Rep. Panetta's bipartisan bill aims to safeguard US commitment to NATO

James Herrera, Monterey Daily Herald on Mar 12, 2025

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The bipartisan NATO Edge Act, which would reaffirm the United States’ “ironclad commitment” to NATO and prevent any administration “from unilaterally withdrawing from the alliance,” has been authored and introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.

The United States has long stood for freedom, democracy and the defense of our allies against aggression, a press release from Panetta’s office explained.

“The security of the United States is dependent upon our alliances, including our commitment to NATO, the most successful alliance in human history,” said Panetta in the release.

“The NATO Edge Act would reaffirm our leadership and obligation to the NATO alliance. The legislation also reminds us that being a member of NATO is not like being member of a country club by reinforcing the responsibilities of all NATO members. This bill would ensure that Congress lives up to its Constitutional role in our nation’s foreign policy and our national security cannot be performed in isolation at home and abroad.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska-02, introduced this bill with Panetta. Bacon is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and critic of Russia, and recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “real Republicans know that Putin’s Russia hates the West and freedom.”

Bacon went on to say, “We also know that Ukraine wants democracy, free markets and rule of law. We stand with right vs. evil. Reagan, Churchill, Eisenhower … that is our legacy. I won’t walk away from it.”

NATO is a security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe. Formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security by political and military means.

“America’s alliances are a source of strength and security for our country, and among our defense treaties, NATO stands alone as the most successful military alliance in history. We must make clear to our allies and adversaries alike that the American people are absolutely committed to staying in NATO,” said Bacon in the release. “From first-hand experience as a career military officer and former base commander in Europe, I can confidently state that our participation in the NATO alliance remains critical to U.S. military operations today. ”

The NATO Edge Act builds on Panetta’s previous bipartisan legislation to prevent any administration from withdrawing from NATO by requiring consent from the Senate and upholding the requirement that NATO Members spend 2% of their GDP on defense, according to his office. If a President decides to withdraw without Congressional consent, the legislation would allow Congress as a whole to claim Constitutional injury and bring this case directly to the courts, effectively reaffirming Congress’ role in shaping foreign policy.

Ukraine is fighting for its survival and for the principles of sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law, said Panetta in a recent statement to his constituents. Their resistance against Russian aggression is a stand for the very values that we share and cherish, he said. A ceasefire without security guarantees would, Panetta added, only embolden Putin to regroup, strike again, and potentially go beyond Ukraine.

“The United States must stand with Ukraine as we enter peace negotiations to ensure our ally, who has endured so much, can prosper as a secure and sovereign nation,” said Panetta in his statement from his resolution marking the third year of the war in Ukraine “At this critical moment for global security, NATO resiliency, and democratic durability, we must be bipartisan and stand united.”

In the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Panetta passed a modified version of the NATO Support Act to prevent the use of funds by the President to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. That provision expired the following year. In the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA, Panetta worked with the Senate, including then-Senator Marco Rubio, to pass this provision again with an additional section that required the President to have the consent of the Senate. That provision remains law and has no expiration.

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