,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbid ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bd1 #bjba,mr4 ,sullivan 7for himself and ,mr4 ,king7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to require an independent assessment with respect to the ,arctic region and establishment of ,arctic ,security ,initiative1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,arctic ,security ,initiative ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the security1 stability1 and prosperity of the ,arctic region are vital to the national interests of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 the ,united ,states should posture a military capability in the region that is able to project power1 deter acts of aggression1 and respond1 if necessary1 to threats within and arising from the ,arctic region2 7#c7 the defense of the ,united ,states and its allies from the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 the ,russian ,federation1 the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea1 and any other aggressor remains a top priority2 7#d7 persistent efforts by the ,department of ,defense to realign ,united ,states forces in the ,arctic region1 and commit additional assets to and increase investments in the ,arctic region1 are necessary to maintain a robust ,united ,states commitment to the ,arctic region2 7#e7 the ,united ,states commitment to freedom of navigation and ensuring free access to sea lanes and overflights for the ,navy and the ,air ,force remains a core security interest2 and 7#f7 the ,united ,states should continue to engage in the ,arctic region by-- 7,a7 strengthening alliances and partnerships2 7,b7 supporting regional institutions and bodies such as the ,arctic ,council2 7,c7 building cooperative security arrangements2 7,d7 addressing shared challenges2 and 7,e7 reinforcing the role of international law1 including respect for human rights4 #c4 ,independent assessment 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,february #ae1 #bjbb1 the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command1 in consultation and coordination with the ,commanders of the ,united ,states ,european ,command and the ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command1 the military departments1 and defense agencies1 shall conduct an independent assessment with respect to the activities and resources required1 for fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg1 to achieve the following objectives3 7#a7 ,the implementation of the ,national ,defense ,strategy and military service-specific strategies with respect to the ,arctic region4 7#b7 ,the maintenance or restoration of the comparative military advantage of the ,united ,states in response to great power competitors in the ,arctic region4 7#c7 ,the reduction of the risk of executing operation and contingency plans of the ,department of ,defense4 7#d7 ,to maximize execution of ,department operation and contingency plans1 in the event deterrence fails4 7b7 ,elements ,the assessment required by subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an analysis of1 and recommended changes to achieve1 the required force structure and posture of assigned and allocated forces within the ,arctic region for fiscal year #bjbg necessary to achieve the objectives described in subsection 7a71 which shall be informed by-- 7,a7 a review of ,united ,states military requirements based on operation and contingency plans1 capabilities of potential adversaries1 assessed gaps or shortfalls of the ,armed ,forces within the ,arctic region1 and scenarios that consider-- 7i7 potential contingencies that commence in the ,arctic region and contingencies that commence in other regions but affect the ,arctic region2 7ii7 use of near-time1 mid-time1 and far-time horizons to encompass the range of circumstances required to test new concepts and doctrine2 and 7iii7 supporting analyses that focus on the number of regionally postured military units and the quality of capability of such units2 7,b7 a review of current ,united ,states military force posture and deployment plans within the ,arctic region1 especially of ,arctic-based forces that provide support to1 or receive support from1 the ,united ,states ,northern ,command1 the ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command1 or the ,united ,states ,european ,command2 7,c7 an analysis of potential future realignments of ,united ,states forces in the region1 including options for strengthening ,united ,states presence1 access1 readiness1 training1 exercises1 logistics1 and pre-positioning2 and 7,d7 any other matter the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,a discussion of any factor that may influence the ,united ,states posture1 supported by annual wargames and other forms of research and analysis4 7#c7 ,an assessment of capabilities requirements to achieve such objectives4 7#d7 ,an assessment of logistics requirements1 including personnel1 equipment1 supplies1 storage1 and maintenance needs to achieve such objectives4 7#e7 ,an assessment and identification of required infrastructure and military construction investments to achieve such objectives4 7#f7 ,an assessment of security cooperation activities or resources required to achieve such objectives4 7#g7 ,an assessment and recommended changes to the leadership1 organization1 and management of ,arctic policy1 strategy1 and operations among the combatant commands and military services4 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,february #ae1 #bjbb1 the ,commander of ,united ,states ,northern ,command1 in consultation and coordination with the ,commanders of the ,united ,states ,european ,command and the ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command1 shall submit to the congressional defense committees 7as defined in section #aja of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code7 a report on the assessment required by subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,form ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 may be submitted in classified form1 but shall include an unclassified summary4 7#c7 ,availability ,not later than ,february #ae1 #bjbb1 the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command shall make the report available to the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,under ,secretary of ,defense for ,policy1 the ,under ,secretary of ,defense 7,comptroller71 the ,director of ,cost ,assessment and ,program ,evaluation1 the ,chairman of the ,joint ,chiefs of ,staff1 the ,secretaries of the military departments1 and the chiefs of staff of each military service4 #d4 ,arctic ,security ,initiative 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall carry out a program of activities to enhance security in the ,arctic region1 which shall be known as the ,arctic ,security ,initiative 7referred to in this section as the ,initiative74 7b7 ,objectives ,the ,initiative's development and subsequent implementation shall be-- 7#a7 consistent with the objectives described in section #c7;a72 and 7#b7 informed by the assessment required by that section4 7c7 ,activities ,the ,initiative shall carry out the following prioritized activities to improve the design and posture of the joint force in the ,arctic region3 7#a7 ,modernize and strengthen the presence of the ,armed ,forces1 including those with advanced capabilities4 7#b7 ,improve logistics and maintenance capabilities and the pre-positioning of equipment1 munitions1 fuel1 and materiel4 7#c7 ,carry out a program of exercises1 wargames1 education1 training1 experimentation1 and innovation for the joint force4 7#d7 ,improve infrastructure to enhance the responsiveness and resiliency of the ,armed ,forces4 7#e7 ,build the defense and security capabilities1 capacity1 and cooperation of allies and partners4 7#f7 ,strengthen ,arctic consultative mechanisms and collaborative planning4 7d7 ,five-,year plan for the ,initiative 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,april #ae1 #bjbb1 and each ,february #ae thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 in consultation with the ,commanders of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command1 the ,united ,states ,european ,command1 and the ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command shall submit to the congressional defense committees a future years plan for the activities and resources of the ,initiative that includes the following3 7,a7 ,a description of the activities and resources for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of on which the report required by section #c7;c7 is submitted and the plan for not fewer than the four following fiscal years1 organized by the activities described in subsection 7c74 7,b7 ,a summary of progress made towards achieving the objectives described in section #c7;a74 7,c7 ,a summary of the activity1 resource1 capability1 infrastructure1 and logistics requirements necessary to achieve measurable progress in reducing risk to the ability of the joint force to achieve objectives in the ,arctic region1 including through investments in-- 7i7 active and passive defenses against-- 7,i7 manned aircraft1 surface vessels1 and submarines2 7,,ii7 unmanned naval systems2 7,,iii7 unmanned aerial systems2 and 7,,iv7 theater cruise1 ballistic1 and hypersonic missiles2 7ii7 advanced long-range precision strike systems2 7iii7 command1 control1 communications1 computers1 intelligence1 surveillance1 and reconnaissance systems2 7iv7 training and test range capacity1 capability1 and coordination2 7v7 dispersed resilient and adaptive basing to support distributed operations1 including expeditionary airfields and ports1 space launch facilities1 and command posts2 7vi7 advanced critical munitions2 7vii7 pre-positioned forward stocks of fuel1 munitions1 equipment1 and materiel2 7viii7 distributed logistics and maintenance capabilities2 7ix7 strategic mobility assets1 including icebreakers2 7x7 improved interoperability1 logistics1 transnational supply lines and infrastructure1 and information sharing with allies and partners1 including scientific missions2 7xi7 information operations capabilities2 7xii7 bilateral and multilateral military exercises and training with allies and partners2 and 7xiii7 use of security cooperation authorities to further build partner capacity4 7,d7 ,a detailed timeline for achieving the requirements identified under subparagraph 7,c74 7,e7 ,a detailed explanation of any significant modification to such requirements1 as compared to the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,northern ,command's initial independent assessment for the first fiscal year and to plans previously submitted for each subsequent fiscal year4 7,f7 ,any other matter the ,secretary of ,defense considers necessary4 7#b7 ,form ,the plan required by paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex4 7#c7 ,inclusion in budget materials ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall include such plan in the budget materials submitted by the ,secretary in support of the budget of the ,president for fiscal year #bjbc 7submitted pursuant to section #aaje of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code74 #e4 ,general transfer authority ,funds may be made available to carry out this ,act through the transfer authority provided to the ,department of ,defense4