SENSE OF CONGRESS.

SEC. 1202. SENSE OF CONGRESS. (a) Sense of Congress Concerning United States Forces and Accomplishment of Tasks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.— It is the sense of Congress that— (1) United States ground combat forces should not remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina indefinitely in view of the worldwide commitments of the Armed Forces of the United States; (2) the President should work with NATO allies and the other nations whose military forces are participating in the NATO-led Stabilization Force to withdraw United States ground combat forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina within a reasonable period of time, consistent with the safety of those forces and the accomplishment of the Stabilization Force’s military tasks; (3) a NATO-led force without the participation of United States ground combat forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina might be suitable for a follow-on force for Bosnia and Herzegovina if the European Security and Defense Identity is not sufficiently developed or is otherwise considered inappropriate for such a mission; and (4) the United States may decide to provide appropriate support to a Western European Union-led or NATO-led follow-on force for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including command and control, intelligence, logistics, and, if necessary, a ready reserve force in the region. (b) Sense of Congress Concerning Presidential Actions.— It is the sense of Congress that the President— (1) should inform the European NATO allies of the expression of the sense of Congress in subsection (a) and should strongly urge them to undertake preparations for establishing a Western European Union-led or a NATO-led force as a follow-on force to the Stabilization Force if needed to maintain peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (2) should consult closely with the congressional leadership and the congressional defense committees with respect to the progress being made toward achieving a sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress being made toward a reduction and ultimate withdrawal of United States ground combat forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina. (c) Sense of Congress Concerning Defense Budget.— It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the President should include in the budget for the Department of Defense that the President submits to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for each fiscal year sufficient amounts to pay for any proposed continuation of the participation of United States forces in NATO operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina during that fiscal year; and 112 STAT. 2148 (2) amounts included in the budget for the purpose stated in paragraph (1) should be over and above the defense discretionary estimates as identified in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of May 16, 1997 and the fiscal year 1998 concurrent budget resolution and not be transferred from amounts in the budget of any other agency of the executive branch, but instead should be an overall increase in the budget for the Department of Defense and the discretionary spending limits in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.