Rep. Panetta Introduces Legislation to Support NATO Amid Ongoing Threats in Europe
Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the NATO Support Act of 2024 to bolster our commitment to defending against global threats with our European allies. The bill is a reintroduction of the 2019 NATO Support Act, which was signed into law, and prohibits the appropriation or use of funds to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the longest-standing and most successful military alliance in the world.
Since 1949, NATO has served as a pillar of international peace and stability, and a critical deterrent against adversaries and external threats. The organization ensures the United States and its European partners can come to each other’s mutual defense and offer a launching pad for new innovation, education programs, and research initiatives that strengthen our country.
“For nearly 75 years, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has become the most successful alliance in human history as it provides security in Europe and stability in the world,” said Rep. Panetta. “However, the success of NATO, as made very clear during the last two years, is due to the leadership of the United States of America. Although the alliance has recently expanded and our allies are spending more on their defense, Congress must ensure that the U.S. continues to lead NATO and be the lynchpin for the mutual defense commitment under Article 5 of the Treaty. My legislation ensures that, despite what a U.S. President says or does about the alliance, it’s the U.S. Congress, with its constitutional power of the purse, that has the ultimate authority to uphold our commitment to NATO, our allies, and the international world order.”
The NATO Support Act of 2024 does the following:
- Prohibits the authorization of funds to be appropriated, obligated, or expended for the withdrawal of the U.S. from NATO.
- Expresses Congress’ belief that NATO is a pillar to the security of the United States and is one of the most successful military alliances in history.
- Supports collaboration with NATO allies to enforce Ukraine’s territorial integrity against unprovoked aggression from the Russian Federation.
- Welcomes the addition of Finland as the 31st member of NATO and supports the swift accession of Sweden.
- Expresses Congress’ belief that the President of the United States should not withdraw from NATO.
- Supports NATO Members on meeting the 2014 Wales Defense Investment Pledge, which states that NATO allies should aim to spend 20% of their annual defense spending on major equipment, including research and development.
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