,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #i1 #bjba,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself and ,mr4 ,rubio7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to promote the ,united ,states-,greece defense partnership1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,u4,s4-,greece ,defense and ,interparliamentary ,partnership ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states and ,greece are strong allies in the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization 7,,nato7 and have deepened their defense relationship in recent years in response to growing security challenges in the ,eastern ,mediterranean region4 7#b7 ,greece participates in several ,,nato missions1 including ,operation ,sea ,guardian in the ,mediterranean and ,,nato's mission in ,kosovo4 7#c7 ,the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,security and ,energy ,partnership ,act 7title ,,ii of division ,j of ,public ,law #aaf-id71 authorized new security assistance for ,greece and ,cyprus1 lifted the ,united ,states prohibition on arms transfers to ,cyprus1 and authorized the establishment of a ,united ,states-,eastern ,mediterranean ,energy ,center to facilitate energy cooperation among the ,united ,states1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and ,cyprus4 7#d7 ,the ,united ,states has demonstrated its support for the trilateral partnership of ,greece1 ,israel1 and ,cyprus through joint engagement with ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and the ,united ,states in the #ca format4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,states and ,greece have held ,strategic ,dialogue meetings in ,athens1 ,washington ,,dc1 and virtually1 and have committed to hold an upcoming ,strategic ,dialogue session in #bjba in ,washington1 ,,dc4 7#f7 ,in ,october #bjai1 the ,united ,states and ,greece agreed to update the ,u4,s4-,greece ,mutual ,defense ,cooperation ,agreement1 and the amended agreement officially entered into force on ,february #ac1 #bjbj4 7#g7 ,the amended ,mutual ,defense ,cooperation ,agreement provides for increased joint ,united ,states-,greece and ,,nato activities at ,greek military bases and facilities in ,larissa1 ,stefanovikeio1 ,alexandroupolis1 and other parts of central and northern ,greece1 and allows for infrastructure improvements at the ,united ,states ,naval ,support ,activity ,souda ,bay base on ,crete4 7#h7 ,in ,october #bjbj1 ,greek ,foreign ,minister ,nikos ,dendias announced that ,greece hopes to further expand the ,mutual ,defense ,cooperation ,agreement with the ,united ,states4 7#i7 ,the ,united ,states ,naval ,support ,activity ,souda ,bay serves as a critical naval logistics hub for the ,united ,states ,navy's #fth ,fleet4 7#aj7 ,in ,june #bjbj1 ,united ,states ,ambassador to ,greece ,geoffrey ,pyatt characterized the importance of ,naval ,support ,activity ,souda ,bay as our most important platform for the projection of ,american power into a strategically dynamic ,eastern ,mediterranean region4 ,from ,syria to ,libya to the chokepoint of the ,black ,sea1 this is a critically important asset for the ,united ,states1 as our air force1 naval1 and other resources are applied to support our ,alliance obligations and to help bring peace and stability44 7#aa7 ,during a ,september #bjbj visit to ,souda ,bay1 then-,secretary of ,state ,mike ,pompeo announced that the ,,uss ,hershel ,woody ,williams1 the second of a new class of ,united ,states sea-basing ships1 will be based out of ,souda ,bay1 the first permanent ,united ,states naval deployment at the base4 7#ab7 ,the ,united ,states cooperates with the ,hellenic ,armed ,forces at facilities in ,larissa1 ,stefanovikeio1 and ,alexandroupolis1 where the ,united ,states ,armed ,forces conduct training1 refueling1 temporary maintenance1 storage1 and emergency response4 7#ac7 ,the ,united ,states has conducted a longstanding ,international ,military ,education and ,training program with ,greece1 and the ,government of ,greece has committed to provide #c for every dollar invested by the ,united ,states in the program4 7#ad7 ,greece's defense spending in #bjbj amounted to an estimated #b4fh percent of its gross domestic product 7,,gdp71 exceeding ,,nato's #b percent of ,,gdp benchmark agreed to at the #bjad ,,nato ,summit in ,wales4 7#ae7 ,in ,september #bjbj1 ,greek ,prime ,minister ,kyriakos ,mitsotakis announced plans to modernize all three branches of the ,hellenic ,armed ,forces1 which will strengthen ,greece's military position in the ,eastern ,mediterranean4 7#af7 ,the modernization includes upgrades to the arms of all three branches1 including new anti-tank weapons for the ,hellenic ,army1 new heavy-duty torpedoes for the ,hellenic ,navy1 and new guided missiles for the ,hellenic ,air ,force4 7#ag7 ,the ,hellenic ,navy also plans to upgrade its four ,,meko #bjj;,,hn frigates and purchase four new multirole frigates of an undisclosed type1 to be accompanied by #d ,,mh-#fj,r anti-submarine helicopters4 7#ah7 ,the ,hellenic ,air ,force plans to upgrade #hd of its fleet of ,f-#af jets to the ,f-#af ,viper variant by #bjbg and has expressed interest in participating in the ,f-#ce ,joint ,strike ,fighter program4 7#ai7 ,the ,united ,states ejected ,turkey from the ,f-#ce ,joint ,strike ,fighter ,program in ,july #bjai as a result of its purchase of the ,russian ,s-#djj air defense system4 ,eight ,f-#ce ,joint ,strike ,fighters were produced for ,turkey but never delivered as a result of its ejection from the program4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 ,greece is a pillar of stability in the ,eastern ,mediterranean region and the ,united ,states should remain committed to supporting its security and prosperity2 7#b7 the #ca format of cooperation among ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and the ,united ,states has been a successful forum to cooperate on energy issues and should be expanded to include other areas of common concern to the members2 7#c7 the ,united ,states should increase and deepen efforts to partner with and support the modernization of the ,greek military2 7#d7 it is in the interests of the ,united ,states that ,greece continue to transition its military equipment away from ,russian-produced platforms and weapons systems through the ,european ,recapitalization ,investment ,program2 7#e7 the ,united ,states ,government