NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027

## Quick facts
- **Record:** House Floor
- **Section type:** Floor speeches
- **Chamber:** House
- **Date:** July 22, 2026
- **Congress:** 119th Congress
- **Why this source matters:** This section came from the House floor portion of the record.

## Linked context
- **People mentioned:** [Self, Keith](/members/S001224), [Houlahan, Chrissy](/members/H001085), [Issa, Darrell](/members/I000056)
- **Bills and resolutions:** [H.Res. 1438 \(119th Congress\)](/legislation/hres1438-119), [H.R. 8800 \(119th Congress\)](/legislation/hr8800-119)
- **Committees:** [Committee on Armed Services](/committees/hsas00), [Committee on Homeland Security](/committees/hshm00), [Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs](/committees/ssga00)

## Readable version of the official text
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 8800.

Will the gentleman from Colorado \(Mr. Hurd\) kindly take the chair.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1121

In the Committee of the Whole

### Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the

Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill \(H.R. 8800\) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, with Mr. Hurd in the chair.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, amendment No. 26 printed in part A of House Report 119- 755 offered by the gentleman from North

Carolina \(Mr. McDowell\) had been disposed of.

Amendment No. 28 Offered by Mr. Self

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 28 printed in part A of House Report 119-755.

Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of title V, add the following new subtitle:

Subtitle \_\_—Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026

SEC. 5\_\_. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the “Military Chaplains

Modernization Act of 2026”.

SEC. 5\_\_. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

\(1\) Religion and religious liberty have always served an

essential role in society, culture, and military service,

making them necessary for good democratic governance and a

strong military.

\(2\) George Washington, as a young colonel, recognized the

importance of religious practice for his soldiers, repeatedly

requesting chaplains for his troops and periodically

performing religious duties himself.

\(3\) When the Second Continental Congress established the

Continental Army in June 1775, it recommended “all officers

and soldiers diligently to attend Divine Service”.

\(4\) In 1775, at the behest of George Washington, then

General of the Continental Army, the Second Continental

Congress established the Federal chaplaincy that is in

existence to this day, making it one of the oldest military

services provided for American troops.

\(5\) From their earliest days, military chaplains have

existed to provide pastoral care, meeting the religious needs

of members of the Armed Forces and their families.

\(6\) In 1775, the Continental Congress, understanding the

significance of chaplaincy, similarly instructed its

fledgling navy that, “The commanders of the ships of the

Thirteen United Colonies are to take care that divine

services be performed twice a day on board, and a sermon

preached on Sundays, unless bad weather or other

extraordinary accidents prevent it.”.

\(7\) John Adams instructed his Secretary of the Navy on the

influence of a Navy chaplaincy, stating, “I know not whether

the commanders of our ships have given much attention to this

subject \[chaplains\], but in my humble opinion, we shall be

very unskillful politicians as well as bad Christians and

unwise men if we neglect this important office in our infant

Navy.”.

\(8\) In 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt also acknowledged the

importance of the chaplaincy by vowing to “never fail to

provide for the spiritual needs of our officers and men under

the Chaplains of our armed forces”, and during World War II,

President Roosevelt had Bibles printed and provided to troops

in the field.

\(9\) Understanding the importance of religion not only to

the members of the United States military, but also to the

United States as a whole, the Founders ratified the First

Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1791.

\(10\) Under the First Amendment, which applies to the Armed

Forces, the Federal Government has a constitutional duty to

provide for the religious exercise of members of the Armed

Forces, an obligation to which the chaplain corps is

essential.

\(11\) The Supreme Court stated, in Kennedy v. Bremerton

School District, 597 U.S. 507 \(2022\), that the court is

“aware of no historically sound understanding of the

Establishment Clause that begins to \`mak\[e\] it necessary for

government to be hostile to religion'. . .”.

\(12\) In Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme

Court further explained that “the Establishment Clause does

not include anything like a \`modified heckler's veto, in

which . . . religious activity can be proscribed' based on

\`perceptions' or \`discomfort' ” and that the Clause does not

“ \`compel the government to purge from the public sphere'

anything an objective observer could reasonably infer

endorses or \`partakes of the religious' ”.

\(13\) The Supreme Court made clear in Parker v. Levy, 417

U.S. 733 \(1974\) that chaplains in the Armed Forces do not

forfeit their First Amendment rights by virtue of their

military service.

\(14\) Section 6 of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of

1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-3\) specifies that that Act \(42 U.S.C.

2000bb et seq.\) “applies to all Federal law, and the

implementation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise,

and whether adopted before or after \[November 16, 1993\]”.

SEC. 5\_\_. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND

PROTECTIONS FOR ARMY CHAPLAINS.

\(a\) Chaplains.—Section 7073 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by redesignating paragraphs \(2\) and \(3\) as paragraphs

\(5\) and \(6\), respectively; and

\(B\) by inserting after paragraph \(1\) the following new

paragraph:

“\(2\) the Deputy Chief of Chaplains;

“\(3\) the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the Army Reserve;

“\(4\) the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the Army National

Guard;”;

\(2\) by redesignating subsection \(b\) as subsection \(f\);

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(a\) the following new

subsections:

“\(b\) The Chief of Chaplains shall serve as a principal

advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff

of the Army.

“\(c\) The Deputy Chief of Chaplains shall serve under the

authority, direction, and control of the Chief of Chaplains.

“\(d\) Under the authority, direction, and control of the

Chief of Chaplains, the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the

Army Reserve shall serve as a principal advisor to the Chief

of the Army Reserve.

“\(e\) Under the authority, direction, and control of the

Chief of Chaplains, the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the

Army National Guard shall serve as a principal advisor to the

Chief of the National Guard Bureau.”; and

\(4\) adding at the end the following new subsection:

“\(g\) The Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains, while so serving,

hold the grade of brigadier general.”.

\(b\) Chiefs of Branches: Appointment; Duties.—Section 7036

of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsection \(g\) as subsection \(h\); and

\(2\) by inserting after subsection \(f\) the following new

subsection \(g\):

“\(g\) The Chief of Chaplains serves as the principal

advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff

of the Army on chaplaincy matters and the provision of

religious support in the Army, including strategic planning

and the development of policies that affect religious support

or have a nexus with the chaplaincy.”.

\(c\) Chaplains.—Section 7217 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 7217. Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and

protections for Army chaplains

“\(a\) Duties, Responsibilities, and Requirements.—\(1\) The

Army Chaplaincy shall perform such duties as may be

prescribed by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of

Chaplains of the Army.

“\(2\) The Army Chaplaincy shall be overseen by the Chief of

Chaplains and shall—

“\(A\) serve as principal advisers to commanders on all

issues concerning religious practices, spiritual readiness,

spiritual care, religious provisions, and religion's

influence on military operations, which shall include, but

not be limited to—

“\(i\) advising and assisting commanders in discharging

their responsibilities to provide for the free exercise of

religion in military service, pursuant to the First Amendment

to the Constitution of the United States, section 3 of the

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-

1\), and related statutes and policies;

“\(ii\) assisting commanders in managing religious affairs,

including the accommodation of religious practices and the

development of policies and procedures related to the free

exercise of religion;

“\(iii\) assisting commanders by serving as advisers with

respect to all religious accommodation requests and by

providing advice on spiritual readiness and matters

concerning religion, morals, ethics, well-being, and morale;

and

“\(iv\) overseeing education and training programs

concerning the accommodation of religious practices for

members of the armed forces;

“\(B\) meet the religious requirements and care for the

spiritual needs of members of the armed forces, other

authorized persons, and dependents of members, potentially in

isolated or combat environments;

“\(C\) have a primary role in providing for the free

exercise of religion and other religious requirements

associated with the free exercise of religion;

“\(D\) facilitate meeting the religious needs and

requirements for members of the armed forces to whom an

assigned chaplain cannot directly minister; and

“\(E\) maintain confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including those recognized under applicable

laws and policies.

“\(3\) The tasks of chaplains in the Army shall include, but

not be limited to, the following:

“\(A\) Performing religious rites, rituals, services,

ordinances, ceremonies, and observances \(such as memorials,

weddings, retirements, sermons, worship, and burials\).

“\(B\) Counseling, meeting, advising, and praying with

individuals or groups.

“\(C\) Providing crisis prevention and response.

“\(D\) Providing pastoral and spiritual care, guidance,

support, and activities.

“\(E\) Advising on religious accommodation requests.

“\(F\) Providing religious training and education.

“\(b\) Protections.—\(1\) A chaplain's duties,

responsibilities, and requirements, as set forth in

subsection \(a\), shall be conducted in a manner consistent

with the chaplain's sincerely held religious beliefs and the

manner, form, and tenets of the chaplain's religious-

endorsing organization.

“\(2\) A chaplain shall have the right to conduct public

worship, provide counseling, teach, deliver sermons, advise,

minister, and offer prayer in accordance with the chaplain's

sincerely held religious beliefs and the manner, form, and

tenets of the chaplain's religious-endorsing organization.

Those activities shall be free from censorship, undue

restriction, or fear of retribution.

“\(3\) A chaplain shall uphold the chaplain's duty to

protect confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including communications recognized under

applicable laws and policies.

“\(4\) No member of the Armed Forces may—

“\(A\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any rite,

ritual, ceremony, sermon, or speech contrary to the sincerely

held religious beliefs of the chaplain or contrary to the

manner, form, or tenets of the chaplain's religious-endorsing

organization;

“\(B\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any task or

action contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of

the chaplain or contrary to the manner, form, or tenets of

the religious-endorsing organization of the chaplain,

consistent with section 3 of the Religious Freedom

Restoration Act of 1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1\);

“\(C\) retaliate or discriminate against a chaplain based on

the chaplain's refusal to comply with a requirement

prohibited under this subsection, or take, with respect to

such a chaplain, any adverse personnel action including—

“\(i\) denial of promotion, schooling, training, assignment,

or financial recoupment;

“\(ii\) issuance of letters of reprimand; or

“\(iii\) any other adverse action or entry in the chaplain's

record; or

“\(D\) preclude a chaplain from conducting an activity

described in paragraph \(2\).

“\(5\) A member of the Armed Forces who violates paragraph

\(4\) shall be subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of

Military Justice.

“\(c\) Assistance by Commanding Officers.—Each officer

shall furnish facilities, including necessary transportation,

to any chaplain assigned to the command of the officer, to

assist the chaplain in performing the duties,

responsibilities, and requirements of the chaplain under

subsection \(a\).

“\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Administrative endorser.—The term \`administrative

endorser' means an organization that was approved to endorse

chaplains for service in the armed forces under the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which those chaplains will serve, as in effect at the time

the organization initially began endorsing chaplains, not on

its own behalf, but on behalf of one or more external

religious organizations that—

“\(A\) are religious-endorsing organizations;

“\(B\) at the time the organization initially began

endorsing chaplains, did not possess the organizational

capacity to endorse chaplains directly; and

“\(C\) were not members of, nor otherwise affiliated with, a

fellowship or other organizational structure meeting the

requirements set forth in paragraph \(5\)\(A\)\(iii\) that

possessed authority to endorse chaplains.

“\(2\) Adverse personnel action.—The term \`adverse

personnel action' means any action taken against a member of

the Armed Forces that affects or has the potential to

adversely affect the member's current position or career,

including—

“\(A\) a disciplinary action, transfer, negative performance

evaluation, removal, separation, discharge, or mental health

evaluation; and

“\(B\) a decision not to give the member a promotion, an

increase in pay or benefits, an award, training, or relief.

“\(3\) Censorship.—The term \`censorship' means any

governmental action taken to suppress or restrict

information, ideas, or expression.

“\(4\) Confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications.—The term \`confidential, sacramental, and

privileged communications' means any private communication

made to a chaplain acting in the chaplain's capacity as a

spiritual advisor.

“\(5\) Religious-endorsing organization.—\(A\) The term

\`religious-endorsing organization' means an entity that—

“\(i\)\(I\) is organized and functions primarily to perform

religious ministries to nonmilitary lay members and meets the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which chaplains endorsed by the entity will serve; and

“\(II\) possesses ecclesiastical authority to endorse and

withdraw endorsements for chaplains serving under the

authority of the entity to conduct religious observances or

ceremonies in a military context; or

“\(ii\)\(I\) meets the requirements of the Department of

Defense and the armed force in which chaplains endorsed by

the entity will serve;

“\(II\) is organized and functions primarily to support

member religious organizations and religious ministry

professionals that function primarily to perform religious

ministries to nonmilitary lay members; and

“\(III\) performs the function described in clause \(i\)\(II\)

on behalf of its member religious organizations and religious

ministry professionals.

“\(B\) An administrative endorser that endorses chaplains

before the date of the enactment of this section may continue

to endorse chaplains on and after such date of enactment if

administrative endorser meets the requirements of the

Department of Defense and the armed force in which chaplains

endorsed by the administrative endorser will serve to provide

documentation verifying that the religious organizations the

administrative endorser represents meet the requirements of

subclause \(I\) and \(II\) of subparagraph \(A\)\(i\).”.

SEC. 5\_\_. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND

PROTECTIONS FOR NAVY CHAPLAINS.

\(a\) Chaplain Corps and Chief of Chaplains.—Section 8082 of

title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end

the following new subsection:

“\(f\) The Chief of Chaplains shall serve as a principal

adviser to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval

Operations.”.

\(b\) Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains.—Section 8082a of title 10,

United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 8082a. Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains

“\(a\) The Secretary of the Navy shall detail as Deputy

Chiefs of Chaplains officers of the Chaplain Corps in the

grade of commander or above who are on active duty and who

have served on active duty in the Chaplain Corps for at least

eight years.

“\(b\) Under the authority, direction, and control of the

Chief of Chaplains, the Deputy Chief of Chaplains shall also

serve as the Chaplain of the Marine Corps and shall serve as

a principal advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

“\(c\) Under the authority, direction, and control of the

Chief of Chaplains, the Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve

Matters shall also serve as a principal advisor to the Chief

of Navy Reserve.

“\(d\) The Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains, while so serving,

hold the grade of rear admiral \(lower half\).”.

\(c\) Chaplains.—Section 8221 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 8221. Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and

protections for Navy chaplains

“\(a\) Duties, Responsibilities, and Requirements.—\(1\) The

Navy Chaplaincy shall perform such duties as may be

prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of

Chaplains of the Navy.

“\(2\) The Navy Chaplaincy shall be overseen by the Chief of

Chaplains and shall—

“\(A\) serve as principal advisers to commanders on all

issues concerning religious practices, spiritual readiness,

spiritual care, religious provisions, and religion's

influence on military operations, which shall include, but

not be limited to—

“\(i\) advising and assisting commanders in discharging

their responsibilities to provide for the free exercise of

religion in military service, pursuant to the First Amendment

to the Constitution of the United States, section 3 of the

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-

1\), and related statutes and policies;

“\(ii\) assisting commanders in managing religious affairs,

including the accommodation of religious practices and the

development of policies and procedures related to the free

exercise of religion;

“\(iii\) assisting commanders by serving as an adviser with

respect to all religious accommodation requests and by

providing advice on spiritual readiness and matters

concerning religion, morals, ethics, well-being, and morale;

and

“\(iv\) overseeing education and training programs

concerning the accommodation of religious practices for

members of the armed forces;

“\(B\) meet the religious requirements and care for the

spiritual needs of members of the armed forces, other

authorized persons, and dependents, potentially in isolated

or combat environments;

“\(C\) have a primary role in providing for the free

exercise of religion and other religious requirements

associated with the free exercise of religion;

“\(D\) facilitate meeting the religious needs and

requirements for members of the armed forces to whom an

assigned chaplain cannot directly minister; and

“\(E\) maintain confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including communications recognized under

applicable laws and policies.

“\(3\) The tasks of chaplains in the Navy shall include, but

not be limited to, the following:

“\(A\) Performing religious rites, rituals, services,

ordinances, ceremonies, and observances \(such as memorials,

weddings, retirements, sermons, worship, and burials\).

“\(B\) Counseling, meeting, advising, and praying with

individuals or groups.

“\(C\) Providing crisis prevention and response.

“\(D\) Providing pastoral and spiritual care, guidance,

support, and activities.

“\(E\) Advising on religious accommodation requests.

“\(F\) Providing religious training and education.

“\(b\) Protections.—\(1\) A chaplain's duties,

responsibilities, and requirements, as set forth in

subsection \(a\), shall be conducted in a manner consistent

with the chaplain's sincerely held religious beliefs and the

manner, form, and tenets of the chaplain's religious-

endorsing organization.

“\(2\) A chaplain shall have the right to conduct public

worship, provide counseling, teach, deliver sermons, advise,

minister, and offer prayer in accordance with the chaplain's

sincerely held religious beliefs and the manner, form, and

tenets of the chaplain's religious-endorsing organization.

Those activities shall be free from censorship, undue

restriction, or fear of retribution.

“\(3\) A chaplain shall uphold the chaplain's duty to

protect confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including communications recognized under

applicable laws and policies.

“\(4\) No member of the Armed Forces may—

“\(A\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any rite,

ritual, ceremony, sermon, or

speech, contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of

the chaplain or contrary to the manner, form, or tenets of

the chaplain's religious-endorsing organization;

“\(B\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any task or

action contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of

the chaplain or contrary to the manner, form, or tenets of

the chaplain's religious-endorsing organization, consistent

with section 3 of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of

1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1\);

“\(C\) retaliate or discriminate against a chaplain based on

the chaplain's refusal to comply with a requirement

prohibited under this subsection, or take, with respect to

such a chaplain, any adverse personnel action including—

“\(i\) denial of promotion, schooling, training, assignment,

or financial recoupment;

“\(ii\) issuance of letters of reprimand; or

“\(iii\) any other adverse action or entry in the chaplain's

record; or

“\(D\) preclude a chaplain from conducting an activity

described in paragraph \(2\).

“\(5\) A member of the Armed Forces who violates paragraph

\(4\) shall be subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of

Military Justice.

“\(c\) Assistance by Commanding Officers.—Each officer

shall furnish facilities, including necessary transportation,

to any chaplain assigned to the command of the officer, to

assist the chaplain in performing the duties,

responsibilities, and requirements of the chaplain under

subsection \(a\).

“\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Administrative endorser.—The term \`administrative

endorser' means an organization that was approved to endorse

chaplains for service in the armed forces under the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which those chaplains will serve, as in effect at the time

the organization initially began endorsing chaplains, not on

its own behalf, but on behalf of one or more external

religious organizations that—

“\(A\) are religious-endorsing organizations;

“\(B\) at the time the organization initially began

endorsing chaplains, did not possess the organizational

capacity to endorse chaplains directly; and

“\(C\) were not members of, nor otherwise affiliated with, a

fellowship or other organizational structure meeting the

requirements set forth in paragraph \(5\)\(A\)\(iii\) that

possessed authority to endorse chaplains.

“\(2\) Adverse personnel action.—The term \`adverse

personnel action' means any action taken against a member of

the Armed Forces that affects or has the potential to

adversely affect the member's current position or career,

including—

“\(A\) a disciplinary action, transfer, negative performance

evaluation, removal, separation, discharge, or mental health

evaluation; and

“\(B\) a decision not to give the member a promotion, an

increase in pay or benefits, an award, training, or relief.

“\(3\) Censorship.—The term \`censorship' means any

governmental action taken to suppress or restrict

information, ideas, or expression.

“\(4\) Confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications.—The term \`confidential, sacramental, and

privileged communications' means any private communication

made to a chaplain acting in the chaplain's capacity as a

spiritual advisor.

“\(5\) Religious-endorsing organization.—\(A\) The term

\`religious-endorsing organization' means an entity that—

“\(i\)\(I\) is organized and functions primarily to perform

religious ministries to nonmilitary lay members and meets the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which chaplains endorsed by the entity will serve; and

“\(II\) possesses ecclesiastical authority to endorse and

withdraw endorsements for chaplains serving under the

authority of the entity to conduct religious observances or

ceremonies in a military context; or

“\(ii\)\(I\) meets the requirements of the Department of

Defense and the armed force in which chaplains endorsed by

the entity will serve;

“\(II\) is organized and functions primarily to support

member religious organizations and religious ministry

professionals that function primarily to perform religious

ministries to nonmilitary lay members; and

“\(III\) performs the function described in clause \(i\)\(II\)

on behalf of its member religious organizations and religious

ministry professionals.

“\(B\) An administrative endorser that endorses chaplains

before the date of the enactment of this section may continue

to endorse chaplains on and after such date of enactment if

administrative endorser meets the requirements of the

Department of Defense and the armed force in which chaplains

endorsed by the administrative endorser will serve to provide

documentation verifying that the religious organizations the

administrative endorser represents meet the requirements of

subclause \(I\) and \(II\) of subparagraph \(A\)\(i\).”.

SEC. 5\_\_. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND

PROTECTIONS FOR AIR FORCE CHAPLAINS.

\(a\) Chief of Chaplains.—Section 9039 of title 10, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“\(d\) The Chief of Chaplains shall serve as the principal

adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of

Staff of the Air Force on chaplaincy and religious support,

including strategic planning and policy development related

to those areas.

“\(e\) The Air Force Chaplaincy, which also services the

Space Force, shall—

“\(1\) be overseen by the Office of the Chief of Chaplains;

and

“\(2\) advise and assist commanders in ensuring the right of

members of the armed forces to religious freedom, in

accordance with the First Amendment to the Constitution of

the United States, section 3 of the Religious Freedom

Restoration Act of 1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1\), and applicable

laws and policies.”.

\(b\) Deputy Chief of Chaplains.—Chapter 905 of title 10,

United States Code, is amended by inserting after section

9039 the following new section:

“Sec. 9039a. Deputy Chief of Chaplains: appointment; duties

“\(a\) The Secretary of the Air Force shall detail as a

Deputy Chief of Chaplains one or more officers of the

Chaplain Corps in the grade of colonel or above who are on

active duty and who have served on active duty in the

Chaplain Corps for at least eight years.

“\(b\) Under the authority, direction, and control of the

Chief of Chaplains, a Deputy Chief of Chaplains shall also

serve as the Chaplain of the Space Force and shall serve as a

principal advisor to the Chief of Space Operations.

“\(c\) A Deputy Chief of Chaplains, while so serving, holds

the grade of brigadier general.”.

\(c\) The Air Staff: Function; Composition.—Section 9031 of

title 10, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating paragraphs \(7\), \(8\), and \(9\) as

paragraphs \(8\), \(9\), and \(10\), respectively; and

\(2\) by inserting after paragraph \(6\) the following new

paragraph \(7\):

“\(7\) The Chief of Chaplains for the Air Force and the

Space Force.”.

\(d\) Chaplains.—Section 9217 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 9217. Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and

protections for Air Force chaplains

“\(a\) Duties, Responsibilities, and Requirements.—\(1\) The

Air Force Chaplaincy shall perform such duties as may be

prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of

Chaplains of the Air Force.

“\(2\) The Air Force Chaplaincy shall be overseen by the

Chief of Chaplains and shall—

“\(A\) serve as principal advisers to commanders on all

issues concerning religious practices, spiritual readiness,

spiritual care, religious provisions, and religion's

influence on military operations, which shall include, but

not be limited to—

“\(i\) advising and assisting commanders in discharging

their responsibilities to provide for the free exercise of

religion in military service, pursuant to the First Amendment

to the Constitution of the United States, section 3 of the

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-

1\), and related statutes and policies;

“\(ii\) assisting commanders in managing religious affairs,

including the accommodation of religious practices and the

development of policies and procedures related to the free

exercise of religion;

“\(iii\) assisting commanders by serving as an adviser with

respect to all religious accommodation requests and by

providing advice on spiritual readiness and matters

concerning religion, morals, ethics, well-being, and morale;

and

“\(iv\) overseeing education and training programs

concerning the accommodation of religious practices for

members of the armed forces;

“\(B\) meet the religious requirements and care for the

spiritual needs of members of the armed forces, other

authorized persons, and dependents, potentially in isolated

or combat environments;

“\(C\) have a primary role in providing for the free

exercise of religion and other religious requirements

associated with the free exercise of religion;

“\(D\) facilitate meeting the religious needs and

requirements for members of the armed forces to whom an

assigned chaplain cannot directly minister; and

“\(E\) maintain confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including communications recognized under

applicable laws and policies.

“\(3\) The tasks of chaplains in the Air Force shall

include, but not be limited to, the following:

“\(A\) Performing religious rites, rituals, services,

ordinances, ceremonies, and observances \(such as memorials,

weddings, retirements, sermons, worship, and burials\).

“\(B\) Counseling, meeting, advising, and praying with

individuals or groups.

“\(C\) Providing crisis prevention and response.

“\(D\) Providing pastoral and spiritual care, guidance,

support, and activities.

“\(E\) Advising on religious accommodation requests.

“\(F\) Providing religious training and education.

“\(b\) Protections.—\(1\) A chaplain's duties,

responsibilities, and requirements, as set forth in

subsection \(a\), shall be conducted in a manner consistent

with the chaplain's sincerely held religious beliefs and the

manner, form, and tenets of the chaplain's religious-

endorsing organization.

“\(2\) A chaplain shall have the right to conduct public

worship, provide counseling, teach, deliver sermons, advise,

minister, and offer prayer in accordance with the chaplain's

sincerely held religious beliefs and the

manner, form, and tenets of the chaplain's religious-

endorsing organization. Those activities shall be free from

censorship, undue restriction, or fear of retribution.

“\(3\) A chaplain shall uphold the chaplain's duty to

protect confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications, including communications recognized under

applicable laws and policies.

“\(4\) No member of the Armed Forces may—

“\(A\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any rite,

ritual, ceremony, sermon, or speech contrary to the sincerely

held religious beliefs of the chaplain or contrary to the

manner, form, or tenets of the chaplain's religious-endorsing

organization;

“\(B\) require or assign a chaplain to perform any task or

action contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of

the chaplain or contrary to the manner, form, or tenets of

the chaplain's religious-endorsing organization, consistent

with section 3 of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of

1993 \(42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1\);

“\(C\) retaliate or discriminate against a chaplain based on

the chaplain's refusal to comply with a requirement

prohibited under this subsection, or take, with respect to

such a chaplain, any adverse personnel action including—

“\(i\) denial of promotion, schooling, training, assignment,

or financial recoupment;

“\(ii\) issuance of letters of reprimand; or

“\(iii\) any other adverse action or entry in the chaplain's

record; or

“\(D\) preclude chaplains from exercising the activities

described in paragraph \(2\).

“\(5\) A member of the Armed Forces who violates paragraph

\(4\) shall be subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of

Military Justice.

“\(c\) Assistance by Commanding Officers.—Each officer

shall furnish facilities, including necessary transportation,

to any chaplain assigned to the command of the officer, to

assist the chaplain in performing the duties,

responsibilities, and requirements of the chaplain under

subsection \(a\).

“\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Administrative endorser.—The term \`administrative

endorser' means an organization that was approved to endorse

chaplains for service in the armed forces under the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which those chaplains will serve, as in effect at the time

the organization initially began endorsing chaplains, not on

its own behalf, but on behalf of one or more external

religious organizations that—

“\(A\) are religious-endorsing organizations;

“\(B\) at the time the organization initially began

endorsing chaplains, did not possess the organizational

capacity to endorse chaplains directly; and

“\(C\) were not members of, nor otherwise affiliated with, a

fellowship or other organizational structure meeting the

requirements set forth in paragraph \(5\)\(A\)\(iii\) that

possessed authority to endorse chaplains.

“\(2\) Adverse personnel action.—The term \`adverse

personnel action' means any action taken against a member of

the Armed Forces that affects or has the potential to

adversely affect the member's current position or career,

including—

“\(A\) a disciplinary action, transfer, negative performance

evaluation, removal, separation, discharge, or mental health

evaluation; and

“\(B\) a decision not to give the member a promotion, an

increase in pay or benefits, an award, training, or relief.

“\(3\) Censorship.—The term \`censorship' means any

governmental action taken to suppress or restrict

information, ideas, or expression.

“\(4\) Confidential, sacramental, and privileged

communications.—The term \`confidential, sacramental, and

privileged communications' means any private communication

made to a chaplain acting in the chaplain's capacity as a

spiritual advisor.

“\(5\) Religious-endorsing organization.—\(A\) The term

\`religious-endorsing organization' means an entity that—

“\(i\)\(I\) is organized and functions primarily to perform

religious ministries to nonmilitary lay members and meets the

requirements of the Department of Defense and the armed force

in which chaplains endorsed by the entity will serve; and

“\(II\) possesses ecclesiastical authority to endorse and

withdraw endorsements for chaplains serving under the

authority of the entity to conduct religious observances or

ceremonies in a military context; or

“\(ii\)\(I\) meets the requirements of the Department of

Defense and the armed force in which chaplains endorsed by

the entity will serve;

“\(II\) is organized and functions primarily to support

member religious organizations and religious ministry

professionals that function primarily to perform religious

ministries to nonmilitary lay members; and

“\(III\) performs the function described in clause \(i\)\(II\)

on behalf of its member religious organizations and religious

ministry professionals.

“\(B\) An administrative endorser that endorses chaplains

before the date of the enactment of this section may continue

to endorse chaplains on and after such date of enactment if

administrative endorser meets the requirements of the

Department of Defense and the armed force in which chaplains

endorsed by the administrative endorser will serve to provide

documentation verifying that the religious organizations the

administrative endorser represents meet the requirements of

subclause \(I\) and \(II\) of subparagraph \(A\)\(i\).”.

SEC. 5\_\_. DEFINITION OF CHAPLAIN FOR TITLE 10, UNITED STATES

CODE.

Section 101\(b\) of title 10, United States Code, is amended

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(17\) The term \`chaplain' means a fully qualified

religious ministry professional from a religious tradition

who—

“\(A\) satisfies the professional qualifications of the

chaplain's religious-endorsing organization \(as defined in

sections 7217, 8221, and 9217 of this title\) and the

educational requirements of the Department of Defense and the

Armed Force in which the chaplain serves or will serve; and

“\(B\) is appointed as both an officer in the Chaplain Corps

of the Armed Forces and a representative of the chaplain's

religious-endorsing organization, to which the chaplain shall

remain accountable to for providing religious ministry to the

armed forces.”.

SEC. 5\_\_. EFFECT OF VIOLATIONS.

\(a\) In General.—A member of the Armed Forces who violates

section 7217\(b\)\(4\), 8221\(b\)\(4\), or 9217\(b\)\(4\) of title 10,

United States Code, as added by section 3, shall be subject

to prosecution under section 934 of such title \(article 134

of the Uniform Code of Military Justice\).

\(b\) Regulations.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the President shall—

\(1\) prescribe regulations establishing that a violation of

section 7217\(b\)\(4\), 8221\(b\)\(4\), or 9217\(b\)\(4\) of title 10,

United States Code, as added by section 3, constitutes an

offense punishable under section 934 of such title \(article

134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice\); and

\(2\) revise the Manual for Courts-Martial to include such

offenses.

SEC. 5\_\_. REGULATIONS.

The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations

as are necessary to carry out the amendments made by this

subtitle.

SEC. 5\_\_. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

\(a\) Existing Protections for Chaplains.—Section 533 of the

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

\(Public Law 112-239; 10 U.S.C. 1030 note prec.\) is amended—

\(1\) in the section heading, by striking “and chaplains of

such members”;

\(2\) by striking subsection \(b\); and

\(3\) by redesignating subsection \(c\) as subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Professional Functions of the Air Force.—Section

9063\(h\) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding

“in accordance with section 9217\(a\)” after “Secretary”.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Texas \(Mr. Self\) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which would attach the Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 to the NDAA. It is supported by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board.

This is not simply a chaplain protection bill. This is a military readiness, religious liberty, and command support bill. This bill builds upon the truth that has been affirmed by the Supreme Court that the First Amendment rights of our military chaplains are not suspended at the doors of the Pentagon.

### Our chaplains serve on the front lines, providing for the moral and

spiritual well-being of our troops. The Department of War needs statutory clarity.

### Despite existing protections in the First Amendment, the Religious

Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA, and section 533 of the FY 2013 NDAA, chaplains continue to face obstacles for simply ministering according to their faith.

### These sections in title 10 were last updated in 1956 when polls

showed that 90 percent of America identified as Christian. The United States is far more religiously diverse now. This is why the Religious Freedom Restoration Act unanimously passed to protect religious freedom, and mainly religious minorities, in 1993.

### It is high time that title 10 was revised to reflect the diverse

faith needs of our servicemembers, while also providing protections for the diverse chaplains that serve them.

### The chaplain's ability to freely exercise their religious duties is

not only constitutionally protected but is essential to forming the conscience of the warfighter. It is what helps restrain the soldier from committing atrocities while also providing a sense of purpose when facing down death's door.

### Faith plays an essential role in forming and feeding the spirit of

warfighters with unwavering integrity. This legislation does not create new

rights. It simply codifies existing practices and protections across all service branches, which will ensure consistency for military chaplains of all faiths.

It also recognizes the breadth of chaplains' roles. They are not just religious officiants. They are the commanders' adviser on ethics, spiritual readiness, morale, and even suicide prevention.

### This does not mean they replace other entities which provide advice

or function. Rather, it ensures that chaplains, as spiritual advisers, are given a seat at the table.

Let me be clear: This amendment does not empower chaplains to impose a particular belief. Instead, it protects them from violations of conscience and ensures they can facilitate spiritual care for all faiths. In fact, the amendment also protects servicemembers' ability to access the spiritual care specific to their needs and faith tradition.

### Chaplains will continue to connect servicemembers of differing faiths

to chaplains representing their respective faiths and equip them with tools to meet their specific needs.

### This bill respects and maintains the pluralistic approach of the

military chaplaincy program. It also introduces real accountability under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for retaliation or censorship of a chaplain for acting according to their beliefs. This standard is essential to restoring trust.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt acknowledged the importance of the chaplaincy by vowing to never fail to provide for the spiritual needs of our officers and men.

Mr. Chair, in order for military chaplains to serve our troops effectively, we must give them the legal protection to do so without fear or compromise.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the inclusion of the Military Chaplains Modernization Act in the NDAA, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, military readiness is not just physical. It is, indeed, mental. It is emotional. It is financial, and it is spiritual. That is why every branch of our Armed Forces maintains a Chaplain Corps.

Our chaplains are indispensable. They are counselors, advisers, and trusted members of the units and the families they serve. They strengthen the resilience of our force every single day, but chaplains are also servicemembers themselves.

They have assigned duties and responsibilities. Among those responsibilities are two sacred obligations. One is to faithfully practice their own religion and to faithfully protect every servicemembers' right to practice theirs.

### A chaplain's faith belongs to their religion, but their duty belongs

to every servicemember. That is how the Chaplain Corps serves the entire force without ever asking a chaplain to violate the tenets of their own faith.

### A Catholic priest, a Presbyterian minister, or a Jewish rabbi is not

expected to lead a Muslim prayer, but they are expected to ensure their Muslim servicemembers have a place to worship and help them identify a lay leader if one is, in fact, needed.

### That principle has guided our military for generations because it

protects every servicemember and because it respects every faith and even those who have none.

This amendment abandons that principle. It doesn't strengthen the religious liberty. It, indeed, narrows it. It transforms a chaplain's duty to care for every single servicemember into permission to turn some of them away.

### Under this amendment, a commanding officer who expects a chaplain to

carry out that longstanding responsibility could face punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That is, in fact, a profound departure from how our military has always understood religious liberty.

### The military asks Americans of every faith and those of no faith to

serve shoulder to shoulder with one another. Our Chaplain Corps exists to ensure that every one of those servicemembers can freely exercise their beliefs.

This amendment weakens that mission. It weakens the trust that holds military units together and ultimately it, therefore, weakens the force itself.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, I am not sure, other than the statements against this amendment, what the opposition my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have from what I said. I failed to hear exactly what their opposition is, other than their statements of opposition to the amendment itself.

### Again, I say, chaplains will continue to connect servicemembers of

differing faiths to chaplains representing their respective faiths and equip them with tools to meet their specific needs.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1130

### There are now 31 faiths recognized by the Department of War, to

- include Muslims, Jews, Bahai, Sikh, agnostics, and I could go on.

### Again, I fail to understand the difference between what my colleague

- said in specifics with what I said.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas \(Mr. Self\).

The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed.

Amendment No. 30 Offered by Mr. Issa

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 30 printed in part A of House Report 119-755.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. NATIONAL SECURITY INVESTOR PERSONNEL CLEARANCE

PILOT PROGRAM.

\(a\) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense, acting

through the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency,

shall establish a pilot program under which eligible

investors may sponsor and maintain security clearances for

certain personnel for the purpose of supporting investments

in small- and medium-sized businesses developing technologies

relevant to the national security interests of the United

States.

\(b\) Authority to Sponsor Security Clearances.—

\(1\) In general.—An eligible investor may sponsor security

clearances for cleared investment professionals, subject to

approval by the Secretary of Defense.

\(2\) Relationship to specific contracts.—A security

clearance granted under this section may be maintained

independent of any specific Federal Government contract,

provided the sponsoring investor remains eligible under this

section.

\(3\) Access level.—Cleared investment professionals may

access classified information only pursuant to a lawful

determination of need-to-know and in accordance with

applicable laws, regulations, and security procedures.

\(c\) Authorized Purposes.—A security clearance granted

under this section may be used solely for purposes of—

\(1\) conducting diligence on covered companies;

\(2\) supporting the development, scaling, and

commercialization of technologies relevant to national

security;

\(3\) facilitating engagement between covered companies and

the Department of Defense, intelligence community, or any

other Federal agencies;

\(4\) providing strategic, operational, technical,

governance, or management support to covered companies; and

\(5\) assisting covered companies in obtaining contracts,

grants, cooperative agreements, facility clearances,

personnel clearances, or other authorizations necessary to

support national security missions.

\(d\) Security Requirements.—

\(1\) Facility clearance.—Each eligible investor

participating in the pilot program shall maintain a facility

clearance or such alternative security arrangement as the

Secretary of Defense determines appropriate.

\(2\) Compliance with other requirements.—Each eligible

investor participating in the pilot program shall comply with

all applicable industrial security requirements, insider

threat requirements, and reporting obligations.

\(3\) Suspension.—The Secretary of Defense may suspend or

revoke an individual's or entity's eligibility to participate

in the pilot program for any violation of security

requirements or for any foreign ownership, control, or

influence concern.

\(e\) Limitations.—

\(1\) In general.—No participant in the pilot program may

use access to classified information for personal financial

gain, securities trading, market manipulation, or any purpose

unrelated to supporting covered companies and national

security objectives.

\(2\) Foreign persons.—No foreign person may serve as a

cleared investment professional under this section.

\(3\) No preference in federal awards.—Participation in the

pilot program shall not confer any preference in the award of

Federal contracts, grants, or other Federal assistance.

\(f\) Participation.—

\(1\) In general.—The Secretary may approve any eligible

investor and any cleared investment professional that

satisfies the requirements of this section and any

regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.

\(2\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to impose a numerical limitation on the number of

participating investors, cleared investment professionals, or

covered companies that may participate in the program.

\(g\) Annual Report.—Not later than one year after the date

of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the

Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional

defense committees a report describing—

\(1\) the number of eligible investors participating in the

pilot program under this section;

\(2\) the number and type of clearances sponsored under the

program;

\(3\) the number of covered companies supported through the

program;

\(4\) measurable impacts of the program on defense

innovation, manufacturing capacity, technology transition,

and the defense industrial base;

\(5\) any security incidents or counterintelligence concerns

identified during implementation of the program; and

\(6\) recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the

program.

\(h\) Sunset.—The authority provided by this section shall

terminate on the date that is five years after the date of

the enactment of this Act unless subsequently reauthorized by

law.

\(i\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “cleared investment professional” means an

employee, partner, member, advisor, director, officer,

operating partner, consultant, or other representative of an

eligible investor who has been granted a security clearance

under this section.

\(2\) The term “covered company” means a United States

small business concern, as defined in section 3 of the Small

Business Act \(15 U.S.C. 632\), or a medium-sized business

designated by the Secretary, that is engaged in the

development, production, or commercialization of technology,

products, or services relevant to national security.

