1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and reaffirm America’s leadership within the Alliance. Congress should make unmistakably clear that the United States remains an essential and dependable NATO member. WHY ACTION IS NEEDED NOW Bills introduced in Congress would require the United States to withdraw from NATO and end contributions to its shared budgets. Funding cuts, reduced exercises, troop withdrawals, or ambiguous commitments could also weaken deterrence. NATO HAS STOOD WITH AMERICA After the September 11 attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time, and allied forces served alongside Americans in Afghanistan. NATO has stood with us when America was attacked. NATO IS A PRACTICAL BARGAIN The Alliance gives the United States allies, bases, intelligence, logistics, and military capabilities it could not readily replace alone. It also allows members to share the costs of deterrence and readiness. At the 2025 Hague Summit, allies committed to invest 5 percent of their economies in defense and security-related needs by 2035. NATO projected that all allies would meet the earlier 2 percent defense-spending goal in 2025. Congress should insist that allies meet these commitments while making clear that stronger burden-sharing should strengthen NATO, not become a reason to abandon it. CONGRESS MUST PROTECT THE ALLIANCE Federal law bars a President from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval by two-thirds of the Senate or an act of Congress. Congress should also prevent indirect weakening through funding cuts, reduced participation, troop withdrawals, or uncertain statements about American commitments. For more than seven decades, NATO has helped deter a major war in Europe, strengthened American influence, and multiplied American power through collective action. Congress should make clear to allies and adversaries alike that the United States will remain fully committed to the Alliance. I urge you to: (1) PROTECT FUNDING AND PARTICIPATION. Provide funding sufficient to sustain United States participation in NATO command structures, readiness, exercises, infrastructure, and the European Deterrence Initiative. (2) STRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT. Require reports on allied readiness, burden-sharing, defense production, troop levels, command participation, and executive actions that could weaken United States involvement. (3) REAFFIRM ARTICLE 5. Support a bipartisan resolution reaffirming Article 5 and rejecting efforts to condition collective defense on matters unrelated to an ally’s treaty obligations. (4) OPPOSE WITHDRAWAL AND BUILD CAPACITY. Oppose H.R. 6508, S. 2174, and similar proposals to withdraw the United States or end NATO funding. Support legislation and appropriations that increase joint weapons production, replenish stockpiles, improve military mobility, and reduce unnecessary barriers to defense cooperation among NATO allies. Thank you.