The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday introduced a bill that would force the Department of Defense to come up with a comprehensive strategy for handling Russian aggression.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., introduced The Fostering Unity Against Russian Aggression Act of 2017, which calls for additional military deterrence, responses to Russian aggression and punishments when Russia violates the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty.
“It is time for Congress to lead on this issue, especially given President Trump’s unwillingness (to) take the danger seriously. With this legislation, we are laying the foundation for an intelligent and proactive approach that strengthens allied and partner defenses, increases deterrence, and boosts cohesion while taking steps to reduce the risk of miscalculation and accidental nuclear war,” Smith said in a statement.
Twenty-two Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee have endorsed the bill, which would require the secretary of defense to create and implement a unified U.S. strategy for responding to possible aggression from Russia.
Smith’s bill also wants Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to be reaffirmed, increasing stocks and pre-positioning forward-deployed conventional precision-strike munitions to keep Russia at bay and reducing chances of miscalculation and nuclear war.