\(3\) The term “eligible investor” means a United States

person or entity that—

\(A\) provides equity, debt, strategic, operational, or other

investment support to United States businesses;

\(B\) is not owned, controlled, or influenced by a foreign

person;

\(C\) demonstrates a history of investing in, supporting, or

developing technologies, products, or services with defense,

intelligence, homeland security, or other national security

applications; and

\(D\) meets such additional requirements as the Secretary of

Defense may prescribe.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from California \(Mr. Issa\) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment.

We are in changing times. The ongoing battles, both in Iran and in Ukraine, have taught us an important lesson. That is that large, long- term vendors for production of innovative tools don't work together. The lead time is too long. The requirement for us to innovate at the Department of War simply isn't working. We need to have small, innovative companies to be able to come forward and be given small allotments in order to develop. However, those allotments are seldom sufficient to operate a company for 1, 2, or 3 years to develop and get a contract going.

### For that reason, like other startups of all sorts, particularly in

the technology field in America, they would normally go to private funding, go to venture firms. But there is a problem. If what you are producing for the Department of War or any other part of our government is classified, you have to say: I have a new product. I can't tell you about it. Trust me and invest.

That simply doesn't work.

### More importantly, the requirements from within the government often

- are not available to the investor. Therefore, it is difficult to get.

### My amendment deals with this serious problem in a predictable and

controlled way. Our 5-year pilot program simply says that with the permission of the Department of War, individuals within qualified investment firms may receive or update their clearances so that they can be part of the investment decision.

### It does not preclude their being excluded for any reason, including--

and I particularly want to note this—companies which have a foreign investment profile would have to disclose and may very well be excluded.

### However, the American investment community with American funds is

more than sufficient to find, seek out, and invest in innovative companies that can give us a low-cost antidrone product or a low-cost drone, or any other number of critically needed and affordable products.

### For that reason, we are asking that the Department of War under this

pilot program be empowered to allow for these nonoriginal participants to have, on a limited basis, with controls completely in the hands of the Secretary of War and while he retains full authority to revoke participation for any security violation, foreign ownership, control, influence, or any other concern.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

### This amendment would give the Secretary of Defense sweeping

discretion to grant the highest level of security clearances to an unlimited number of investment professionals without any contract, mission, or defined purpose.

### Now, the theory, as we just heard, is that these investors would then

conduct due diligence and steer Federal resources toward companies that can support our national defense.

### In practice, this would turn our national secrets into another way

for the Trump White House to monetize their jobs, putting their friends' wealth over the national interest.

### Now, lest anybody accuse me of making a partisan point, let's review

some recent history, tying specifically to the individuals in the Trump administration who would be making decisions about how to share our national secrets.

### In the weeks leading up to President Trump's military strikes on

Iran, reports found that Secretary Hegseth's broker inquired about a multimillion dollar investment in major defense companies.

### Earlier this year, President Trump's own leadership PAC sent

fundraising emails that offered his donors access to national security debriefings on threats, border security, and foreign adversaries.

Don Trump, Jr.'s venture capital firm has invested in more than a dozen defense tech companies. Subsequent to his investment, those companies secured $3.2 billion in direct government business and $3.1 billion in additional future contract options.

### In one case, the White House directly pressured the Department of

Defense to provide $620 million in financing to one of young Donald's portfolio companies.

### Speaking of the children, the Trump administration recently approved

$1.6 billion in Federal financing for a small U.S. company to lead a major mining project in Kazakhstan. That company is not only partially owned by Donald Trump's children, but the deal was negotiated by Secretary of Commerce Lutnick's children.

### Hell, even Donald Trump's teleprompter operator is in on the action,

having just made $100,000 by betting on Trump's speeches that only he had seen on prediction markets.

### Of course, just this past week, Trump Media announced plans to sell

early access to the President's market-moving Truth Social posts so that Trump can make money while you front-run the stock market.

To be sure, Mr. Issa's amendment does specifically say that no investor may use classified information for personal financial gain. But I would ask you: Who in the Trump White House is going to enforce that provision? Trump? Lutnick? His personal lawyer, Todd Blanche? I think we know better.

### What we have here is an amendment to provide investment professionals

with both the means and the motive to engage in insider trading, to help the rich get richer, and to compromise the integrity of U.S. financial markets.

### The question that we have right now in this amendment is a really

simple one: What do you stand for? If you stand for corruption, vote “yes”. But if you stand for national security, for integrity, and for capitalism, vote “no”.

### That may be a character test for some in this Chamber, but it is not

- a remotely close call.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close if the other side has concluded.

Mr. CASTEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I will be brief.

### I am not going to address the items that were said by the opposition

- because they don't go to the safeguards in this piece of legislation.

### Without this amendment, there is nothing to stop the administration

from providing, without specific requirements to disclose, classifications to any and all individuals, particularly individuals that are, quite frankly, within companies either doing or wanting to do business with the Federal Government.

### It doesn't stop the large companies from having unlimited access to

programs that may not be widely understood. As a result, they get an advantage of bidding on something no one knows about.

### Instead, what it requires is annual reporting, including to this

body, to Congress, to ensure that we can monitor this program. It sunsets. It is not for this administration, but for a 5-year period.

### Most importantly, it is extremely limited to private equity

investing, by definition in private companies. No part of public companies are affected here, just the opposite.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1140

### This is an opportunity for private companies to find investors who

can only invest if they have a reasonable knowledge of what the product is asked to be and nothing more, and every one of them must still pass the same rigorous application and retention policy for whatever level of clearance is required.

Mr. Chairman, I would hope that these words would help the other side understand that, in fact, Congress gains more control over many of the things being complained about by passing this amendment than by not.

Mr. Chair, I urge support for my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California \(Mr. Issa\).

The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California will be postponed.

Amendment No. 34 Offered by Mrs. Hinson

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 34 printed in part A of House Report 119-755.

Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of subtitle B of title XXXI, add the following

new section:

SEC. 31\_\_. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR NATIONAL

LABORATORIES THAT ADMIT CERTAIN FOREIGN

NATIONAL VISITORS.

\(a\) Prohibition.—No funds authorized to be appropriated by

this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for

the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for any

National Laboratory that authorizes the admission of a

covered visitor to any area of the National Laboratory not

accessible to the general public.

\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “covered visitor”, with respect to a

National Laboratory—

\(A\) means a foreign national from a country of concern \(as

such term is defined in section 8512 of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 \(50 U.S.C. 4581 note;

Public Law 119-60\)\) that—

\(i\) is not an employee of the Department of Energy or a

management and operations contractor operating the National

Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy; and

\(ii\) has requested access to the premises, information, or

technology of the National Laboratory; and

\(B\) does not include any lawful permanent resident of the

United States.

\(2\) The term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given

such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 \(42

U.S.C. 15801\).

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentlewoman from Iowa \(Mrs. Hinson\) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa.

Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit foreign nationals from designated countries of concern from accessing nonpublic areas of any national laboratory.

### This straightforward measure would protect the integrity of America's

national labs and the sensitive research that underpins our national security.

### For years, we know that the Chinese Communist Party has executed

sweeping, coordinated campaigns to acquire American tech and innovation by any means necessary.

Last month, Mr. David Shedd, the former Acting Director of Defense Intelligence Agency, said: Efforts blending cyber espionage, human intelligence, academic collaboration, and commercial investments have fueled China's rapid military and economic rise.

This should concern all of us.

### Congress passed a law 2 years ago which prohibited foreign nationals

from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from accessing our weapons labs. This was an important first step, but now we must address the same vulnerabilities in our science labs. These are labs where sensitive but unclassified work on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and advanced computing are performed.

### These are the very labs that the President has tasked with executing

the Genesis Mission, a modern-day Manhattan Project, to ensure that the United States wins the race for AI dominance. Yet, at the same time, we are allowing thousands of nontraditional intelligence collectors from our competitors and greatest adversaries to operate inside of these facilities.

We know China's playbook. The CCP will weaponize any expertise it gains militarily, commercially, or economically. Our adversaries are running sophisticated espionage campaigns while we are rolling out the red carpet for thousands of these foreign nationals from proven countries of concern. This is a direct threat to our national security.

Mr. Chair, this amendment simply closes a known vulnerability. It prohibits foreign nationals from countries of concern from accessing any nonpublic area of a national laboratory that receives Defense funding.

### Building on those actions taken 2 years ago, this amendment protects

the Genesis project and mission and ensures that America, not our adversaries, will reap the benefits of scientific breakthroughs that our scientists achieve.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Chair, this amendment is unnecessary, and I urge everyone to oppose it.

### The Department of Energy Laboratories are on to this problem, and

- they have been on to it for decades.

### Prior to serving in Congress, I spent over 20 years at Fermi National

Accelerator Laboratory, where we had Russian collaborators during the heart of the Cold War. Some of the very first experiments that were done at Fermi National Lab had Russian participants, and we had incredibly competent scientists coming and visiting.

It was actually kind of amusing. When you had a group of Russian collaborators, there would be five brilliant scientists and then one guy who was not a very good physicist. He was the KGB guy, and everyone laughed about it.

We had this under control. It was also a huge benefit to the United States not only because of the brilliant assistance we had to grow our science

### program, but also, frankly, as a source of intelligence assets because

these brilliant scientists would go back to Russia, and we would maintain interesting communications with them.

### That is especially important today because China has basically

installed the surveillance state. It is very difficult for us to maintain human assets in China, but this is one of the only opportunities that we have to actually develop high-level scientific assets. From that point of view alone, this is a wrong amendment.

It is not just me who feels this way. Donald Trump's Department of Energy opposes this, and I will just read verbatim their comment on it:

“This amendment effectively imposes an outright prohibition on access to DOE national laboratories for all foreign nationals from countries of concern, regardless of their mode of access. While intended to address security concerns, this sweeping restriction will severely disrupt the national laboratory research and development ecosystem and key administration research priorities,” from the Trump administration.

“The Office of Science and other DOE lab-stewarded programs have a significant number of international scientists and engineers who serve as employees, users of SC scientific user facilities, or collaborative visitors. These individuals already undergo indices checks and extensive, multi-layered risk mitigation measures prior to receiving Laboratory access. By bypassing these tailored, risk-based protocols in favor of a blanket ban, this amendment will disrupt essential scientific human resources who greatly contribute to domestic scientific competitiveness.”

Mr. Chair, it is not often that I agree with the Trump administration, but they pretty much nailed that one. This amendment is unnecessary and counterproductive.

Mrs. Hinson's amendment has identified a concern about the impact of foreign nationals from countries like Russia, China, and Iran, but principally China. However, this amendment is just unnecessarily restrictive on our national laboratories.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Chair, while I think we can all agree that collaboration is an essential part of research, especially much of the research happening in our national laboratories, we are at a critical point for our country when it comes to national security and making sure that the investments that American taxpayers are putting into these institutions are protected from our adversaries.

Mr. Chair, I urge a “yes” vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Iowa \(Mrs. Hinson\).

The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Harrigan

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 44 printed in part A of House Report 119-755.

Mr. HARRIGAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. PROHIBITION ON USE OF AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT

CAMERAS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Section 2661 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by

inserting at the end the following new subsection:

“\(e\) Prohibition on Use of Automated Speed Enforcement

Cameras.—\(1\) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no

Federal funds may be used by the Secretary of Defense to

purchase, install, operate, maintain, or contract for the

operation of an automated speed enforcement camera system on

a military installation.

“\(2\) By not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that

any automated speed enforcement camera system in operation on

a military installation as of the date of the enactment of

this section is decommissioned and removed.

“\(3\) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to—

“\(A\) limit the authority of an installation commander to

enforce posted speed limits on the military installation

under the jurisdiction of the commander through means other

than automated speed enforcement cameras; or

“\(B\) affect the use of any camera or photographic device

for purposes of security, access control, force protection,

or criminal investigation, so long as such camera or

photographic device is not primarily used for speed

enforcement.

“\(4\) In this subsection:

“\(A\) The term \`automated speed enforcement camera system'

means any system that uses a photographic, video, or other

electronic device to—

“\(i\) automatically detect and record the speed of a motor

vehicle; and

“\(ii\) generate a record of any vehicle traveling in excess

of a posted speed limit.

“\(B\) The term \`military installation' has the meaning

given such term in section 2801 of this title.”.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from North Carolina \(Mr. Harrigan\) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1150

Mr. HARRIGAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of my amendment. This amendment does one thing: It bars the Department of War from buying, installing, or operating automated speed cameras on military installations and requires any that are already in place to be decommissioned within 180 days.

These systems are not about safety. They are about revenue. They hand out fines without context, without discretion, and without due process for our servicemembers. We just spent the last few years working hard through the NDAA to increase lower enlisted pay, only to seemingly try to take it away from them.

Make no mistake, this is not just a financial risk. It is a security risk. We have seen what happens when camera networks tied to critical infrastructure get compromised. Reporting this year revealed that foreign intelligence services spent years secretly accessing Tehran's traffic camera network to track the movements of Iran's top leadership ahead of a strike that killed its Supreme Leader. These network systems are an open door for our adversaries to exploit.

### To be clear about what this amendment does not do, installation

commanders still keep the full authority to enforce speed limits through military police, exactly as they do today. Force protection, access control, and criminal investigation cameras at our facility gates will remain untouched. This amendment targets one narrow thing: automated speed enforcement, and nothing else.

### Our troops should not be a captive customer base for a ticketing

vendor or a soft target for our adversaries. This amendment closes that door while preserving every legitimate tool that a commander needs to keep a base safe.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 1\\1/2\\ minutes.

Mr. Chair, I am going to say, I am pretty baffled by this amendment from my friend and colleague, and I rise in opposition to this amendment.

It moves base safety in the wrong direction. Even the Department of Defense opposes this amendment. This amendment would prohibit automated speed enforcement cameras on military installations.

### To be clear, these cameras aren't about punishing our troops or their

families. They exist to keep bases and military families safe. These cameras keep reckless drivers accountable and have a proven and effective record for reducing traffic accidents and maintaining safe and orderly driving.

### According to the Federal Highway Administration, speed enforcement

cameras have been found to reduce roadway fatalities and injuries by up to 37 percent.

### I want to remind my colleagues that our military bases aren't just

for troops to work and train. They are home to schools, youth centers, child development centers, playgrounds, and family housing.

### Junior personnel can't usually afford vehicles and are usually having

to walk around bases. It is imperative that we maintain traffic safety. The servicemembers and families who live and

### work on these bases deserve every protection we can give them, and that

- must be part of this conversation.

### I have not heard one shred of data and not one credible argument that

- this amendment makes our installations safer.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARRIGAN. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague from California's concern about overall base safety. I think if we step back and actually look at the big picture here, what we are talking about is simply a tax on our lower enlisted personnel.

### We have military police to enforce safety standards that are already

issued by the base commanders across every installation that we have. At the end of the day, we cannot deny that NIPRNet has been compromised by over 90 percent of our most serious and significant adversaries—the exact same net that these speed cameras would live on.

### I think that is a significant concern for the safety and security of

our installation personnel and the operations that are ongoing on our installations. For that reason, I encourage my colleagues to strongly support this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's argument there, but if the Department of Defense can't maintain the cybersecurity cameras on our own installations, then we have a lot bigger problems.

### The truth is that vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of

- death for our servicemembers.

Why are we even debating this? We should be debating amendments that rein in this administration's reckless conduct on this Iran war or its reckless spending in the Middle East. Instead, my colleagues would rather discuss speed cameras.

### The fact is, this amendment restrains the Secretary's ability to

allocate security and law enforcement resources to address traffic safety. Prohibiting the use of speed cameras also undermines an installation commander's ability to deploy the appropriate resources to effectively meet the traffic and public safety needs of the installation.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this reckless amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina \(Mr. Harrigan\).

The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina will be postponed.

Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.

Amendments en bloc No. 2 consisting of amendment Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, and 158, printed in part A of House Report 119-755, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama.

Amendment No. 105 Offered by Mr. Cline of Virginia

Add at the end of subtitle E of title VIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 8\_\_. ELIMINATION OF USE OF CERTAIN PAYMENT PROCESSING

EQUIPMENT, SYSTEMS, OR SERVICES.

\(a\) Review.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

complete a review of all retailers to determine if such

retailers use covered equipment, systems, or services as a

substantial or essential component of the performance of a

contract to provide payment processing equipment, systems, or

services for the Department of Defense.

\(b\) Guidance.—Not later than 90 days after completing the

review required by subsection \(a\), the Secretary of Defense

shall issue guidance prohibiting the use of covered

equipment, systems, or services by a retailer in a contract

with the Department of Defense. Such policy and guidance

shall direct the modification or termination of such a

contract unless the retailer for such contract ceases use of

covered equipment, systems, or services in a timely manner.

\(c\) Prohibition.—Effective January 1, 2027, the Secretary

of Defense may not enter into a contract for payment

processing equipment, systems, or services with a retailer

that uses covered equipment, systems, or services as a

substantial or essential component of the performance of such

contract.

\(d\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate a written report on the

implementation on the requirements of this section.

\(e\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “country of concern” means—

\(A\) China;

\(B\) Russia;

\(C\) the Islamic Republic of Iran;

\(D\) North Korea; and

\(E\) any other country designated by the Secretary of

Defense, as posing a significant risk to the national

security of the United States.

\(2\) The term “covered equipment, system, or service”—

\(A\) means a payment processing equipment, system, or

service for which the application processor, source code,

secure processor, or secure firmware is directly or

indirectly developed, manufactured, provided, owned,

controlled, or operated by—

\(i\) an entity organized under the laws of a country of

concern;

\(ii\) an entity owned or controlled by the government of a

country of concern;

\(iii\) an entity subject to the direction, jurisdiction, or

control of the government, military, or intelligence services

of a country of concern;

\(iv\) any subsidiary, affiliate, or successor entity of an

entity described in clauses \(i\) through \(iii\); or

\(v\) an entity that the Secretary of Defense reasonably

believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise

connected entity owned or controlled by a country of concern;

and

\(B\) includes payment processing equipment, systems, or

services substantially comprised of components, software, or

technology supplied by an entity described in any of clauses

\(i\) through \(v\) of subparagraph \(A\).

\(3\) The term “electronic fund transfer”—

\(A\) means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction

originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument,

which is initiated through an electronic terminal \(as defined

in section 903 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act \(15 U.S.C.

1693a\)\), telephone, or computer or magnetic tape so as to

order, instruct, or authorize a financial institution to

debit or credit an account; and

\(B\) includes point-of-sale transfers, automated teller

machine transactions, and direct deposits or withdrawals of

funds from an account.

\(4\) The term “payment processing equipment, system, or

service” means—

\(A\) a card, code, or other means of access to a consumer's

account, or any combination thereof, that may be used by the

consumer to initiate electronic fund transfers; or

\(B\) an electronic device, other than a telephone operated

by a consumer, through which a consumer may initiate an

electronic fund transfer.

\(5\) The term “retailer” has the meaning given in section

4664 of title 10, United States Code.

Amendment No. 106 Offered by Mr. Cloud of Texas

Page 1341, line 22, strike “\(b\)” and insert “\(c\)”.

\(b\) Recovery of Outlays.—Write-offs under subsection \(a\)

shall be done in a manner than ensures any previous cash

outlay from a revolving fund is recovered.

Amendment No. 107 Offered by Mr. Courtney of Connecticut

Add at the end of subtitle E of title XII the following:

SEC. 12\_\_. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION OF SALE TO AUSTRALIA

OF IN-SERVICE VIRGINIA CLASS SUBMARINES TO

PROVIDE FOR SALE OF ADDITIONAL IN-SERVICE

SUBMARINE IN LIEU OF NEW CONSTRUCTION

SUBMARINE.

\(a\) Modification of Authorization.—Subsection \(a\) of

section 1352 of the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization

Act \(22 U.S.C. 10431 note\) is amended—

\(1\) by striking “two” and inserting “three”; and

\(2\) by striking “, and transfer not more than one

additional Virginia Class submarine to the Government of

Australia on a sale basis”.

\(b\) Technical Amendments.—Such section is further

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by striking “Effective beginning on” and all that

follows through “the President” and inserting “The

President”; and

\(B\) by striking “20-year period beginning on the date of

the enactment of this Act” and inserting “20-year period

beginning on December 22, 2023”;

\(2\) in subsection \(d\)\(4\), by striking “the date of the

enactment of this Act” and inserting “December 22, 2023”;

and

\(3\) in subsection \(i\)\(1\)—

\(A\) in the matter preceding subparagraph \(A\), by striking

“Not later than” and all that follows through “15 years”

and inserting “Not later than July 1 of each year through

2039”; and

\(B\) in subparagraph \(D\), by striking “over the” and all

that follows through “this Act” and inserting “through

December 22, 2038”.

Amendment No. 108 Offered by Ms. Craig of Minnesota

At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. COVERAGE OF CRANIAL ORTHOTIC DEVICES FOR

DEFORMATIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY UNDER TRICARE

PROGRAM.

Section 1079\(a\) of title 10, United States Code, as amended

by section 703, is further amended by adding at the end the

following new paragraph:

“\(22\) Cranial orthotic devices \(molding helmets\) for

deformational plagiocephaly may be provided as part of a

reconstructive medical treatment.”.

Amendment No. 109 Offered by Mr. Crane of Arizona

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the

following:

SEC. 17\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF COUNTER-SUBTERRANEAN TECHNOLOGIES.

\(a\) Assessment.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each

of the subsequent five years, the Director of the Combating

Terrorism Technical Support Office of the Department of

Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense

for Research and Engineering, shall convene an engagement

with appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland

Security, including the United States Border Patrol

Subterranean Program Management Office, to—

\(1\) identify Department of Defense-developed or Department

of Defense-sponsored technologies, capabilities, and research

efforts relevant to the detection, mapping, monitoring, or

mitigation of subterranean threats;

\(2\) assess opportunities to transition, adapt, test, or

evaluate such technologies for operational use in detecting,

monitoring, and countering illicit cross-border tunnel

activity along the international borders of the United

States;

\(3\) identify opportunities for collaboration relating to

research, development, testing, evaluation, and technology

transition activities concerning counter-subterranean

capabilities; and

\(4\) identify barriers to interagency cooperation,

technology transfer, testing, evaluation, or deployment of

such capabilities.

\(b\) Annual Report and Briefing.—Not later than 90 days

after each engagement required under subsection \(a\), the

Director of the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office

shall submit a report and provide a briefing to the Committee

on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security of

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed

Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and

Governmental Affairs of the Senate that includes a

description of—

\(1\) the technologies, capabilities, and research efforts

discussed during the engagement;

\(2\) opportunities identified for further research,

development, testing, evaluation, transition, or operational

assessment activities;

\(3\) recommendations for improving coordination between the

Department of Defense and Federal partners regarding counter-

subterranean technologies; and

\(4\) any legislative, regulatory, or administrative barriers

affecting the development, transition, or deployment of

counter-subterranean capabilities.

Amendment No. 110 Offered by Mr. Crane of Arizona

At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. REPORT ON EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT

MILITARY RECRUITMENT, READINESS, AND END

STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense,

in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall submit

to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on

Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives, and

the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of

the Senate a report on opportunities to strengthen military

recruitment and support the readiness and end strength

requirements of the Armed Forces through partnerships with

secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and

career and technical education programs.

\(b\) Matters Included.—The report required under subsection

\(a\) shall include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of current and projected recruiting

challenges affecting the Armed Forces and the ability of the

military departments to meet authorized end strength

requirements.

\(2\) An assessment of the extent to which academic

preparedness, physical fitness, workforce readiness, and

awareness of military service opportunities impact the pool

of qualified applicants available to the Armed Forces.

\(3\) An evaluation of existing Department of Defense

engagement with secondary schools, institutions of higher

education, and career and technical education programs and

the effectiveness of such engagement in supporting recruiting

objectives and military readiness.

\(4\) An assessment of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training

Corps program and the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

program, including—

\(A\) participation levels and recent enrollment trends;

\(B\) geographic distribution and accessibility of those

programs;

\(C\) barriers to program expansion, including in areas

experiencing recruiting shortfalls; and

\(D\) opportunities to increase participation, improve

awareness of military service pathways, and strengthen

leadership development among participants.

\(5\) An assessment of opportunities to expand partnerships

between the Department of Defense and educational

institutions to support recruitment into mission-critical

military career fields, including science, technology,

engineering, mathematics, cybersecurity, aviation, logistics,

healthcare, artificial intelligence, and other fields

identified by the Secretary of Defense.

\(6\) Recommendations for improving coordination between the

Department of Defense and the Department of Education to

increase awareness of military service opportunities,

scholarships, service academies, Senior Reserve Officers'

Training Corps scholarships, military career pathways, and

other programs that support military recruiting and

readiness.

\(7\) An assessment of opportunities to align existing

educational, workforce development, and career readiness

programs with current and projected Armed Forces personnel

requirements.

\(8\) Recommendations for legislative or administrative

actions to strengthen the pipeline of qualified applicants

for military service and support long-term military readiness

and end strength requirements.

\(9\) Recommendations to increase the attractiveness of

military service as a career path and form of public service,

including recommendations to improve awareness of military

career opportunities, expand pathways to service through the

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and Senior Reserve

Officers' Training Corps programs, strengthen educational and

workforce development partnerships, and increase the pool of

qualified applicants available to meet military readiness and

end strength requirements.

\(c\) Briefing.—Not later than 30 days after submitting the

report required under subsection \(a\), the Secretary of

Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense

committees on the findings and recommendations contained in

the report.

\(d\) Form.—The report required under subsection \(a\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a

classified annex.

Amendment No. 111 Offered by Mr. Crane of Arizona

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. MOBILE DEVICE FORCE PROTECTION AGAINST COMMERCIAL

SURVEILLANCE THREATS.

\(a\) Pilot Program.—

\(1\) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

pilot program to evaluate mobile device force protection

technologies intended to reduce the operational exposure of

covered personnel arising from application-generated signals.

\(2\) Participation.—The Secretary shall make participation

in the pilot program available to the military departments,

the combatant commands, and other covered organizations

seeking to participate.

\(3\) Acquisition authorities.—The Secretary shall, to the

maximum extent practicable, use existing rapid acquisition

authorities and other transaction authorities to minimize

administrative barriers to participation in the pilot

program.

\(4\) Measures of effectiveness.—The Secretary shall

establish objective, outcome-based measures of effectiveness

before the initiation of the pilot program..

\(b\) Minimum Operational Requirements.—A technology

evaluated under the pilot program shall demonstrate the

ability to—

\(1\) identify applications generating signals relevant to

force protection;

\(2\) determine the destinations receiving such signals;

\(3\) characterize the categories of information transmitted

in sufficient detail to assess operational exposure;

\(4\) distinguish legitimate application functionality from

analytics, diagnostics, advertising, profiling, and related

exploitation activities;

\(5\) maintain auditable records and generate commander-level

reporting sufficient to support force protection decisions;

\(6\) actively control application-generated transmissions,

including the ability to block, throttle, or otherwise govern

which signals leave the device and the destinations to which

they may be sent, and not merely to observe, characterize, or

report them;

\(7\) enable the Department of Defense, and not solely a

vendor, to independently verify the matters described in

paragraphs \(1\) through \(6\) and to confirm measured reductions

in operational exposure; and

\(8\) adapt as commercial surveillance techniques evolve.

\(c\) Transition and Operational Adoption.—

\(1\) Determination.—Not later than 90 days after the

evaluation of a technology is completed under the pilot

program, the Secretary shall determine whether the evaluated

technology demonstrated measurable reductions in operational

exposure associated with commercial mobile surveillance.

\(2\) Adoption.—If the Secretary determines that the

effectiveness of a technology evaluated under the pilot

program has been adequately demonstrated, the Secretary may

authorize operational deployment of the technology without

initiating a duplicative requirements process.

\(3\) Transition pathways.—The Secretary shall identify

potential transition pathways for a technology before

evaluating the technology under the pilot program.

\(d\) Continuous Assessment.—

\(1\) Framework.—The Secretary shall establish a continuous

assessment framework applicable to deployed mobile device

force protection technologies, under which each such

technology is reviewed not less frequently than annually to

evaluate whether it continues to reduce operational exposure

arising from commercial mobile surveillance.

\(2\) Annual report.—Not less frequently than annually, the

Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report that summarizes the findings of the

assessments conducted under paragraph \(1\), identifies

emerging commercial surveillance techniques, documents the

effectiveness of deployed technologies, and recommends

modifications to standards and procurement approaches.

\(e\) Degradation and Reassessment.—If the Secretary

determines that a deployed mobile device force protection

technology no longer provides meaningful protection against

identified threats, the Secretary shall initiate a review of

alternative capabilities using the authorities established

under this section.

\(f\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to require the use of a particular technical

architecture, implementation methodology, or commercial

vendor. The requirements established under this section are

intended to define the operational outcomes necessary to

support force protection and not to prescribe the means by

which those outcomes are achieved.

\(g\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “application-generated signal” means any

data transmitted from a mobile device by, or on behalf of, a

software application, including data derived from device

sensors, network and environmental observations, diagnostic

and behavioral telemetry, and embedded software development

kits, whether or not the data includes a persistent

identifier.

\(2\) The term “covered personnel” means—

\(A\) members of the Armed Forces;

\(B\) civilian employees of the Department of Defense;

\(C\) contractors supporting the Department of Defense;

\(D\) employees of entities engaged in the development or

manufacture of weapons systems or other defense articles; and

\(E\) any other category of personnel designated by the

Secretary of Defense whose duties involve heightened

operational security considerations.

\(3\) The term “mobile device force protection technology”

means a technology or capability intended to identify,

observe, characterize, audit, report upon, restrict,

suppress, or otherwise manage application-generated signals

that may contribute to operational surveillance or pattern-

of-life reconstruction affecting covered personnel.

\(4\) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Defense.

Amendment No. 112 Offered by Mr. Crawford of Arkansas

In title XVI, subtitle B, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 1619. OFFICE FOR BOMBING PREVENTION.

\(a\) In General.—Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland

Security Act of 2002 \(6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.\) is amended by

adding at the end the following new section:

“SEC. 211. OFFICE FOR BOMBING PREVENTION.

“\(a\) Establishment.—There is established within the

Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department an

Office for Bombing Prevention \(in this section referred to as

the \`Office'\), which shall be headed by an individual in the

Senior Executive Service with subject matter expertise in

deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against,

mitigating, and responding to terrorist explosive threats and

attacks.

“\(b\) Principal Responsibilities.—The head of the Office

shall—

“\(1\) act as the primary coordinator for the Department of

Homeland Security with all elements of the Department of

Defense that have responsibilities for the disposal of

explosive ordnance;

“\(2\) ensure the effectiveness of intelligence and other

information sharing between such elements of the Department

of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, including

the Federal, State, local, and tribal partners of the

Department of Homeland Security; and

“\(3\) advise the Secretary on matters related to terrorist

explosive threats and attacks in the United States.

“\(c\) Functions.—The Office shall have the primary

responsibility within the Department of Homeland Security for

enhancing the ability of, and coordinating the efforts of,

the United States to deter, detect, prevent, protect against,

mitigate, and respond to terrorist explosive threats and

attacks in the United States, including by the following:

“\(1\) Coordinating the efforts of the Department to counter

terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States,

including by—

“\(A\) developing, in consultation with the Under Secretary

for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, the strategy of the

Department against terrorist explosive threats and attacks,

including efforts to support the security and preparedness of

critical infrastructure and the public sector and private

sector;

“\(B\) leading the prioritization of the efforts of the

Department against terrorist explosive threats and attacks,

including preparedness and operational requirements;

“\(C\) ensuring, in consultation with the Under Secretary

for Science and Technology and the Administrator of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the identification,

evaluation, and availability of effective technology

applications through field pilot testing and acquisition of

such technology applications by the public sector to deter,

detect, prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to

terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United States;

“\(D\) providing advice and recommendations to the

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

regarding the effective use of grants authorized under

section 2002; and

“\(E\) aligning, in consultation with the Assistant

Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction

Office, the efforts of the Department related to terrorist

explosive threats and attacks in the United States and

weapons of mass destruction.

“\(2\) Engaging other Federal departments and agencies,

including Sector Risk Management Agencies and relevant

elements of the Department of Defense, regarding terrorist

explosive threats and attacks in the United States.

“\(3\) Facilitating information sharing and decision support

of the public and private sectors involved in deterrence,

detection, prevention, protection against, mitigation of, and

response to terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the

United States, including, when appropriate, delivering

information to the public and private sectors using open-

source materials or downgrading the classification level of

information.

“\(4\) Providing training, guidance, planning, assessments,

and technical assistance to the public and private sectors,

as appropriate, to help counter the risk of terrorist

explosive threats and attacks in the United States. The

training and technical assistance provided under this

paragraph shall include—

“\(A\) support efforts to prepare for and respond to bomb

threats or other acts concerning explosive threats and

attacks in the United States; and

“\(B\) support of public and private sector preparedness for

security of critical infrastructure, facilities, and special

events, as appropriate.

“\(5\) Promoting security awareness, through educational

outreach or secure information sharing, where appropriate,

among the public sector, the private sector, and the general

public regarding the risks posed by the misuse of explosive

precursor chemicals and other bomb-making materials.

“\(6\) Conducting analysis and planning for the capabilities

and requirements necessary for the public and private

sectors, as appropriate, to deter, detect, prevent, protect

against, mitigate, and respond to terrorist explosive threats

and attacks in the United States, including by—

“\(A\) maintaining a database on capabilities and

requirements, including capabilities and requirements of

public safety bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams,

special tactics teams, and public safety dive teams; and

“\(B\) applying the analysis derived from the database

described in subparagraph \(A\) with respect to—

“\(i\) evaluating progress toward closing identified gaps

relating to national strategic goals and standards related to

deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against,

mitigating, and responding to terrorist explosive threats and

attacks in the United States; and

“\(ii\) informing decisions relating to homeland security

policy, assistance, training, research, development efforts,

testing and evaluation, and related requirements regarding

deterring, detecting, preventing, protecting against,

mitigating, and responding to terrorist explosive threats and

attacks in the United States.

“\(7\) Facilitating secure information sharing of sensitive

material and promoting security awareness, including by—

“\(A\) operating and maintaining a secure information

sharing system that allows sharing among and between the

public and private sectors of critical information relating

to explosive attack tactics, techniques, and procedures;

“\(B\) working with international partners, in consultation

with the Office of International Affairs of the Department,

to develop and share effective practices to deter, detect,

prevent, protect against, mitigate, and respond to terrorist

explosive threats and attacks in the United States;

“\(C\) executing national public awareness and vigilance

campaigns relating to—

“\(i\) terrorist explosive threats and attacks in the United

States;

“\(ii\) preventing explosive attacks; and

“\(iii\) activities and measures underway to safeguard the

United States; and

“\(D\) working with relevant stakeholder organizations.

“\(8\) Providing any other assistance the Secretary

determines necessary.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents at the

beginning of such Act is amended by inserting after the item

relating to section 210G the following new item: “Sec. 211. Office for Bombing Prevention.”.

\(c\) Department of Defense Synchronization.—The Secretary

of Defense shall ensure that—

\(1\) planning and operations of the Department of Defense

are updated to reflect the changes made by this section in a

timely manner; and

\(2\) access to appropriate defense and military intelligence

information sharing is maintained during the transition from

any existing office with the Department of Homeland Security

to the Office of Bombing Prevention as established by this

section in a way that would not impede a response in an

emergency or on-going operations.

Amendment No. 113 Offered by Mr. Crawford of Arkansas

At the end of subtitle A of title VI, add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. IMPROVEMENTS TO INCENTIVE PAY FOR EXPLOSIVE

ORDNANCE DISPOSAL DUTY.

\(a\) Establishment.—Subchapter I of Chapter 5 of title 37,

United States Code, is amended by inserting, after section

301e, the following new section:

“Sec. 301f. Incentive pay: explosive ordnance disposal duty

“\(a\) Eligibility.—\(1\) Subject to regulations prescribed

by the Secretary of Defense, a regular member of a covered

armed force is entitled to continuous monthly explosive

ordnance disposal duty incentive pay in the amount specified

in subsection \(b\)\(1\) if the member—

“\(A\) is entitled to basic pay;

“\(B\) holds \(or is in training leading to\) an explosive

ordnance disposal duty designator; and

“\(C\) is in and remains in explosive ordnance disposal duty

on a career basis.

“\(2\) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of

Defense, a member of a covered armed force who is entitled to

basic pay but is not entitled to continuous monthly explosive

ordnance disposal duty incentive pay under paragraph \(1\) is

entitled to explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay in

the amount prescribed pursuant to subsection \(b\)\(2\) for any

period during which such member performs explosive ordnance

disposal duty under orders.

“\(b\) Rates.—\(1\) Continuous monthly explosive ordnance

disposal duty incentive pay under subsection \(a\)\(1\) shall be

in the following amounts:

————————————————————————————————————

“Years of explosive ordnance disposal duty

\(including training\): Monthly Rate ———————————————————————————————————— 2 or fewer........................................... $125 Over 2............................................... $156 Over 3............................................... $188 Over 4............................................... $206 Over 6............................................... $650 Over 8............................................... $800 Over 10.............................................. $1,000 Over 17.............................................. $840 Over 22.............................................. $585 Over 24.............................................. $385 Over 25.............................................. $250 ————————————————————————————————————

“\(2\) Explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay under

subsection \(a\)\(2\)—

“\(A\) shall be in amounts prescribed by the Secretary of

Defense;

“\(B\) may not, for any month, exceed the maximum amount

specified in paragraph \(1\); and

“\(C\) may not be less per day than the amount under

subsection \(d\).

“\(c\) Computation of Years.—Years of explosive ordnance

disposal duty by a member shall be computed beginning with

the effective date of the initial order to such member to

perform explosive ordnance disposal duty.

“\(d\) Applicability to Certain Duty in the Reserve

Components.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of

Defense and to the extent provided for by appropriations, for

each day that a member of a reserve component of a covered

armed force who is entitled to compensation under section 206

of this title, performs, under orders, explosive ordnance

disposal duty, such member is eligible for an increase in

compensation equal to one-thirtieth of the continuous monthly

incentive pay under subsection \(b\)\(1\) for a member of

corresponding years of service entitled to basic pay.

“\(e\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) The term \`covered armed force' means the Army, Navy,

Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

“\(2\) The term \`explosive ordnance disposal' has the

meaning given such term in section 2284 of title 10.

“\(3\) The term \`explosive ordnance disposal duty' means

duty performed by a member of a covered armed force, under

regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, in

explosive ordnance disposal.”.

\(b\) Effective Date.—Section 301f of title 37, United

States Code, as added by subsection \(a\), shall take effect on

the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act and apply to explosive ordnance disposal duty

performed on or after such date.

Amendment No. 114 Offered by Mr. Crawford of Arkansas

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM ON THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AS THE

HOMELAND DEFENSE INTEGRATOR FOR DEFEATING

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE.

\(a\) Pilot Program Authorized.—

\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of the Army may conduct a

pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of

the development of a capability in support of Department of

the Army missions within the National Guard through which the

National Guard of a State remotely provides to the National

Guard of other States \(whether or not in the same Armed Force

as the providing National Guard\) explosive ordnance disposal

capability through technical assistance in the planning,

preparation, training, and response to accidents and

incidents involving foreign and domestic explosive ordnance,

as such term is defined in section 283\(d\) of title 10, United

States Code.

\(2\) Assessment prior to commencement.—For the purposes of

the pilot program described in subsection \(a\), the Director

of the Army National Guard shall, prior to commencing the

pilot program, determine—

\(A\) which of the service component commands of the Army

best supports the responsible combatant commands that defend

the homeland including the United States Strategic Command,

the United States Space Command, and the United States

Northern Command;

\(B\) the command and support relationships of Army National

Guard explosive ordnance disposal formations, and other

military explosive ordnance disposal units, to the Army

service component command identified pursuant to subparagraph

\(A\);

\(C\) the required increase in the number of members of the

National Guard performing full-time National Guard duty in

the Active Guard and Reserve Program that may support or

execute such homeland defense activities performed by the

National Guard under section 904 of title 32, United States

Code; and

\(D\) the crosswalk of designated Army National Guard

explosive ordnance disposal units to that of the Department

of Defense prioritized critical infrastructure listing with

an emphasis on United States left of launch capability

including missile production and storage facilities, missile

launching equipment and positions, and command and control

equipment generally recognized as lawful military objectives

that may be targeted.

