NATO Enlargement Act of 1996

Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 17, 1996

NATO Enlargement Act of 1996 -- Sets forth the declaration of the Congress that: (1) the President should encourage NATO member countries to start negotiations for the accession to NATO of Slovakia, Romania and Slovenia, along with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary; (2) the pace of such negotiations should depend on a periodic evaluation of the relevant country's performance (probably resulting in varying accession dates); and (3) the special status of "political membership" in NATO should be provided for any new member country if considered by the NATO membership.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Hoke, Martin R. [R-OH-10] · R–OH

Committees

Foreign Affairs Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 17, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Sep 17, 1996
Introduced in House
Sep 17, 1996
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 17, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4096 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4096, 104th Congress: NATO Enlargement Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/4096

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr4096/BILLS-104hr4096ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4096 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4096 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.4096, 104th Congress: NATO Enlargement Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/4096

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr4096/BILLS-104hr4096ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4096 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4096 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4096, 104th Congress: NATO Enlargement Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/4096

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr4096/BILLS-104hr4096ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4096 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4096 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4096, 104th Congress: NATO Enlargement Act of 1996

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/4096

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-09-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr4096/BILLS-104hr4096ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4096 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.