National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. WICKER. This article elaborates on a proposal under review by our own State Department to allow the Russian space agency to construct half a dozen satellite ground monitoring stations on U.S. soil. The article describes these potential sites as ``seemingly innocuous, dome-topped antenna perched atop an electronics-packed building surrounded by a security fence somewhere in the United States.'' Taken at face value, these Russian ground monitoring stations are supposed to improve the accuracy and reliability of Russia's version of the global positioning system.

According to the Times article, the Obama administration is actively considering this request by Moscow in an attempt to reset once again the administration's failed reset policy which the President once hailed as the beginning of better U.S.-Russian relations. We have every reason to be skeptical of Russia's intentions to utilize GPS monitoring stations on U.S. soil. Let me repeat this: GPS monitoring stations controlled by Russia on U.S. soil.

Time and again, President Putin has shown he is unwilling to cooperate with America. The list of grievances continues to grow. Let's not forget that Russia has granted asylum to Edward Snowden, who is charged with espionage and theft of U.S. government property after releasing up to 200,000 classified documents to the press.

Let's not forget that Russia has defended the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and helped perpetuate the dictator's grip on power with military aid.

Let's not forget that Russia, the same Russia that wants to put GPS stations on U.S. soil, has denied Russian orphans a chance at a better life in the United States, with a ban on U.S. adoptions, ultimately victimizing the most vulnerable, in a desperate attempt to distract the world from Russia's human rights failings.

It is clear Russia's interests are not often aligned with those of the United States. Accordingly, I am deeply concerned and people within the intelligence community are deeply concerned and people within the Defense Department are deeply concerned about the Russian proposal to use U.S. soil to strengthen Russia's GPS capabilities. These ground monitoring stations could be used for the purpose of gathering intelligence. Even more troubling, these stations could actually improve the accuracy of foreign missiles targeted at the United States.

Our national security and foreign policy apparatus is large and widespread. I do not question anyone's patriotism or the intentions of the State Department. But it is clear that there are other parts of the administration that are very concerned about this.

This morning I had the opportunity to review a classified report by DOD. I encourage all Members of the Senate to review this classified document and, to me, I think it will reaffirm the need for increased transparency on this very serious matter. Senators Lee, Fischer, and Cornyn so far have joined me in filing an amendment to the Defense authorization bill that would fully inform the American people about the implications of the Russian proposal.

My amendment would prohibit the construction of GPS monitoring stations by any foreign government on U.S. soil until the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence jointly certify to the Congress that these stations do not have the capability to gather intelligence or improve foreign weapons systems. My amendment would also require a report to Congress on the use of satellite positioning ground monitoring stations by foreign governments.

This amendment is simple and straightforward, and I urge my colleagues to support its inclusion in the Defense authorization bill. I encourage cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.

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