\(b\) Elements.—The pilot program described in subsection

\(a\) may include the following:

\(1\) A secure net-worked capability, including joint

worldwide intelligence communication system and secure

internet protocol router networks, that enables the National

Guard explosive ordnance disposal unit of a State to remotely

provide command and control, intelligence, technical

operations oversight, and explosives safety compliance

without the need to deploy outside its home State.

\(2\) The development of policies, processes, procedures,

program element and management decision packages, and

authorities for use of such a capability, including with

respect to the following:

\(A\) The roles and responsibilities of both requesting and

deploying National Guards with respect to such explosive

ordnance disposal capabilities as defined in section

2284\(d\)\(2\) of title 10, United States Code.

\(B\) Program management and governance structures for

deployment and maintenance of such a capability.

\(3\) The conduct of at least three annual exercises known as

“Ravens Challenge exercises” with the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Army which shall

include the following:

\(A\) The participation of not fewer than the National Guards

of two States.

\(B\) Circumstances designed to test and validate the

policies, processes, procedures, program elements, and

management decision packages and authorities pursuant to

paragraph \(2\).

\(c\) Construction With Certain Current Authorities.—

\(1\) Command authorities.—Nothing in this section may be

construed as affecting or altering the command authorities

otherwise applicable to any unit of the National Guard

participating in the pilot program.

\(2\) Emergency management assistance compact.—Nothing in

the section may be construed as affecting or altering any

current agreement under the Emergency Management Assistance

Compact, or any other State agreements, or as determinant of

the future content of any such agreement.

\(d\) Evaluation Metrics.—The Director of the Army National

Guard shall establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness

of the pilot program.

\(e\) Term.—The pilot program under subsection \(a\) shall not

terminate not later than five years \(a future years defense

program cycle\) after the date of the commencement of the

pilot program.

\(f\) Reports.—

\(1\) Initial report.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the commencement of the pilot program, the Secretary of

the Army shall submit to the defense and intelligence

committees of Congress an initial report setting forth a

description of the pilot program and such other matters in

connection with the pilot program as the Secretary considers

appropriate.

\(2\) Final report.—Not later than 180 days after the

termination of the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army

shall submit to the defense and intelligence committees of

Congress a final report. The report shall include the

following:

\(A\) A description of the pilot program including any

partnerships entered into under the pilot program.

\(B\) A summary of the assessment performed prior to the

commencement of the pilot program in accordance with

subsection \(a\)\(2\).

\(C\) A summary of the evaluation metrics established in

accordance with subsection \(d\).

\(D\) An assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot

program, and capability elements described in subsection \(b\).

\(E\) A description of the costs associated with

implementation and conduct of the pilot program.

\(F\) A recommendation as to authorizing a permanent program

modeled on the pilot program.

\(G\) An estimate of the costs on making the pilot program

permanent and expanding it nationwide in accordance with the

recommendation in subparagraph \(F\).

\(H\) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative

action as the Secretary of the Army considers appropriate in

light of the pilot program.

\(g\) State Defined.—In this section, the term “State”

means—

\(1\) the several States;

\(2\) the District of Columbia;

\(3\) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

\(4\) American Samoa;

\(5\) Guam;

\(6\) the United States Virgin Islands; and

\(7\) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Amendment No. 115 Offered by Mr. Crawford of Arkansas

At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO

ARMY EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL MEMBERS WHO

ARE SEPARATING.

\(a\) Pilot Program.—Not later than one year after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army and

the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly establish a

pilot program to provide members of the Army who are

separating under honorable conditions who are qualified for

explosive ordnance disposal to attend the Criminal

Investigator Training Program of the Federal Law Enforcement

Training Centers.

\(b\) Requirements.—In carrying out the pilot program

required by subsection \(a\), the Secretary of the Army shall—

\(1\) require participants in the pilot program to be

separated from the Armed Forces or on terminal leave, as

determined by the Secretary;

\(2\) shall reimburse the Director of the Federal Law

Enforcement Training Centers not more than $50,000 per

participant in the pilot program for not more than 24

participants per fiscal year; and

\(3\) shall not reimburse any other agency for any additional

training provided to participants.

\(c\) Reports.—

\(1\) Annual report.—Not later than one year after the

establishment of the pilot program required by subsection

\(a\), and annually thereafter until the termination of the

pilot program, the Secretary of the Army, in consultation

with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the

Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland

Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and

Government Affairs of the Senate a report on the pilot

program, including—

\(A\) the number of participants in the pilot program who

successfully complete the Criminal Investigator Training

Program;

\(B\) the recommendation of the Secretary as to whether the

number of participants authorized to participate in the pilot

program should be increased or decreased; and

\(C\) an assessment of the viability of expanding the pilot

program to members of other Armed Forces with expertise in

explosive ordnance disposal.

\(2\) Final report.—Not later than 90 days after the

termination of the pilot program required by subsection \(a\),

the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Secretary

of Homeland Security, shall submit to the committees

described in paragraph \(1\) a report that includes—

\(A\) the elements described in subparagraphs \(A\) through \(C\)

of paragraph \(1\); and

\(B\) the recommendation of the Secretary as to whether to

make the pilot program permanent.

\(d\) Termination.—The pilot program required by subsection

\(a\) shall terminate on the date that is five years after the

date on which such pilot program is established.

Amendment No. 116 Offered by Mr. Davidson of Ohio

At the end of subtitle G of title XII of division A, add

the following:

SEC. 12\_. STUDY AND REPORT ON ADVANCING UNITED STATES

INTERESTS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds that there are unconventional

transnational threat networks that—

\(1\) are centered on, but not exclusive to, drug trafficking

organizations; and

\(2\) the President's National Security Strategy has

identified as challenges to the core national interests of

the United States.

\(b\) Study.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a

study of the major threat networks operating in the Western

Hemisphere, with the purpose of revealing their principal

leaders, capabilities, activities, methods, infrastructure,

financial assets, and weapons, as well as how they overlap

with drug trafficking organizations. In carrying out the

study, the Secretary should prioritize such major threats

that—

\(1\) threaten the homeland;

\(2\) abet international terrorism;

\(3\) smuggle illegal drugs or supply weapons;

\(4\) are heavily reliant on entities not located in the

Western Hemisphere; or

\(5\) traffic human beings or facilitate mass migration.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 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 report containing—

\(1\) all findings and determinations made in carrying out

the study required under subsection \(b\);

\(2\) a comparison of the threats identified in such study to

the global threat priorities of the Department of Defense;

and

\(3\) an explanation of how the Department of Defense plans

to coordinate with the heads of other appropriate departments

and agencies of the United States to use the resources of the

Department, in coordination with criminal prosecutions,

diplomacy, and other tools, to dismantle the major threat

networks studied under subsection \(b\).

Amendment No. 117 Offered by Mr. Davidson of Ohio

Page 305, after line 7, insert the following new section:

SEC. 5\_\_. PROHIBITED DIETARY SUPPLEMENT INGREDIENTS AND

PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING SUBSTANCES.

\(a\) Prohibition.—Chapter 49 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended by inserting after section 978 the following

new section:

“Sec. 978a. Prohibited dietary supplement ingredients and

performance-enhancing substances

“\(a\) Prohibited Ingredient and Substance Lists.—The

Secretary shall publish and, not less frequently than once

every 90 days, shall update a list of—

“\(1\) dietary supplement ingredients prohibited for use by

members of the armed forces; and

“\(2\) performance-enhancing substances prohibited for use

by members of the armed forces.

“\(b\) Required Formats.—The Secretary shall publish the

list under subsection \(a\)—

“\(1\) on an internet website where such list may be viewed

in full without use of a search function;

“\(2\) in a searchable database; and

“\(3\) in a digital file that may be downloaded from such

internet website in a common format.

“\(c\) Commanding Officer May Elect Not to Discipline.—The

commanding officer of a member of the armed forces who

possesses or uses a dietary supplement containing an

ingredient \(other than a substance included in the schedule

under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act \(21 U.S.C.

812\)\) appearing on the list under subsection \(a\)\(1\)—

“\(1\) may elect not to subject such member to discipline

if—

“\(A\) such possession or use is the first disciplinary

offense committed by such member;

“\(B\) such commanding officer determines that such member

satisfies the good faith standard under subsection \(e\); and

“\(C\) such member agrees to participate in education,

counseling, or drug testing in lieu of discipline; and

“\(2\) may elect not to subject such member to

administrative separation.

“\(d\) Possession of Prohibited Ingredient Not Drug Abuse.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, possession of a

dietary supplement containing an ingredient \(other than a

substance included in the schedule under section 202 of the

Controlled Substances Act \(21 U.S.C. 812\)\) appearing on the

list under subsection \(a\)\(1\) shall not constitute drug abuse

for purposes of this title.

“\(e\) Good Faith Standard.—A member of the armed forces

satisfies the good faith standard under this subsection if

such member—

“\(1\) possesses or uses a dietary supplement containing an

ingredient \(other than a substance included in the schedule

under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act \(21 U.S.C.

812\)\) appearing on the list under subsection \(a\)\(1\) without

actual knowledge that such dietary supplement contains such

ingredient;

“\(2\) purchases such supplement from a retail facility

affiliated with the Department of Defense;

“\(3\) reasonably relies, prior to purchasing or using such

supplement, on a search of the list under subsection \(a\)\(1\)

that fails to identify such ingredient as prohibited under

subsection \(a\)\(1\), including due to a misspelling or

variation in the name of such ingredient on such list; or

“\(4\) otherwise demonstrates a reasonable belief that such

supplement does not contain such ingredient.”.

\(b\) Secretary to Update Department of Defense

Instruction.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense, acting

through the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness,

shall revise Department of Defense Instruction 6130.06

pursuant to section 978a of title 10, United States Code, as

added by subsection \(a\).

\(c\) Secretary to Update Operation Supplement Safety

Internet Website.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall—

\(1\) update the Operation Supplement Safety internet website

to enhance functionality for—

\(A\) vendors of dietary supplements; and

\(B\) members of the Armed Forces; and

\(2\) review possible improvements to such internet website,

including with respect to—

\(A\) search tools that employ—

\(i\) autofill functionality; and

\(ii\) autocorrect functionality;

\(B\) artificial intelligence tools that can—

\(i\) scan product labels; and

\(ii\) search such internet website for information on the

ingredients found on such labels; and

\(C\) capacity to allow a user to register to receive a

notification when a dietary supplement ingredient is added to

the list under section 978a\(a\)\(1\) of title 10, United States

Code, as added by subsection \(a\).

\(d\) Secretary to Review Dietary Supplement Safety Education

Opportunities.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary shall review

opportunities for incorporating into existing training

programs for members of the Armed Forces education

concerning—

\(1\) dietary supplement safety; and

\(2\) the list under section 978a\(a\) of title 10, United

States Code, as added by subsection \(a\).

\(e\) Reports.—

\(1\) Initial implementation report.—Not later than 120 days

after the date of the enactment of this section, the

Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report describing efforts made to ensure that

retail facilities affiliated with the Department of Defense

do not sell any products containing an ingredient appearing

on the list under section 978a\(a\) of title 10, United States

Code, as added by subsection \(a\).

\(2\) Final implementation report.—Not later than two years

after the date of the enactment of this section, the

Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report describing steps taken to implement

section 978a of title 10, United States Code, as added by

subsection \(a\).

\(3\) Annual reports.—Not later than one year after the date

of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for

a period of five years, the Secretary shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report—

\(A\) listing, for the one-year period ending on the date on

which such report is submitted—

\(i\) the total number of administrative separation actions

initiated for possession or use of a dietary supplement

containing an ingredient appearing on the list under section

978a\(a\)\(1\) of title 10, United States Code, as added by

subsection \(a\), disaggregated by—

\(I\) armed force;

\(II\) pay grade;

\(III\) characterization of discharge sought;

\(IV\) whether the member subject to the administrative

separation action contested such action; and

\(V\) outcome; and

\(ii\) the number of commanding officers who elected not to

subject a member of the Armed Forces to discipline under

section 978a\(c\) of such title; and

\(B\) assessing the effectiveness of efforts to provide

education relating to dietary supplement safety to members of

the Armed Forces.

Amendment No. 118 Offered by Mr. Davis of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. BRIEFING ON LOW COST, PLATFORM AGNOSTIC AUTONOMY

MODULES FOR SUAS.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) there is a growing operational need for rapidly

deployable, low cost, and attritable small unmanned aerial

systems \(in this section referred to as “sUAS”\) capable of

executing autonomous strike and reconnaissance missions.

\(2\) commercial sector advances now allow advanced

artificial intelligence-enabled autonomy to run on

inexpensive, widely fielded hardware, such as ruggedized Net

Warrior Android based devices, mounted onto off the shelf

drones;

\(3\) these capabilities can convert low cost platforms into

autonomous delivery or one way attack systems without

requiring complex or costly payload integration;

\(4\) it is encouraging that emerging platform agnostic

autonomy kits that leverage onboard sensors and processors

from commercially available devices to enable navigation,

target recognition, and terminal engagement for sUAS

operating in contested environments; and

\(5\) these capabilities offer the Department a rapid,

scalable means of fielding attritable systems at a fraction

of traditional cost.

\(b\) Briefing.—Not later than December 1, 2026, the

Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional

defense committees a briefing on opportunities to accelerate

development and acquisition of low cost, platform agnostic

autonomy modules for sUAS. The briefing shall include each of

the following:

\(1\) A survey of commercially derived autonomy solutions

that can be integrated onto inexpensive, non proprietary

hardware.

\(2\) An assessment of Department of Defense integration

pathways for enabling autonomous weapons delivery or ISR

missions on off the shelf drones.

\(3\) Recommendations for rapid fielding, demonstrations, or

procurement approaches that would allow the Services to

acquire and deploy such capabilities at scale.

Amendment No. 119 Offered by Mr. Davis of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. ARMY REPORT ON RESILIENT TACTICAL POWER AND

BATTERY SAFETY.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) Army units operating at the tactical edge increasingly

rely on resilient power generation, storage, distribution,

and charging to support communications systems, sensor

networks, unmanned systems, directed-energy counter-UAS

capabilities, command-and-control nodes, tactical vehicles,

and other mission equipment.

\(2\) Current fielded power solutions may not be optimized as

integrated systems, limiting interoperability and increasing

fuel, maintenance, and logistics burdens.

\(3\) Batteries are a critical part of this architecture,

because lithium battery performance and safety depend heavily

on subcomponents, including separator materials.

\(4\) Separator failure or degradation under high-rate

cycling, cold-start pulse demand, elevated temperatures,

extended storage, or mechanical and electrical abuse can

contribute to internal short circuits, thermal events, and

fault propagation in confined, manned, vehicle-integrated, or

unmanned applications.

\(5\) Separator technologies and other subcomponents should

be assessed by the Army alongside power generation, charging,

distribution, and sustainment needs.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit

to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate a report on the efforts of the

Army to demonstrate, assess, and transition resilient

tactical power architectures and safe lithium battery

technologies for mission systems. The report shall include

each of the following:

\(1\) A description of priority operational use cases for

integrated tactical power and battery-dependent mission

systems, including how hybrid tactical microgrids, control

nodes, batteries, power electronics, charging, distribution,

and energy storage would support unmanned systems, sensors,

command-and-control nodes, directed-energy counter-unmanned

aircraft systems, tactical vehicles, and other systems at the

tactical edge.

\(2\) A roadmap for laboratory, field, and operational

demonstrations, including—

\(A\) integration with Army generators, tactical vehicles,

batteries, power electronics, and representative combat

formations;

\(B\) use of modular open systems architectures;

\(C\) cyber and electromagnetic resilience requirements; and

\(D\) metrics for fuel efficiency, logistics burden,

reliability, survivability, and lifecycle costs.

\(3\) An assessment of lithium battery designs, separator

technologies, and related subcomponents that could improve

high-rate cycling, cold-start performance, persistent low-

draw operation, elevated-temperature endurance, long-duration

storage, intrinsic fault containment, and propagation

resistance, including relevant cooperative agreements, test

standards, and representative Army mission profiles.

\(4\) A description of performance, safety, and sustainment

testing for fielded batteries, including overcharge, crush,

puncture, internal short-circuit, thermal exposure, thermal

runaway, charging in extreme or austere environments, and

procedures to keep batteries for unmanned systems and other

mission equipment functional and charged in storage and

regular use.

\(5\) A transition and sourcing plan for successful

prototypes, validated battery designs, separator materials,

and related subcomponents, including current and planned

programs of record, existing platforms, candidate units and

echelons for initial fielding, opportunities to leverage

commercially proven domestic or allied battery and power

electronics technologies, barriers to transition, and steps

to secure domestic or allied production of separators,

electrodes, electrolytes, cells, packs, and associated

manufacturing capabilities.

Amendment No. 120 Offered by Mr. Dunn of Florida

At the end of subtitle E of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. MODIFICATION TO MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR

DOMESTICALLY PROCESSED CRITICAL MINERALS.

Section 152 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31; 50 U.S.C. 98e-2\) is

amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsection \(e\) as subsection \(f\); and

\(2\) by inserting after subsection \(d\) the following new

subsection:

“\(e\) Consideration of Recycled and Reused Materials.—In

exercising the authority under this section, the Secretary of

Defense shall give special consideration the procurement of

critical minerals derived from recycled and reused minerals

and metals, to the maximum extent practicable.”.

Amendment No. 121 Offered by Mr. Dunn of Florida

Add at the end of subtitle B of title XVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. REPORT ON DEPENDENCY ON CHINA FOR PROCESSING

MATERIALS FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPLY

CHAINS.

\(a\) Methodology.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop

and implement a methodology to identify and assess

dependencies of the Department of Defense on the People's

Republic of China for the processing, refining, separation,

alloying, magnet manufacturing, or other midstream production

stages of materials critical to the defense industrial base.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report identifying

priority defense supply chains with significant midstream

processing exposure to China and recommendations for

mitigation of such exposure.

Amendment No. 122 Offered by Mr. Dunn of Florida

Add at the end of subtitle C of title VII, the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN RISK IDENTIFICATION AND

TRANSPARENCY ENHANCEMENT.

The Secretary of Defense shall—

\(1\) conduct a Department-wide risk assessment of the

medical supply chain of the Department;

\(2\) develop a classified, prioritized list of high-risk

critical medical products for which the United States is

dependent on the People's Republic of China for precursor

elements; and

\(3\) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the

assessment and mitigation strategies, including

recommendations for procurement, sourcing, and domestic

manufacturing actions relating to such medical products to

reduce reliance on adversarial supply chains for such

products.

Amendment No. 123 Offered by Mr. Dunn of Florida

Add at the end of subtitle F of title XVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. CRITICAL MINERALS RECOVERY FROM UNCONVENTIONAL

FEEDSTOCKS.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination

with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of the

Interior, shall support demonstration and early commercial

deployment of technologies capable of recovering covered

materials relevant to the defense industrial base from

unconventional feedstocks, including tailings from mining

operations, low-grade ores, industrial waste streams, and

recycled materials.

\(b\) Eligible Technologies.—Technologies described in

subsection \(a\) may include hydrometallurgical, solvent

extraction, electrochemical, pyrometallurgical, separation

and purification, biological, bioleaching, and other advanced

recovery, processing, and refining technologies capable of

recovering, upgrading, refining, or converting covered

materials.

\(c\) Form of Support.—The Secretary of Defense may provide

support under this section through—

\(1\) the authorities of title III of the Defense Production

Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4531 et seq.\);

\(2\) grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions;

\(3\) pilot projects, demonstration projects, and prototype

projects;

\(4\) procurement contracts, purchase commitments, and

offtake agreements;

\(5\) activities carried out under the Strategic

Environmental Research and Development Program, the

Environmental Security Technology Certification Program,

Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment activities, and

other Department of Defense programs; and

\(6\) any other authority available to the Secretary.

\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Covered material.—The term “covered material” means

any mineral, element, substance, or material on the list of

critical minerals published under section 7002\(c\) of the

Energy Act of 2020 \(30 U.S.C. 1606\(c\)\), any critical material

determined by the Secretary of Energy under section

7002\(a\)\(2\) of that Act, or any strategic and critical

material under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock

Piling Act \(50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.\), including ores, oxides,

intermediates, byproducts, and refined forms thereof.

\(2\) Unconventional feedstock.—The term “unconventional

feedstock” means any domestic source of covered materials

other than newly mined, on-specification primary ore

concentrate processed by conventional means, including:

\(A\) tailings, waste rock, and residues from current or

legacy mining operations;

\(B\) low-grade, off-grade, or off-specification ores and

concentrates;

\(C\) slags, drosses, anode slimes, leach residues, process

liquors, and other byproducts, intermediate streams, or

wastes from mineral processing, smelting, refining, or

manufacturing operations;

\(D\) industrial waste streams, including energy, chemical,

metallurgical, and defense-related industrial processes; and

\(E\) recycled, scrap, end-of-life, and urban-mined

materials.

Amendment No. 124 Offered by Ms. Elfreth of Maryland

At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. STUDY ON WEEKEND DRILL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.

\(a\) Study Required.—The Secretary of each military

department that carries out a child care program for members

of reserve components during inactive duty training on

weekends shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of such

program and any challenges in executing such program.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military

department described in subsection \(a\) shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report containing the

results of the study required under subsection \(a\).

Amendment No. 125 Offered by Ms. Elfreth of Maryland

Page 1378, line 8, strike “Report” and insert

“Briefing”.

Page 1378, line 10, strike “through 2030, the Secretary

shall submit” and insert “through 2035, the Secretary shall

provide”.

Page 1378, line 11, strike “report” and insert

“briefing”.

Amendment No. 126 Offered by Ms. Escobar of Texas

Add at the end of subtitle G of title XXVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

AGREEMENTS FOR UNSPECIFIED MINOR MILITARY

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 120 days after the

date of the enactment of this section, each covered Assistant

Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report assessing the potential use of

intergovernmental support agreements \(as defined in section

2679 title 10, United States Code\) to carry out unspecified

minor military construction projects under section 2805 of

title 10, United States Code.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of the feasibility of applying revised

maximum dollar thresholds for unspecified minor military

construction projects carried out under intergovernmental

support agreements as follows:

\(A\) $15,000,000 for laboratory revitalization projects

\(B\) $12,000,000 for projects carried out using amounts from

the Operation and Maintenance account.

\(2\) A list of not more than 10 projects included in a

facilities investment plan or facility support program of a

military department that could be carried out under

intergovernmental support agreements.

\(c\) Covered Assistant Secretary Defined.—In this section,

the term “covered Assistant Secretary” means—

\(1\) the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,

Energy, and Environment;

\(2\) the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy,

Installations, and Environment; and

\(3\) the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for

Installations, Environment, and Energy.

Amendment No. 127 Offered by Ms. Escobar of Texas

At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. REPORT ON STRENGTHENING THE MILITARY CHILD CARE

WORKFORCE.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 120 days after the date of

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the congressional defense committees a report

assessing workforce, readiness, and policy challenges

associated with military child care and military child

development centers.

\(b\) Contents.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) An analysis of the current workforce of military child

development centers, including—

\(A\) the percentage of employees who are military spouses;

and

\(B\) the percentage of employees who are spouses of retired

or separated members of the Armed Forces.

\(2\) A feasibility assessment of increasing the

transferability of licenses or certifications for military

spouses employed at military child development centers when

accompanying a service member on a permanent change of

station.

\(3\) An assessment of vacancy rates across military child

development centers and the reasons for such vacancies.

\(4\) An assessment of the number of additional children who

could be served by military child development centers if such

centers were fully staffed.

\(5\) A feasibility assessment of permitting military spouses

residing in on-post housing to provide childcare within their

homes under a supervisory program coordinated by a military

child development center.

\(6\) Recommendations for incentives to attract and retain

military spouses in the military child care workforce,

including—

\(A\) professional development opportunities;

\(B\) stipend or subsidy programs; and

\(C\) flexible scheduling options.

Amendment No. 128 Offered by Ms. Escobar of Texas

At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. UPDATE OF GUIDANCE AND EVALUATION OF JUNIOR RESERVE

OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS INSTRUCTOR PAY SCALE.

\(a\) Update of Guidance.—Not later than 270 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense,

in coordination with the Secretaries concerned \(as that term

is defined in section 101\(a\)\(9\) of title 10, United States

Code\), shall update Department of Defense guidance governing

the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps \(JROTC\) program

to include—

\(1\) an evaluation plan to assess the effects of the JROTC

Standardized Instructor Pay Scale \(JSIPS\), or any successor

pay system, on recruitment and retention of JROTC

instructors; and

\(2\) standardized metrics for measuring JROTC instructor

recruiting outcomes and retention rates across the military

services.

\(b\) Required Metrics.—The evaluation plan required under

subsection \(a\) shall include, at a minimum, metrics relating

to—

\(1\) instructor vacancy rates and time-to-hire;

\(2\) retention rates and length of service;

\(3\) geographic variation in recruiting and retention

outcomes, including high-cost-of-living areas, rural, urban,

and geographically isolated locations;

\(4\) comparisons between outcomes under the legacy pay

system and the JSIPS;

\(5\) the identification of recruiting efforts used to

attract instructor applicants, including data on how

applicants learned about available instructor positions;

\(6\) the number of applicants who begin, complete, or

withdraw from the instructor hiring process, including the

interview and background investigation stages;

\(7\) the number of applicants who accept or decline

instructor position offers, including to the extent

practicable, information on the reasons offers were declined;

and

\(8\) any other matters the Secretary determines appropriate.

\(c\) Report to Congress.—Not later than one year after the

issuance of the updated guidance under subsection \(a\), and

annually thereafter for two years, the Secretary of Defense

shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate

and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives a report that includes—

\(1\) a description of the updated guidance and

implementation status;

\(2\) baseline data and metrics collected using the metrics

developed under subsection \(a\);

\(3\) an assessment of the effects of the pay scale on

recruitment and retention; and

\(4\) any recommendations for legislative or administrative

action.

Amendment No. 129 Offered by Mr. Evans of Colorado

At the end of subtitle A of title VI add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. MODIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTATION DETERMINATION FOR

SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAY AUTHORITIES FOR

MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS.

Section 602\(d\) of the National Defense Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 2022 \(Public Law 117-81; 37 U.S.C. 357 note\)

is amended—

\(1\) by striking “Implementation Date” and all that

follows through “The Secretary shall not” and inserting

“Implementation Date.—The Secretary shall not”;

\(2\) by striking paragraph \(2\); and

\(3\) by redesignating subparagraphs \(A\) and \(B\) as

paragraphs \(1\) and \(2\), respectively, and conforming the

margins accordingly.

Amendment No. 130 Offered by Mr. Ezell of Mississippi

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR ULTRA-LIGHT GROUP 1 SMALL UNMANNED

AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for intelligence

systems development \(PE 1160405BB\), line 303, is hereby

increased by $10,000,000 \(with the amount of such increase to

be made available for ultra-light Group 1 small unmanned

aircraft systems for the United States Special Operations

Command\).

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Office of

the Secretary of Defense, OUSD\(C\) IT development initiatives

\(PE 0605027D8Z\), line 153, is hereby reduced by $10,000,000.

Amendment No. 131 Offered by Mr. Figures of Alabama

At the end of subtitle G of title XXVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO WARGAMING CENTER

AT MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Air

Force should authorize and prioritize the design and

development of a state-of-the-art Combined All-Domain

Wargaming Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery,

Alabama to enhance the strategic training, education, and

simulation capabilities of the Department of Defense.

Amendment No. 132 Offered by Mr. Fine of Florida

At the end of subtitle D of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. DISCLOSURE OF FOREIGN GIFTS MADE TO MILITARY

COLLEGES.

Chapter 101 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following new section:

“Sec. 2018. Military colleges: disclosures of foreign gifts

“\(a\) Disclosure Report Required.—\(1\) Whenever any

military college receives a gift from a foreign source or

enters into a covered contract, the value of which is $50,000

or more, considered alone or in combination with all other

gifts from or contracts with that foreign source in a

calendar year, the military college shall submit a report to

the Secretary of Defense.

“\(2\)\(A\) Each report to the Secretary required by this

subsection shall include the following:

“\(i\) With respect to gifts received from, or contracts

entered into with, a foreign source other than a foreign

government, the aggregate dollar amount of such gifts and

contracts attributable to a particular country.

“\(ii\) With respect to gifts received from, or contracts

entered into with, a foreign government, the aggregate amount

of such gifts and contracts received from such foreign

government.

“\(B\) For purposes of subparagraph \(A\), the country to

which a gift is attributable is—

“\(i\) with respect to a foreign source who is a natural

person, the country of citizenship of the foreign source or,

if the country of citizenship is unknown, the country in

which the principal residence of the foreign source is

located; and

“\(ii\) with respect to a foreign source that is a legal

entity, the country of incorporation of the foreign source

or, if the country of incorporation is unknown, the country

in which the principal place of business of the foreign

source is located.

“\(3\) Each report required under paragraph \(1\) shall be

submitted to the Secretary not later than the earlier of the

January 31 or July 31 immediately following the receipt of

the gift or the entering into of the covered contract that

causes a report to be required to be submitted under

paragraph \(1\).

“\(b\) Additional Disclosures for Restricted and Conditional

Gifts.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which a

military college receives a restricted or conditional gift or

contract from a foreign source, the military college shall

submit a report to the Secretary containing the following:

“\(1\) For a restricted or conditional gift or contract

involving a foreign source other than a foreign government—

“\(A\) the amount of the gift or contract, the date on which

the gift was received or the contract was entered into, and a

description of the conditions or restrictions on the gift or

contract;

“\(B\) with respect to a foreign source that is a natural

person, the country of citizenship of the foreign source or,

if the country of citizenship is unknown, the country in

which the principal residence of the foreign source is

located; and

“\(C\) with respect to a foreign source that is a legal

entity, the country of incorporation of the foreign source

or, if the country of incorporation is unknown, the country

in which the principal place of business of the foreign

source is located.

“\(2\) For a restricted or conditional gift or contract

involving a foreign source that is a foreign government—

“\(A\) the amount of the gift or contract, the date on which

the gift was received or the contract was entered into, a

description of the conditions or restrictions on the gift or

contract; and

“\(B\) the name of the foreign government.

“\(c\) Public Availability.—The Secretary shall make

publicly available on an Internet website of the Department

of Defense each report required to be submitted under this

section.

“\(d\) Enforcement.—\(1\) Whenever it appears that a military

college has failed to comply with the requirements of this

section, including any rule or regulation promulgated under

this section, a civil action may be brought by the Attorney

General, at the request of the Secretary, in an appropriate

district court of the United States, or the appropriate

United States court of any territory or other place subject

to the jurisdiction of the United States, to request such

court to compel compliance with the requirements of this

section.

“\(2\) For knowing or willful failure to comply with the

requirements of this section, including any rule or

regulation promulgated thereunder, a military college shall

pay to the Treasury of the United States the full costs to

the United States of obtaining compliance, including all

associated costs of investigation and enforcement.

“\(e\) Annual Report.—Not later than March 1 of each year,

the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a

report on foreign gifts to military colleges during the

preceding year. Each report shall include, for the year

covered by the report, an identification of each foreign gift

for which disclosure was required under subsection \(a\) or

subsection \(b\) and for each such gift—

“\(1\) the foreign government or foreign source that

provided the gift;

“\(2\) the military college that received the gift;

“\(3\) the dollar value of the gift; and

“\(4\) the purpose of the gift.

“\(f\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) The term \`covered contract' means any agreement for

the acquisition by purchase, lease, or barter of property or

services by a foreign source for the direct benefit or use of

any of the parties to the agreement.

“\(2\) The term \`foreign source' means—

“\(A\) a foreign government, including an agency of a

foreign government;

“\(B\) a legal entity, governmental or otherwise, created

solely under the laws of a foreign state or multiple foreign

states;

“\(C\) an individual who is not a citizen or a national of

the United States; and

“\(D\) an agent, including a subsidiary or affiliate of a

foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of an individual or

entity described in subparagraph \(A\), \(B\), or \(C\).

“\(3\) The term \`gift'—

“\(A\) means any gift of money, property, travel, or lodging

expenses; and

“\(B\) with respect to a military college, includes gifts

given to faculty, staff, and trustees of the military

college.

“\(4\) The term \`military college' means—

“\(A\) a senior military college described in section

2111a\(f\) of this title; or

“\(B\) a military junior college as defined for purposes of

section 2107a of this title.

“\(5\) The term \`restricted or conditional gift or contract'

means an endowment, gift, grant, contract, award, or property

of any kind that includes provisions regarding—

“\(A\) the employment, assignment, or termination of

faculty;

“\(B\) the establishment of a department, center, research

or lecture program, or new faculty position;

“\(C\) the selection or admission of a student; or

“\(D\) the award of a grant, loan, scholarship, fellowship,

or other form of financial aid restricted to students of a

specified country, religion, sex, ethnic origin, or political

opinion.”.

Amendment No. 133 Offered by Mrs. Fischbach of Minnesota

In title XVIII, subtitle A, add at the end the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPLY CHAIN

VULNERABILITIES RELATED TO DISPLAYS USED IN

DEFENSE SYSTEMS.

\(a\) Assessment Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense

shall conduct an assessment of supply chain vulnerabilities

related to displays used in weapon systems and platforms of

the Department of Defense and shall submit that assessment to

the congressional defense committees.

\(b\) Elements.—The assessment shall include—

\(1\) identification of weapon systems and platforms

dependent on displays sourced from the People's Republic of

China or Taiwan;

\(2\) assessment of risks of supply disruption and potential

impacts of such disruption on operations;

\(3\) evaluation of the capabilities of the United States and

allied nations for manufacturing advanced display

technologies;

\(4\) analysis of emerging display technologies, including

MicroLED displays; and

\(5\) recommendations for reducing any dependence of the

Department on foreign sources for displays in critical weapon

systems and platforms.

\(c\) Form.—The assessment shall be submitted in

unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Amendment No. 134 Offered by Mr. Fitzgerald of Wisconsin

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON OPTIMAL PROTECTION

STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING TRAUMATIC BRAIN

INJURY IN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

seek to enter into an agreement with a multi-university

research center focused on physics-based neutralization of

threats to human tissues and organs to conduct research on

understanding and preventing traumatic brain injuries in

members of the Armed Forces.

\(b\) Elements.—The research conducted under subsection \(a\)

shall seek to achieve the following:

\(1\) Determine critical cell-based injury thresholds in the

brain due to blunt, blast, or directed energy exposures.

\(2\) Identify critical molecular injury pathways for

developing a holistic understanding of brain injury and its

neurodegenerative sequelae.

\(3\) Define force and energy transmission from outside the

head to the brain.

\(4\) Define factors that influence subject-specific relative

risk of injury.

\(5\) Develop exposure monitors to predict onset of brain

injury.

\(6\) Develop countermeasure systems to optimally protect

members of the Armed Forces from brain injury stemming from

multimodal threats and operations in complex environments.

Amendment No. 135 Offered by Mr. Fong of California

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the

following new section:

SEC. 17\_\_. STUDY RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERSONIC

AIRSPACE CORRIDOR.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a

study relating to establishing a supersonic airspace corridor

between the airspace of the R-2508 Complex and the broad

ocean area.

\(b\) Considerations.—In conducting the study under

subsection \(a\), the Secretary shall consider the following:

\(1\) The feasible geographical parameters of the corridor.

\(2\) The effect of military and commercial aircraft systems

in the corridor, including both manned and unmanned systems,

reaching speeds up to Mach 4.9.

\(3\) The requirements to carry out launch and operations at

all elevations, including bidirectional operations.

\(4\) The requirements needed to—

\(A\) activate the corridor with not more than 10 days of

notice; and

\(B\) keep the corridor active for up to 4 hours at a time.

\(c\) Consultation.—In conducting the study under subsection

\(a\), the Secretary shall consult with—

\(1\) authorities at the military installations in the R-2508

Complex, any relevant tenants, and the local space port to

determine the demand for and requirements needed to the

establish the corridor; and

\(2\) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation

Administration and any other Federal, State, or local

authority the Secretary determines appropriate.

\(d\) Submission to Congress.—Not later than March 1, 2027,

the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees the results of the study conducted under

subsection \(a\).

Amendment No. 136 Offered by Mr. Fong of California

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. BRIEFING ON TEST MISSION ACCIDENT AT EDWARDS AIR

FORCE BASE.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) the United States is indebted to the service and

dedication of Col. Gregory Watson, Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella,

Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, Maj. Alexander Davis, Maj.

Robert Dee, Maj. Brad Hovey, Jeromy Smith, and Christopher

Rischar, who lost their lives in the B-52 Stratofortress

crash on June 15, 2026; and

\(2\) the people of the United States should honor their

memories and remember the sacrifice they and their families

have made.

\(b\) Briefing.—Following the completion of the

investigation into the B-52 Stratofortress crash on June 15,

2026, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the

Secretary of the Air Force, shall provide to the

congressional defense committees a briefing on the crash.

Amendment No. 137 Offered by Mr. Fong of California

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, insert the

following:

SEC. 7\_\_. BRIEFING ON MEDICAL AND SAFETY RESOURCES AT EDWARDS

AIR FORCE BASE.

Not later than February 1, 2027, the Secretary of Defense,

in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, shall

provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on

the status and availability of medical and safety resources

at Edwards Air

Force Base for members of the Armed Forces, civilian

employees of the Department of Defense, and contractor

personnel. The briefing shall include the following:

\(1\) The status of sufficient medical and safety resources.

\(2\) Whether sufficient emergency response assets exist to

support lifesaving treatment.

\(3\) Any actions that need to be taken to improve the health

and safety of such members, employees, and contractors.

Amendment No. 138 Offered by Mr. Foster of Illinois

At the end of subtitle B of title XXXI, add the following

new section:

SEC. 31\_\_. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION AS TECHNICAL NUCLEAR FORENSICS

LEAD.

\(a\) In General.—Section 3211\(b\) of the National Nuclear

Security Administration Act \(50 U.S.C. 2401\(b\)\) is amended by

adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(7\) To lead the technical nuclear forensics efforts of

the United States.”.

\(b\) Rule of Construction.—The amendment made by this

section may not be construed to alter the functions vested in

any department or agency of the Federal Government by statute

other than the National Nuclear Security Administration

pursuant to such amendment.

Amendment No. 139 Offered by Mr. Fry of South Carolina

In title XVIII, subtitle A, add at the end the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. REPORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF

RESTRICTIONS ON THE CROSS-BORDER MOVEMENT OF

RARE EARTH ELEMENTS CONTAINING SCRAP EQUIPMENT

AND COMPONENTS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than a one year after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of

Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall provide to the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on

the national security implications of imposing restrictions

on the cross-border movement, export, or transfer of rare-

earth-element-containing scrap equipment, devices,

components, assemblies, and related materials generated in

the United States. The Under Secretary may prepare the report

in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary

of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of

Homeland Security, other appropriate agencies, and may

consult with domestic recyclers and processors,

manufacturers, State and tribal governments, and other

stakeholders.

\(b\) Contents.—The report shall include—

\(1\) an overview of the defense systems and supply chains

that rely on rare earth permanent magnets and the estimated

volume of rare-earth-element-containing scrap originating

from the defense industrial base;

\(2\) the estimated quantity of rare-earth-element that could

feasibly be recovered annually from domestically generated

scrap;

\(3\) the extent to which rare-earth-element-containing scrap

generated domestically is exported to foreign countries for

recycling and processing;

\(4\) the extent to which scrap exports support rare-earth-

element refining or magnet production in foreign countries of

concern, such as the People's Republic of China;

\(5\) an assessment of current and projected capacity of

domestic facilities to collect, process, and refine rare-

earth-element-containing scrap materials;

\(6\) an evaluation of the potential impacts of imposing

export restrictions on rare-earth-element-containing scrap on

the defense industrial base, domestic recycling and

processing capacity, and supply chain resilience for defense

systems;

\(7\) identification of gaps in federal data collection

regarding the export of rare-earth-element-containing scrap

and recommendations to address said gaps; and

\(8\) recommendations for legislative or administrative

actions to strengthen domestic recovery and processing of

rare earths from scrap materials, including potential

mechanisms for restricting export of rare-earth-element-

containing scrap to support defense supply chain resilience.

