Green, Cuellar Seek DoD Report on Allied Burden Sharing

WASHINGTON – Reps. Mark Green, R-Tenn., and Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, want the Defense Department to provide Congress with a report on the common defense contributions of NATO countries and other allies.

Toward that end, they’ve introduced the Allied Burden Sharing Report Act of 2021, which formally requests that such a report be made on an annual basis, and submitted to the House Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees and to the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees.

In addition to NATO, it would cover the defense contributions made by the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) signatories, and other specified countries.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has introduced identical legislation in the Senate.

“A strong NATO and all our alliances are more important now than ever in the face of growing threats to our nation from China, Russia, Iran, and dangerous non-state actors,” Green said.

“This bill will inform Congress’ oversight as we encourage our allies to fully fund NATO and together preserve, strengthen, and expand our defense partnership against rising threats,” he said.

Cueller said while NATO is critical to peace, security and prosperity around the world, “the current cost-sharing structure puts an undue financial burden on the United States.

“This legislation will increase transparency and oversight on defense spending and our return on investment on our nation’s significant financial contributions and commitments to NATO. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am committed to making sure our alliances are strong and capable of addressing future threats,” he said.

Green is a physician and combat veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq. He served on the mission to capture Saddam Hussein, and he interviewed Saddam Hussein for six hours on the night of his capture. He serves on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Cuellar is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.