should continue to deepen strong partnerships with the ,greek military1 especially in co-development and co-production opportunities with the ,greek ,navy2 7#f7 the naval partnership with ,greece at ,souda ,bay and ,alexandroupolis is mutually beneficial to the national security of the ,united ,states and ,greece2 7#g7 the ,united ,states should support the sale of ,f-#ce ,joint ,strike ,fighters to ,greece to include those ,f-#ce aircraft produced for but never delivered to ,turkey as a result of ,turkey's exclusion from the program due to its purchase of the ,russian ,s-#djj air defense system2 7#h7 the ,united ,states ,government should continue to invest in ,international ,military ,education and ,training 7,,imet7 programs in ,greece2 7#i7 the ,united ,states ,government should support joint maritime security cooperation exercises with ,cyprus1 ,greece1 and ,israel2 7#aj7 in accordance with its legal authorities and project selection criteria1 the ,united ,states ,development ,finance ,corporation should support private investment in strategic infrastructure projects in ,greece1 to include shipyards and ports that contribute to the security of the region and ,greece's prosperity2 7#aa7 the ,mutual ,defense ,cooperation ,agreement with ,greece should be extended and include deepened partnerships at ,greek military facilities throughout the country1 and1 as appropriate and necessary1 the ,united ,states should partner with ,greece in order to increase rotational deployments and presences of forward-based troops at ,greek bases2 7#ab7 the ,united ,states ,government should restore congressionally appropriated military construction funds for construction projects at ,naval ,support ,activity ,souda ,bay focused on a warehouse storage facility and an airport passenger terminal2 and 7#ac7 the ,united ,states ,government should establish the ,united ,states-,eastern ,mediterranean ,energy ,center as authorized in the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,energy and ,security ,partnership ,act of #bjai4 #d4 ,authorization of appropriations for ,european ,recapitalization ,incentive ,program ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,department of ,state #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf for ,european ,recapitalization ,incentive ,program 7,,erip7 assistance to ,greece to assist the country in meeting its defense needs and transitioning away from ,russian-produced military equipment4 #e4 ,sense of ,congress on loan program ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 as appropriate1 the ,united ,states ,government should provide direct loans to ,greece for the procurement of defense articles1 defense services1 and design and construction services pursuant to the authority of section #bc of the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bgfc7 to support the further development of ,greece's military forces2 and 7#b7 such loans should be considered an additive security partnership tool1 and not a substitute for ,european ,recapitalization ,incentive ,program assistance4 #f4 ,expedited excess defense articles transfer program 7a7 ,in general ,during fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf1 the delivery of excess defense articles to ,greece shall be given the same priority as that given other countries and regions under section #eaf7;c77#b7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcba;j7c77#b774 7b7 ,report ,during each fiscal year listed in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,defense1 with the concurrence of the ,secretary of ,state1 shall report not later than ,october #ca to the appropriate congressional committees and the ,committees on ,armed ,services of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives on ,greece's defense needs and how the ,united ,states will seek to address such needs through transfers of excess defense equipment to ,greece for that fiscal year4 #g4 ,delivery of ,f-#ce joint strike fighter aircraft to ,greece ,the ,president is authorized to expedite delivery of any future ,f-#ce aircraft once ,greece is prepared to move forward with such a purchase on such terms and conditions as the ,president may require4 ,such transfer shall be submitted to ,congress pursuant to the certification requirements under section #cf of the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bggf74 #h4 ,,imet cooperation with ,greece 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,department of ,state #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf for ,international ,military ,education and ,training 7,,imet7 assistance for ,greece4 ,the assistance shall be made available for the following purposes3 7#a7 ,training of future leaders4 7#b7 ,fostering a better understanding of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,establishing a rapport between the ,united ,states ,armed ,forces and ,greece's military to build partnerships for the future4 7#d7 ,enhancement of interoperability and capabilities for joint operations4 7#e7 ,focusing on professional military education1 civilian control of the military1 and protection of human rights4 #i4 ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and the ,united ,states #ca ,interparliamentary ,group 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a group1 to be known as the ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and the ,united ,states #ca ,interparliamentary ,group1 to serve as a legislative component to the #ca process launched in ,jerusalem in ,march #bjai4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 and the ,united ,states #ca ,interparliamentary ,group shall include a group of not more than #f ,united ,states ,senators1 to be known as the ,united ,states group1 who shall be appointed jointly by the majority leader and the minority leader of the ,senate4 7c7 ,meetings ,not less frequently than once each year1 the ,united ,states group shall meet with members of the #ca group to discuss issues on the agenda of the #ca deliberations of the ,governments of ,greece1 ,israel1 ,cyprus1 and the ,united ,states to include maritime security1 defense cooperation1 energy initiatives1 and countering malign influence efforts by the ,people's ,republic of ,china and the ,russian ,federation4 #aj4 ,appropriate congressional committees ,in this ,act1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4