Amendment No. 140 Offered by Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas

Add at the end of subtitle G of title XXVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. REPORT ON POWERTRAIN FACILITY AND FACILITY

MODERNIZATION AT CORPUS CHRISTI ARMY DEPOT,

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 60 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and

the House of Representatives a report on the status of

Powertrain Engines Assembly Facility completion and facility

modernization at Corpus Christi Army Depot, Corpus Christi,

Texas.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An accounting of the $60,000,000 provided for the

Corpus Christi Army Depot in section 4601 of the National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 \(Public Law

119-60; 139 Stat. 1535\) for the project titled “COST TO

COMPLETE—POWERTRAIN FACILITY \(ENGINE ASSEMBLY”.

\(2\) An accounting of the $174,000,000 provided under

section 20010 of Public Law 119-21 \(139 Stat. 124\) for

facility modernization and workload at Corpus Christi Army

Depot.

amendment no. 141 offered by mr. gooden of texas

In title XV, amend section 1541 to read as follows:

SEC. 1541. ROADMAP FOR MODERNIZATION OF TOP SECRET AND

SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM NETWORK ARCHITECTURES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

develop and submit to the congressional defense committees,

and begin implementation of, a roadmap for the modernization

of Department of Defense networks that process, store, or

transmit information that is classified at the level of top

secret or is designated as being within a special access

program.

\(b\) Elements.—The roadmap required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following elements:

\(1\) An assessment of the current architecture, capacity,

security posture, and technical limitations of such networks,

including identification of major capability gaps,

cybersecurity risks, infrastructure limitations, and

technical debt.

\(2\) Target or reference architectures for modernized

environments for such networks, including enterprise-level

and component-level networks, as appropriate, with a

preference for modern cloud-based platforms.

\(3\) Milestones and timelines for transition from current

environments to the target or reference architectures.

\(4\) Plans to improve resilience, survivability, and

operations of such networks in contested, degraded, or

disconnected environments.

\(5\) Plans to improve interoperability and data sharing

across such networks and relevant mission partner

environments, as appropriate, with priority on real time

cross domain, multi-level data sharing both up and down

classifications.

\(6\) An assessment of high-performance computing and

distributed computing requirements, whether locally or in

cloud environments, necessary to support real-time sensor

data fusion, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence

capabilities.

\(7\) An assessment of the extent to which such networks

support the operational requirements of combatant commands,

including the ability to enable integration with joint and

mission partner environments.

\(8\) Identification of governance, roles, and

responsibilities for modernization of such networks across

the Department.

\(9\) Estimated resource requirements necessary to implement

the roadmap.

\(10\) Identify and establish baseline domain-specific

requirements and capabilities across elements of the

Department, platform-as-a-service providers, and cloud

service providers.

\(c\) Annual Report.—Not later than one year after the date

of the enactment of this section, and annually there after

for each of the next five years, the Secretary shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report on progress

in implementing the roadmap required under subsection \(a\).

\(d\) Report Elements.—Each report submitted under

subsection \(c\) shall include the following:

\(1\) Progress made toward roadmap milestones and

modernization goals.

\(2\) Updates to the roadmap, as appropriate.

\(3\) Major risks, delays, or challenges affecting

implementation.

\(4\) Budgetary resources requested and obligated for

modernization of such networks.

\(5\) Any recommendations that the Secretary considers

appropriate for legislative or funding actions to implement

the roadmap.

\(e\) Form of Roadmap and Reports.—The roadmap required by

subsection \(a\) and the reports required by subsection \(c\)

shall be submitted in classified form, but may include an

unclassified summary.

amendment no. 142 offered by mr. gosar of arizona

At the end of subtitle B of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING A WARSHIP THE

USS PHOENIX.

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy

should name one of the new warships the “USS Phoenix” as a

memorial to the 1,177 members of the Armed Forces serving on

the USS Arizona who were lost on December 7, 1941, in the

attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

amendment no. 143 offered by mr. gosar of arizona

At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, insert the

following new section:

SEC. 8\_\_. REPORT ON SUPPLY OF RARE EARTH MATERIALS AND

ELEMENTS.

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the

Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to Congress a report

on the supply of rare earth materials and elements extracted,

processed, and refined from secure sources of supply to

develop and produce advanced technologies of the Department

of Defense.

amendment no. 144 offered by mr. gosar of arizona

At the end of subtitle F of title XVIII, insert the

following:

SEC. 18\_\_. REPORT ON USE OF COPPER BY ARMED FORCES.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this section, the Secretary

of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the

Interior, shall submit to Congress a report that includes—

\(1\) an assessment of the annual copper requirements of the

Armed Forces;

\(2\) an evaluation of the extent of the reliance of the

Armed Forces on foreign sources of copper; and

\(3\) an identification of the effect that increased domestic

mining and refining of copper may have on military readiness

of the Armed Forces.

amendment no. 145 offered by mr. gosar of arizona

At the end of subtitle F of title XVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. PREFERENCE FOR DOMESTICALLY SOURCED URANIUM AND

OTHER CRITICAL MINERALS BY DEPARTMENT OF

DEFENSE AND NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION.

\(a\) Preference.—In carrying out programs of the Department

of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration

authorized under this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the

Administrator for Nuclear Security shall, to the maximum

extent practicable, give preference to the sourcing of

uranium and other critical minerals that are mined and

processed in the United States.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Administrator

shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees

a report containing an assessment of—

\(1\) the domestic supply of uranium and other critical

minerals for purposes of this section; and

\(2\) the dependence of the Department of Defense and the

National Nuclear Security Administration on foreign countries

of concern for such materials.

\(c\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “critical mineral” means any mineral on the

list of critical minerals of the United States Geological

Survey titled “Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals” \(90

Fed. Reg. 50494\), dated November 7, 2025, as in effect on the

date of the enactment of this Act.

\(2\) The term “foreign country of concern” means a foreign

country designated as such by the Secretary of Defense or the

Administrator for Nuclear Security for purposes of this

section.

amendment no. 146 offered by mr. gosar of arizona

Amend section 2831 to read as follows:

SEC. 2831. WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION OF LANDS LOCATED ON THE

YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZONA, TO SUPPORT

MILITARY READINESS AND SECURITY.

The Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 \(title XXIX of

Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 1025\) is amended by adding at

the end the following new subtitle:

“Subtitle H—Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

“SEC. 2999B. WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION OF PUBLIC LAND.

“\(a\) Withdrawal.—Subject to valid existing rights and

except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the public

land \(including interests in the land\) described in

subsection \(b\), and all other areas within the boundary of

the land depicted on the map described in that subsection

that may become subject to the operation of the public land

laws, is withdrawn from—

“\(1\) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under

the public land laws;

“\(2\) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws;

and

“\(3\) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and

geothermal leasing.

“\(b\) Description of Land.—The public land \(including

interests in the land\) referred to in subsection \(a\) consists

of—

“\(1\) the approximately 21,782.981 acres of Federal land—

“\(A\) generally depicted as \`Highway 95 - Requested

Withdrawal Area' on of the map titled \`U.S. Army Yuma Proving

Ground Withdrawal Highway 95 Withdrawal Area', sheet 2 of 3,

dated March 12, 2025; and

“\(B\) excluding the approximately 800 acres of subsurface

estate owned by the State of Arizona within the area

generally depicted as \`Surface Only Withdrawal/Subsurface

Owned by Non-Federal Entity' on the map described in

subparagraph \(A\); and

“\(2\) the approximately 249.29 acres of Federal land

generally depicted as \`Howard Cantonment - Requested

Withdrawal Area' on the map titled \`U.S. Army Yuma Proving

Ground Withdrawal Howard Cantonment Withdrawal Area', sheet 3

of 3, dated March 12, 2025.

“\(c\) Reservation; Purpose.—The land described in

subsection \(b\) is reserved for use by the Secretary of the

Army for the purposes specified in Public Land Order No. 848

of July 1, 1952, and as authorized under section 2914.

“SEC. 2999C. MANAGEMENT OF WITHDRAWN AND RESERVED LAND.

“\(a\) Applicable Laws.—Except for defense-related purposes

managed by the Secretary of the Army in accordance with

section 2999B\(c\), the Secretary of the Interior shall manage

the land withdrawn and reserved by section 2999B in

accordance with—

“\(1\) subtitle A and this subtitle;

“\(2\) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976

\(43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.\); and

“\(3\) any other applicable law.

“\(b\) Authorized Activities.—To the extent consistent with

applicable law and Executive orders, the land withdrawn and

reserved by section 2999B may be managed in a manner that

permits the following activities:

“\(1\) Conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat.

“\(2\) Preservation of cultural properties.

“\(3\) Management of wild horses and burros.

“\(4\) Control of predatory and other animals.

“\(5\) Recreation, public access, and hunting.

“\(6\) Prevention and appropriate suppression of brush and

range fires resulting from non-military activities.

“\(c\) Nondefense Uses.—Subject to subsection \(d\), all

nondefense-related uses of the land withdrawn and reserved by

section 2999B, shall be subject to any conditions and

restrictions that the Secretary of the Interior and the

Secretary of the Army jointly determine to be necessary to

permit the defense-related use of the land for the purposes

described in this section.

“\(d\) Issuance of Leases and Other Land Use

Authorizations.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of the Interior shall be

responsible for the issuance of any lease, easement, right-

of-way, permit, license, or other instrument authorized by

law with respect to any activity that traverses both—

“\(A\) the public land withdrawn and reserved by section

2999B; and

“\(B\) any other land in the vicinity of the land withdrawn

and reserved by section 2999B that is not under the

administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army.

“\(2\) Consent required.—Except as specified in section

2999E, any lease, easement, right-of-way, permit, license, or

other instrument issued under paragraph \(1\) shall—

“\(A\) only be issued with the consent of the Secretary of

the Army; and

“\(B\) be subject to such conditions as the Secretary of the

Army may require with respect to the land withdrawn and

reserved by section 2999B.

“SEC. 2999D. ASSIGNMENT OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY TO

SECRETARY OF THE ARMY.

“\(a\) Authority To Assign Management Responsibility.—The

Secretary of the Interior may assign the management

responsibilities for the land withdrawn and reserved by

section 2999B to the Secretary of the Army.

“\(b\) Applicable Law.—On assignment of the management

responsibility under subsection \(a\), the Secretary of the

Army shall manage the land in accordance with—

“\(1\) subtitle A and this subtitle;

“\(2\) title I of the Sikes Act \(16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.\);

“\(3\) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976

\(43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.\);

“\(4\) cooperative management arrangements entered into by

the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Army;

and

“\(5\) any other applicable law.

“SEC. 2999E. UTILITY CORRIDOR.

“\(a\) Issuance of Utility Rights-of-Way.—Notwithstanding

subsections \(c\) and \(d\) of section 2999C, the Secretary of

the Interior may issue rights-of-way within the Bureau of

Land Management designated Parker-Blaisdell Utility Corridor

under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 \(43

U.S.C. 1701 et seq.\) for any critical regional-grid level

utility infrastructure to include above-ground transmission

lines, consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding

between the United States Department of the Interior Bureau

of Land Management Yuma Field Office and United States Army

Garrison Yuma Regarding the Yuma Proving Ground Highway 95

Withdrawal, dated February 28, 2025.

“\(b\) Limitation on Delegation.—The authority to issue a

right-of-way under subsection \(a\) may not be delegated below

the level of the Bureau of Land Management State Director.

“\(c\) Army Consent Not Required.—The decision to issue a

right-of-way under subsection \(a\) is not subject to consent

by the Secretary of the Army; however, the Secretary of the

Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army,

shall incorporate conditions in any right-of-way issued under

subsection \(a\) as much as practicable to minimize impacts to

the mission of the Army.

“\(d\) Limitation.—The authority to issue rights-of-way

under subsection \(a\) may not be assigned to the Secretary of

the Army.

“SEC. 2999F. DURATION OF WITHDRAWAL AND RESERVATION.

“The withdrawal and reservation of public land made by

section 2999B shall be in effect for—

“\(1\) an indefinite period; or

“\(2\) until the Secretary of the Army determines that there

is no longer a military need for the withdrawal and

reservation.”.

amendment no. 147 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

At the end of subtitle F of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 12\_. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES

ON THE BORDER BETWEEN GAZA AND EGYPT.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination

with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a study on steps

that Israel, Egypt, and the United States can take to enhance

international security measures on the border between Gaza

and Egypt to ensure Hamas and other actors do not use tunnels

or methods via the Mediterranean Sea to smuggle weapons and

illicit goods.

\(b\) Report.—

\(1\) In general.—The Secretary shall submit to the

appropriate congressional committees a report that contains

the results of the study.

\(2\) Matters to be included.—The report required by this

subsection shall include a description and map indicating

existing tunnels on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

\(3\) Definition.—In this subsection, the term “appropriate

congressional committees” means—

\(A\) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on

Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

\(B\) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on

Foreign Relations of the Senate.

amendment no. 148 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

At the end of subtitle J of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF ANTISEMITISM IN THE SERVICE

ACADEMIES.

\(a\) Inclusion.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

ensure that the Defense Organizational Climate Survey

\(hereinafter, “DEOCS”\) includes specific questions to

assess the prevalence, nature, and impact of antisemitism in

the Service Academies \(as such term is defined in section 347

of title 10, United States Code\). The questions included

shall be designed to gather detailed information on the

following:

\(1\) Instances of antisemitic behavior, language, and

symbols.

\(2\) Perceptions of antisemitism among members, cadets, and

midshipmen.

\(3\) The impact of antisemitism on unit cohesion, morale,

and readiness.

\(4\) The effectiveness of current policies and training

programs in addressing antisemitism.

\(b\) Reporting Requirements.—

\(1\) Annual report.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit a

report to the congressional defense committees not later than

180 days after the enactment of this Act, and annually

thereafter, detailing the following:

\(A\) The findings from the antisemitism assessment.

\(B\) Steps taken to address identified issues related to

antisemitism.

\(C\) Recommendations for additional actions to mitigate

antisemitism in the Armed Forces.

\(2\) Inclusion in existing report.—The results of the

antisemitism assessment shall be included in the annual

report on the results of the DEOCS.

amendment no. 149 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for basic

research, National Defense Education Program, line 6, is

hereby increased by $5,000,000 \(with the amount of such

increase to be used to strengthen and expand STEM education

opportunities and workforce initiatives targeted at military

students\).

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 4301 for Operation and Maintenance,

Defense-wide, for Washington Headquarters Services, line 510,

as specified in the corresponding funding table in section

4301, is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

amendment no. 150 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SKILLBRIDGE.

\(a\) Funding.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 4301 for administration and service-

wide activities for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,

line 480, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

section 4301, is hereby increased by $5,000,000 for the

Skillbridge program.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 4301 for administration and service-

wide activities for Washington Headquarters Services, line

510, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

section 4301, is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

amendment no. 151 offered by mr. graves of missouri

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. IMPROVEMENTS TO PILOT PROGRAM ON WASTEWATER

SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT.

Section 733 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2026 \(Public Law 119-60; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note\) is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\), by inserting “or covered drugs”

after “infectious diseases”;

\(2\) in subsection \(c\), by striking “two-year” and

inserting “five-year”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“\(d\) Covered Drugs Defined.—In this section, the term

\`covered drugs' means any drug the Secretary determines

appropriate to identify under the pilot program, such as

synthetic opioids or harmful stimulants included in

counterfeit pills.”.

Amendment No. 152 Offered by Mr. Graves of Missouri

At the end of title XXXV, insert the following:

Subtitle D—Coast Guard

SEC. 35\_\_. VICE ADMIRALS.

Section 305\(a\)\(1\)\(A\) of title 14, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) by striking “five” and inserting “6” in each place

it appears; and

\(2\) in clause \(ii\) by striking “one position shall oversee

personnel management, workforce, and dependent support,

training, and related matters; and” and inserting the

following: “two of such positions shall include—

“\(I\) one that oversees personnel management, workforce and

dependent support, training, and related matters; and

“\(II\) one that oversees design, planning, engineering,

construction, rebuilding, and improvement of and program

management for cutters, small boats, aircraft and shoreside

infrastructure; and”.

SEC. 35\_\_. CHIEF PREVENTION OFFICER.

Section 312 of title 14 is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsections \(a\), \(b\), \(c\), \(d\), \(e\),

\(f\) and \(g\) as subsections \(f\), \(g\), \(h\), \(i\), \(j\), \(k\), and

\(l\), respectively; and

\(2\) by inserting the following:

“\(a\) In General.—There shall be in the Coast Guard a

Chief Prevention Officer selected by the Commandant who shall

serve in the grade of a Rear Admiral \(Upper Half\) or higher.

At a minimum, the Chief Prevention Officer shall serve at the

Assistant Commandant level.

“\(b\) Responsibilities.—The Chief Prevention Officer shall

be responsible for carrying out the duties set forth in

section 504\(c\).

“\(c\) Authorities.—In addition to the duties described in

subsection \(b\), the Chief Prevention Officer shall—

“\(1\) be the sole office for the Coast Guard to promulgate

regulations and agency policy regarding all Coast Guard

duties in marine safety, security, and stewardship, subject

only to the Commandant's directives;

“\(2\) make recommendations to the Commandant for the

adoption of new methodologies or technologies that should be

leveraged for marine safety, security, and stewardship; and

“\(3\) coordinate with Coast Guard research and development

and have the authority to enter into memorandums of agreement

or similar with public or private entities for the purpose of

testing and assessing new technology.

“\(d\) Staff.—Under the direction of the Chief Prevention

Officer, a civilian from the Senior Executive Service \(career

reserved\) shall serve as the Deputy Chief Prevention Officer.

“\(e\) Limitations.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of the department in which

the Coast Guard is operating is prohibited from removing or

redesignating the Chief Prevention Officer position, to

include the Deputy Chief Preservation Officer, unless

otherwise permitted by an express Act of Congress.

“\(2\) Final agency action.—The Chief Prevention Officer,

or his or her designee, has the sole authority to make agency

decisions regarding marine safety, security, and stewardship

in accordance with his or her duties. These decisions shall

be considered final agency action, and may only be appealed

up to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. CYBER COORDINATION AND SUPPORT IN FOREIGN

TERRITORIES.

Chapter 7 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 723. Cyber coordination in foreign territories

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary, acting through the

Commandant, may coordinate with and provide support to a

foreign entity for cyber operations prevention and response

including cyber assessments, audits, inspections, and

operations related to a marine transportation system and

assets located outside the United States that have a nexus to

the United States Marine Transportation System, or illegal,

unreported, and unregulated fishing.

“\(b\) Coordination.—The Secretary may provide support

under subsection \(a\) after coordination with the Secretary of

State.

“\(c\) Reimbursement Authority.—The Secretary may require

reimbursement from a foreign entity for costs incurred by the

Coast Guard for assistance provided under subsection \(a\).

“\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Foreign entity.—The term \`foreign entity' includes

foreign governments and intergovernmental organizations the

Secretary considers appropriate with consent from the

Secretary of State.

“\(2\) Marine transportation system.—The term \`marine

transportation system' means a navigable water transportation

system, including the vessels, ports \(and intermodal

connections thereto\), and shipyards and other vessel repair

facilities that are components of that system.

“\(3\) United states marine transportation system.—The term

\`United States Marine Transportation System' has the meaning

given the term \`marine transportation system' in section 3516

of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year

2010 \(49 U.S.C. 109 note\).”.

SEC. 35\_\_. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO TRANSACTIONS OTHER THAN

CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND GRANTS.

Section 1158 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in the section heading, by striking “contracts and

grants” and inserting “contracts, cooperative agreements,

and grants”;

\(2\) by amending subsection \(a\) to read as follows:

“\(a\) In General.—Subject to subsections \(b\) and \(c\), the

Commandant may enter into transactions \(other than contracts,

cooperative agreements, and grants\) to operate, test, and

acquire cost-effective technology for the purpose of meeting

the mission needs of the Coast Guard, including—

“\(1\) transactions for prototype projects; and

“\(2\) follow-on production contracts or transactions

awarded under subsection \(f\) for the purpose of transitioning

technology that has been successfully operated, tested, and

evaluated using transactions \(other than contracts,

cooperative agreements, and grants\) involving the Coast

Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, a consortium of

United States industry and academic institutions, or the

Department of Defense \(including any military department or

component of the Department of Defense\).”;

\(3\) by redesignating subsection \(f\) as subsection \(g\); and

\(4\) by inserting after subsection \(e\) the following:

“\(f\) Follow-on Production Contracts and Transactions.—

“\(1\) In general.—A transaction entered into under

subsection \(a\) may provide for the award of a follow-on

production contract or transaction to the participants in the

transaction.

“\(2\) Competitive procedures.—Notwithstanding the

requirements of chapter 221 of title 10 and even if explicit

notification was not listed within the request for proposal

for the transaction, a follow-on production contract or

transaction provided for in a transaction under subsection

\(a\) may be awarded to the participants in the transaction

without the use of competitive procedures if—

“\(A\) competitive procedures were used for the selection of

parties for participation in the transaction; and

“\(B\) the participants in the transaction successfully

completed the prototype project provided for in the

transaction.

“\(3\) Determination.—A follow-on production contract or

transaction may be awarded, pursuant to this subsection, when

the Commandant determines that an individual prototype or

prototype subproject as part of a consortium is successfully

completed by the participants.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. COAST GUARD ACADEMY ADJUNCT PROFESSORS.

Chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 1949. Adjunct professors

“\(a\) In General.—

“\(1\) Determination.—If the Commandant determines that

there is a need for adjunct professors and the need is not of

permanent duration, the Commandant may enter into contracts

under paragraph \(2\).

“\(2\) Contracts.—Subject to a determination under

paragraph \(1\), the Commandant may enter into personal service

contracts with individuals to provide services as adjunct

professors at the Academy.

“\(b\) Limitation.—At no time shall the number of

individuals with whom the Commandant has entered into

personal service contracts under subsection \(a\), exceed 5

percent of the entirety of the instructional staff, part-time

and full-time, at the Academy.

“\(c\) Contract Requirements.—Each contract entered into

pursuant to subsection \(a\)—

“\(1\) shall be approved by the Commandant;

“\(2\) shall be for delivery of not more than 12 credits per

semester, for not more than 3 years; and

“\(3\) shall be subject to the availability of

appropriations.

“\(d\) Extensions and Renewals.—Each individual covered by

a contract under subsection \(a\)\(2\) shall be limited to 2

contracts.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS WITH PARTICULAR EXPERTISE

IN HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL FIELDS.

Section 2132 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in the section heading, by striking “military justice

or healthcare” and inserting “military justice, healthcare,

or other highly skilled professional fields”;

\(2\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “or” at the end;

\(B\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking the period and inserting

“; or”; and

\(C\) by adding at the end, the following new paragraph:

“\(3\) other highly skilled professional fields.”;

\(3\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “section 2126” and

inserting “regulations prescribed by the Secretary”; and

\(4\) by adding at the end, the following new subsection:

“\(c\) Definition of Other Highly Skilled Professional

Fields.—For purposes of this section, the term \`other highly

skilled professional fields' means professional occupational

specialties that require advanced technical expertise, or

highly specialized training as determined appropriate by the

Secretary, or a professional certification.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. THE EFFECT OF FAILURE OF SELECTION FOR PROMOTION.

\(a\) Regular Lieutenants; Separation for Failure of

Selection for Promotion; Continuation.—Section 2143 of title

14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsections \(b\) and \(c\) as subsection

\(c\) and \(d\) respectively;

\(2\) in subsection \(d\), as so redesignated, by striking

“subsection \(b\)” and inserting “subsection \(c\)”; and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(a\) the following:

“\(b\) Completion of Active Duty Service Obligation.—

“\(1\) In general.—If an officer is subject to discharge

under paragraphs \(1\) or \(2\) of subsection \(a\) and, as of the

date on which the officer is to be discharged under such

subsection, the officer has not completed the officer's

active duty service obligation, the officer shall be retained

on active duty until completion of such active duty service

obligation, and then be discharged under subsection \(a\)\(1\),

unless sooner retired or discharged under another provision

of law.

“\(2\) Waiver.—The Secretary may waive the applicability of

paragraph \(1\) to any officer if the Secretary determines that

completion of the active duty service obligation of that

officer is not in the best interest of the service.”.

\(b\) Regular Lieutenant Commanders and Commanders;

Retirement for Failure of Selection for Promotion.—Section

2145 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsections \(b\) and \(c\) as subsections

\(c\) and \(d\), respectively;

\(2\) in subsection \(d\)\(2\), as so redesignated, by striking

“subsection \(b\)” and inserting “subsection \(c\)”; and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(a\) the following:

“\(b\) Completion of Active Duty Service Obligation.—

“\(1\) In general.—If an officer is subject to discharge

under paragraph \(1\) or \(2\) of subsection \(a\) and, as of the

date on which the officer is to be discharged under such

subsection, the officer has not completed the officer's

active duty service obligation, the officer shall be retained

on active duty until completion of such active duty service

obligation, and then be discharged under paragraph \(1\) or \(2\)

of subsection \(a\), unless sooner retired or discharged under

another provision of law.

“\(2\) Waiver.—The Secretary may waive the applicability of

paragraph \(1\) to any officer if the Secretary determines that

completion of the active duty service obligation of that

officer is not in the best interest of the service.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. SERVICE CREDIT FOR NATIONAL OCEANIC AND

ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH

SERVICE.

Section 2152 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking “Any regular” and inserting—

“\(a\) In General.—Any regular”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(b\) Service Credit.—For purposes of subsection \(a\),

active commissioned service in the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service shall

be credited as active commissioned service in the armed

forces for purposes of determining the retirement eligibility

and computing the retired pay of a member of the armed

forces.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. REMOTE APPEARANCE BEFORE A BOARD OF INQUIRY.

Section 2162 of title 14, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(3\) by striking “allowed” and inserting

“subject to subsection \(b\), allowed”;

\(2\) in the matter preceding paragraph \(1\) by striking

“Each Officer” and inserting the following:

“\(a\) In General.—Each Officer”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following new subsection \(b\):

“\(b\) Remote Appearance.—The Secretary may determine that,

in exceptional circumstances, the appearance of an officer

before the proceedings of a board of inquiry under section

2159 of this title may be via a means other than in

person.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. CAPTAIN OF THE PORT AUTHORITIES OVER UNMANNED

MARITIME SYSTEMS.

Subchapter I of chapter 700 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 70008. Captain of the port authorities over unmanned

maritime systems

“\(a\) In General.—For the purposes of sections 70002,

70022, 70051, and 70116, and any regulations or orders issued

thereunder, an unmanned maritime system shall be treated as a

vessel.

“\(b\) Enforcement.—Any violations involving an unmanned

maritime system shall be subject to enforcement and penalties

under sections 70036, 70052, 70019, and 70120, as

appropriate.

“\(c\) Special Authority Beyond Territorial Sea.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard is

authorized to order an unmanned maritime system, consistent

with customary international law, to operate or anchor in a

manner the Commandant directs if the Commandant considers

such order necessary—

“\(A\) for the promotion of safety of life and property on

the artificial islands, installations, or other devices

referred to in section 4\(a\) of the Outer Continental Shelf

Lands Act \(43 U.S.C. 1333\(a\)\), and the waters adjacent

thereto;

“\(B\) protection of the marine environment; or

“\(C\) protection of sovereign rights with respect to marine

scientific research in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the

outer Continental Shelf.

“\(2\) Violation.—A violation of an order issued under this

subsection shall be treated as a violation under this chapter

and section 70036 shall apply.

“\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Unmanned maritime system.—The term \`unmanned

maritime system' means a self-propelled watercraft that

navigates on the surface or subsurface of the water and is

designed to operate without human operators onboard or a

tether to a vessel.

“\(2\) Marine environment.—The term \`marine environment'

has the meaning given the term in section 70031 of title 46,

United States Code.

“\(3\) Exclusive economic zone.—The term \`Exclusive

Economic Zone' has the meaning given the term \`Exclusive

Economic Zone of the United States' in Presidential

Proclamation 5030.

“\(4\) Outer continental shelf.—The term \`outer Continental

Shelf' has the meaning given the term in section 2\(a\) of the

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act \(43 U.S.C. 1331\(a\)\).”.

SEC. 35\_\_. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS.

Section 4901 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\) by striking “passengers” and

inserting “passengers for hire”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)\(3\) by striking “\(43 U.S.C.

1331\(a\)\).” and inserting “\(43 U.S.C. 1331\(a\)\)\).”; and

\(3\) by redesignating the second subsection \(g\) as

subsection \(i\).

SEC. 35\_\_. RECEPTION FACILITIES.

Section 6\(a\)\(3\) of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships

\(33 U.S.C. 1905\(a\)\(3\)\) is amended to read as follows:

“\(3\) The Secretary, after consultation with the

Administrator and appropriate Federal agencies, shall

prescribe regulations setting criteria for determining the

adequacy of reception facilities for receiving ozone

depleting substances, equipment containing such substances,

and exhaust gas cleaning residues at a port or terminal, and

stating any additional measures and requirements as are

appropriate to ensure such adequacy. Persons in charge of

ports and terminals shall provide reception facilities, or

ensure that reception facilities are available, in accordance

with those regulations. The Secretary, after consultation

with the Administrator, may prescribe regulations to certify,

and may issue certificates to the effect, that a port's or

terminal's facilities for receiving ozone depleting

substances, equipment containing such substances, and exhaust

gas cleaning residues from ships are adequate.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. SUPPORT.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 19 of title 14, United States

Code, is amended by inserting after subchapter III the

following:

“SUBCHAPTER IV—SUPPORT”.

\(b\) Support for Coast Guard Academy.—Section 953 of title

14, United States Code, is—

\(1\) redesignated as section 1951 of such title;

\(2\) transferred to appear after subchapter IV of such

title; and

\(3\) amended by striking—

\(A\) subsection \(h\); and

\(B\) “the athletic programs of” each place it appears,

except in subsection \(d\)\(3\).

\(c\) Mixed-funded Programs.—Section 954 of title 14, United

States Code, is—

\(1\) redesignated as section 1952 of such title;

\(2\) transferred to appear after section 1951 of such title

\(as redesignated by this Act\); and

\(3\) amended by—

\(A\) striking the section heading and inserting “mixed-

funded programs of the coast guard academy”;

\(B\) in subsection \(a\) by striking “athletic or

recreational extracurricular”; and

\(C\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(i\) by striking “athletic or recreational

extracurricular” each place it appears; and

\(ii\) by striking “an” and inserting “a”.

\(d\) Authorization for Use of Coast Guard Academy Facilities

and Equipment by Qualified Organizations.—Section 1908 of

title 14, United States Code, is—

\(1\) redesignated as section 1953 of such title;

\(2\) transferred to appear after section 1952 of such title

\(as redesignated by this Act\); and

\(3\) amended—

\(A\) by striking the section title and inserting

“authorization for use of coast guard academy facilities and

equipment by qualified organizations”; and

\(B\) by striking subsection \(f\); and

\(C\) by striking “covered foundation” and inserting

“qualified organization” each place it appears.

\(e\) Participation in Federal, State, or Other Educational

Research Grants.—Section 1906 of title 14, United States

Code—

\(1\) is redesignated as section 1954 of such title;

\(2\) transferred to appear after section 1953 of such title

\(as redesignated by this Act\); and

\(3\) amended by striking paragraph \(5\).

\(f\) Qualified Organization.—Subchapter IV of chapter 19 of

title 14, United States Code, as added by this Act, is

further amended by inserting after section 1954 the

following:

“Sec. 1955. Qualified organization

“\(a\) Qualified Organization Defined.—In this subchapter,

the term \`qualified organization' means an organization—

“\(1\) that is a charitable, scientific, or educational

organization that operates under section 501\(c\)\(3\) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under

subsection \(a\) of such section;

“\(2\) for which authorization under sections 1033\(a\) and

1589\(a\) of title 10 may be provided; and

“\(3\) that the Secretary determines operates exclusively to

support—

“\(A\) recruiting activities with respect to the Coast Guard

Academy;

“\(B\) parent or alumni development in support of the Coast

Guard Academy;

“\(C\) academic, leadership, or character development of

Coast Guard Academy cadets;

“\(D\) institutional development of the Coast Guard Academy;

“\(E\) athletics in support of the Coast Guard Academy; or

“\(F\) academic research, including applying for and

administering Federal, State, or other educational research

grants on behalf of the Coast Guard Academy.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON INTEGRATION OF

AUTONOMOUS AND REMOTELY OPERATED VESSELS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 12 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard

shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the

Senate a report on the safe integration of autonomous and

remotely operated vessels into the marine transportation

system of the United States.

\(b\) Consultation.—In preparing the report under subsection

\(a\), the Commandant shall consult with—

\(1\) the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory

Committee established under section 15103 of title 46, United

States Code;

\(2\) the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory

Committee established under section 15104 of title 46, United

States Code; and

\(3\) vessel operators, builders, classification societies,

licensed maritime labor organizations, unlicensed maritime

labor organizations, and longshore labor organizations.

\(c\) Contents.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include—

\(1\) an assessment of the provisions of title 46, United

States Code, and the laws codified in title 33, United States

Code, and the regulations issued thereunder, that condition

the operation, manning, or navigation of a vessel on the

performance of a function by an individual onboard and that

may impact the safe operation of autonomous or remotely

operated vessels, including—

\(A\) the manning and complement requirements under sections

8101 and 8301 of title 46, United States Code;

\(B\) the look-out requirement under the International

Navigational Rules Act of 1977 \(33 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.\) and

the Inland Navigational Rules under title 33, Code of Federal

Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this

Act;

\(C\) the vessel design, construction, inspection, operation,

and management requirements under chapters 32 and 33 of title

46, United States Code; and

\(D\) the vessel and facility security requirements under

chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code;

\(2\) for each provision identified under paragraph \(1\), a

determination of whether the provision may be addressed by

the Secretary under existing authority, including through

equivalency or alternative compliance determinations, or

requires additional statutory authority;

\(3\) recommendations for any statutory or regulatory

amendments the Commandant determines necessary or advisable

to permit the safe operation of autonomous or remotely

operated vessels on a basis providing a level of safety and

security equivalent to or greater than that provided by a

conventionally crewed vessel, including proposed legislative

changes for any recommended statutory amendment;

\(4\) an analysis of the evolving role of merchant mariners

in operating and supporting such vessels, both onboard and

from remote locations, including effects on mariner training,

credentialing, and the maritime workforce; and

\(5\) a description of how the recommendations relate to the

safety and equivalency framework of the International

Maritime Organization International Code of Safety for

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, to support

interoperability for vessels of the United States operating

on international voyages.

\(d\) Interim Briefing.—Not later than 6 months after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief the

Committees described in subsection \(a\) on the progress of the

report.

\(e\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section

authorizes the operation of any vessel or modifies any

requirement of title 46, United States Code, or the laws

codified in title 33, United States Code.

SEC. 35\_\_. REMOTELY CREWED OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL PILOT

PROGRAM.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 120 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard

shall establish a pilot program to allow operation of

remotely crewed offshore supply vessels described in

subsection \(b\) in the Gulf of America.

\(b\) Eligible Vessels.—Eligible vessels that may

participate in the pilot program shall be limited to

coastwise qualified vessels documented and endorsed under

section

12112 of title 46, United States Code, which are remotely

operated offshore supply vessels that have been built or

repaired in United States shipyards within 5 years of the

date of enactment of this Act, do not exceed 6,000 deadweight

tons, and are not longer than 350 feet in overall length.

\(c\) Waiver of Certain Requirements.—The Commandant shall

modify or waive applicable vessel design and construction

regulations regarding crew accommodations and related

requirements, as necessary, to allow the vessels operating in

the pilot program described in subsection \(a\) to operate in

the Gulf of America while ensuring navigation safety and the

reliable, safe and secure operation of such vessels.

\(d\) Geographic Limitations.—The vessels operating under

the pilot program established under subsection \(a\) shall only

be allowed to operate remotely within the Gulf of America

beyond 12 nautical miles from shore.

\(e\) Operating Requirements.—All operating functions of

vessels operating under the pilot program established under

subsection \(a\), including navigation, engineering, and vessel

monitoring, shall be performed by credentialed United States

citizens under standards established by the Coast Guard. The

crew complement for each vessel shall be identical in size

and certification to the currently required crew complement

for vessels of this type, size and power.

\(f\) Report Required.—During the course of the pilot

program established under subsection \(a\), the Commandant

shall provide semiannual reports on the pilot program to the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House

of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,

and Transportation of the Senate, which shall include—

\(1\) a description on the number of vessels participating in

the pilot program;

\(2\) the number of voyages conducted by such vessels; and

\(3\) any information deemed relevant by the Commandant on

the operation of such vessels in the pilot program.

\(g\) Length of Pilot Program.—The pilot program described

in subsection \(a\) is authorized for a period of 5 years

commencing on the date on which the Coast Guard establishes

such pilot program.

SEC. 35\_\_. CHANGE OF HOMEPORTS OR AIR STATIONS.

Section 910 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to

read as follows:

“Sec. 910. Change of homeports or air stations

“\(a\) In General.—Except as provided in subsection \(b\),

the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating when not operating as a service in the Navy may not

permanently—

“\(1\) close any Coast Guard station or unit; or

“\(2\) change the homeport of any cutters or the air station

to which any aircraft is assigned.

“\(b\) Notification to Congress.—

“\(1\) In general.—Not later than 6 months before taking

any permanent action under subsection \(a\)\(1\), or 90 days

before taking any permanent action under subsection \(a\)\(2\),

the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating when not operating as a service in the Navy shall

notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, in writing, of

such a closure or change.

“\(2\) Contents.—The Secretary shall include in any

notification under paragraph \(1\) an evaluation of the impacts

of such a closure or change on—

“\(A\) spending from the Coast Guard;

“\(B\) the Operations and Support Account;

“\(C\) the Procurement, Construction, and Improvement

Account;

“\(D\) the Environmental Restoration Account;

“\(E\) Coast Guard operations; and

“\(F\) the ability of the infrastructure of receiving

communities, if any, to support forces, missions, and

personnel as a result of such closure or change.

“\(c\) Limitation.—This section shall not apply to the

closure of a Coast Guard station or unit or a realignment

with respect to a Coast Guard station or unit, if the

President certifies to the Congress in writing that such

closure or change is implemented for reasons of national

security.

“\(d\) Public Comment.—Before taking any closure or change

action under this section, temporary or otherwise, the

Commandant shall provide an opportunity for public comment

and for public meetings in the area of the Coast Guard

station or unit with regard to the decision to close such

station or subunit.

“\(e\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Coast guard station or unit.—The term \`Coast Guard

station or unit' means a base, station, yard, center,

homeport facility for any ship or cutter, or other facility

under the jurisdiction of the of Coast Guard, including any

leased facility, which is located within any of the several

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of

the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam.

“\(2\) Closure; change.—The terms \`closure' or \`change'

includes any action which both reduces and relocates

functions and civilian personnel positions, but does not

include a reduction in force resulting from workload

adjustments, reduced personnel or funding levels, or skill

imbalances for a period of more than 30 days in a calendar

year.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AND

CONSTRUCTION DESIGN; DESIGN-BUILD SELECTION

PROCEDURES.

Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 1112. Architectural and engineering services and

construction design

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary may obtain architectural

and engineering services and may carry out construction

design in connection with the construction of facilities

authorized under section 4902\(2\)\(A\).

“\(b\) Notification.—

“\(1\) In general.—In the case of architectural and

engineering services and construction design to be undertaken

under subsection \(a\) for which the estimated cost exceeds

$5,000,000, the Secretary shall notify the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation of the Senate of the scope of the proposed

project and the estimated cost of such services before the

initial obligation of funds for such services.

“\(2\) Timing of obligation.—The Secretary may obligate

funds for services described in paragraph \(1\) only after the

end of the 14-day period beginning on the date on which the

notification is provided to the Committees under paragraph

\(1\).

“Sec. 1113. Design-build selection procedures

“Unless the traditional acquisition approach of design-

bid-build established under chapter 11 of title 40 is used,

or another acquisition procedure authorized by law is used,

when entering into a contract for the design and construction

of facilities authorized under section 4902\(2\)\(A\), the

Secretary shall use the two-phase selection procedures

authorized in subsections \(a\) through \(e\) of section 3241 of

title 10, if such project is determined appropriate for the

use of such a two-phase project when the criteria use

included in section 3241\(b\) are applied to the project.”.

Amendment No. 153 Offered by Mr. Harrigan of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO JOINT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSITION

ACTIVITIES.

