Foreign Relations Committee Passes Kaine’s Bipartisan Bill To Prevent The President From Leaving NATO

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Armed Services Committee (SASC), applauded SFRC passage of his bipartisan bill to explicitly prohibit any President of the United States from withdrawing from NATO without congressional approval.

“Recent actions have raised serious questions among our allies about America’s commitment to NATO. This bill would clarify that no U.S. President can withdraw from NATO without Congressional approval. This sends a strong message that — after 70 years — Congress sees the continuing vitality of the alliance,” Kaine said.

Specifically, the legislation would:

1. Require the President to seek the advice and consent of the Senate to terminate U.S. participation in NATO.

2. Require the President to notify the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee of any effort to terminate U.S. membership in NATO within 48 hours after any such action is taken, and prohibits the use of funds for such actions without Congressional approval.

3. Authorize the Senate Legal Counsel and General Counsel to the House of Representatives to challenge the Administration in court should the President seek a unilateral withdrawal.

The full text of the bill can be viewed here.

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