct tra9+ ex]cises1 & p]=m national def5se op]ations n few] ?an six mon?s ( e ye>4 7#e7 ,n few] ?an "o major ,coa/ ,gu>d cutt] on patrol 9 ! ,arctic & able to execute se>* & rescue op]ations1 fi%]ies en=cem5t1 pollution response1 & support = national def5se op]ations at all times4 7#f7 ,n few] ?an two icebreak+ vessels p]man5tly /ation$ )9 ! ,arctic by #bjce4 7#g7 ,suffici5t icebreak+ activity to keep ! ,nor?we/ ,passage sea lanes op5 = comm]ce1 national def5se1 rescue & recov]y op]ations1 & sci5tific exploration by #bjcj4 7c7 ,appropriate committees ( ,congress def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m appropriate committees ( ,congress means-- 7#a7 ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation1 ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations1 & ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2 & 7#b7 ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices1 ! ,committee on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure1 ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 & ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4 #e4 ,arctic def9$ ,9 ?is ,act1 ! t]m ,arctic has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #aab ( ! ,arctic ,rese>* & ,policy ,act ( #aihd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #daaa74