\(a\) In General.—Section 238 of the John S. McCain National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 \(Public Law

115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4061 note prec.\) is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by amending paragraph \(1\) to read as follows:

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of Defense shall maintain

within the Department of Defense a set of activities, led by

the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer

\(referred to in this section as the \`CDAO'\), to coordinate

the efforts of the Department to develop, mature, and

transition artificial intelligence technologies into

operational use, and to prepare the Department for the

national security implications of artificial general

intelligence and other forms of highly advanced artificial

intelligence.”; and

\(B\) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(3\) Artificial general intelligence preparedness.—The

set of activities established under paragraph \(1\) shall

include a dedicated initiative \(referred to in this section

as the \`AGI Preparedness Initiative'\) to—

“\(A\) study and prepare for the national security

implications of artificial general intelligence;

“\(B\) analyze strategic competition with the People's

Republic of China and other adversaries with respect to

artificial general intelligence and highly advanced

artificial intelligence; and

“\(C\) develop countermeasures against adversary artificial

intelligence-enabled military capabilities.”;

\(2\) in subsection \(d\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(2\)—

\(i\) in subparagraph \(J\), by striking “and” at the end;

\(ii\) in subparagraph \(K\), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

\(iii\) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

“\(L\) review relevant industry, scientific, and classified

documents describing artificial general intelligence and

other forms of highly advanced artificial intelligence,

including the preparedness frameworks, scaling policies, and

risk management frameworks of advanced artificial

intelligence developers;

“\(M\) develop and maintain an internal set of definitions

for the Department that characterizes tiers of artificial

general intelligence to inform intelligence collection

requirements, program and procurement requirements, and

national strategy around advanced artificial intelligence

competition, with emphasis on describing the capabilities of

artificial intelligence systems with the most significant

impacts for national security and strategic competition,

including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear

capabilities, advanced cyber capabilities, model autonomy,

strategic deception, advanced research and development

capabilities in military domains, and advanced research and

development capabilities for producing increasingly powerful

artificial intelligence;

“\(N\) develop and conduct unclassified and classified

scenario exercises, wargames, tabletop exercises, and other

similar efforts to understand how artificial general

intelligence and advanced artificial intelligence

capabilities could present acute national security risks or

crises, pose risks to existing Department operational plans,

or create strategic opportunities for the United States;

“\(O\) develop preparedness plans detailing governmental

response strategies to scenarios described in subparagraph

\(N\), including detailed information describing how the

Department would coordinate with relevant United States

entities, including advanced artificial intelligence

developers, compute cluster providers, and relevant

government officials, in the event of an acute national

security risk or crisis;

“\(P\) identify potential gaps in the Department's

authorities, relationships, personnel, or other factors that

could affect the Department's ability to address scenarios

described in subparagraph \(N\) or execute plans described in

subparagraph \(O\);

“\(Q\) develop a detailed approach to limit the

proliferation of artificial general intelligence and other

highly advanced artificial intelligence systems by defining

artificial intelligence systems with critical capabilities

that would pose a grave national security threat if acquired

or stolen by adversaries, reviewing and potentially drawing

from approaches derived from Department of Energy practices

for handling Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Data, as

well as approaches for handling other national security

information;

“\(R\) assess the value of creating a centralized, highly

secure, Department-led project to develop artificial general

intelligence or other highly advanced artificial intelligence

in a secure environment, including examination of the chain-

of-command, size and location of such project, resources and

personnel required, cyber and physical security protocols,

counterintelligence and anti-espionage measures against the

People's Republic of China and other foreign adversaries,

contingency and emergency response plans, and geopolitical

considerations; and

“\(S\) prepare strategies to protect the weights of advanced

artificial intelligence systems, core insights required to

develop or deploy advanced artificial intelligence systems,

and other sensitive technical information from highly

resourced adversaries, including nation-states.”; and

\(B\) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

“\(4\) Adversary artificial intelligence analysis.—

“\(A\) In general.—The CDAO shall establish a dedicated

analytical cell to continuously monitor, assess, and report

on the progress of the People's Republic of China and other

adversaries designated by the Secretary in developing

artificial general intelligence and advanced artificial

intelligence capabilities for military and intelligence

applications.

“\(B\) Duties.—Such analytical cell shall—

“\(i\) coordinate with the Defense Intelligence Agency, the

National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency,

and other elements of the intelligence community to ensure

timely access to classified reporting on adversary artificial

intelligence development programs;

“\(ii\) produce, not less frequently than annually,

classified assessments of adversary artificial intelligence

military capabilities, including identified applications in

autonomous weapons systems, command and control, intelligence

analysis, cyber operations, electronic warfare, and

information operations;

“\(iii\) develop and maintain a classified database of

identified People's Republic of China artificial intelligence

military programs, key personnel, institutional

relationships, supply chain dependencies, and assessed

capability timelines;

“\(iv\) assess the effectiveness of existing United States

technology control and denial measures in constraining

adversary artificial intelligence capabilities and recommend

modifications as needed, in coordination with other relevant

interagency bodies;

“\(v\) develop specific countermeasure recommendations and

identify vulnerabilities in adversary artificial intelligence

systems that could be exploited to maintain United States

military advantage; and

“\(vi\) identify strategies for improving strategic

competition relating to advanced artificial intelligence,

including strategies to ensure United States leadership in

global artificial intelligence competition and strategies to

avoid or mitigate national security threats from such

competition.

“\(C\) Personnel.—The analytical cell required by this

paragraph shall include personnel with demonstrated expertise

in People's Republic of China military modernization,

technical artificial intelligence competence, and

intelligence analysis.

“\(5\) Countermeasure development.—The CDAO shall, in

coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research

and Engineering and the Director of the Defense Advanced

Research Projects Agency, develop and maintain a classified

program of research and development focused on

countermeasures against adversary artificial intelligence-

enabled military capabilities, including autonomous weapons

systems, artificial intelligence-directed cyber operations,

artificial intelligence-enhanced intelligence collection, and

artificial intelligence-enabled command and control systems.

“\(6\) Workforce requirements.—

“\(A\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the enactment of this paragraph, the CDAO shall develop

and submit to the congressional defense committees minimum

qualification standards for personnel assigned to artificial

general intelligence preparedness functions under this

section, including requirements for technical expertise in

machine learning, neural network architectures, computational

infrastructure, and artificial intelligence safety and

alignment research.

“\(B\) Hiring authority.—The CDAO shall establish a

competitive hiring authority, consistent with section 1599f

of title 10, United States Code, to recruit and retain

individuals with demonstrated expertise in advanced

artificial intelligence research and development from private

industry, academia, and national laboratories.

“\(C\) Technical staff.—Not less than 50 percent of the

technical staff assigned to artificial general intelligence

preparedness functions under this section shall possess

graduate-level education or equivalent professional

experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning,

computer science, or a directly related field.

“\(D\) Exchange program.—The Secretary of Defense shall

establish an exchange program with leading artificial

intelligence research laboratories and companies to provide

personnel assigned to functions under this section with

rotational assignments of not less than 90 days to maintain

current technical expertise.

“\(E\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this subparagraph, and annually thereafter,

the CDAO shall submit to the congressional defense committees

a report on the status of workforce recruitment and retention

for functions under this section, including the number of

billets authorized and filled, attrition rates, average

tenure, and an assessment of the competitiveness of

Department compensation relative to the private sector for

comparable artificial intelligence positions.

“\(7\) Senior leader artificial intelligence education.—

“\(A\) In general.—The CDAO, in coordination with the

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall develop and

implement an artificial intelligence education program for

all general and flag officers, members of the Senior

Executive Service within the Department, and combatant

command staff principals.

“\(B\) Elements.—Such program shall include—

“\(i\) technical foundations of current artificial

intelligence capabilities and limitations;

“\(ii\) the current state and projected trajectory of

artificial general intelligence development;

“\(iii\) adversary artificial intelligence military

capabilities and doctrine, with emphasis on People's Republic

of China programs;

“\(iv\) artificial intelligence-enabled operational concepts

and their implications for force design and employment; and

“\(v\) artificial intelligence safety, alignment, and

control challenges relevant to military applications.

“\(8\) Operational integration.—The CDAO shall, in

coordination with the Joint Staff and the combatant commands,

develop a plan to integrate artificial general intelligence

preparedness findings into joint operational planning

processes, including updates to contingency plans, campaign

plans, and global force management allocation plans, not

later than one year after the date of the enactment of this

paragraph.

“\(9\) Interagency coordination on export controls and

technology protection.—The CDAO shall coordinate with the

Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of

Commerce, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United

States, the Department of Energy, and other relevant

interagency bodies to—

“\(A\) assess the effectiveness of technology control

measures in constraining adversary access to artificial

intelligence capabilities;

“\(B\) recommend modifications to export control lists, end-

use restrictions, and investment screening criteria as needed

to address emerging artificial intelligence-related threats;

and

“\(C\) ensure that classification guidance developed under

subsection \(d\)\(2\)\(G\) is updated to address artificial general

intelligence and advanced artificial intelligence systems.”;

\(3\) by redesignating subsections \(f\) and \(g\) as subsections

\(g\) and \(h\), respectively;

\(4\) by inserting after subsection \(e\) the following new

subsection:

“\(f\) Reports, Briefings, and Accountability.—

“\(1\) Initial report and briefing.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the

Secretary of Defense shall—

“\(A\) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the

Senate and the House of Representatives a report detailing—

“\(i\) the organizational structure, staffing requirements,

and initial objectives of the AGI Preparedness Initiative

described in subsection \(a\)\(3\);

“\(ii\) a comprehensive assessment of the performance of the

CDAO in executing the duties established under this section

since the date of the original enactment of this section,

including an identification of specific deficiencies in

organizational structure, personnel qualifications,

interagency coordination, and operational impact; and

“\(iii\) the initial objectives and milestones for the

duties added by the amendments to this section made by title

II of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year

2027; and

“\(B\) provide to such Committees a briefing on the matters

set forth in the report.

“\(2\) Periodic reports and briefings.—Not later than 180

days after the submission of the initial report under

paragraph \(1\), and annually thereafter, the Secretary of

Defense shall—

“\(A\) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the

Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the

activities carried out under this section since the date of

the last report under this paragraph, including—

“\(i\) any findings, assessments, and recommendations with

respect to the national security implications of artificial

general intelligence and advanced artificial intelligence;

“\(ii\) the progress of the CDAO against each benchmark

established under paragraph \(3\); and

“\(iii\) a classified annex containing specific assessments

of People's Republic of China artificial intelligence

military capabilities, the effectiveness of current export

control measures with respect to adversary artificial

intelligence development, and identified countermeasure

priorities; and

“\(B\) provide to such Committees a briefing on the matters

set forth in the report.

“\(3\) Performance metrics and accountability.—

“\(A\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the enactment of this paragraph, the CDAO shall submit to

the congressional defense committees a set of measurable

performance benchmarks and milestones for each duty described

in subsection \(d\).

“\(B\) Elements.—Each report required under paragraph \(2\)

shall include a detailed assessment of progress against each

benchmark established under subparagraph \(A\), including

specific explanations for any benchmarks not met and

corrective actions planned.

“\(4\) Policy recommendations.—The CDAO shall provide

policy recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, the

President, and Congress relating to the national security

implications of artificial general intelligence and advanced

artificial intelligence, including recommendations for

legislative action.”; and

\(5\) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“\(i\) Additional Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) The term \`artificial general intelligence' means

artificial intelligence systems that match or exceed human

expert performance across a wide variety of domains,

including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear

applications, cyber offense, model autonomy, persuasion,

research and development, and self-improvement.

“\(2\) The term \`CDAO' means the Chief Digital and

Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense,

or such successor official as the Secretary of Defense may

designate.”.

\(b\) Conforming Amendment.—The heading of section 238 of

the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2019 \(Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4061 note

prec.\) is amended by striking “joint artificial intelligence

research, development, and transition activities” and

inserting “department of defense artificial intelligence and

artificial general intelligence activities”.

\(c\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section or the

amendments made by this section shall be construed to limit

or otherwise affect any authority of the Secretary of Defense

or the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer

under section 238 of the John S. McCain National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 \(Public Law 115-232;

10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061\), as in effect on the day before

the date of the enactment of this Act.

amendment no. 154 offered by mr. harris of maryland

At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. TRICARE COVERAGE FOR ANESTHESIA FOR IN-OFFICE

DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY FOR

CHILDREN AGE 5 AND UNDER.

Section 1079\(a\)\(1\)\(B\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended by striking “or for pediatric patients age 5 or

under, only institutional and anesthesia services may be

provided” and inserting “or for pediatric patients age 5 or

under, only institutional services and anesthesia services

\(including at a dental clinic with respect to such pediatric

patients\) may be provided”.

amendment no. 155 offered by mr. hern of oklahoma

At the end of subtitle B of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. REPORT ON TRANSITION TO LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE

LIGHTING ON NAVAL VESSELS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 90 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall

submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate a report on the plans of the

Department of the Navy to transition to light-emitting diode

\(LED\) lighting onboard naval vessels.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of the benefits LED light fixtures

provide for the survivability of naval vessels relative to

traditional incandescents.

\(2\) An evaluation of existing shipboard light fixtures for

which qualified LED retrofit kits are available, and an

identification of fixtures for which LED retrofit kits

require development.

\(3\) A plan to transition the procurement of incandescent

light bulbs by the Department to the procurement of LED

retrofit kits.

\(4\) An analysis of the production capacity of the supplier

base to provide LED retrofit kits at an increased rate of

supply.

\(5\) A plan to discontinue the procurement of LED light

fixtures that do not meet applicable military specifications.

amendment no. 156 offered by mr. hill of arkansas

In title XV, subtitle C, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 15\_\_. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT ON SHARING OF CYBER

INTELLIGENCE WITH STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL,

TERRITORIAL, AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS.

\(a\) Assessment.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct an assessment of sharing of cyber-

related intelligence by the Department of Defense with State,

local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.

\(b\) Report.—

\(1\) Submission.—Not later than 60 days after the date on

which the Comptroller General completes the assessment under

subsection \(a\), the Comptroller General shall submit to the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on

the results of the assessment.

\(2\) Elements.—The report under paragraph \(1\) shall include

the following:

\(A\) With respect to each element of the Department of

Defense, a summary of the capabilities and practices of the

element for sharing cyber-related intelligence with State,

local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.

\(B\) An assessment of the effects of such sharing, including

the timeliness, level of detail, and the degree to which

intelligence is provided in a format that allows for

technical correlation and network defense actions versus

general situational awareness.

\(C\) An assessment of the deconfliction and coordination

processes between elements regarding such sharing.

\(D\) A description of the role and effectiveness of the

Department of Defense in such deconfliction and coordination

process.

\(E\) An assessment of how the security clearances of such

partners affect such sharing.

\(F\) An assessment of the legal, policy, and infrastructure

barriers that prevent cleared private sector partners from

operationalizing classified threat intelligence, including—

\(i\) the lack of accredited, state-run facilities where

partners can securely correlate classified government-

provided indicators against their own proprietary network

data; and

\(ii\) the lack of statutory liability protections \(such as

State-level tort claims extensions\) for private sector

entities acting on classified intelligence provided by the

government.

\(G\) Recommendations for improvements for such sharing.

amendment no. 157 offered by mr. hill of arkansas

In subtitle B of title XVII, add at the end the following:

SEC. 17\_\_. EXTENSION OF THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT OF 1950.

Section 717\(a\) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50

U.S.C. 4564\(a\)\) is amended by striking “2026” and inserting

“2031”.

Page 1281, beginning on line 3, strike “chapter 83 of

title 41, United States Code, and the Defense Production Act

of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.\)” and insert “and chapter

83 of title 41, United States Code”.

Page 1375, beginning on line 9, strike “under title III of

the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4531 et seq.\)

and”.

Page 1378, beginning on line 25, strike “under title III

of the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4531 et

seq.\) or”.

amendment no. 158 offered by mr. hill of arkansas

At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. LAND EXCHANGE, CAMP PIKE AND CAMP JOSEPH T.

ROBINSON, ARKANSAS.

\(a\) Exchange Authorized.—The Secretary of the Army

\(referred to in this section as the “Secretary”\) may convey

to the State of Arkansas all right, title, and interest of

the United States in and to a parcel of real property,

including any improvements thereon, consisting of

approximately 16.02 acres at Camp Pike, North Little Rock,

Arkansas, containing the facility commonly known as the 90th

Readiness Division Headquarters and other real property north

of Arkansas Avenue road as is determined by the survey under

subsection \(d\)\(1\).

\(b\) Consideration.—

\(1\) As consideration for the conveyance under subsection

\(a\), the State of Arkansas may convey to the United States

all right, title, and interest of the State of Arkansas in

and to a parcel of real property, including any improvements

thereon, consisting all or

part of approximately 68.16 acres at Camp Joseph T. Robinson,

North Little Rock, Arkansas, containing the facility commonly

known as the Chappell Armory and such additional adjoining

lands as is determined by the survey under subsection \(d\)\(1\).

\(2\) The exchange of real property under this section shall

be for parcels of approximately equal value, as determined by

the Secretary through an appraisal acceptable to the

Secretary. Pursuant to section 18240 of title 10, United

States Code, no monetary consideration may be provided or

accepted by either party to equalize the value of the

properties exchanged.

\(c\) Extinguishment of Reversionary Interest.—In connection

with the exchange authorized by this section, the Secretary

shall extinguish the reversionary interest of the United

States, created by the Act of June 30, 1950 \(64 Stat. 311,

chapter 429\), applicable to the property to be conveyed by

the State of Arkansas under subsection \(b\)\(1\).

\(d\) Surveys and Property Descriptions.—

\(1\) Determination.—The exact acreage and legal

descriptions of the real property to be exchanged under this

section shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to the

Secretary.

\(2\) Costs.—The State of Arkansas shall be responsible for

all costs associated with the exchange authorized by this

section, including the costs of surveys, appraisals, and any

other administrative or environmental documentation required

to complete the exchange.

\(e\) Additional Terms and Conditions.—The Secretary may

require such additional terms and conditions in connection

with the conveyances under this section as the Secretary

considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United

States.

\(f\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to affect or limit the application of, or any

requirement for, environmental remediation under the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

Liability Act of 1980 \(42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.\) or any other

law.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\) and the gentleman from Washington \(Mr. Smith\) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California \(Mr. Fong\).

Mr. FONG. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendments to the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.

### Nowhere is this legislation more critical than in California's 20th

Congressional District, home to Edwards Air Force Base, the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Naval Air Station Lemoore, and the Mojave Air and Space Port.

### I am honored to offer three amendments that support our installations

- today.

First, amendment No. 136 honors the eight heroes lost in the tragic B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base last month. It directs the Department of War to brief Congress on the cause of the accident.

### These brave individuals sacrificed their lives so that we can live in

peace and freedom. Their commitment and dedication will never be forgotten.

Second, amendment No. 137 directs a comprehensive study of medical and safety resources at Edwards Air Force Base. Edwards is located in a remote area of our State that is critical for the test work that is performed. I want to ensure that the military members, civilians, and contractors serving at the base have access to the health and safety resources needed to advance their mission.

Third, amendment No. 135 directs a study of supersonic airspace connectivity between the R-2508 Airspace Complex, which includes China Lake, Edwards Air Force Base, and Fort Irwin, and connects to the Point Mugu Sea Range.

### These ranges encompass over 56,000 square miles of world-class

testing capacity. Combined with the civilian capabilities of Mojave Air and Space Port and NASA Armstrong, my amendment will help better integrate supersonic airspace connectivity and would expand test capabilities for both military and commercial aerospace, keeping America at the cutting edge of defense innovation.

### These amendments help ensure our defense installations have the

resources, the safety, and the airspace they need to continue leading the way. I urge my colleagues to support them.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1200

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas \(Mr. McCaul\), my friend and colleague.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chair, I thank our chairman for his great work on this National Defense Authorization Act. As always, he has delivered.

Mr. Chair, every day our Nation loses 17 veterans to suicide. These are men and women who survived combat but then lost to a quiet and longer war against the invisible wounds that they carried with them.

### Since the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, many of them are

- **asking:** Was it worth it? Well, we are providing a solution to that
- problem here today.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Luttrell, for his service as a Navy SEAL and also for introducing this amendment to increase veterans' access to ibogaine. I know personally how much this means to our Nation's heroes because I have talked to them, the Special Operations Association, to people, veterans across this Nation who are clamoring for a solution to their problem, and we have one.

They should not have to travel to Mexico to receive this treatment. Countless vets have told me that they were going to give this one shot before they committed suicide. They went down. They experienced ibogaine, and they came back cured.

### Stanford University did a study on 30 veterans with TBI and PTSD,

verified through MRI brain scans, where it was demonstrated that ibogaine actually regenerated brain tissue and helped them get over their addiction to opioids and resolve their PTSD and TBI.

### This needs to be available in the United States of America now in

clinical trials to our veterans. My home State of Texas passed legislation to provide clinical trials to veterans for ibogaine.

I thank my former Governor, Rick Perry, and Mr. Bryan Hubbard, Americans for Ibogaine, for leading this effort. I thank Morgan Luttrell and Marcus, his brother, who we all know from the “Lone Survivor” story. Ibogaine saved their lives, and we have heard the testimony from them about the effectiveness of this medicine.

It is time, Mr. Chair, to make this medicine available to our veterans here in the United States at our VA clinics across the Nation.

### This amendment--and I thank the chairman for supporting it--will take

us to that point where we can now save their lives, where they don't have to worry about suicide and they don't have to be on 30 medications, for God sakes, to treat their addiction, to treat their PTSD when we know we have a medicine that works.

### The evidence, the data, and the Stanford study are all there to save

- their lives. I urge my colleagues to vote for this measure.

### Again, I thank all my colleagues, including the chairman and Morgan

Luttrell for their support. I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work to bring all of this to the floor, not only today but in future legislation. I also thank the heroes, those who have served this country in harm's way, those who have put their lives at risk who are suffering from these diseases today for their service. We owe it to them to pass this legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania \(Mr. Bresnahan\).

Mr. BRESNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this en bloc, which includes an amendment that calls on the President to award the Medal of Honor to Colonel Bob Graham of Nuangola, Pennsylvania.

### On May 1, 1966, at the height of Operation Birmingham in the Vietnam

war, then-Captain Graham flew his battle-damaged F-100 Super Sabre through monsoon weather to reach American troops surrounded by 4,000 enemy soldiers.

### He made more than 15 low-level attack passes under heavy artillery

fire, knowing full well he may not survive. He not only survived, but destroyed eight enemy gun positions, neutralized over 1,500 enemy troops, and broke the back of that assault, saving hundreds of American lives.

### Colonel Graham flew over 500 combat missions across four tours in

- Vietnam and served this country faithfully for 26 years.

He already earned the Silver Star for his heroic actions that day. However, it is past time that we recognize his actions went above and beyond the call of duty.

### I urge my colleagues to support this and finally give Colonel Graham

- the recognition he has long since earned.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I have no speakers on this en bloc. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee \(Mr. Van Epps\).

Mr. VAN EPPS. Mr. Chairman, I am honored to rise today to offer three critical amendments.

### Military readiness depends on more than the weapons our warfighters

carry. It depends on the infrastructure that supports them, our ability to get new technology into their hands, and an industrial base capable of sustaining them in conflict.

### At Fort Campbell, much of the water and wastewater infrastructure is

more than 60 years old. A major failure could disrupt military operations and affect the health of military families.

This challenge extends far beyond Fort Campbell. That is why my amendment directs the Department of War to assess critical aging utility systems across military installations and prioritize future investments before failures degrade readiness.

### However, readiness also means ensuring our warfighters have the best

technology available. My second amendment will accelerate the delivery of advanced technologies to the battlefield, cutting through barriers that too often slow innovation. When conflict comes, we must have the capacity to sustain the fight.

### My third amendment requires major defense contractors to plan now for

how they would rapidly increase production during a national emergency or major conflict.

### We must ensure our military has the infrastructure, technology, and

industrial capacity to fight and win. I urge my colleagues to support these amendments.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I, too, urge all Members to support this en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

- Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Amendment No.
- 158.

Amendment No. 158 is extremely important to the Arkansas National Guard. That is why I am grateful to have the support of my Arkansas colleagues, Rep. Steve Womack and Rep. Rick Crawford.

### This amendment supports the Arkansas National Guard by seeking to

codify the proposed land exchange between the Arkansas National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve on Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.

### Currently, there is a strategic mismatch in facility use for the

- Arkansas National Guard and the USAR on Camp Robinson.

### The land exchange will include a two-star division headquarters at

Camp Pike, currently occupied by a drilling unit with minimal full-time staff, a unit whose needs would be far better served by an armory.

### The second is the Chappell Armory in Arkansas, which was built for

traditional drilling units but currently operates as a full-time headquarters.

Amendment No. 158 seeks a no-cost land exchange between the Arkansas National Guard and USAR. This would result in a mutually beneficial outcome and ensure better stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

The Arkansas National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve support the conveyance.

### I am pleased that there has been a signed a Memorandum of Agreement

\(MOA\) between Brigadier General Bridges of the Arkansas Guard and Brigadier General Cook of the Army Reserves.

Amendment No. 158 directly relates to the signed MOA, and it ensures the necessary continuity and stability for the proposed land exchange.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of Amendment No. 156.

### My amendment directs the Government Accountability Office \(GAO\) to

conduct a review of the quality and effectiveness of the Department of Defense's cyber intelligence sharing with state, local, Tribal, territorial, and private-sector partners.

### I drafted this amendment with the Arkansas National Guard to ensure

we analyze cyber information sharing to learn how to stop and mitigate cyber threats for homeland defense.

### As you may know, the National Guard is uniquely positioned by its

capabilities, geography, and manpower to add resilience to integrated critical infrastructure dependencies.

### That is why it is critical for the GAO to conduct this review, as it

can inform and better unify efforts among federal partners, state-level defenders, and other critical stakeholders to ensure faster warning, mitigation, incident response, and better defense of our critical infrastructure.

### This amendment is extremely important to central Arkansas and the

Arkansas National Guard. It is also extremely important to our national security and cyber health.

I urge my colleagues to support Amendment No. 156.

The Acting CHAIR \(Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania\). The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\).

The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 3 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.

Amendments en bloc No. 3 consisting of amendment Nos. 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212 printed in part A of House Report 119-755, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama:

Amendment No. 159 Offered by Mrs. Houchin of Indiana

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF SUBSCRIPTION-BASED FUNDING

MODEL AT MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITY BASE.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act and subject to the availability of

appropriations for such purpose, the Under Secretary of

Defense for Research and Engineering shall, acting through

the Director of the Test Resource Management Center, commence

carrying out a pilot program to determine the feasibility,

effectiveness, and operational impacts of implementing a

subscription-based funding model for test and evaluation

facilities.

\(b\) Requirements.—The pilot program required by subsection

\(a\) shall—

\(1\) be conducted during the two-year period beginning on

the date of the commencement of the pilot program;

\(2\) include not fewer than two cyber-physical test and

training ranges designated by the Director of the Test

Resource Management Center;

\(3\) include at least one cyber-physical test and training

range operated by, or under the authority of, the National

Guard of a State;

\(4\) provide for participation by military departments,

defense agencies, combat support agencies, federally funded

research and development centers, and such other Department

of Defense entities as the Director considers appropriate;

and

\(5\) evaluate the applicability of subscription-based

funding to cyber, cyber-physical, electronic warfare,

modeling and simulation, and integrated test environments

associated with the participating ranges.

\(c\) Subscription-based Funding Model.—For purposes of the

pilot program required by subsection \(a\), the Under Secretary

shall establish a funding structure under which participating

organizations pay recurring subscription fees in exchange for

access to specified range capabilities, infrastructure,

services, test environments, cybersecurity resources, data

management capabilities, and related support functions, in

lieu of or in combination with traditional reimbursable or

direct-user funding mechanisms. The Under Secretary shall

ensure that any subscription fees are commensurate with the

services provided.

\(d\) Elements.—In carrying out the pilot program required

by subsection \(a\), the Under Secretary shall—

\(1\) establish subscription tiers or other recurring funding

arrangements designed to support baseline operational,

sustainment, modernization, and cybersecurity costs of

participating ranges;

\(2\) assess the extent to which a subscription-based model

improves funding predictability, resource utilization,

infrastructure availability, and mission readiness;

\(3\) evaluate impacts on range scheduling, access,

interoperability, and support for developmental testing,

operational testing, training, experimentation, and rapid

prototyping activities;

\(4\) identify authority constraints or other challenges

associated with broader implementation of such a model;

\(5\) measure effects on cost recovery, user demand, and

long-term sustainment of cyber-physical range capabilities;

and

\(6\) develop recommendations regarding whether and how a

subscription-based funding model could be expanded to

additional test and evaluation facilities.

\(e\) Selection of Participating Ranges.—In selecting ranges

for participation in the pilot program required by subsection

\(a\), the Under Secretary shall prioritize cyber-physical

ranges that—

\(1\) support joint testing, training, or experimentation

activities;

\(2\) integrate operational technology, cyber,

communications, electronic warfare, or weapon-system testing

capabilities; and

\(3\) can provide representative data regarding the

scalability of subscription-based funding approaches across

test and evaluation facilities.

\(f\) Report.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to

the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a

report describing the following:

\(1\) The actions taken under subsection \(a\).

\(2\) The status of implementation of integration required by

such subsection.

\(3\) Any exceptions to full integration under subsection

\(b\)\(2\).

\(4\) The reasons for the exceptions described in paragraph

\(3\).

\(g\) Briefing.—Not later than 30 days after the date on

which the Under Secretary submits the report required by

subsection \(f\), the Under Secretary shall provide the

Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee

on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing

on the matters covered by the report.

Amendment No. 160 Offered by Mrs. Houchin of Indiana

Add at the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS ON USE OF CERTAIN LAND

CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF INDIANA.

Section 2858 of the Military Construction Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 1996 \(division B of Public Law 104-106; 110

Stat. 571\), as amended by section 2838 of the Military

Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 \(division

B of Public Law 105-85; 111 Stat. 2006\) and section 2843\(i\)

of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 1999 \(division B of Public Law 105-261; 112 Stat. 2217\),

is further amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “The conveyances” and

inserting “Except as provided in subsection \(d\), the

conveyances”; and

\(2\) by striking subsection \(d\) and inserting the following:

“\(d\) Condition on Release of Covenants.—On the condition

that the State convey approximately 80 acres of prior park

property to the Indiana Army Ammunition Plan Reuse Authority,

the Reuse Authority convey approximately 100 acres of prior

industrial use property to the State, and the use of that 100

acres will be restricted by covenant to recreational

purposes, the Secretary may release the covenant that

requires the 80 acres of prior park property to be used for

recreational purposes.”.

Amendment No. 161 Offered by Mrs. Houchin of Indiana

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following:

SEC. 2. SECURE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTER

DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

\(a\) Demonstration Program.—The Secretary of Defense shall,

acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research

and Engineering and in consultation with the Director of the

National Security Agency and the head of the Center for

Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation at the

Department of Commerce, carry out a program to construct,

prototype, and perform testing and evaluation on highly

secure data centers, and to assess security requirements for

such facilities, focused on—

\(1\) resisting attacks by nation-state adversaries;

\(2\) securing the confidentiality, integrity, and

availability of artificial intelligence models and inference

pipelines; and

\(3\) assessing whether existing security frameworks are

sufficient to protect artificial intelligence capabilities

supporting classified workloads.

\(b\) Focus.—The program required by subsection \(a\) shall be

focused on—

\(1\) prototyping technologies and security controls needed

to protect artificial intelligence data centers from attacks

by nation-state adversaries;

\(2\) protecting model weights and other sensitive assets

from theft, sabotage, or unauthorized access;

\(3\) assessing physical security, cybersecurity, supply

chain, insider threat, and incident response requirements for

such facilities;

\(4\) prototyping secure inference-only clusters or devices

designed to prevent unauthorized model weight extraction or

modification, including mechanisms to securely or

cryptographically verify that only authorized workloads are

executed; and

\(5\) developing plans, budgets, and cost estimates and

recommended courses of action for constructing or

retrofitting such facilities.

\(c\) Briefing and Report.—

\(1\) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the

congressional defense committees a briefing on progress made

under the program required by subsection \(a\), including key

findings from prototype activities, threats, vulnerabilities,

capability gaps, and resourcing requirements.

\(2\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report on the results of

the program required by subsection \(a\), including—

\(A\) prototype results, technologies, or operational

measures needed to improve the security of artificial

intelligence data centers; and

\(B\) recommendations for further investments to address

threats from nation-state adversaries.

Amendment No. 162 Offered by Mrs. Houchin of Indiana

At the end of subtitle B of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. REPORT ON PFAS DESTRUCTION AND WATER RECLAMATION.

\(a\) Report.—Not later than June 1, 2027, the Secretary of

Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees

a report on available technology that leverages recent

developments in single-pass high PFAS-destruction technology

in water.

\(b\) Elements.—The report described in subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) A list and a description of available technology that

allows—

\(A\) an air-water interface to serve as the primary heat

transfer surface; and

\(B\) for the core operating temperature to enable single-

pass high PFAS-destruction technology to ensure rapid

destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water.

\(2\) A proposal to establish a pilot program under which

single-pass high PFAS destruction technology shall be tested

for Department of Defense uses.

\(3\) A list of potential locations that could host such a

pilot program.

\(4\) Any other matters the Secretary determines relevant.

\(c\) Single-pass High PFAS-destruction Technology Defined.—

In this section, the term “single-pass high PFAS-destruction

technology” means a technology that—

\(1\) destroys per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances;

\(2\) is portable and able to operate in remote areas; and

\(3\) can process up to 20,000 gallons of water per day.

Amendment No. 163 Offered by Mrs. Houlahan of Pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST STANDALONE TECHNOLOGY TO

IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES IN SUPPLY-CHAIN

MANAGEMENT, MEDICAL READINESS, AND MEDICAL

PROCESSES.

\(a\) Establishment.—Not later than 90 days after the date

of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting

through the Director of the Defense Health Agency, shall

carry out a pilot program to test and evaluate existing

standalone technologies to assess whether such technologies

accomplish the following:

\(1\) Improving efficiencies in medical supply-chain

management and in military medical readiness.

\(2\) Streamlining medical processes.

\(3\) Improving recordation accuracy.

\(4\) Reducing rates of needlestick injury.

\(5\) Enhancing retention rates of military health care

providers.

\(b\) Duration.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot

program for a five-year period.

Amendment No. 164 Offered by Ms. Hoyle of Oregon

At the end of subtitle I of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. STUDY ON TIMELY PROCESS OF AWARD AND DECORATION

RECOMMENDATIONS.

\(a\) Study Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct

a study on the process for reviewing recommendations for the

award of medals, decorations, or other honors to members of

the Armed Forces.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to Congress a report containing the results of the study,

including any recommendations of the Secretary to ensure the

process for reviewing recommendations for the award of

medals, decorations, or other honors to members of the Armed

Forces is timely, consistent, and transparent.

Amendment No. 165 Offered by Mr. Hudson of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, insert the

following:

SEC. 8\_\_. REPORT ON CONTRACTORS SEEKING COMPENSATORY RELIEF

FROM INFLATION.

\(a\) Findings; Sense of Congress.—

\(1\) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:

\(A\) During the COVID-19 pandemic, Department of Defense

contractors faced historic inflation for goods and services

they provided to the Department of Defense after signing

initial firm-fixed price contracts.

\(B\) In the amendments made to Public Law 85-804 \(50 U.S.C.

1431\) by section 822 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 \(Public Law

117-263\) and in section 826 of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31; 10

U.S.C. note prec. 4601\), Congress provided increased

flexibility to the Department of Defense to modify contracts

to provide extraordinary relief due to the effects of

inflation.

\(C\) Despite such authority, numerous contractors still

incurred increased costs for multi-year projects and seek

economic price adjustments to stay solvent.

\(2\) Sense of congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Department of Defense should reimburse low- to mid-tier

suppliers for increased production costs caused from

inflation to avoid disincentivizing their participation in

Government contracting

\(b\) Report.—Not later than June 1, 2027, the Secretary of

Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees

a report on the plan of the Department to rectify legal

claims from contractors that seek compensatory relief from

inflation.

Amendment No. 166 Offered by Mr. Huizenga of Michigan

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the

following:

SEC. 17\_\_. LIMITATION REGARDING CERTAIN EXPORT CONTROLS.

Section 38\(l\)\(4\)\(B\) of the Arms Export Control Act \(22

U.S.C. 2778\(l\)\(4\)\(B\)\) is amended by inserting before the

semicolon “, excluding subclauses \(I\), \(II\), and \(III\)”.”.

Amendment No. 167 Offered by Mr. Jack of Georgia

Page 532, line 10, strike “An agreement entered into under

this section” and insert “A fixed indemnity supplemental

benefit plan provided under the pilot program”.

Amendment No. 168 Offered by Mr. Jackson of Texas

In title VIII, subtitle A, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 8\_\_. INSIDER THREAT RISK ASSESSMENT AND VOLUNTARY

GUIDANCE FOR CERTAIN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

CONTRACTORS.

\(a\) Assessment and Issuance of Voluntary Guidance on

Insider Threat Risk Reduction.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

issue voluntary guidance for covered artificial intelligence

contractors to reduce insider threat, espionage, and other

personnel-related security risks to sensitive artificial

intelligence systems and associated development

infrastructure.

\(2\) Assessment and updated guidance.—Not later than one

year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the

Secretary shall—

\(A\) complete an assessment of the risks described in

paragraph \(1\); and

\(B\) update the guidance issued under such paragraph based

on the findings of that assessment.

\(3\) Contents.—The guidance required under paragraph \(1\),

including any updated guidance issued under paragraph \(2\)\(B\),

shall, at a minimum—

\(A\) identify categories of roles, functions, models,

training infrastructure, and systems that warrant enhanced

security measures;

\(B\) recommend a risk-based framework based on the

sensitivity of access and associated national security risks;

and

\(C\) address personnel vetting, access controls, auditing,

monitoring, anomaly detection, and protection against insider

threats and espionage.

\(4\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection shall

be construed to require a covered artificial intelligence

contractor to adopt any measure, practice, personnel policy,

access restriction, or other safeguard described in the

guidance issued under paragraph \(1\).

\(5\) Consultation.—In carrying out this subsection, the

Secretary may consult with covered artificial intelligence

contractors, appropriate intelligence and counterintelligence

officials, appropriate elements of the Department of Defense,

and other relevant experts.

\(b\) Report to Congress.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than July 1, 2028, the Secretary

of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense

committees an unclassified report, which may include a

classified annex, on the implementation of this section.

\(2\) Elements.—The report shall include—

\(A\) a summary of the findings of the assessment conducted

under subsection \(a\)\(2\)\(A\);

\(B\) an assessment of gaps and challenges in mitigating the

risks identified in such assessment;

\(C\) a summary of the voluntary guidance issued under

subsection \(a\), including the initial guidance and any

updated guidance issued under subsection \(a\)\(2\)\(B\); and

\(D\) any recommendation for additional authorities,

resources, or policy the Secretary determines appropriate.

\(c\) Definition.—The term “covered artificial intelligence

contractor” means a contractor that develops, maintains, or

operates artificial intelligence systems for the Department

of Defense and has access to artificial intelligence systems,

models, development infrastructure, or related technical

information.

Amendment No. 169 Offered by Ms. Jacobs of California

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. QUARTERLY REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR NATIONAL

SECURITY CAPITAL FORUM.

Section 1092 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2025 \(Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 149 note\) is

amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“\(f\) Reports.—Not later than the end of each fiscal

quarter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report describing

activities of the forum established under subsection \(a\)

during such fiscal quarter and the goals of such forum in

accordance with this section for the subsequent fiscal

quarter.”.

Amendment No. 170 Offered by Mr. Johnson of South Dakota

At the end of subtitle E of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DISPLAY SUPPLY

CHAIN VULNERABILITIES.

\(a\) Assessment Required.—The Secretary of Defense, in

coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall conduct an

assessment of supply chain vulnerabilities related to

displays used in Department of Defense weapon systems and

platforms.

