Shaheen, Tillis, Schumer, McConnell Introduce New Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Award NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg the Congressional Gold Medal

**Co-Chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group push to award NATO Secretary General the Congressional Gold Medal for contributions to the security, unity and defense of the NATO Alliance**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group, with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are introducing new bipartisan, bicameral legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his decade of service to NATO. The bill recognizes Stoltenberg’s commitment to the security, unity and defense of the transatlantic Alliance – including his role in leading NATO through Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, multiple enlargement periods and helping 23 member countries reach or exceed the 2 percent defense spending commitment by 2024, up from the 4 member countries that met that benchmark when he took over in 2014.  

“Through tumultuous times that have threatened peace across the globe, Secretary General Stoltenberg has nobly led, protected and strengthened our NATO Alliance – demonstrating to the world that our unshakable unity can and will remain in the face of unprecedented threats,” said Senator Shaheen. “It’s been an honor to have worked hand-in-hand with Secretary General Stoltenberg for the past decade. Awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal represents a small token of our gratitude for his service.” 

“NATO has been the most successful alliance in modern history, ensuring the safety and security of the United States against evolving threats,” said Senator Tillis. “For the last decade, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has worked to strengthen this Alliance and reaffirm NATO’s commitment to making our world safer in an increasingly hostile global environment. I am proud to introduce this legislation that would award Secretary General Stoltenberg Congress’ highest honor, a Congressional Gold Medal, for his exemplary leadership and his commitment to maintaining world order and global security during his tenure as Secretary General.” 

“This year’s NATO Summit comes at an inflection point where Western democracy sees perhaps its biggest threat since the Cold War,” said Leader Schumer. “But through these trying times on the world stage, the NATO alliance has not only remained steadfast but grown even stronger. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has helped maintain this unwavering unity through his leadership, and the Senate should recognize and award this necessary service.”

“Over the past decade, Secretary General Stoltenberg’s leadership has strengthened the most successful military alliance in history, reinforced allies’ commitment to sharing the burden of collective defense, and helped make NATO again fit for purpose,” said Leader McConnell. “I am proud to join colleagues in sponsoring our nation’s highest honor for a worthy leader, ally, and friend of the United States.” 

Joining Shaheen, Schumer, McConnell and Tillis in introducing the bill are U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jack Reed (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Thune (R-SD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tina Smith (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Angus King (I-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), Joe Manchin (I-WV), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). In the House of Representatives, the bill is led by Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL). Click here to read the full bill text. 

Jens Stoltenberg served as the Prime Minister of Norway – a founding member of NATO – from 2000 to 2001 and 2005 to 2013, during which he oversaw Norway’s increased defense spending levels and the modernization of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Since becoming the Secretary General of NATO in 2014, Stoltenberg has led NATO through significant investments, reinforced its capabilities and enhanced the collective defense of the Alliance. Under his leadership, NATO has successfully undergone multiple enlargement periods, extended membership to Finland, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Sweden, increased partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries and maintained unprecedented unity against Putin’s war in Ukraine. 

As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group, which they re-started together in 2018, Shaheen and Tillis led bipartisan efforts in the Senate in support of the transatlantic Alliance. During the NATO Summit week, Shaheen and Tillis hosted a bipartisan meeting with NATO allies from the Western Balkans, spoke on a panel during the NATO Public Forum, participated in a meeting led by Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell that included Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Last month, the Senators penned an op-ed calling for a recommitment to strengthening NATO on the 80th Anniversary of D-day. In April, the Senators sent a bipartisan letter to President Biden outlining key objectives and priorities for the NATO Summit, which is taking place in Washington, DC this week. The Senators have pushed Allies to reach the two percent defense spending target that was agreed to by NATO and have been outspoken in their support to grow the Alliance, recently applauding ratification by Türkiye’s Parliament of Sweden’s NATO accession protocols and leading a resolution criticizing Hungary’s previous delay in ratifying Sweden’s accession. 

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