; 130 Stat. 2488), as amended by section 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( Public Law 115–91 ), is further amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking fiscal year 2017 or 2018 and inserting fiscal year 2017, 2018, or 2019 . (b) Rule of construction Such section is further amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e): (e) Rule of construction Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to limit bilateral military-to-military dialogue between the United States and the Russian Federation for the purpose of reducing the risk of conflict. . 1232. Limitation on availability of funds relating to sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea (a) Limitation None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to implement any activity that recognizes the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea. (b) Waiver The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may waive the limitation in subsection (a) if the Secretary of Defense— (1) determines that the waiver is in the national security interest of the United States; and (2) submits to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a notification of the waiver. 1233. Extension of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative Section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92