\(b\) Elements.—The assessment shall include—

\(1\) identification of defense systems dependent on displays

sourced from the People's Republic of China or Taiwan;

\(2\) assessment of supply disruption risks and potential

operational impacts;

\(3\) evaluation of domestic or allied manufacturing

capabilities for advanced display technologies;

\(4\) analysis of emerging display technologies, including

microLED displays; and

\(5\) recommendations for reducing foreign dependence in

critical display applications.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report on the

results of the assessment conducted under subsection \(a\).

\(d\) Form.—The report under subsection \(c\) shall be

submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified

annex.

Amendment No. 171 Offered by Mr. Joyce of Ohio

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, insert the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM ON PRE-PROGRAMMING OF SUICIDE

PREVENTION RESOURCES INTO SMART DEVICES ISSUED

TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 120 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

commence the conduct of a pilot program under which the

Secretary—

\(1\) pre-downloads the Virtual Hope Box application of the

Defense Health Agency, or such successor application, on the

covered devices of members of the Armed Forces;

\(2\) pre-programs the National Suicide Hotline number and

Veterans Crisis Line number into the contacts for such

covered devices; and

\(3\) provides training, as part of the training on suicide

awareness and prevention conducted throughout the Department

of Defense, on the preventative resources described in

paragraphs \(1\) and \(2\).

\(b\) Duration.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the

pilot program under this section for a two-year period.

\(c\) Scope.—The Secretary of Defense shall determine the

appropriate scope of individuals participating in the pilot

program under this section to best represent each Armed Force

and to ensure a relevant sample size.

\(d\) Identification of Other Resources.—In carrying out the

pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Defense

shall coordinate with the Director of the Defense Health

Agency and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify

other useful technology-related resources for use in the

pilot program.

\(e\) Report.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which

the pilot program under this section terminates, the

Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a

report on the pilot program, including recommendations by the

Secretary relating to expanding the scope of future pilot

programs to include members of the Armed Forces who do not

possess covered devices.

\(f\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “covered device” means a smart device

\(including a mobile phone\) that is issued to an individual by

the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of an Armed Force.

\(2\) The term “Veterans Crisis Line” means the toll-free

hotline for veterans established under section 1720F\(h\) of

title 38, United States Code.

Amendment No. 172 Offered by Mr. Kean of New Jersey

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR SOFTWARE-DEFINED AND AI-POWERED COUNTER

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Army, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Landmine Warfare/Barrier—

Eng Dev \(PE 0604808A\), line 122, is hereby increased by

$10,000,000 for software-defined

and AI-powered counter unmanned aerial systems.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Defense-wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table

in section 4301, for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,

line 480, is hereby reduced by $10,000,000.

Amendment No. 173 Offered by Ms. King-Hinds of Northern Mariana Islands

At the end of subtitle B of title III, insert the

following:

SEC. 3\_\_. GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE CONFIRMATION FOR SAIPAN UNDER

ENERGY RESILIENCE AND CONSERVATION INVESTMENT

PROGRAM.

\(a\) Assessment Required.—As part of the Energy Resilience

and Conservation Investment Program, the Secretary of Defense

shall conduct an assessment of the viability of geothermal

resources through drilling and other means on the island of

Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,

for the purposes of improving the energy security of

Department of Defense facilities and operations. Such

assessment shall include each of the following:

\(1\) The collection and analysis of geophysical,

geochemical, and subsurface data relevant to geothermal

resource viability.

\(2\) Field investigations, including geophysical surveys and

test well drilling, to confirm the capacity of geothermal

resources.

\(3\) An evaluation of the potential of geothermal resources

to support resilient power for Department of Defense

activities on Saipan, as well on Tinian via undersea cable.

\(b\) Execution; Coordination.—In carrying out the

assessment under subsection \(a\), the Secretary—

\(1\) may act through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for

Energy, Installations and Environment, the United States Army

Corps of Engineers, or such other component of the Department

of Defense as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

\(2\) shall coordinate, as appropriate, with the Secretary of

the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, the Commonwealth

Utilities Corporation, and the Government of the Commonwealth

of the Northern Mariana Islands.

\(c\) Report.—Upon the completion of the assessment required

under subsection \(a\), the Secretary shall submit to the

Committee as on Armed Services of the Senate and House of

Representatives a report on the findings of the assessment,

including a determination regarding the viability of

geothermal resources and recommended next steps.

Amendment No. 174 Offered by Ms. King-Hinds of Northern Mariana Islands

Add at the end of subtitle A of title XVII the following;

SEC. 17\_\_. INTERNAL BASE HARDENING ASSESSMENTS AND LOGISTICS-

NODE THREAT MITIGATION.

\(a\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Covered installation.—The term “covered

installation” means a military installation, as defined in

section 2801 of title 10, United States Code, that the

Secretary of Defense designates as having significant

logistics, port, intermodal, or contractor-operated

interfaces with commercial transportation, warehousing, or

supply chain infrastructure.

\(2\) Covered logistics node.—The term “covered logistics

node” means any of the following that is located on,

adjacent to, or used in support of operations at a covered

installation:

\(A\) A strategic seaport, as defined in section

54301\(a\)\(12\)\(E\) of title 46, United States Code.

\(B\) A defense access road, as described in section 210 of

title 23, United States Code.

\(C\) A node of the Defense Transportation System, as that

term is defined in Department of Defense Directive 4500.09E

and Joint Publication 4-01.

\(D\) Any other logistics facility that the Secretary of

Defense designates as a covered logistics node for purposes

of this section.

\(b\) Internal Base Hardening Assessments.—

\(1\) Assessment.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for a

period not to exceed three years, the Secretary of Defense

shall conduct a comprehensive internal base hardening

assessment of each covered installation.

\(2\) Scope.—Each assessment under paragraph \(1\) shall

examine vulnerabilities arising from—

\(A\) commercial shipping, drayage, and trucking activity on,

adjacent to, or in support of the covered installation;

\(B\) covered logistics nodes;

\(C\) contractor and vendor access to the covered

installation, including subcontractor and vendor supply

chains;

\(D\) the pre-positioning of materiel by foreign adversaries

of the United States, hostile state services, transnational

organized crime groups, or terrorist organizations on or

adjacent to the covered installation; and

\(E\) opportunities for reconnaissance, sabotage, or rapid

attack from within or adjacent to the perimeter of the

covered installation.

\(3\) Mitigation plans.—For each vulnerability identified in

an assessment under paragraph \(1\), the Secretary of Defense

shall develop and implement a risk-based mitigation plan that

includes defined milestones, timelines, and performance

measures.

\(4\) Report.—

\(A\) In General—Not later than 18 months after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for four

years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report describing—

\(i\) the assessments completed under paragraph \(2\);

\(ii\) the mitigation plans developed, including timelines,

milestones, and performance measures, and the status of

implementation of each plan; and

\(iii\) any additional authorities or resources required.

\(B\) Form.—Each report required under this section shall be

submitted in unclassified form and may contain a classified

annex.

\(5\) Government accountability office review.—

\(A\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

submission of the first report described in paragraph \(4\),

the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a

report to the congressional defense committees reviewing the

assessments and mitigation plans required in paragraphs \(1\)

and \(3\) of this subsection.

\(B\) Form.—This report may be submitted in classified form.

Amendment No. 175 Offered by Mr. LaHood of Illinois

Add at the end of subtitle B of title XVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN SILICON

CARBIDE-BASED SEMICONDUCTORS MANUFACTURED IN

CHINA.

\(a\) Restrictions on Silicon Carbide Wafer Sourcing.—The

Secretary of Defense shall revise section 252.225 of the

Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition

Regulation to prohibit the procurement of semiconductors,

other than commercially available off-the-shelf items \(as

defined in section 104 of title 41, United States Code\), that

are manufactured on silicon carbide wafers that are

manufactured in the Peoples Republic of China. Such revision

may provide the authority for the Secretary to issue a waiver

on a case-by-case basis.

\(b\) Briefing on Financial Instruments.—Not later than 180

days after the date of the enactment of this section, the

Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense

shall conduct a review, and provide to the congressional

defense committees a briefing on the results of such a

review, of domestic manufacturers of silicon carbide wafers

that are critical to the Department of Defense and that are

facing challenges due to Chinese exports of such wafers.

\(c\) Briefing on Establishment of Common Foundries.—Not

later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this

section, the Secretary of Defense provide to the

congressional defense committees a briefing that evaluates

the merits of encouraging major prime contractors in the

defense industrial base to consolidate silicon carbide

semiconductor design and fabrication operations in common

commercial foundries to encourage economies of scale and

quality improvements.

\(d\) Consultation With the Chips Program Office.—The

Secretary shall provide information to the Secretary of

Commerce and other appropriate Federal agency heads on the

use of Research and Development amounts to develop silicon

carbide-related manufacturing technology for manufacturing

high-purity single crystal silicon carbide boules, ingots,

and wafers at 300mm scale for purposes of—

\(1\) developing next-generation high-voltage technology; and

\(2\) advancing state-of-the-art packaging power modules.

\(e\) Policy on Interagency Deliberations.—Not later than 90

days after the date of the enactment of this section, the

Secretary of Defense shall issue a policy for recommendations

for interagency consideration in deliberations on—

\(1\) encouraging allied and partner countries to ensure the

silicon carbide substrate supply chains of such countries for

national security systems and critical infrastructure do not

include Chinese-manufactured silicon carbide wafers; and

\(2\) developing an integrated strategic plan to apply trade

enforcement actions to prevent China from dominating the

silicon carbide semiconductor manufacturing industry,

resulting in the dependency of the United States on Chinese

sources for silicon carbide substrates, chips, and power

modules.

Amendment No. 176 Offered by Mr. Langworthy of New York

At the end of subtitle A of title VII, insert the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. EDUCATION ON NEWBORN SCREENING OPTIONS FOR TRICARE

BENEFICIARIES.

\(a\) Education Requirement.—The Secretary of Defense shall

ensure that covered beneficiaries receiving prenatal care

through the military health system are provided educational

information regarding newborn screening.

\(b\) Contents.—The educational information provided under

subsection \(a\) shall include—

\(1\) a description of newborn screening and the purpose of

such screening in identifying certain congenital and genetic

conditions in infants;

\(2\) information regarding conditions recommended by the

Secretary of Health and Human Services for newborn screening

in infants;

\(3\) notice that newborn screening panels may vary depending

on the State or location in which an infant is born; and

\(4\) information describing options for discussing and

obtaining supplemental newborn screening for conditions

recommended by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for

newborn screening in infants that may not be included in the

applicable State newborn screening panel.

\(c\) Provision of Information.—The Secretary shall ensure

that the educational information described in subsection \(a\)

is made available to covered beneficiaries receiving prenatal

care through—

\(1\) military medical treatment facilities; and

\(2\) TRICARE network providers furnishing prenatal care.

\(d\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate a report on the feasibility of

ensuring that newborns of covered beneficiaries receive

screening for all conditions recommended by the Secretary of

Health and Human Services for newborn screening in infants,

including conditions not included in the applicable State

newborn screening panel. Such report shall include—

\(1\) an assessment of the feasibility of providing such

screening through military medical treatment facilities and

private sector care under TRICARE;

\(2\) an estimate of the costs associated with providing such

screening;

\(3\) an assessment of the administrative and logistical

requirements associated with identifying gaps in State

newborn screening panels and providing supplemental

screening; and

\(4\) options for implementing such screening, including

through reimbursement, contracting, or other mechanisms.

\(e\) Covered Beneficiary Defined.—In this section, the term

“covered beneficiary” has the meaning given the term in

section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.

Amendment No. 177 Offered by Ms. Lee of Nevada

At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING EARLY CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR

MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense may—

\(1\) direct the Secretaries of the military departments—

\(A\) to identify gaps between existing early child care

needs and available eligible child care providers;

\(B\) to use resources of the Department of Defense to

support eligible child care providers in recruitment and

retention of employees, including through professional

development and financial incentives for such employees; and

\(C\) to seek to enter into an interagency partnership with a

Federal agency with the ability to place national service

participants and volunteers trained in education services,

including senior volunteer programs, at military child

development centers in accordance with applicable national

service laws and with all the benefits accorded to such

participants and volunteers; and

\(2\) provide training and resource subsidies to eligible

child care providers and networks of such providers.

\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Eligible child care provider.—The term “eligible

child care provider” has the meaning given that term in

section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant

Act of 1990 \(42 U.S.C. 9858n\).

\(2\) Military child development center.—The term “military

child development center” has the meaning given that term in

section 1800 of title 10, United States Code.

Amendment No. 178 Offered by Mr. Levin of California

At the end of subtitle B of title XXVIII, add the

following:

SEC. 28\_\_. NOTIFICATION TO TENANTS OF COMPLAINT DATABASE.

Section 2894a\(a\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:

“Upon entering into or renewing a lease for a housing unit,

the landlord responsible for such unit shall provide a notice

to the tenant of such unit of the database established by

this section.”

Amendment No. 179 Offered by Mr. Levin of California

Page 1449, line 8, insert “The first such report shall

include data on the extent to which each Secretary of a

military department has met such minimum requirements for

each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026”.

Amendment No. 180 Offered by Mr. Liccardo of California

Add at the end of subtitle A of title XVI the following new

section:

SEC. 16\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DISTRIBUTED COMMERCIAL RADAR

SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS.

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense

should continue to support the development, integration, and

operational use of distributed commercial radar satellite

constellations, including Maritime Moving Target Indicator

and Airborne Moving Target Indicator capabilities, while

fostering robust competition among small business commercial

providers to ensure innovation, cost-effective capability

delivery, industrial base diversity, and resilient support to

national security space systems and the intelligence,

surveillance, and reconnaissance requirements of the

combatant commands.

Amendment No. 181 Offered by Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma

At the end of subtitle E of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FIELDING OF COMBAT

COLLABORATIVE AIRCRAFT CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT

WARFIGHTERS.

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense

should take such steps as may be necessary to prioritize

funding for the procurement of combat collaborative aircraft

to ensure there is a minimal viable fielded and operational

combat collaborative aircraft capability by the end of fiscal

year 2028 to meet operational requirements of combatant

commanders.

Amendment No. 182 Offered by Mrs. Luna of Florida

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. PLAN FOR DOMAIN AWARENESS AT THE SOUTHERN LAND

BORDER.

\(a\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Common operating picture.—The term “common operating

picture” means an integrated, interoperable, near-real-time

geospatial and temporal display and repository of multi-

source sensor, analytic, and operational data and

intelligence designed to improve situational awareness,

deconfliction, and coordinated response among participating

agencies.

\(2\) Domain awareness.—The term “domain awareness” means

the aggregate understanding of activities, actors, and

conditions across the air, land, maritime, cyber, and space

domains relevant to border security.

\(3\) Southern land border.—The term “southern land

border” means the land border of the United States adjacent

to Mexico.

\(b\) Plan Required.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

develop and submit to the congressional defense committees a

plan for the Department of Defense to contribute to a common

operating picture to improve domain awareness at the southern

land border.

\(2\) Communication.—Not later than 60 days after developing

the plan required by paragraph \(1\), the Secretary of Defense

shall transmit the plan to such interagency partners as the

Secretary considers appropriate.

\(3\) Elements.—The plan required by paragraph \(1\) shall

include the following:

\(A\) A description of the proposed architecture, data

sources \(including Department of Defense and non-Department

of Defense sensors\), technical standards for

interoperability, and cybersecurity and data protection

measures for the common operating picture described in such

paragraph.

\(B\) A description of the procedures and authorities for

data sharing.

\(C\) A concept of operations describing how a common

operating picture would support operational coordination,

deconfliction, and information sharing among Federal, State,

Tribal, local, and authorized international partners.

\(D\) A phased implementation schedule with milestones and

timelines for operationalizing the common operating picture

at the southern land border, including benchmarks for

capability deployment and full operational capability.

\(E\) An identification of resource requirements, estimated

costs, and funding sources, and a plan for inclusion of

requirements for the common operating picture in the annual

budget justification materials of the Department of Defense.

\(F\) Plans for training, sustainment, and technical support

for users across participating agencies.

\(G\) Metrics and procedures for—

\(i\) assessing effectiveness; and

\(ii\) periodic review and continuous improvement.

\(4\) Form.—The plan required by paragraph \(1\) shall be

submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified

annex as necessary.

Amendment No. 183 Offered by Mr. Luttrell of Texas

Page 1185, strike line 8 through line 5 on page 1187, and

insert the following:

\(C\) in subsection \(c\)\(1\)\(D\), by inserting “, including if

such capability and process employs artificial intelligence”

before the semicolon; and

Amendment No. 184 Offered by Mr. Luttrell of Texas

Add at the end of subtitle C of title VII the following new

section:

SEC. 7\_\_. EXTENSION OF STUDY ON TREATMENT OF CERTAIN

CONDITIONS USING CERTAIN PSYCHEDELIC

SUBSTANCES.

Section 723 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 1074 note\) is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(d\), by striking “three years” and

inserting “nine years”;

\(2\) by redesignating subsection \(e\) as subsection \(f\); and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(d\) the following new

subsection:

“\(e\) Period of Performance.—The Secretary shall seek to

extend the performance

of research conducted using funding awarded under this

section to September 30, 2033.”.

Amendment No. 185 Offered by Mr. Lynch of Massachusetts

At the end of subtitle D of title XVIII, add the following:

SEC. 18\_\_. REPORT ON BARRIERS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED

BUSINESSES COMPETING FOR CLASSIFIED CONTRACTS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the congressional defense committees a report on

barriers to entry for small and medium-sized businesses

seeking to compete for classified contracts with the

Department of Defense.

\(b\) Matters to Be Included.—Such report shall include the

following:

\(1\) An examination of any barriers that impede the ability

of such businesses to obtain and maintain the security

clearances and access to networks necessary to compete for

classified contracts that require such clearances.

\(2\) An examination of any other barriers that impede the

ability of such businesses that are qualified and have

subject-matter expertise to compete for classified contracts

with the Department of Defense.

\(3\) Recommendations for how to lower such barriers to entry

and better allow such businesses to compete for such

contracts.

Amendment No. 186 Offered by Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the

following:

SEC. 17\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States

reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the AUKUS partnership

with Australia and the United Kingdom as vital to maintaining

a safe and secure world. Congress supports robust investment

in the United States submarine industrial base to promote the

AUKUS partnership, including through expanded workforce

training, shipyard modernization, and supply chain

development.

Amendment No. 187 Offered by Mr. Mannion of New York

At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. REPORT ON PLANNED INVESTMENT IN ADVANCED SENSOR

AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS SPECIFIC TO

COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report on the planned

investment in advanced sensor and electronic warfare systems

specific to collaborative combat aircraft. Such shall include

Air Force Plans for development and integration of

foundational sensing, electronic warfare, and autonomy-

enabling payloads for the collaborative combat aircraft with

an emphasis on the following:

\(1\) Cost-Effective Scalability, with a focus on commercial

off-the-shelf, multi-function technologies.

\(2\) Operational readiness and survivability.

\(3\) Strategic advantage and supply chain security,

specifically regarding domestic engineering and production

capabilities.

Amendment No. 188 Offered by Mr. Mast of Florida

Page 430, strikes lines 12 through 15 and insert the

following:

\(A\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(5\), by striking “and in subsection

\(f\)”; and

\(ii\) by striking paragraph \(6\);

\(B\) in subsection \(d\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “subsections \(b\) and

\(g\)” each place it appears and inserting “subsections \(b\)

and \(f\)”;

\(ii\) in paragraph\(2\), by striking “subsection \(b\)\(3\),

subsection \(f\), and the second sentence of subsection \(g\)”

and inserting “subsection \(b\)\(3\)”;

\(C\) by striking subsection \(f\);

\(D\) by redesignating subsections \(g\) and \(h\) as subsections

\(f\) and \(g\), respectively; and

\(E\) in subsection \(f\) \(as so redesignated\), by striking the

second sentence.

Amendment No. 189 Offered by Mr. Mast of Florida

At the end of subtitle F of title VI, add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON MILITARY PERSONNEL TEMPO,

WORKLOAD, AND COMPENSATION IN COMPARISON TO

CIVILIANS WITH SIMILAR DUTIES.

\(a\) Independent Study.—Not later than 90 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense

shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded

research and development center with expertise in matters

relating to military and civilian personnel responsibilities

and compensation to conduct a study on military personnel

tempo, workload demands, and compensation in comparison to

civilian counterparts in comparable professions.

\(b\) Elements.—The study required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of average weekly and annual work hours

performed by members of the Armed Forces, and civilians if

available, in all military career fields, including those

with operational, administrative, training, and deployment-

related duties.

\(2\) A comparative analysis of work hours, personnel tempo,

and workload demands, if available, between military

personnel and civilians in comparable professions, including

professions relating to aviation, explosive ordnance

disposal, medical, diving, cyber, nuclear, law enforcement,

special operations forces communities, and technical

specialties.

\(3\) An assessment of the effects of deployment cycles,

training rotations, field exercises, shipboard operations,

alert requirements, shift work, and other operational demands

on total military workload.

\(4\) An assessment of the cumulative time burden associated

with military accession training, professional military

education, qualification requirements, readiness training,

and advanced specialty training pipelines.

\(5\) An assessment of workload and personnel tempo within

specialized military communities, including aviation,

explosive ordnance disposal, medical, diving, cyber, nuclear,

law enforcement, special operations forces communities, and

technical specialties.

\(6\) An assessment of the impact of military-specific

obligations on members of the Armed Forces and military

families, including permanent change of station requirements,

family separation, deployment frequency, irregular work

schedules, and fitness and training requirements.

\(7\) A comparative analysis of military compensation

relative to civilian compensation when accounting for

cumulative workload demands and military-specific service

obligations.

\(8\) Identification of any limitations associated with

direct comparisons between military and civilian professions,

including recommendations for appropriate methodologies,

assumptions, and future data collection efforts.

\(9\) Recommendations, if any, for improving the measurement

and tracking of personnel tempo, workload, and workforce use

by the Department of Defense.

\(c\) Reports.—

\(1\) Submission to secretary of defense.—The agreement

entered into in accordance with subsection \(a\) shall include

a requirement that—

\(A\) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment

of this Act, the federally funded research and development

center that is party to the agreement shall submit to the

Secretary of Defense a report containing the results study

conducted under subsection \(a\); and

\(B\) not less than every 180 days until the final report

required by subparagraph \(A\) is submitted, such federally

funded research and development center shall provide to the

Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees

an interim report on the progress and results of such study.

\(2\) Submission of final report to congress.—Not later than

30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense

receives the report required under paragraph \(1\)\(A\), the

Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a copy of the report and any comments of the

Secretary with respect to the report.

\(d\) Form.—The reports required under subsection \(c\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form.

\(e\) Personnel Tempo Defined.—In this Act, the term

“personnel tempo” means the amount of time a member of the

Armed Forces is engaged in official duties at a location or

under circumstances that make it infeasible for such member

to spend off-duty time in the housing in which the member

resides.

Amendment No. 190 Offered by Mr. McCaul of Texas

In section 221\(e\)—

\(1\) in paragraph \(2\), strike “and” at the end;

\(2\) in paragraph \(3\), strike the period at the end and

insert “; and”; and

\(3\) add at the end the following:

\(4\) specific statutory changes necessary to allow for rapid

development, testing, and operational evaluation of unmanned

systems and counter-unmanned system platforms within the

designated corridors, including draft legislative text

necessary to expedite development for such systems.

Amendment No. 191 Offered by Ms. McDonald Rivet of Michigan

At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. EXPANSION OF PERSONALIZED FINANCIAL AND HOUSING

COUNSELING FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

\(a\) In General.—Section 992 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)\(1\)—

\(A\) by redesignating subparagraphs \(D\) and \(E\) as

subparagraphs \(E\) and \(F\), respectively; and

\(B\) by inserting after subparagraph \(C\) the following new

subparagraph:

“\(D\) practices relating to financial management, home

buying and selling, renting during changing permanent

station, rental planning, home loans available through the

programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other

financial services that are routinely offered to private

sector home loans;”;

\(2\) by redesignating subsection \(d\) through \(f\) as

subsections \(e\) through \(g\), respectively; and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(c\) the following new

subsection:

“\(d\) Individualized Financial and Housing Counseling.—\(1\)

Not later than one year

after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the

Secretary of Defense shall establish a program in accordance

with this section and Department of Defense Instruction

1322.34, or any successor guidance, to provide one-on-one

counseling tailored to the needs of each member of the armed

forces on the following topics:

“\(A\) Credit management.

“\(B\) Budgeting.

“\(C\) Anti-predatory lending practices.

“\(D\) Changes of permanent station and rental planning.

“\(E\) Home loans available through the programs of the

Department of Veterans Affairs.

“\(F\) Protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

\(50 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.\) and section 987 of this title.

“\(2\) For the purposes of carrying out paragraph \(1\), the

Secretary shall seek to enter an agreement with a counseling

service organization that—

“\(A\) is a HUD-approved counseling agency \(as defined in

section 106\(h\) of the House and Urban Development Act of 1968

\(12 U.S.C. 1701x\(h\)\)\);

“\(B\) is organized as a tax-exempt entity under section

501\(c\)\(19\) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, defined by

the Internal Revenue Service as a Veteran Service

Organization serving the military-connected community;

“\(C\) has expertise in financial literacy, housing

stability, and home loan benefits for veterans; and

“\(D\) is capable of developing, administering, maintaining,

and providing specialized training and certification for HUD-

Certified Housing Counselors serving members of the armed

forces, veterans, and their families.”.

\(b\) Regulations.—The Secretary of Defense may prescribe

such regulations as are necessary to carry out the amendments

made by subsection \(a\).

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date on which

the services required under subsection \(d\) of section section

992 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection

\(a\), are established, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the

House of Representatives a report on the implementation of

such services, including—

\(1\) the number of members of the Armed Forces who received

counseling for housing stability, home loan benefits for

veterans, or rental planning;

\(2\) the rate of completion of the counseling services

offered under the pilot program; and

\(3\) indicators of financial stress and housing instability

for members of the Armed Forces participating in the pilot

program and any metrics for mitigating risks to the members

participating.

Amendment No. 192 Offered by Mr. McDowell of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, insert the

following:

SEC. 17\_\_. TAIWAN-FIVE EYES CYBER DEFENSE COOPERATION

INITIATIVE.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the

Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence,

should pursue expanded cooperation between Taiwan and the

Five Eyes partners on cyber defense; and

\(2\) such cooperation should include bilateral and

multilateral training exercises, law enforcement training,

and the negotiation of memoranda of understanding to expand

joint cyber-defense exercises.

\(b\) Strategy Required.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in

consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of

National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate

congressional committees a strategy to support the cyber

defense of Taiwan through coordination with the Five Eyes

partners. The strategy shall include the following:

\(A\) A framework for facilitating, where appropriate and to

the extent consistent with United States law and policy,

bilateral and multilateral cyber-defense training exercises

involving Taiwan and one or more Five Eyes partners,

including through the use of the authority provided in

section 5503\(b\) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 \(22 U.S,C, 3353\(b\)\).

\(B\) A plan to support law enforcement training programs for

Taiwan focused on cyber-enabled threats, including those

targeting critical infrastructure, financial systems, and

electoral processes.

\(C\) Identification of opportunities to encourage the

negotiation of memoranda of understanding among Taiwan and

Five Eyes partners to expand joint cyber-defense exercises,

threat-information sharing, and personnel exchanges.

\(D\) An assessment of lessons learned from Indo-Pacific

partners, and recommendations on how applicable practices

could be adapted to support Taiwan.

\(E\) A description of resources, authorities, and personnel

required to implement the strategy, including any additional

authorities the Secretary of Defense determines necessary.

\(2\) Form.—The strategy described in paragraph \(1\) shall be

transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a

classified annex.

\(c\) Pilot Exercise Program.—Pursuant to section 5503\(b\) of

the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2023 \(22 U.S.C. 3353\(b\)\), the Secretary of State

and the Secretary of Defense may carry out a pilot program to

conduct multilateral cyber-defense exercises that include the

participation of Taiwan and one or more Five Eyes partners.

\(d\) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period

not to exceed 5 years, the Secretary of Defense shall provide

to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on—

\(1\) the implementation of the strategy required under

subsection \(b\);

\(2\) the exercises carried out under the pilot program under

subsection \(c\); and

\(3\) any impediments to expanded cyber-defense cooperation

among Taiwan and the Five Eyes partners.

\(e\) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this

section, the term “appropriate congressional committees”

means—

\(1\) the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations,

and Intelligence of the Senate; and

\(2\) the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and

the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House

of Representatives.

Amendment No. 193 Offered by Mr. McDowell of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 17\_\_. ANNUAL REPORT ON MILITARY POWER AND ILLICIT

ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN DRUG CARTELS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date

specified in subsection \(f\), the Secretary of Defense, in

coordination with the Secretary of State, the Director of

National Intelligence, and the Attorney General, shall submit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the

military power and illicit activities of the cartels

specified in subsection \(b\). Each such report shall include

each of the following:

\(1\) A detailed assessment of the organizational structure,

leadership hierarchy, and key operational figures of each

cartel, including, with respect to any individuals affiliated

with the cartel, the roles of such individuals in conducting

military and paramilitary activities.

\(2\) An evaluation of the military and paramilitary

capabilities of each cartel, including the size, structure,

and sophistication of the armed forces or militias of the

cartel, including—

\(A\) a description of the types and quantities of weapons,

equipment, and technology \(including drones, encrypted

communications, and advanced surveillance systems\) used by

the cartel; and

\(B\) an assessment of the recruitment, training, and

operational tactics of the cartel, including an

identification of any cross-border operations and

coordination with other criminal or terrorist organizations.

\(3\) A description of the geographic areas, both within the

United States and internationally, where the cartels operate

or exert control of territory or influence, including the

control of such cartels over border regions and smuggling

routes.

\(4\) An assessment of the direct and indirect threats posed

by the cartels to the national security of the United States

and its allies.

\(5\) An assessment of efforts to address the threats posed

by the military power of cartels by the governments of

countries identified as major drug transit or major illicit

drug producing countries pursuant to section 706\(1\) of the

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 \(Public

Law 107-228\).

\(6\) A summary of current efforts by the Armed Forces, law

enforcement, and intelligence community of the United States

to counter the activities of the cartels, including

interagency coordination and cooperation with foreign

governments.

\(7\) Recommendations for additional authorities, resources,

or strategies to enhance the efforts of the United States to

disrupt and dismantle the military capabilities of the

cartels.

\(b\) Specified Cartels.—A cartel specified in this

subsection is any organization or entity that is engaged in

the production or trafficking of narcotics and that—

\(1\) the Secretary of State has designated as a foreign

terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the

Immigration and Nationality Act \(8 U.S.C. 1189\);

\(2\) is subject to sanctions under Executive Order 13224 \(50

U.S.C. 1701 note, relating to blocking property and

prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to

commit, or support terrorism\);

\(3\) is subject to sanctions under Executive Order 14059

\(relating to imposing sanctions on foreign persons involved

in the global illicit drug trade\); or

\(4\) is determined to be a transnational criminal

organization pursuant to the Fentanyl Eradication and

Narcotics Deterrence Act \(division E of Public Law 118-50; 21

U.S.C. 2341 note\).

\(c\) Form of Report.—The report required under subsection

\(a\) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include

a classified annex.

\(d\) Public Availability.—The unclassified portion of the

report required under subsection \(a\) shall be made publicly

available on a website of the Department of Defense.

\(e\) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this

section, the term

“appropriate congressional committees” means—

\(1\) the congressional defense committees;

\(2\) the congressional intelligence committees;

\(3\) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the

Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the

Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

\(4\) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,

the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on the

Judiciary of the Senate.

\(f\) Date Specified.—The date specified in this subsection

is December 31, 2030.

Amendment No. 194 Offered by Ms. Mejia of New Jersey

At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. REPORT ON GUN-LAUNCHED ELECTROMAGNETIC OBSCURATION

CAPABILITIES FOR NAVAL SYSTEMS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the Chief of

Naval Research and the Commander of the Naval Surface and

Undersea Warfare Centers, shall submit to the Committee on

Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on

the feasibility and operational utility of integrating

electromagnetic obscurant payloads into existing 5-inch naval

cargo rounds.

\(b\) Contents.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of the feasibility of integrating

radiofrequency chaff or other electromagnetic obscurant

payloads into existing 5-inch naval cargo rounds and Mk 45

naval gun systems.

\(2\) An assessment of the operational utility of gun-

launched electromagnetic obscuration capabilities for

degrading adversary radar tracking, targeting, and sensor

fusion in contested maritime environments.

\(3\) A description of ongoing or planned prototyping,

testing, or live-fire demonstration activities related to

ship-launched electromagnetic countermeasure payload

delivery.

\(4\) An assessment of integration considerations, including

shipboard storage, handling, payload dispersion, range, and

compatibility with existing naval gun systems.

\(5\) An assessment of opportunities to leverage existing

cargo munition technologies, infrastructure, or cross-service

technical expertise relevant to electromagnetic payload

delivery.

\(c\) Form.—The report required under subsection \(a\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form but may include a

classified annex.

Amendment No. 195 Offered by Mr. Meuser of Pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle I of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR

TO ROBERT J. GRAHAM FOR ACTS OF VALOR.

It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) the Secretary of Defense should review the acts of

valor of Robert J. Graham as a Captain in the Air Force on

May 1, 1966, to determine whether to recommend to the

President to award Robert J. Graham the Medal of Honor for

such acts of valor; and

\(2\) subject to the enactment of legislation to waive the

time limitations in section 9274 of title 10, United States

Code, the President should award the Medal of Honor to Robert

J. Graham for such acts of valor if the Secretary so

recommends.

Amendment No. 196 Offered by Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa

At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. REPORT ON PRODUCTION OF 155MM ARTILLERY AMMUNITION.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the

Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of

Representatives a report that includes—

\(1\) an explanation of the status of efforts to produce

155mm artillery ammunition for the Department of Defense; and

\(2\) recommendations, if any, for accelerating the

production of such ammunition to support the Army's minimum

production goal of 100,000 rounds per month for each type of

155mm artillery round.

Amendment No. 197 Offered by Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa

At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF

ARTILLERY PROJECTILES.

It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) maintaining robust domestic production of M795 155mm

artillery projectiles is critical to ensuring the operational

effectiveness of the Army; and

\(2\) the Secretary of Defense should take such steps as may

be necessary to ensure that the United States has sufficient

stockpiles of such projectiles to protect the interests of

the United States and its allies and partners throughout the

world.

Amendment No. 198 Offered by Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL

CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Army

should prioritize the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance

request for the Rock Island Arsenal Child Care Development

Center to support the readiness of the workforce.

Amendment No. 199 Offered by Mrs. Miller-Meeks of Iowa

At the end of subtitle B of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. STUDY ON ENERGY FUEL SOURCE CONVERSION AT THE IOWA

ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Army

shall, using funds otherwise made available to the Army,

conduct a study to assess the feasibility and cost-

effectiveness of converting the energy fuel source at the

Iowa Army Ammunition Plant from propane to natural gas.

\(b\) Elements.—The study under subsection \(a\) shall include

the following:

\(1\) A determination of the current annual propane

consumption at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, including

consumption by use category and seasonal variation.

\(2\) An estimate of the equivalent annual natural gas demand

required to meet the energy needs of the plant.

\(3\) An analysis of the projected costs and savings

associated with converting from propane to natural gas,

including any capital costs for the conversion of plant

infrastructure.

\(4\) An assessment of the energy reliability and resilience

implications of such a conversion.

\(5\) An evaluation of the availability of natural gas supply

to the plant, including any infrastructure, such as pipeline

access, that would be required to deliver natural gas to the

facility.

\(c\) Submission.—Not later than 30 days after the

completion of the study under subsection \(a\), the Secretary

of the Army shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services

of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report

containing the findings of such study.

Amendment No. 200 Offered by Mr. Min of California

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. STRATEGY AND REPORT ON STORAGE, SUSTAINMENT, AND

DEPLOYMENT OF COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT.

\(a\) Strategy and Report Required.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

the Air Force, in consultation with the Commander of United

States Transportation Command, shall—

\(1\) develop a comprehensive strategy for the storage,

sustainment, deployment, and operational support of CCA; and

\(2\) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the

Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the

strategy developed under paragraph \(1\).

\(b\) Contents.—The report required under subsection \(a\)\(2\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) A plan for the storage and sustainment of CCA that

addresses requirements associated with Agile Combat

Employment and Agile Combat Deployment operational concepts

of the Department of the Air Force.

\(2\) An assessment of—

\(A\) the extent to which CCA are capable of deployment

alongside crewed fighter aircraft traveling from within the

continental United States to forward theaters of operation

under contested logistics conditions; and

\(B\) the mobility feasibility of deploying CCA in the manner

described in subparagraph \(A\).

\(3\) A description of methods used to store CCA as of the

date of the submission of the report, disaggregated by

location type, including—

\(A\) depots located within the continental United States;

\(B\) forward operating hubs; and

\(C\) dispersed austere sites.

\(4\) For each location specified in paragraph \(3\), a summary

of—

\(A\) environmental requirements;

\(B\) security requirements; and

\(C\) shelf-life considerations associated with storing CCA

at such location.

\(5\) A description of the forward support footprint required

for each CCA detachment, including—

\(A\) personnel;

\(B\) tools;

\(C\) test equipment; and

\(D\) communications support requirements.

\(6\) A model addressing expected—

\(A\) attrition of CCA; and

\(B\) repair requirements for CCA.

\(7\) A summary of plans of the Department of the Air Force

for lifecycle sustainment of CCA, including—

\(A\) locations at which major maintenance, overhaul, and

repair operations will be conducted;

\(B\) plans for spare component pools; and

\(C\) expected turnaround times required to prepare CCA for

redeployment.

\(8\) A summary identifying which components of CCA—

\(A\) may be repaired in the event such component becomes

inoperable; and

\(B\) must be replaced.

\(9\) For each component identified under paragraph \(8\)\(B\),

an estimated timeline for replacement.

\(10\) A cost estimate for the sustainment of CCA, including

identification of—

\(A\) the average cost-per-flight-hour for CCA operations;

\(B\) the average cost-per-mission involving CCA; and

\(C\) the primary drivers of sustainment costs.

\(11\) A summary of operational assumptions derived from

relevant war games involving CCA, including identified

operational gaps, sustainment shortfalls, or risks.

\(12\) An assessment of requirements associated with

deploying CCA at scale in operational theaters, including

requirements relating to—

\(A\) sealift;

\(B\) airlift;

\(C\) prepositioning;

\(D\) fuel;

\(E\) spare components; and

\(F\) maintenance manpower.

\(13\) An assessment of whether deployment of CCA—

\(A\) improves overall utilization or capacity of applicable

ships, containers, or transportation platforms;

\(B\) decreases demand for space on such ships, containers,

or transportation platforms; and

\(C\) creates new logistical or sustainment burdens within

operational theaters.

\(14\) An assessment of—

\(A\) the marginal costs associated with moving, storing, and

sustaining CCA at scale; and

\(B\) the primary factors inhibiting deployment of CCA in the

Indo-Pacific region.

\(15\) Resource requirements and an implementation timeline

for the strategy developed under subsection \(a\)\(1\), including

budget estimates, force structure assumptions, and major

milestones.

\(c\) Federally Funded Research and Development Center

Support.—In carrying out the strategy and report

requirements under this section, the Secretary of the Air

Force may leverage the support of one or more federally

funded research and development centers with expertise in

logistics, force design, contested sustainment, autonomous

systems, or defense mobility planning.

\(d\) Form.—The report submitted pursuant to subsection

\(a\)\(2\) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may

include a classified annex.

\(e\) CCA Defined.—In this section, the term “CCA” means

autonomous, uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft of the

Department of the Air Force.

Amendment No. 201 Offered by Mr. Moolenaar of Michigan

At the end of subtitle D of title III, insert the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. REPORT ON ACCELERATING MILITARY POSTURE WITHIN AREA

OF RESPONSIBILITY OF UNITED STATES INDO-PACIFIC

COMMAND.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command

shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report

on options to accelerate the posture of the Armed Forces

within the area of responsibility of such Command. Such

report shall include the following:

\(1\) A comprehensive list of each planned or underway

initiative to establish or enhance access by the Armed Forces

to locations within such area of responsibility, including

access to headquarters, military installations, prepositioned

stocks, and forward operating locations within such area.

\(2\) For each initiative listed pursuant to paragraph \(1\)—

\(A\) an expected timeline for the completion of the

initiative, including an identification of major milestones

during the periods ending in 2030, 2035, and 2040,

respectively;

\(B\) a description of any opportunities to accelerate such

expected timeline;

\(C\) an analysis of any financial, diplomatic, logistical,

or other impediment to such accelerated timeline;

\(D\) recommendations to overcoming any such impediment,

including an identification of resources required; and

\(E\) an evaluation of the operational and strategic benefits

of such acceleration.

\(3\) A prioritized list of candidate initiatives, and

corresponding locations, suitable for the acceleration

described in paragraph \(2\), including an identification of

any resources or actions required for such acceleration.

Amendment No. 202 Offered by Mr. Moolenaar of Michigan

Add at the end of subtitle B of title XVII the following

new section:

SEC. \_\_. AMENDMENTS TO REQUIREMENTS FOR RAILROAD FREIGHT CARS

PLACED INTO SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND

TRANSPORTING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CARGO.

Section 20171 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by redesignating paragraphs \(5\) through \(12\), as

paragraphs \(6\) through \(13\), respectively; and

\(B\) by inserting after paragraph \(4\) the following:

“\(5\) Department of defense cargo.—The term \`Department of

Defense cargo' means the movement of goods by a rail carrier

arranged for, by, or on behalf of any of the armed forces, as

defined in section 101 of title 10.”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)\(1\) by striking “A railroad” and

inserting “Expect as required in subsection \(d\), a

railroad”;

\(3\) in subsection \(c\)\(3\)\(B\) by striking “Association of

American Railroad's Umler system” and inserting

“Association of American Railroads' Umler system”; and

\(4\) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(d\) Requirements for Railroad Freight Cars Transporting

Department of Defense Cargo.—For railroad freight cars

transporting Department of Defense cargo, the requirements of

subsection \(b\) shall apply as follows:

“\(1\) For the 1-year period beginning on the date of

enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2027, a railroad freight car produced during the

2-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment.

“\(2\) For the 1-year period beginning 1 year after such

date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the

5-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment.

“\(3\) For the 1-year period beginning 2 years after such

date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the

10-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment.

“\(4\) For the 1-year period beginning 3 years after such

date of enactment, a railroad freight car produced during the

15-year period immediately prior to such date of enactment.

“\(5\) On and after the date that is 4 years after such date

of enactment, a railroad freight car.”.

Amendment No. 203 Offered by Mr. Moore of Alabama

At the end of subtitle A of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY REPORTING.

Any project carried out by the Department of Defense using

other transaction authority under section 4021 of title 10,

United States Code, shall be reported in the same manner as

other Department of Defense expenditures for inclusion in the

searchable public website established by the Federal Funding

Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 \(31 U.S.C. 6101

note; Public Law 109-282\).

Amendment No. 204 Offered by Mr. Moore of North Carolina

In title XV, subtitle B, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 15\_\_. ARMY QUANTUM READINESS AND ADVANCED COMPUTING

INITIATIVE.

\(a\) Establishment.—The Secretary of the Army shall

establish an Army Quantum Readiness and Advanced Computing

Initiative to prepare the Department of the Army for the

integration of quantum computing, quantum-enabled

technologies, and advanced computing capabilities into future

operational, intelligence, logistics, and command-and-control

missions.

\(b\) Objectives.—The Initiative shall—

\(1\) identify Army operational applications of quantum

computing, quantum sensing, quantum networking, and quantum-

enabled artificial intelligence;

\(2\) assess infrastructure requirements necessary to support

future quantum and advanced computing capabilities, including

power, cooling, networking, cybersecurity, and secure

facilities;

\(3\) evaluate acquisition pathways capable of accelerating

the transition of quantum technologies from research and

development into operational use;

\(4\) identify opportunities to leverage partnerships among

Army laboratories, academic institutions, federally funded

research and development centers, and private industry;

\(5\) develop a workforce strategy to support future Army

quantum and advanced computing requirements; and

\(6\) establish pilot projects to evaluate advanced computing

infrastructure supporting future quantum-enabled

capabilities.

\(c\) Quantum Readiness Demonstration Activities.—The

Secretary may establish demonstration activities to

evaluate—

\(1\) advanced computing architectures supporting quantum

technologies;

\(2\) quantum-enabled artificial intelligence applications;

\(3\) post-quantum cybersecurity capabilities;

\(4\) resilient and secure networking architectures; and

\(5\) infrastructure necessary to support future Army quantum

capabilities.

\(d\) Report.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report describing—

\(1\) Army quantum readiness requirements;

\(2\) recommended infrastructure investments;

\(3\) workforce and educational requirements;

\(4\) recommended pilot and demonstration activities; and

\(5\) legislative or acquisition authorities necessary to

accelerate Army quantum readiness.

Amendment No. 205 Offered by Mr. Moore of Utah

Add at the end of title XI of division A the following:

SEC. 11\_\_. CODIFICATION OF DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR DOMESTIC

DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE FACILITIES, MAJOR RANGE

AND TEST FACILITIES BASE, AND OFFICE OF THE

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION.

\(a\) Codification.—Chapter 81 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new

section:

“Sec. 1599k. Direct hire authority for domestic defense

industrial base facilities, Major Range and Test Facilities

Base, and Office of the Director of Operational Test and

Evaluation

“\(a\) Defense Industrial Base Facility and Mrtfb.—The

Secretary of Defense may appoint, without regard to the

provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other

than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, qualified

candidates to positions in the competitive service at any

defense industrial base facility or the Major Range and Test

Facilities Base, including to Navy Supervisor of

Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair positions.

“\(b\) Office of the Director of Operational Test and

Evaluation.—The Secretary of Defense may, acting through the

Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, appoint

qualified candidates possessing an advanced degree to

scientific and engineering positions within the Office of the

Director of Operational Test and Evaluation without regard to

the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5,

other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title.

“\(c\) Definition of Defense Industrial Base Facility.—In

this section, the term \`defense industrial base facility'

means any Department of Defense depot, arsenal, or shipyard

located within the United States and includes supporting

units of a facility at an installation or base.”;

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the

beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the

following new item:

“1599k. Direct hire authority for domestic defense industrial base

facilities, Major Range and Test Facilities Base, and

Office of the Director of Operational Test and

Evaluation.”.

\(c\) Conforming Repeal.—Section 1125 of the National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 \(10 U.S.C.

1580 note prec.\) is repealed.

Amendment No. 206 Offered by Mr. Moore of Utah

At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. DESIGNATION OF LEAD AGENCY SERVICE DELIVERY

OFFICIAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

\(a\) Designation of Lead Agency Service Delivery Official.—

The Secretary of Defense shall designate a senior official of

the Department of Defense to serve as the Lead Agency Service

Delivery Official for the Department, in accordance with

section 323\(b\) of title 5, United States Code.

\(b\) Designation of Military Department Officials.—The

Secretary of Defense shall require each Secretary of a

military department to designate a senior official

responsible for coordinating service delivery improvement

activities within such military department.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report on the

implementation of service delivery improvement activities by

the Department. Such report shall include—

\(1\) an identification of each official designated pursuant

to subsection \(b\) or \(c\), including a description of the

respective authorities, responsibilities, and reporting

relationships of such officials;

\(2\) an assessment of the programs, benefits, services, and

functions of the Department that may be appropriate for

designation as a high impact service provider, as such term

is defined in section 321 of title 5, United States Code,

including any such services that directly affect members of

the Armed Forces and their families;

\(3\) a description of efforts to collect and incorporate

feedback from recipients of benefits and services of the

Department;

\(4\) a description of performance measures used to assess

the accessibility, efficiency, timeliness, and quality of the

delivery of such benefits and services;

\(5\) a description of standards established for the

collection, management, and reporting of such delivery

performance information across the Department; and

\(6\) any recommendations for additional authorities or

resources needed to improve the delivery of benefits and

services across the Department.

Amendment No. 207 Offered by Mr. Moran of Texas

At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. LIMITATION ON PROVISION OF FUNDS TO ELEMENTARY AND

SECONDARY SCHOOLS HOSTING CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES

AND CLASSROOMS.

\(a\) Limitation.—None of the funds authorized to be

appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for

fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Defense may be

provided to an elementary school or secondary school that

hosts a Confucius Institute or Classroom, other than amounts

provided directly to students as educational assistance.

\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “Confucius Institute or Classroom” means a

cultural institute or educational partnership directly or

indirectly funded by the Government of the People's Republic

of China.

\(2\) The terms “elementary school” and “secondary

school” have the meanings given those terms in section 8101

of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 \(20

U.S.C. 7801\).

Amendment No. 208 Offered by Ms. Morrison of Minnesota

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the

following:

SEC. 17\_\_. REPORT ON AVERAGE RESPONSE TIMES TO REQUESTS FOR

DD-214S.

Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the

Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Archivist of

the United States, shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report

that includes each of the following:

\(1\) The average response time, over the three-year period

preceding the date of the submission of the report, to

provide a replacement Certificate of Release or Discharge

from Active Duty \(DD Form 214\) to a veteran, next of kin, or

other authorized representative upon receipt of required

documentation to grant such request.

\(2\) The average response time, over such three-year period,

to notify a veteran, next of kin, or other authorized

representative who requests a Certificate of Release or

Discharge from Active Duty \(DD Form 214\) that the request

cannot be granted due to a lack of required documentation.

Amendment No. 209 Offered by Mr. Mullin of California

At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_. REPORT ON FUNDING BARRIERS FOR SUAS.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—Congress recognizes there is

unprecedented demand within the Department of Defense for

acquisition and fielding of small unmanned aircraft systems

\(in this section referred to as “ sUAS”\), particularly for

units slated for overseas deployments.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than March 31, 2027, the Secretary

of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed

Services of the Senate a report that includes—

\(1\) the reason or reasons for prohibiting use of operation

and maintenance fund for the purchase of sUAS participating

in a program of record;

\(2\) any broader challenges to the procurement of sUAS,

including lack of authority or funding sources within the

Department; and

\(3\) a description of any legislative action required to

address this issue.

Amendment No. 210 Offered by Mr. Neguse of Colorado

Add at the end of subtitle C of title VII the following new

section:

SEC. 7\_\_. INCLUSION ON A WEBSITE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

OF CERTAIN INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO A

PATIENT BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT AT A MILIARY

MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY.

Section 1073b\(b\)\(1\) of title 10, United States Code, as

amended by section 737, is further amended—

\(1\) by striking “The Secretary” and inserting “\(A\) The

Secretary”; and

\(2\) by striking “Such data” and all that follows and

inserting the following new subparagraph:

“\(B\) The data made available under subparagraph \(A\) shall

include the following:

“\(i\) The core performance metrics adopted by the Secretary

under section 728 of the National Defense Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 2017 \(Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 2234\).

“\(ii\) The average number of days between the date an

individual books an appointment at a military medical

treatment facility and the date of such appointment.

“\(iii\) The percentage of referrals of an individual to

another health care facility that are made not later than one

business day after the date on which such individual

contacted the military medical treatment facility.”.

Amendment No. 211 Offered by Mr. Neguse of Colorado

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. COMPREHENSIVE SHARED DATABASE FOR RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT.

\(a\) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense shall, in

collaboration with Federal laboratories, establish a

comprehensive shared database of research and technology

developed to help improve public and private cooperation in

order to benefit national security. Such database shall meet

necessary security standards, as determined by the Secretary.

\(b\) Federal Laboratories.—In establishing the database

under subsection \(a\), the Secretary shall collaborate with

Federal laboratories that focus on a variety of technologies,

sectors, and needs within the national security sector.

Amendment No. 212 Offered by Mr. Neguse of Colorado

Add at the end of subtitle C of title VII the following new

section:

SEC. \_\_. REPORT AND STANDARDS ON TIMELINESS OF ELECTRONIC

HEALTH RECORDS DURING TRANSITION FROM THE ARMED

FORCES.

\(a\) Report.—

\(1\) Requirement.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the congressional defense committees a report on

the timeliness of providing members of the Armed Forces who

are separating from active duty with a copy of the electronic

health records of the members.

\(2\) Elements.—The report under paragraph \(1\) shall include

the following, with respect to the one-year period preceding

the date of the report:

\(A\) The average number of days following separation from

active duty for a member to receive the electronic health

records of the member.

\(B\) The most number of days a member has waited to receive

such records.

\(C\) An explanation for delays in providing members such

records.

\(b\) Standards.—Not later than 270 days after the date on

which the Secretary submits the report under subsection

\(a\)\(1\), the Secretary shall establish standards to ensure

that a member of the Armed Forces who is separating from

active duty receives the electronic health records of the

member within a reasonable period.

\(c\) Reasonable Period Defined.—In this section, the term

“reasonable period”, with respect to the standards

established under subsection \(b\), means a period that the

Secretary of Defense determines appropriate after taking into

account—

\(1\) the findings of the report under subsection \(a\)\(1\); and

\(2\) the views of members of the Armed Forces who are

separating from active duty, veterans, and other individuals

the Secretary determines appropriate.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\) and the gentleman from Washington \(Mr. Smith\) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1210

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio \(Mr. Davidson\).

Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Chairman Hill's amendment to extend the Defense Production Act for an additional 5 years.

### For decades, the Defense Production Act has served as an important

national security tool. It has continually provided the flexibility to strengthen our industrial base, respond to emergencies, and ensure the United States has resources it needs to meet national security threats at home and abroad.

### The Defense Production Act helps keep our supply chains secure,

strengthens manufacturing in the United States, and ensures that our servicemembers have the support they need to defend our Nation.

### At a time when our adversaries are investing heavily in new

technologies and strengthening their own industrial and defense capabilities, we cannot afford to fall behind.

### Earlier this Congress, the House Financial Services Committee

unanimously advanced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and modernize the Defense Production Act. I was proud to sponsor that legislation. This reflects a shared understanding that a strong defense industrial base is essential to America's national security and to our economic resilience.

### Congress has a responsibility to provide our servicemembers with the

resources and support they need to accomplish their mission safely and effectively, and we must ensure there is no gap in essential provisions.

### While I am disappointed that this House is not considering the full

bipartisan reauthorization of our standalone bill, I do believe it is essential that we provide certainty to our own economy, to our defense industrial base, and to the manufacturers and processors to help keep America secure. This is what a clean, 5-year extension achieves.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of our colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers. At this time I urge support of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\).

The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 4 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.

Amendments en bloc No. 4 consisting of amendment Nos. 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, and 265 printed in part A of House Report 119-755, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama:

amendment no. 213 offered by mr. nehls of texas

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR BLAST OVERPRESSURE MITIGATION DEVICES

FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM CALIBER WEAPONS.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 4201 for Research, Development, Test,

and Evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Warrior

Systems, line 305, is hereby increased by $5,000,000 \(with

the amount of such increase to be used for blast overpressure

mitigation devices for small and medium caliber weapons\).

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 4201 for Research, Development, Test,

and Evaluation, Army, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, line 128 for Artillery

Systems—EMD is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

amendment no. 214 offered by mr. nehls of texas

In title XV, subtitle A, add at the end the following:

SEC. 15\_\_. INTERIM DATA PROTECTION MEASURES FOR THE

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

\(a\) Data Protection Review.—The Secretary of Defense shall

ensure that, not later than 45 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, each portfolio acquisition executive

initiates a narrow, expeditious review of each program of

record assigned to such executive to determine whether it is

feasible and practicable to incorporate into the program of

record cryptographic protection described in subsection \(b\)

in a manner that does not require replacement, modification,

or augmentation of existing chips, cryptographic cards,

radios, hardware security modules, or other physical

components.

\(b\) Cryptographic Protection.—The cryptographic protection

described in this subsection is utility-based, software-only

data packet level cryptographic protection that—

\(1\) advances data protection for the program of record

toward the migration to post quantum cryptography on or

before December 31, 2030, as directed in the memorandum of

the Chief Information Officer dated November 18, 2025

\(relating to “Preparing for Migration to Post Quantum

Cryptography”\);

\(2\) is, or is compatible with, a lattice-based, symmetric,

asymmetric, or hybrid cipher capable of providing security

strength of or exceeding Advanced Encryption Standard with a

256-bit key \(AES-256\), including post-quantum security key

encapsulation at greater than 1024-bit and digital signature

mechanisms and other parameters defined by the Chief

Information Officer;

\(3\) is capable of directly combining cryptographic key

material with access controls and authorization constraints

or policies controlled by the Department of Defense, a multi-

factor key for user identity management and device

authentication through the encryption process at the data or

key level, and can guarantee provenance between the sender

and the receiver of data;

\(4\) provides capability for variable symmetric encryption

strengths of at least 512-bit with minimal degradation of

encryption decryption speed; and

\(5\) provides full key custody and control to the data owner

within the Department of Defense, consistent key sovereignty,

including no requirement for key escrow, replication,

derivation, or retention of cryptographic keys by third-party

vendors.

\(c\) Approval.—Software providing the cryptographic

protection described in subsection \(b\) shall be approved by

the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense

before it is deployed in any program of record.

\(d\) Future Programs of Record.—The Secretary of Defense

shall ensure that each program of record established after

the date of the enactment of this Act incorporates

cryptographic protection described in subsection \(b\) from

inception, to the extent it is feasible and practicable to do

so.

\(e\) Pooled Implementation.—The Chief Information Officer

is authorized to direct pooled acquisitions of licenses for

cryptographic protection described in subsection \(b\) for use

by programs of record across one or more programs in one or

more military departments or other elements of the

Department.

\(f\) Vendor Lock.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure, in

acquiring any cryptographic protection described in

subsection \(b\), that the Department retains the legal and

technical capability to decrypt, access, and migrate its

encrypted data upon termination of the contract, without cost

and without extending the contract.

\(g\) Multi-year Term.—A contract for cryptographic

protection described in subsection \(b\) may have a multi-year

term if the

contract contains a clause for the Department of Defense to

opt out of the contract every two years.

\(h\) Relationship to Existing Guidance.—The Secretary of

Defense shall ensure that this section is implemented in a

manner that is consistent with, and seeks to advance, the

zero-trust initiatives and classified network protection

requirements of the Department of Defense.

amendment no. 215 offered by mr. newhouse of washington

Add at the end of subtitle B of title VIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 8\_\_. PROCUREMENT AND USE OF DOMESTIC SILICON ANODE

MATERIALS.

\(a\) Programs for Battery Cells and Battery Systems.—With

respect to a program to procure, test, or approve a battery

cell or battery system, the Secretary of Defense shall

prioritize, to the extent feasible, the use of silicon anode

materials manufactured in the United States or provided by

domestic suppliers in such programs if such materials meet or

enhance performance, safety, or cost requirements as set

forth by the Department.

\(b\) Procurement of Battery Cells and Battery Systems.—The

Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum extent

practicable, procure battery cells and battery systems

incorporating silicon anode materials manufactured in the

United States or provided by domestic suppliers using

intellectual property developed in the United States.

\(c\) Coordination.—The Secretary of Defense shall

coordinate with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency

and each Secretary of a military department to take such

action as may be necessary to align procurement policies,

qualification standards, and supply chain strategies for

domestic production of silicon anode materials technologies

and to reduce reliance on foreign-sourced silicon anode

materials for battery cells and battery systems.

amendment no. 216 offered by mr. norman of south carolina

At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE BRIEFING ON INSECT

REPELLENT UNIFORM TREATMENTS.

\(a\) Requirement.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall

provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the

House of Representatives and the Senate regarding validated

insect repellent available to the Army on the date of the

enactment of this Act.

\(b\) Elements.—The briefing under paragraph \(1\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) Ongoing evaluations to validate fabric treatments to

improve insect repellency for combat uniforms.

\(2\) An analysis of fabric treatment and garment treatment

performance results.

\(3\) Established research and development programs to

improve uniform insect repellency.

amendment no. 217 offered by mr. norman of south carolina

In subtitle B of title XVII, add at the end the following:

SEC. 17\_\_. PROHIBITION ON USE OF CCP-LINKED FINANCIAL

SERVICES PROVIDERS ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DEVICES.

\(a\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “control” means beneficially owning, either

directly or through one or more companies, more than 25

percent of the voting securities of an entity.

\(2\) The term “CCP-linked financial services provider”

means—

\(A\) a broker or dealer that is a member of a national

securities association and registered with the Securities and

Exchange Commission that is organized under the laws of the

People's Republic of China, is controlled by an entity

organized under the laws of the People's Republic of China,

or is controlled by a national of the People's Republic of

China who resides in the People's Republic of China;

\(B\) an investment adviser registered with the Securities

and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of

1940 that is organized under the laws of the People's

Republic of China, is controlled by an entity organized under

the laws of the People's Republic of China, or is controlled

by a national of the People's Republic of China who resides

in the People's Republic of China; or

\(C\) any other entity providing financial, investment, or

payment services that is organized under the laws of the

People's Republic of China, is controlled by an entity

organized under the laws of the People's Republic of China,

or is controlled by a national of the People's Republic of

China who resides in the People's Republic of China.

\(3\) The term “Department of Defense device” means any

computing device, mobile device, or communications equipment

issued by the Department of Defense or any component thereof.

\(b\) Prohibition.—Except as provided in subsection \(c\), no

officer or employee of the Department of Defense, member of

the Armed Forces, or contractor personnel operating a

Department of Defense device may download, install, or use

any application, platform, or software interface operated by

a CCP-linked financial services provider on any Department of

Defense device.

\(c\) Exception.—Subsection \(b\) shall not apply to any use

in connection with a law enforcement investigation,

intelligence activity, national security operation,

cybersecurity research activity, or enforcement or

supervisory action conducted in an official capacity and

authorized by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary's

designee.

amendment no. 218 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

In title XVIII, subtitle A, add at the end the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO COVERED DISTRIBUTED

LEDGER TECHNOLOGY AND BLOCKCHAIN EQUIPMENT OR

SERVICES.

\(a\) Prohibition on Acquisition.—The Secretary of Defense

may not acquire, or enter into, extend, or renew a contract

or other agreement for, any equipment, system, or service

that uses covered distributed ledger technology and

blockchain equipment or services as—

\(1\) a substantial or essential component of such equipment,

system, or service; or

\(2\) critical technology as part of such equipment, system,

or service.

\(b\) Prohibition on Loan and Grant Funds.—

\(1\) Prohibition.—The Secretary of Defense may not obligate

or expend loan or grant funds to acquire, or to enter into,

extend, or renew a contract or other agreement for, any

equipment, system, or service described in subsection \(a\).

\(2\) Prioritization.—In implementing the prohibition under

paragraph \(1\), the Secretary of Defense, in administering a

loan, grant, or subsidy program, shall prioritize available

funding and technical support to assist affected entities as

is reasonably necessary for those affected entities to cease

use of covered distributed ledger technology and blockchain

equipment or services, to acquire replacement equipment and

services, and to ensure that communications service to users

and customers is sustained.

\(c\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in subsection \(a\) or \(b\)

shall be construed to—

\(1\) prohibit the Secretary of Defense from acquiring from

an entity, or entering into, extending, or renewing a

contract or other agreement with an entity for, a service

that connects to the facilities of a third party, such as

blockchain protocols or interconnection arrangements; or

\(2\) apply to wireless telecommunications equipment or

third-party validators that cannot route or redirect user

data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or

packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

\(d\) Effective Date.—The prohibitions under subsections \(a\)

and \(b\) shall take effect on the date that is two years after

the date of the enactment of this section.

\(e\) Waiver Authority.—

\(1\) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph \(2\),

beginning on the effective date under subsection \(d\), the

Secretary of Defense may, upon request of an entity, issue a

waiver of the requirements under subsection \(a\) with respect

to such entity for a period of not more than two years.

\(2\) Requirements.—The Secretary of Defense may only

provide a waiver under this subsection if the entity seeking

the waiver—

\(A\) provides a compelling justification for the additional

time to implement the requirements of this section; and

\(B\) submits to the Secretary of Defense, who shall not

later than 30 days thereafter submit to the Committees on

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of

Representatives, a full and complete description of the

presence of covered distributed ledger technology and

blockchain equipment or services in the entity's supply chain

and a phase-out plan to eliminate such covered distributed

ledger technology and blockchain equipment or services.

\(3\) Elements of the intelligence community.—Beginning on

the effective date under subsection \(d\), a head of an element

of the intelligence community may waive the requirements

under subsection \(a\) if such head determines the waiver is in

the national security interests of the United States.

\(f\) Definitions.—In this Act:

\(1\) The term “covered distributed ledger technology and

blockchain equipment or services” means distributed ledger

technology and blockchain equipment or services of or

originating from a foreign adversary, including any of the

following companies or subsidiaries thereof:

\(A\) The Blockchain-based Services Network.

\(B\) The Spartan Network.

\(C\) The Conflux Network.

\(D\) iFinex, Inc.

\(E\) Red Date Technology Co., Ltd.

\(2\) The term “executive agency” has the meaning given the

term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code.

\(3\) The term “foreign adversary” has the meaning given

such term in section 7.2 of title 15, Code of Federal

Regulations.

\(4\) The term “intelligence community” has the meaning

given the term in section 3 of the National Security Act of

1947 \(50 U.S.C. 3003\).

amendment no. 219 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. PLAN TO SUPPORT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND

MATERIALS FOR HYPERSONICS RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT.

\(a\) Plan Required.—The Under Secretary of Defense for

Acquisition and Sustainment shall develop a plan to develop a

comprehensive set of advanced manufacturing practices and

advanced materials for hypersonics research and development.

\(b\) Elements.—At a minimum, the plan under subsection \(a\)

shall—

\(1\) address—

\(A\) intelligence-optimized robotic forming;

\(B\) additive and subtractive manufacturing methods;

\(C\) precision joining \(laser, e-beam, friction stir\) for

dissimilar metals and metal/CMC interfaces; and

\(D\) advanced materials and processing; and

\(2\) define qualification artifacts \(process allowable, non-

destructive inspection procedures, and digital-thread data

standards\) and pilot lines executed by consortia of primes,

startups, and Federal labs, with TRL/MRL, cost, and lead-time

objectives.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for

Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to the Committees on

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives

a report on the plan developed under subsection \(a\).

amendment no. 220 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

Page 381, after line 10, insert the following new section:

SEC. 5\_\_. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTIVENESS

OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND SOLID

START PROGRAM.

\(a\) Study Required.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of TAP and

the Solid Start program in identifying, counseling, and

supporting members of the Armed Forces and veterans regarding

mental health risks and transition-related stressors during

their separation from the Armed Forces.

\(b\) Elements.—The study required under subsection \(a\)

shall include an assessment of the following:

\(1\) The extent to which counseling provided under TAP

includes comprehensive information regarding post-traumatic

stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders,

depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation,

and other mental health conditions associated with service in

the Armed Forces.

\(2\) The effectiveness of TAP curriculum in educating

separating members on the risk factors of suicide, including

signs of severe relationship strain, isolation, unemployment,

or loss of community support systems.

\(3\) The baseline performance metrics and outreach success

rates of the Solid Start program during the first year

following separation from the Armed Forces, with a specific

focus on the program's success in facilitating veterans'

enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment under

section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.

\(4\) The degree of interagency data-sharing and coordination

between the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs to track warm handoffs for high-risk members

of the Armed Forces separating from active duty.

\(5\) Gaps in current pre-separation counseling and post-

separation outreach related to substance use disorder

resources, including alcohol and prescription opioid abuse

counseling.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report

containing the findings and recommendations of the

Comptroller General based on the study conducted under

subsection \(a\), including administrative or legislative

recommendations to reduce veteran suicide during the first

year following separation from the Armed Forces.

\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “appropriate congressional committee”

means—

\(A\) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives;

\(B\) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;

\(C\) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of

Representatives; or

\(D\) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.

\(2\) The term “Solid Start program” means the program

under section 6320 of title 38, United States Code.

\(3\) The term “TAP” means the Transition Assistance

Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United

States Code.

amendment no. 221 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

Add at the end of subtitle G of title XXVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. REPORT ON UNDERUTILIZED AIR NATIONAL GUARD

AIRFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Air Force

shall, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard

Bureau and the Commander of United States Strategic Command,

submit to the congressional defense committees a report

evaluating the feasibility, infrastructure readiness, and

cost-benefits of co-locating permanent, manned flying

missions at Air National Guard installations that currently

possess active runways but lack manned active aircraft.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An inventory of Air National Guard installations

described in subsection \(a\) that possess active runway

infrastructure of 9,000 feet or greater, secure military

enclaves, and proximity to regional training corridors or

geographic commands.

\(2\) An assessment of the capacity of such joint-use

commercial airfield infrastructure, including taxiways and

secure ramp space, to host permanent or distributed strategic

assets.

\(3\) An evaluation of the workforce readiness and technical

expertise, including cyber, intelligence, and remotely

piloted aircraft operations, to support advanced manned

flying missions.

\(4\) An assessment of alternative or distributed basing

options required to support strategic long-range strike

systems in the event that total procurement exceeds the

initial program of record.

amendment no. 222 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

At the end of subtitle D of title XVIII, add the following:

SEC. 18\_\_. REPORT ON ALIGNING SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT

COMPANY PROGRAM WITH DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE

REQUIREMENTS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5

years, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the

Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall

submit to the congressional defense committees a report

that—

\(1\) identifies priority capital-intensive defense

industrial base sectors, including—

\(A\) munitions and energetics;

\(B\) forgings and castings;

\(C\) propulsion components;

\(D\) specialty chemicals; and

\(E\) other critical manufacturing sectors identified by the

Secretary of Defense;

\(2\) assesses the extent to which investments made through

the SBIC program are aligned with the sectors identified

under paragraph \(1\);

\(3\) maps, to the extent practicable, SBIC-backed portfolio

companies to defense-relevant production and manufacturing

activities, including those supporting—

\(A\) facility construction and expansion;

\(B\) tooling, industrial equipment, and advanced

manufacturing capabilities;

\(C\) workforce development associated with production

scaling; and

\(D\) supply chain resilience and domestic sourcing of

critical inputs;

\(4\) assesses the extent to which the SBIC program is

contributing to—

\(A\) increased production capacity and throughput;

\(B\) reduced production timelines and bottlenecks;

\(C\) expanded surge capacity and mobilization readiness; and

\(D\) mitigation of supply chain vulnerabilities, including

reliance on foreign entities of concern;

\(5\) describes the types of capital deployed through SBIC

funds in defense-relevant sectors, including equity

investments, subordinated debt, and other financing

structures, and evaluates whether such capital is suited to

capital-intensive manufacturing requirements;

\(6\) identifies barriers to greater SBIC participation in

defense industrial base sectors, including—

\(A\) risk-return profiles associated with capital-intensive

manufacturing investments;

\(B\) statutory or regulatory limitations within the SBIC

program;

\(C\) information asymmetries between the Department of

Defense and private fund managers; and

\(D\) challenges related to contracting timelines, demand

signals, or program stability; and

\(7\) provides recommendations to improve alignment between

the SBIC program and defense industrial base requirements.

\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “SBIC” means a small business investment

company \(as defined in section 103 of the Small Business

Investment Act of 1958 \(15 U.S.C. 662\)\).

\(2\) The term “SBIC program” means the small business

investment company program of the Small Business

Administration.

amendment no. 223 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

At the end of subtitle F of title XII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 12\_\_. ANNUAL REPORT ON TAIWAN CAPABILITIES AND

INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT.

Section 1248 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2022 \(Public Law 117-81\) is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by striking “fiscal year 2027, the Secretary of State

and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the

Director of National Intelligence and the heads of other

relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall jointly”

and inserting “fiscal year 2031, the Secretary of Defense,

in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director

of National Intelligence, shall”;

\(B\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “ability of Taiwan” and

inserting “readiness of the Taiwan military”;

\(C\) by redesignating paragraph \(16\) as paragraph \(19\); and

\(D\) by adding after paragraph \(15\) the following:

“\(16\) An assessment regarding how Japan, the Republic of

Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia would likely

respond to contingencies, including—

“\(A\) a military strike or invasion of Taiwan or an

offshore island of Taiwan, including Kinmen, Matsu, Wuciou,

Taiping Island, and Penghu;

“\(B\) a commercial blockade of Taiwan in which

international vessels are subjected to search or seizure by

the People's Liberation Army;

“\(C\) a major cyberattack against the critical

infrastructure of Taiwan; and

“\(D\) a seizure of one or more of Taiwan's offshore islands

or territorial claims.

“\(17\) Guidance for representatives from the military of

Taiwan to attend, as observers and as appropriate, joint

military exercises led by the United States, such as the

biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise.

“\(18\) An assessment of the feasibility of using economic

tools, including export controls, sanctions, and tariffs, to

deter China from carrying out the actions described in

subparagraphs \(A\) through \(D\) of paragraph \(16\).”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “; and” and inserting a

semicolon;

\(B\) in paragraph \(3\), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

\(C\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(4\) an assessment of how the United States Armed Forces

could marshal resources to respond to the actions described

in subparagraphs \(A\) through \(E\) of subsection \(a\)\(16\), based

on the force posture and stockpiles of the Armed Forces.”.

amendment no. 224 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, insert the

following:

SEC. 12\_\_. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ON DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL

PRIORITIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND

TAIWAN.

The Secretary of Defense shall seek to establish a

partnership between the Department of Defense and appropriate

counterparts of Taiwan in order to—

\(1\) enhance market opportunities for United States-based

and Taiwan-based defense technology companies;

\(2\) bolster Taiwan's defense industrial base;

\(3\) harmonize global security posture through emerging

technology;

\(4\) counter the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese

Communist Party-aligned adversarial proxy group development

of dual-use defense technologies; and

\(5\) in coordination with appropriate counterpart offices of

the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense—

\(A\) enable coordination on defense industrial priorities;

\(B\) streamline emerging defense technology research and

development;

\(C\) create more pathways to market for defense technology

startups; and

\(D\) collaborate on the coordinated development of dual-use

defense capabilities, such as the following:

\(i\) Drones.

\(ii\) Microchips.

\(iii\) Directed energy weapons.

\(iv\) Artificial Intelligence.

\(v\) Missile technology.

\(vi\) Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

technology.

amendment no. 225 offered by mr. nunn of iowa

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 12\_\_. JOINT UNITED STATES-TAIWAN RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT,

TEST, AND EVALUATION PROGRAM.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary, in coordination with the

Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and in

consultation with the Secretary of State, shall seek to carry

out with Taiwan a joint research, development, test, and

evaluation program \(in this section referred to as the

“Program”\) to accelerate the development and transition of

unmanned aircraft systems and counter-UAS systems.

\(b\) Program Activities.—In carrying out the Program, the

Secretary may, with respect to unmanned aircraft systems and

counter-UAS systems—

\(1\) research, develop, test, and evaluate such systems, and

related enabling technologies, jointly with Taiwan, including

by prototyping;

\(2\) fund the development of critical components of such

systems, including sensors, autonomy software, control

systems, communications modules, and propulsion technologies;

\(3\) test, evaluate, and experiment with respect to such

systems in relevant operational environments jointly with

Taiwan;

\(4\) integrate systems developed under the Program into

exercises, demonstrations, and operational use; and

\(5\) transition systems and technologies developed under the

Program to production using available authorities.

\(c\) Priorities.—In carrying out the Program, the Secretary

shall prioritize systems and technologies that—

\(1\) address capability gaps identified by the Commander of

the United States Indo-Pacific Command;

\(2\) demonstrate the capability to transition to production

and operational use within 24 to 36 months; and

\(3\) support interoperability and integration with respect

to the United States Armed Forces and the military forces of

Taiwan.

\(d\) Coordination.—The Secretary shall ensure that

activities under the Program—

\(1\) are coordinated with the Commander of the United States

Indo-Pacific Command;

\(2\) leverage contributions from Taiwan, including financial

and in-kind support; and

\(3\) align with existing security cooperation and technology

development programs.

\(e\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter

for 5 years, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional

defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the

House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign

Relations of the Senate a report that—

\(1\) identifies activities funded under the Program and the

funding levels of such activities;

\(2\) evaluates progress toward testing, production, or

operational use of systems developed under the Program;

\(3\) describes contributions to the Program from Taiwan,

including financial and in-kind support;

\(4\) evaluates alignment of the Program with operational

requirements of the United States Indo-Pacific Command; and

\(5\) identifies barriers to transitioning systems and

technologies developed under the Program and provides

recommendations to address such barriers.

\(f\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Counter-UAS system; unmanned aircraft system.—The

terms “counter-UAS system” and “unmanned aircraft system”

have the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title

49, United States Code.

\(2\) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for

Research and Engineering.

amendment no. 226 offered by mr. obernolte of california

At the end of subtitle C of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATED ROAD AND RAILROAD

LOGISTICS CAPABILITIES FOR UNITED STATES

TRANSPORTATION COMMAND.

\(a\) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense,

acting through the Commander of the United States

Transportation Command, shall establish a pilot program to

assess the operational utility of integrated road and

railroad logistics capabilities at the initial and final

stages of the transportation process, to improve the

resilience, throughput, and safety of surface distribution in

support of joint force operations, including in austere and

contested environments.

\(b\) Activities.—The pilot program under subsection \(a\)

shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with

applicable safety and security requirements, include the

following activities:

\(1\) The demonstration and evaluation of surface logistics

platforms capable of—

\(A\) operating on public roads and on standard-gauge rail

infrastructure, including yards, spurs, sidings, and

railheads; and

\(B\) transitioning between such modes without requiring the

construction of new fixed terminal infrastructure.

\(2\) The demonstration and evaluation of capabilities to

transport standardized cargo platforms, including loads

compatible with international intermodal containers \(commonly

referred to as “ISO containers”\) and other modular

payloads, between public roads and rail infrastructure in a

manner that reduces reliance on multiple specialized assets

for handling cargo and reduces cargo dwell time at railheads

and yards.

\(3\) The assessment of plans for the operational deployment

of such platforms, capabilities, and associated systems,

for—

\(A\) distribution to military installations and use with

respect to depots;

\(B\) port and strategic mobility support activities; and

\(C\) distributed logistics in austere and contested

environments where infrastructure is damaged, constrained, or

unavailable.

\(4\) The demonstration and evaluation of a software-enabled

capability to coordinate transportation on public roads and

rail infrastructure at the initial and final stages of the

transportation process, including to coordinate the

scheduling of yard and terminal availability, mission

assignment, and exception management, and to generate

auditable performance data on such activities.

\(5\) The assessment of cybersecurity and data integrity

measures for any networked command-and-control, dispatch, or

audit logging function relating to such pilot program,

including authentication, encryption in transit, access

controls, and tamper-evident recordkeeping, consistent with

applicable cybersecurity policies of the Department of

Defense.

\(6\) The evaluation of safety considerations \(including with

respect to human involvement in supervision activities, as

appropriate\) and compliance pathways for operations on or

adjacent to rail infrastructure and in controlled

environments, including geofenced areas.

\(c\) Locations.—The Commander of the United States

Transportation Command

shall carry out the pilot program under subsection \(a\) at one

or more locations selected by the Commander. Such locations

may include the following:

\(1\) A strategic distribution node, port, or other surface

distribution hub supporting the Defense Transportation

System.

\(2\) A railhead located at a military installation, a depot,

a location at which logistics readiness activities are

conducted, or another facility of the Department of Defense

with recurring surface distribution requirements.

\(d\) Metrics and Evaluation.—In carrying out the pilot

program under subsection \(a\), the Commander of the United

States Transportation Command shall establish metrics and, to

the maximum extent practicable, collect and assess

performance data for the activities conducted under such

pilot program. Such data may include the following:

\(1\) Cargo dwell time and throughput.

\(2\) Labor hour requirements and safety incidents.

\(3\) Operational availability and maintenance burden.

\(4\) Energy use and fuel consumption.

\(5\) Integration burden with existing logistics information

systems.

\(6\) Cybersecurity observations and data integrity outcomes.

\(e\) Termination.—The pilot program under subsection \(a\)

shall terminate on the date that is two years after the date

on which the pilot program is established.

\(f\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

termination of the pilot program under subsection \(e\), the

Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional

defense committees a report containing a description of the

results of such pilot program, including the following:

\(1\) A summary of the activities conducted under such pilot

program and the locations selected pursuant to subsection

\(c\).

\(2\) An assessment of the performance of such activities

against the metrics established pursuant to subsection \(d\).

\(3\) An identification of any safety or regulatory

constraint encountered in carrying out such activities,

including as a result of railroad operating rules.

\(4\) An assessment of cybersecurity and data integrity

considerations.

\(5\) A cost-informed assessment of the scalability of such

pilot program and related sustainment considerations.

\(6\) Recommendations regarding future experimentation

relating to the capabilities demonstrated and evaluated under

such pilot program or similar capabilities, the development

of related requirements, and potential transition pathways

for such capabilities.

amendment no. 227 offered by mr. obernolte of california

At the end of subtitle F of title XVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF INDUSTRIAL BASE FOR TURBOJET

PYROTECHNIC DEVICES.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) Turbojet pyrotechnic devices are critical for the

operation of aerial targets and unmanned systems used in

military training and testing, and weapon systems.

\(2\) Current supply chain lead times of 18 to 36 months

exceed the Department of Defense's 12-month requirement,

creating a production bottleneck that poses risks to

readiness and operational effectiveness.

\(b\) Report Required.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,

in consultation with the Secretary of the Army and the

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy,

shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report

that, with respect to turbojet pyrotechnic devices—

\(1\) assesses—

\(A\) projected demand through fiscal year 2030, including

with respect to initiators, igniters, pyroflares, turbine

start cartridges, and other similar pyrotechnic devices;

\(B\) current United States production capacity, scalability,

and lead times;

\(C\) supply chain vulnerabilities and impacts on readiness;

and

\(D\) potential commercial or dual-use applications; and

\(2\) provides recommendations to reduce supply chain lead

times, diversify suppliers, and strengthen the industrial

base.

\(c\) Implementation Authority.—The Secretary of Defense may

initiate pilot efforts or partnerships that support

implementation of the recommendations in the report under

subsection \(b\).

amendment no. 228 offered by mr. ogles of tennessee

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, insert the

following:

SEC. 12\_\_. PLAN REQUIRED FOR FULL PARTICIPATION BY TAIWAN IN

THE RIM OF THE PACIFIC EXERCISE.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall create a plan for

the naval forces of Taiwan to fully participate in the Rim of

the Pacific exercise conducted in 2028.

amendment no. 229 offered by mr. owens of utah

At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. REPORT ON FIELDING OF LINK 16 TACTICAL DATA LINK

NETWORKING CAPABILITIES ON UH-60M AND CH-47F

AIRCRAFT.

Not later than December 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Army

shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report

on the efforts of the Army to field Link 16 tactical data

link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft.

The report shall include—

\(1\) a description of how Link 16 tactical data link

networking capabilities on the AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F

aircraft contribute to the Next Generation Command and

Control efforts of the Army; and

\(2\) such other information as the Secretary determines

appropriate.

amendment no. 230 offered by mr. pappas of new hampshire

At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRICTION STIR

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary of Defense

for Research and Engineering shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a comprehensive report

outlining the strategy of the Department of Defense for the

research, development, and deployment of friction stir

additive manufacturing technologies.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required by subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of the strategic importance of developing

and deploying friction stir additive manufacturing

technologies for national defense, including their potential

to enhance supply chain resilience, manufacturing agility,

and operational readiness.

\(2\) A detailed summary of current and planned Department of

Defense programs and initiatives that are supporting the

development, testing, or implementation of friction stir

additive manufacturing technologies.

\(3\) An analysis of key areas of operational impact of such

technologies, including—

\(A\) expeditionary manufacturing and sustainment

capabilities;

\(B\) deployable micro-factory systems for forward operating

bases or contested environments; and

\(C\) development of ultra-large-scale friction stir additive

manufacturing techniques for critical defense infrastructure

and platforms.

amendment no. 231 offered by mr. patronis of florida

At the end of subtitle I of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO

CERTAIN BATTLE OF MIDWAY TORPEDO SQUADRON

COMMANDERS AND DIVE BOMBER FLIGHT LEADS FOR

ACTS OF VALOR.

\(a\) Authorization.—Notwithstanding the time limitations

specified in sections 8298\(a\) and 8300 of title 10, United

States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the

awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed

Forces, the President is authorized to award the Medal of

Honor, under section 8291 of such title, to Commander

Clarence W. McClusky, Lieutenant Commander Max F. Leslie,

Lieutenant Commander Eugene E. Lindsey, Lieutenant Commander

Lance E. Massey, Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron, and

Lieutenant Richard H. Best for the acts of valor described in

subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Acts of Valor Described.—The acts of valor described

in this subsection are the actions of the individuals

described in subsection \(a\) on June 4, 1942, as members of

the Navy, during combat operations near Midway Atoll that led

to the sinking of four enemy aircraft carriers.

amendment no. 232 offered by mr. pettersen of colorado

At the end of subtitle A of title XVI, add the following

new section:

SEC. 16\_\_. REPORT ON OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING

STANDARDS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE

ARCHITECTURES.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air

Force, acting through the Chief of Space Operations and in

coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

for Space Aquistion and Integration, the Commander of Space

Systems Command, and the Director of the Space Warfighting

Analysis Center, shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report on the governance, maintenance,

validation, implementation, and future development of optical

communications and networking standards for national security

space architectures.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) A description of the governance structure for such

standards, including the roles and responsibilities of

relevant Department of Defense organizations and

participating industry and allied stakeholders.

\(2\) A description of the process by which such standards

are developed, reviewed, validated, approved, published,

maintained, and incorporated into acquisition programs and

requirements.

\(3\) An assessment of the extent to which current and

planned standards support cross-vendor interoperability,

backward compatibility where practicable, and participation

by qualified commercial providers.

\(4\) A description of technical validation processes,

testing activities, and mechanisms for incorporating

operational lessons learned and industry feedback into future

standards revisions.

\(5\) An assessment of how such standards are being

incorporated into United States Space Force architecture

planning, acquisition activities, and allied and partner

engagements.

\(6\) An assessment of risks associated with transitioning

between versions of such standards, including impacts on

competition, acquisition timelines, interoperability, and

mission assurance.

\(7\) Identification of any legislative, policy, authority,

or resource gaps that limit the Department's ability to

sustain and evolve such standards.

\(c\) Briefing.—Not later than 30 days after submitting the

report required under subsection \(a\), the Secretary of the

Air Force shall provide a briefing to the congressional

defense committees on the findings and recommendations

contained in the report.

\(d\) Form.—The report required under subsection \(a\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form but may include a

classified annex.

amendment no. 233 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. PILOT PROGRAM FOR INTEGRATED WARFIGHTER COGNITIVE

PERFORMANCE AND READINESS.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) long-term exposure to high-stress operational

environments compromises cognitive performance, sleep

quality, and psychological resilience, creating conditions

for reduced readiness, impaired decision-making, increased

behavioral health risk, and greater potential for anxiety,

depression, and other stress-related conditions among members

of the Armed Forces;

\(2\) the Secretary of Defense's May 6, 2026, directive

establishing Warfighter Performance Optimization as a core

Department of Defense priority directs a data-driven,

outcomes-focused approach to scaling proven human performance

capabilities across the force and mandates development of

minimum standards for human performance programs;

\(3\) commanders across multiple military services have

independently invested in cognitive performance capabilities

from local budgets due to existing programs have not

consistently delivering measurable readiness outcomes,

demonstrating demand for scalable, evidence-based solutions

that bridge the gap between research and real-world military

performance; and

\(4\) commercially available, scientifically researched

capabilities with documented real-world military performance,

including measurable improvements in cognitive performance,

sleep quality, stress resilience, and clinical care

utilization, are immediately available for deployment and

scaling through existing Federal acquisition pathways, with

minimal cost or requirements to development of a new program,

in direct support of the Department's warfighter performance

optimization priorities.

\(b\) Establishment of Pilot Program.—Not later than March

1, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot

program to modernize existing military resilience and

performance programs in support of the warfighter performance

optimization priorities of the Department of Defense. The

program shall be designed to provide members of the Armed

Forces and their dependents with an integrated cognitive

performance and readiness capability that combines live

performance training, cognitive training tools and

technologies, always-on digital support, live coaching, care

navigation, sleep optimization, and on-installation cognitive

readiness infrastructure. In selecting capabilities for the

pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to

commercially or federally available capabilities with

documented success and prior performance in military or high-

stress operational environments.

\(c\) Elements.—The pilot program under subsection \(b\) shall

be designed to include the following elements:

\(1\) The demonstration of a substantial body of

scientifically researched and evidence-based published

evidence of measurable improvements in cognitive performance

outcomes, including sustained attention, reaction time under

stress, and stress regulation, in military or high-stress

operational populations, including evidence derived from

alpha-competitive and high-consequence operational

environments such as military aviation, special operations,

and elite performance contexts, demonstrating real-world

military efficacy.

\(2\) The demonstration of military cultural competence

across all personnel delivering services, including coaches,

facilitators, and support staff, through documented training

requirements specific to military populations, operational

environments, and families of members of the Armed Forces.

\(3\) Content and curriculum developed in partnership with

experts with documented service in military operational

leadership roles, aligned to service-specific resilience and

readiness frameworks and the unique demands of military life,

deployment cycles, and family support, and continuously

updated to reflect advances in cognitive performance science.

\(4\) The delivery of cognitive performance capabilities

through—

\(A\) a holistic approach encompassing education, training,

leadership development, and culture, providing tactical tools

and skill sets applicable across the full spectrum of

military service, any area of operations, and all phases of a

member's career; and

\(B\) multiple complementary modalities including in-person

instruction by certified facilitators, on-installation

cognitive performance environments, and always-on digital

access, ensuring continuity of support regardless of

operational tempo, deployment status, or geographic location.

\(5\) Interactive and contextualized live cognitive

performance training—

\(A\) provided by specialized training teams with expert

knowledge of cognitive performance and how to apply skills

across the phases of a military career, focused on

development of a high-performance mindset to increase

readiness, warfighter lethality, and leadership under stress,

with certified facilitators embedded at installations to

sustain program culture and common language within units

between training events; and

\(B\) that is delivered in-person at installations when

operationally feasible, with alternative delivery modalities

available for deployed or distributed environments.

\(6\) Cognitive training tools and resources, including

technologies and structured skill-building environments,

designed to improve resilience, focus, decision making, and

recovery under pressure, with documented peer-reviewed

evidence of measurable improvements in cognitive performance

outcomes including attention, stress regulation, and reaction

time.

\(7\) A commercially available digital component with

demonstrated adoption by millions of users across civilian

and enterprise populations, providing continuous on-demand

access to cognitive performance support, sleep optimization,

stress regulation, mental health and wellness content, and

mental fitness resources, including content developed in

partnership with experts with documented service in military

operational leadership roles, accessible to members of the

Armed Forcese and their family members between and

independent of scheduled training events, including in

deployed environments.

\(8\) Evidence-based sleep optimization resources and

interventions with documented peer-reviewed evidence of

measurable improvements in sleep onset, sleep quality, and

insomnia reduction, accessible to members of the Armed Forces

and their families on demand.

\(9\) On-demand access, at any time during the day or night,

to live subclinical coaching support with response times less

than two minutes on average as well as through scheduled

video and text based sessions for members of the Armed Forces

and their families, with demonstrated rapid-access connection

capability, with military cultural competence training

required of all coaching personnel as a condition of

employment.

\(10\) Validated assessments and structured care navigation

connecting members of the Armed Forces to existing military

and Department support resources, including base-level

services, crisis pathways, and clinical referral

infrastructure aligned to co-created protocols, optimizing

the use of existing investments rather than duplicating such

investments.

\(11\) Evidence-based cognitive readiness environments at

participating installations using sensory and cognitive

stimulation technologies with documented peer-reviewed

evidence of measurable improvements in stress recovery and

cognitive performance outcomes following use.

\(12\) Outcome tracking and data collection capabilities

across its integrated components, including biometric,

assessment-based, and clinical utilization measures of

cognitive readiness, designed to support Department-wide

warfighter performance reporting requirements.

\(13\) Commercially availability and contractability under

existing Federal acquisition pathways, with a preference for

capabilities with documented prior performance in military

environments, to enable rapid deployment following program

authorization without delay to execution.

\(d\) Metrics.—The Secretary shall evaluate the pilot

program using the following metrics:

\(1\) Cognitive performance outcomes, including sustained

attention, reaction time under stress, and validated measures

of stress and resilience.

\(2\) Sleep quality indicators, including member survey data

and sleep medication usage rates.

\(3\) Behavioral health referral and counseling center usage

rates at participating installations.

\(4\) Related clinical care wait times and limited duty

assignment rates attributable to stress and behavioral health

conditions.

\(5\) Use and results of cognitive training tools and

technologies, including data on attention, focus, relaxation,

and workload regulation.

\(6\) The level of engagement of members of the Armed Forces

and their families, including number of sessions and average

hours of substantive program use per active participant.

\(7\) Program cost efficiency indicators, including estimated

reductions in clinical care use and behavioral health-related

attrition.

\(e\) Report.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than one year after the

commencement of the pilot program under subsection \(b\), the

Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report

on the implementation and outcomes of the program. Such

report shall include—

\(A\) the evaluation of the pilot program using the metrics

under subsection \(d\);

\(B\) an assessment of whether the program reduced attrition

and improved cognitive performance and resilience among

participating members of the Armed Forces; and

\(C\) a recommendation as to whether the Department of

Defense should expand the program across additional

installations or populations.

\(2\) Form.—The report required under this subsection shall

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a

classified annex.

amendment no. 234 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

Page 275, after line 2, insert the following new section:

SEC. 5\_\_. LIMITED CONSIDERATION OF SATISFACTORY NON-REGULAR

SERVICE TOWARDS SERVICE-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT OF

A RESERVE OFFICER WHO RETIRES VOLUNTARILY.

Section 1370\(b\)\(1\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subparagraph \(A\), by striking “; and” and

inserting a semicolon;

\(2\) in subparagraph \(B\), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“\(C\) in the case of a reserve officer, such period may

include satisfactory non-regular service, but not for

purposes of calculating—

“\(i\) the retired pay or other benefits from the United

States to which such reserve officer would have been entitled

based upon military service; or

“\(ii\) any benefit to which any other person may become

entitled based on such military service.”.

amendment no. 235 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. IMPROVEMENT TO CONTINUATION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH

CARE.

Section 1145\(a\)\(4\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) by striking “Except as” and inserting “\(A\) Except

as”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“\(B\) In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary of

Defense shall ensure that a member may enroll in the

transitional health care under paragraph \(1\) by not later

than two business days after the date on which the 180-day

transition period begins.”.

amendment no. 236 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

Page 1295, line 25, strike “\(f\)” and insert “\(g\)”.

Page 1297, line 1, strike “\(g\)” and insert “\(h\)”.

Page 1295, after line 25, insert the following:

\(e\) Hardware and Firmware Assurance Pilot Program.—

\(1\) Establishment.—Not later than 90 days after the date

of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense,

acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for

Industrial Base Policy, shall carry out a pilot program in

partnership with relevant private entities to conduct a

third-party hardware evaluation and an independent analysis

of emerging technologies capable of independently verifying

the composition and integrity of commercial electronic

devices procured through defense supply chains without

reliance on hardware bills of materials, software bills of

materials, or similar records.

\(2\) Elements.—In carrying out the pilot program

established under this section, the Secretary shall—

\(A\) identify such technologies for inclusion in the pilot

program that perform non-destructive chipset-level

interrogation to identify counterfeit, substituted, or

compromised components within commercially-sourced equipment;

\(B\) identify military installations where such technologies

can assess equipment—

\(i\) in use; and

\(ii\) that has been acquired but not yet deployed; and

\(C\) ensure, to the extent feasible, that a variety of types

of commercially-sourced equipment are included in the pilot

program.

\(3\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date on

which the pilot program commences, the Secretary shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report on the

results of the pilot program, including recommendations for

broader implementation and an assessment of costs and

benefits.

amendment no. 237 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. STRATEGY TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AT THE UNITED

STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, the Superintendent of the United States Air Force

Academy shall submit to the congressional defense committees

and the Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Academy a

report containing a strategy to improve academic outcomes at

the Academy. Such report shall include—

\(1\) an assessment of the Cadet Honor Code and any

recommendations of the Superintendent to update the Cadet

Honor Code to address artificial intelligence, large language

models, and other emerging technology;

\(2\) an assessment of the effects of banning the use of

mobile phones, smart watches, and other internet-connected

devices in academic settings, including a review of publicly

available data and outcomes from academic institutions other

than military service academies that have implemented such a

ban; and

\(3\) any other policies or modifications to methods of

instruction that the Superintendent considers appropriate to

improve academic outcomes in support of the Air Force Core

Values of “Integrity First. Service Before Self. Excellence

in All We Do”.

amendment no. 238 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

At the end of subtitle D of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. REDESIGNATION OF DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF UNITED

STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY AS PROVOST AND DEAN OF

THE FACULTY.

Chapter 953 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in section 9431\(b\)\(2\), by striking “Dean of the

Faculty” and inserting “Provost and Dean of the Faculty”;

and

\(2\) in section 9435—

\(A\) in the heading, by inserting “Provost and” before

“Dean”;

\(B\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(i\) in the first sentence, by striking “Dean of the

Faculty” and inserting “Provost and Dean of the Faculty”;

and

\(ii\) by striking “the Dean” each place it appears in the

second and third sentences and inserting “the Provost and

Dean”; and

\(C\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “Dean of the Faculty”

and inserting “Provost and Dean of the Faculty”;

Amendment No. 239 Offered by Mr. Pfluger of Texas

At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. REVOCATION OF SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR CERTAIN

PERSONS.

\(a\) Prohibition.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, the Secretary of Defense shall suspend or revoke a

security clearance or eligibility for access to classified

information for any retired or separated member of the Armed

Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense who

engages in an activity described in subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Activities Described.—The activities described in this

subsection are lobbying activities or lobbying contacts for

or on behalf of any entity that is—

\(1\) identified by the Secretary of Defense in the most

recent report submitted under section 1260H of the William M.

\(Mac\) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2021 \(10 U.S.C. 113 note\) as a Chinese military

company; and

\(2\) included in the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial

Complex Companies List published by the Department of the

Treasury.

\(c\) Waiver.—The Secretary of Defense may, for periods not

to exceed 180 days, waive the application of the prohibition

in subsection \(a\) for an individual if the Secretary

certifies to the congressional defense committees that doing

so is in the national security interest of the United States.

\(d\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “congressional defense committees” has the

meaning given the term in section 101\(a\) of title 10, United

States Code.

\(2\) The term “lobbying activities” has the meaning given

such term in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

\(2 U.S.C. 1602\).

\(3\) The term “lobbying contact” has the meaning given

such term in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

\(2 U.S.C. 1602\), except that clause \(iv\) of paragraph

\(8\)\(B\)\(iv\) of such section shall not apply.

Amendment No. 240 Offered by Ms. Plaskett of Virgin Islands

Add at the end of subtitle F of title XXVIII the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. FORWARD OPERATING BASE READINESS ASSESSMENT, ST.

CROIX.

The Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility of using

appropriate facilities on the island of St. Croix as a

forward operating base for the Army, the Air Force, and the

Marine Corps.

Amendment No. 241 Offered by Ms. Plaskett of Virgin Islands

Add at the end of subtitle F of title XXVIII the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. FORWARD OPERATING BASE READINESS ASSESSMENT, ST.

THOMAS.

The Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility of using

appropriate facilities on the island of St. Thomas as a

forward operating base for the Navy.

Amendment No. 242 Offered by Ms. Randall of Washington

At the end of subtitle C of title XVI, add the following

new section:

SEC. 16\_\_. EXTENSION OF ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF CYBER RESILIENCE

OF NUCLEAR COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM.

Section 499\(e\) of title 10, United States Code, is amended

by striking “December 31, 2032” and inserting “December

31, 2035”.

Amendment No. 243 Offered by Mr. Raskin of Maryland

At the end of subtitle F of title VI, add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY RETIREMENT FUND:

PAYMENT OF RETIRED PAY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE

UNIFORMED SERVICES.

\(a\) In General.—Section 1463 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “retired lists” and all

that follows through “Space Force” and inserting “retired

lists of the uniformed services”;

\(2\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “armed forces” and

inserting “uniformed services”; and

\(3\) in paragraph \(4\)—

\(A\) by striking “Department of Defense and the Department

of Homeland Security” and inserting “Departments of

Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Health and Human

Services”;

\(B\) by striking “armed forces” and inserting “uniformed

services”;

\(C\) by striking “and section” and inserting “section”;

and

\(D\) by inserting “, subtitle C of the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of

2002 \(33 U.S.C. 3041 et seq.\), and section 229 of the Social

Security Act \(42 U.S.C. 429\)” after “Public Law 96-402”.

\(b\) Conforming Amendments.—

\(1\) Fund purpose; definition.—Section 1461 of such title

is amended—

\(A\) in subsection \(a\), by striking “the Department of

Defense and the Coast Guard” and inserting “the uniformed

services”; and

\(B\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(2\)—

\(I\) by striking “armed forces” and inserting “uniformed

services”; and

\(II\) by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;

\(ii\) in paragraph \(3\), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

\(iii\) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

“\(4\) a program under subtitle C of the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act

of 2002 \(33 U.S.C. 3041 et seq.\); and

“\(5\) a program under section 211 or 221 of the Public

Health Service Act \(42 U.S.C. 212, 213a\).”.

\(2\) Determination of contributions to the fund.—Section

1465 of such title is amended—

\(A\) in subsection \(a\), by adding at the end the following

new paragraph:

“\(3\) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Board of

Actuaries, in consultation with the Secretaries of the

departments specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title,

shall determine the amount that is the value on the date of

such determination of future benefits payable from the Fund

that are attributable to service in the commissioned corps of

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and of

the Public Health Service performed before such date. That

amount is the original National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration and Public Health Service unfunded liability

of the Fund. The Board shall determine the period of time

over which the original National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration and Public Health Service unfunded liability

should be liquidated and shall determine an amortization

schedule for the liquidation of such liability over that

period. Contributions to the Fund for the liquidation of the

original National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and

Public Health Service unfunded liability in accordance with

such schedule shall be made as provided in section 1466\(b\) of

this title.”;

\(B\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\)—

\(I\) in the matter preceding subparagraph \(A\)—

\(aa\) by striking “Secretary of the department in which the

Coast Guard is operating” and inserting “Secretaries of the

departments specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title”;

and

\(bb\) by striking “Department of Defense and Coast Guard”

and inserting “uniformed services”;

\(II\) in subparagraph \(A\)\(ii\), by striking “Armed Forces”

and inserting “uniformed services”; and

\(III\) in subparagraph \(B\)\(ii\), by striking “armed forces”

and inserting “uniformed services”;

\(ii\) in paragraph \(2\), by inserting “, the Department of

Health and Human Services Retirement Pay account for

Commissioned officers, and the Department of Commerce NOAA

Corps Retirement Pay account for Commissioned officers”

after “Coast Guard Retired Pay account”; and

\(iii\) in paragraph \(3\), by striking “Department of Defense

and Coast Guard”;

\(C\) in subsection \(c\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\)—

\(I\) in the matter preceding subparagraph \(A\), by striking

“Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating” and inserting “Secretaries of the departments

specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title”;

\(II\) in subparagraph \(A\), by striking “Armed Forces” and

inserting “uniformed services”; and

\(III\) in subparagraph \(B\), by striking “armed forces” and

inserting “uniformed services”; and

\(ii\) in paragraphs \(2\) and \(3\), by striking “Secretary of

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating” both

places it appears and inserting “Secretaries of the

departments specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title”;

and

\(D\) in subsection \(e\), by striking “The Secretary of

Defense and, with regard to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall”

and inserting “The Secretary of a department specified in

section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title shall, with regard to the

respective department”.

\(3\) Payments into the fund.—Section 1466 of such title is

amended—

\(A\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(i\) in the matter preceding paragraph \(1\)—

\(I\) by striking “Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, with

respect to the Coast Guard” and inserting “Secretaries of

the departments specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this

title”; and

\(II\) by striking “the Secretary of Defense and the

Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating” and inserting “such Secretaries”;

\(ii\) in paragraph \(1\)\(B\), by inserting “, the commissioned

corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

or the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service”

after “Coast Guard”; and

\(iii\) in paragraph \(2\)\(B\), by striking “armed forces” and

inserting “uniformed services”;

\(B\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “armed forces under the

jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military department” and

inserting “uniformed services”; and

\(ii\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “Coast Guard” and

inserting “Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Commissioned

Corps of the Public Health Service”; and

\(C\) in subsection \(c\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “Secretary of Defense”

and inserting “Secretaries of the departments specified in

section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title of this title”;

\(ii\) in paragraph \(2\)\(A\), by striking “the Department of

Defense and the Coast Guard” and inserting “each uniformed

service”; and

\(iii\) in paragraph \(3\), by striking “Secretary of Defense

and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard

is operating” and inserting “Secretaries of the departments

specified in section 1463\(a\)\(4\) of this title”.

\(4\) Retired serviceman's family protection plan.—

Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 10, United States Code,

is amended—

\(A\) in section 1444\(a\), by striking “armed forces, the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the

Public Health Service” and inserting “uniformed services”;

\(B\) by striking “armed forces” each place it appears and

inserting “uniformed services”;

\(C\) by striking “an armed force” both places it appears

and inserting “a uniformed service”;

\(D\) by striking “armed force” each place it appears and

inserting “uniformed service”; and

\(E\) in the headings to sections 1431 and 1432 by striking

“armed forces” both places it appears and inserting

“uniformed services”.

\(5\) Survivor benefit plan.—Section 1449\(a\) of title 10,

United States Code, is amended by striking “armed force”

and inserting “uniformed service”.

\(6\) National oceanic and atmospheric administration

commissioned officer corps act of 2002.—Section 261\(a\) of

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 \(Public Law 107-372;

33 U.S.C. 3071\) is amended—

\(A\) by redesignating paragraphs \(21\) through \(27\) as

paragraphs \(22\) through \(28\), respectively; and

\(B\) by inserting, after paragraph \(20\), the following new

paragraph \(21\):

“\(21\) Chapter 74, relating to the Department of Defense

Military Retirement Fund.”.

\(7\) Public health service act.—Section 221\(a\) of the

Public Health Service Act \(42 U.S.C. 213a\(a\)\) is amended—

\(A\) by redesignating paragraphs \(6\) through \(21\) as

paragraphs \(7\) through \(22\), respectively; and

\(B\) by inserting, after paragraph \(5\), the following new

paragraph \(6\):

“\(6\) Chapter 74, Department of Defense Military Retirement

Fund.”.

Amendment No. 244 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIREMENT FOR STRYKER A1 COMBAT

VEHICLES.

\(a\) Minimum Inventory Requirement.—During the period

beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending

on December 31, 2030, the Secretary of the Army shall ensure

that the Army maintains a minimum inventory of not fewer than

1,524 deployable Stryker DVH A1 combat vehicles in its

Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.

\(b\) Exception.—The requirement under subsection \(a\) shall

not apply to individual Stryker DVH A1 combat vehicles that

the Secretary of the Army determines, on a case-by-case

basis, to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to

repair because of accidents, mishaps, or excessive material

degradation.

Amendment No. 245 Offered by Mr. Rose of Tennessee

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. REPORT ON RED FLAGS MISSED IN FRAUD SCHEME

PERPETRATED BY JANET YAMANAKA MELLO.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than one year after the

date of the enactment of this

Act, the Secretary of War shall submit to the Committees on

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives

a report on the fraud scheme perpetrated by Janet Yamanaka

Mello, a civilian employee of the Department of the Army, who

was indicted and pleaded guilty to stealing over $100,000,000

in 4-H Military Partnership Grant program funds.

\(b\) Contents of Report.—The report required under

subsection \(a\) shall include each of the following:

\(1\) A description of the breakdown in the supervision of

Mello, including any failures of management or oversight that

contributed to the ability of Mello to carry out the fraud

scheme undetected.

\(2\) A description of the breakdown in accountability with

respect to the loss of the stolen funds, including any

failures to ensure that such funds were actually being spent

for the purposes for which such funds were intended.

\(3\) A description of the failure to ensure that financial

program managers, such as Mello, are not able to funnel

Government funds to themselves or their own entities.

\(4\) An identification of any other red flags or warning

signs that were missed or ignored by employees of the

Department of War, including any instances of whistleblower

retaliation or suppression of concerns.

\(5\) An assessment of the policies and procedures of the

Department of War and Department of the Army, as of the date

of the enactment of this Act, designed to prevent employees

from perpetrating similar fraud schemes in the future.

\(6\) Recommendations for improvements to the policies,

procedures, and oversight of the Department of War and

Department of the Army to prevent employees from perpetrating

similar fraud schemes in the future.

\(7\) A description of any disciplinary or administrative

actions taken against any individuals or entities found to

have contributed to the ability of Mello to carry out the

fraud scheme.

\(8\) A description of any changes made, or planned to be

made, to the financial management and oversight processes of

the Department of War and the Department of the Army as a

result of the fraud scheme perpetrated by Mello.

\(9\) An assessment of the effects of the fraud scheme

perpetrated by Mello on the programs and operations of the

Department of War and the Department of the Army.

\(10\) Any other information the Secretary of War determines

relevant to understanding the fraud scheme perpetrated by

Mello and preventing employees from perpetrating similar

fraud schemes in the future.

\(c\) Public Availability.—The Secretary of War shall make

the report required under subsection \(a\) publicly available

on an appropriate website of the Department of War.

Amendment No. 246 Offered by Mr. Ruiz of California

At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 8\_\_. OVERSIGHT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMPLIANCE WITH

CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY

CHAINS.

\(a\) Audits.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, and on a quarterly basis thereafter,

the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall

conduct an audit to determine the extent of compliance with

the requirements of section 4862 of title 10, United States

Code, with respect to the procurement of items described in

subsection \(b\)\(1\)\(A\) of such section.

\(b\) Reports to Congress.—Not later than 60 days after the

conclusion of each audit under subsection \(a\), the Inspector

General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of

the House of Representatives and the Senate a report

containing the results of such audit.

Amendment No. 247 Offered by Ms. Salazar of Florida

At the end of subtitle B of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN RETIRED NAVAL VESSELS TO

STATE OF FLORIDA FOR USE AS OFFSHORE REEFS.

\(a\) Conveyance.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall

convey to the State of Florida all right, title, and interest

of the United States in and to—

\(1\) the U.S.S. Underwood \(FFG-36\), or another similar

vessel from the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class guided missile

frigates that the Secretary of the Navy has classified as

“stricken”;

\(2\) a decommissioned TICONDEROGA-class guided-missile

cruiser that the Secretary of the Navy has classified as

“stricken”;

\(3\) the U.S.S. Freedom \(LCS-1\), the U.S.S. Independence

\(LCS-2\), or another decommissioned littoral combat ship that

the Secretary of the Navy has classified as “stricken”; or

\(4\) the U.S.S. Fort McHenry \(LSD-43\) or another similar

vessel from the WHIDBEY ISLAND-class dock landing ship that

the Secretary of the Navy has classified as “stricken”.

\(b\) Condition of Conveyance.—Any conveyance of a vessel

under subsection \(a\) shall be subject to the condition that

the State of Florida sink such vessel for use as an offshore

artificial reef.

\(c\) Conveyance at No Cost to United States.—Any conveyance

of a vessel under subsection \(a\) shall be made at no cost to

the United States. The full cost of such conveyance shall be

borne by the State of Florida.

\(d\) Additional Terms and Conditions.—The Secretary may

require such additional terms and conditions in connection

with a conveyance of a vessel under subsection \(a\) as the

Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of

the United States.

amendment no. 248 offered by ms. salinas of oregon

At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. STUDY AND REPORT ON USE OF NEXT-GENERATION

GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT ENERGY

CAPABILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a

study to evaluate the potential and feasibility of

implementing next-generation geothermal technologies to meet

the power needs of the Department of Defense and strengthen

national security.

\(b\) Elements.—The study under subsection \(a\) shall

evaluate—

\(1\) the potential for next-generation geothermal

technologies to be used to meet energy resilience

requirements under section 2920 of title 10, United States

Code;

\(2\) the long-term cost of increasing the use of next-

generation geothermal technologies to meet Department of

Defense power needs, including cost estimates for—

\(A\) point-of-use power production;

\(B\) reduced transmission requirements;

\(C\) reduced reliance on fuel costs; and

\(D\) reduced reliance on fuel delivery; and

\(3\) how next-generation geothermal technologies may be used

to—

\(A\) provide district heating and cooling for military

quarters, hospitals, or other relevant facilities of the

Department of Defense;

\(B\) reduce exposure of the military departments to

cybersecurity threats;

\(C\) reduce the reliance of the military departments on

vulnerable supply chains; and

\(D\) improve natural disaster resiliency on military

installations and in areas in geographic proximity to

military installations.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress

a report that includes the results of the study under

subsection \(a\).

amendment no. 249 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF NONINVASIVE FOCUSED ULTRASOUND

TECHNOLOGIES.

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment of

applications of noninvasive focused ultrasound technologies,

including histotripsy, within the military health system,

including an examination of—

\(1\) opportunities to use such technologies to improve

outcomes and reduce recovery times; and

\(2\) the effect of the use of such technologies on military

readiness.

amendment no. 250 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

At the end of subtitle B of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. STUDY TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AND

EMERGING HULL TECHNOLOGIES WITH RESPECT TO

NAVAL VESSELS.

\(a\) Study.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study

to evaluate the use of alternative materials and emerging

hull technologies with respect to naval vessels, which shall

include a determination of whether any such materials or

technologies improve—

\(1\) durability;

\(2\) fuel efficiency;

\(3\) operational readiness; or

\(4\) resilience against extreme weather conditions.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report

detailing the results of the study conducted under subsection

\(a\).

amendment no. 251 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

Add at the end of title XI of division A the following:

SEC. 11\_\_. REPORT ON WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AMONG AVIATION

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS SUPPORTING MILITARY

AIRCRAFT AND MAINTENANCE.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall assess workforce

shortages among aviation maintenance technicians supporting

military aircraft and maintenance and submit a report on such

assessment to the congressional defense committees.

amendment no. 252 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

Page 952, after line 25, insert the following new section:

SEC. 10\_\_ STUDY ON TOOL AND DIE CASTING INDUSTRY.

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study assessing

the condition of the tool and die casting industry in the

United States during fiscal year 2026, including—

\(1\) how many tool and die casting facilities in the United

States opened during such fiscal year;

\(2\) how many such facilities closed during such fiscal

year;

\(3\) the economic impact of the tool and die casting

industry in the United States;

\(4\) any shortage in the tool and die casting workforce in

the United States;

\(5\) development opportunities for such workforce; and

\(6\) other opportunities to increase tool and die casting

capabilities in the United States.

amendment no. 253 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:

SEC. 7. STUDY ON USE OF ROUTINE NEUROIMAGING MODALITIES IN

DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF BRAIN

INJURY DUE TO BLAST PRESSURE EXPOSURE DURING

COMBAT AND TRAINING.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a

study on the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of

routine neuroimaging modalities in the diagnosis, treatment,

and prevention of brain injury among members of the Armed

Forces due to one or more blast pressure exposures during

combat and training.

\(b\) Reports.—

\(1\) Interim report.—Not later than one year after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to

the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House

of Representatives an interim report on the methods and

action plan for the study under subsection \(a\).

\(2\) Final report.—Not later than two years after the date

on which the Secretary begins the study under subsection \(a\),

the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a

report on the results of such study.

amendment no. 254 offered by ms. scholten of michigan

At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. STUDY ON CONSTRUCTION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

CENTERS.

The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional

defense committees a recommendation for a strategy for

military construction projects for a sufficient number of

child development centers \(as defined in section 2871 of

title 10, United States Code\) as necessary to eliminate wait

lists for members of the Armed Forces seeking childcare at

such child development centers.

amendment no. 255 offered by ms. schweikert of arizona

At the end of subtitle A of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. USE OF TECHNOLOGY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO

FACILITATE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.

\(a\) Use of AI Technology for Audits.—The Secretary of

Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the

Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force shall encourage, to

the greatest extent practicable, the use of technology that

uses artificial intelligence or machine learning for the

purpose of facilitating audits of the financial statements of

the Department of Defense.

\(b\) Implementation of AI Technology for Audits.—The

Director of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence

Office of the Department, in coordination with the Under

Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the

Inspector General of the Department, shall oversee the

adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning

technologies in support of financial management and

enterprise business operations.

amendment no. 256 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

In title XVI, add at the end the following new subtitle:

Subtitle F—Matters Relating to Adversary Supply Chains

SEC. 16\_\_. STRATEGY FOR DISRUPTION OF ADVERSARY DEFENSE-

INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CHAINS.

\(a\) Strategy Required.—Not later than March 1, 2027, and

annually after through March 1, 2032, the Secretary of

Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees

and the congressional intelligence committees a strategy for

identifying and disrupting foreign supply chains supporting

the defense-industrial production capacity of peer

adversaries.

\(b\) Elements.—The strategy required by subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) Identification of critical foreign dependencies

supporting the production by such adversaries of threat

systems, including—

\(A\) artillery systems;

\(B\) ammunition;

\(C\) missile systems;

\(D\) armored vehicle systems;

\(E\) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber,

Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting

\(C5ISRT\) systems;

\(F\) chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction

\(CBWMD\) systems;

\(G\) advanced kinetic and non-kinetic weapon systems; and

\(H\) unmanned systems.

\(2\) An assessment of vulnerabilities associated with

reliance by such adversaries on goods and infrastructure,

including—

\(A\) imported raw materials;

\(B\) specialized metallurgy;

\(C\) precision machine tools;

\(D\) artificial intelligence enablers;

\(E\) energy infrastructure;

\(F\) big data analytics;

\(G\) propellant precursors; and

\(H\) transportation infrastructure.

\(3\) An identification of opportunities for coordination

with allies and partners regarding disruption of adversary

supply chains, including—

\(A\) export controls;

\(B\) supply-chain monitoring;

\(C\) sanctions enforcement; and

\(D\) industrial security cooperation.

\(4\) Recommendations for improving the support provided by

the Department of Defense to interagency efforts to monitor

and disrupt adversary defense-industrial supply chains.

SEC. 16\_\_. DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL INTELLIGENCE INTEGRATION CELL.

\(a\) Establishment.—The Director of the Defense

Intelligence Agency shall establish a Defense Industrial

Intelligence Integration Cell \(in this section referred to as

the “Cell”\).

\(b\) Duties.—The duties performed by the Cell shall

include—

\(1\) mapping the defense-industrial supply chains of

adversaries;

\(2\) assessing vulnerabilities within the military

production networks of adversaries;

\(3\) supporting operational planning of the combatant

commands relating to industrial disruption;

\(4\) supporting interagency analysis of export controls and

sanctions; and

\(5\) assessing foreign dependency risks associated with

adversary weapons production.

\(c\) Coordination.—The Cell shall coordinate with entities

including—

\(1\) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department

of the Treasury;

\(2\) the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department

of Commerce;

\(3\) the Defense Technology Security Administration;

\(4\) the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency;

\(5\) the Department of State;

\(6\) the Department of Energy;

\(7\) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and

\(8\) appropriate allied and partner intelligence

organizations.

SEC. 16\_\_. ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSARY ARTILLERY AND MUNITIONS

PRODUCTION CAPACITY.

\(a\) Assessment Required.—Not later than March 1, 2027, and

annually thereafter through March 1, 2032, the Secretary of

Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees

a report assessing the production capacity and capabilities

of adversary artillery, long-range strike systems, unmanned

aerial systems, and missile systems.

\(b\) Elements.—The assessment required by subsection \(a\)

shall include—

\(1\) estimated annual production capacity for artillery

systems, ammunition, and long range strike systems;

\(2\) assessment of adversary barrel replacement capacity;

\(3\) identification of foreign material dependencies

associated with artillery and long-range strike system

production;

\(4\) assessment of transportation and logistics constraints

affecting production and distribution; and

\(5\) implications for United States and allied operational

planning.

amendment no. 257 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

Add at the end of subtitle B of title XVI the following new

section:

SEC. 16\_\_. PROTECTION OF IDENTITIES OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE

ARMED FORCES WHO ARE SPECIAL OPERATORS OR

PERFORM SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES.

\(a\) Criminal Penalty.—Section 601 of the National Security

Act of 1947 \(50 U.S.C. 3121\) is amended as follows:

\(1\) In subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by striking “a covert agent” and inserting “a covert

agent or protected defense individual”;

\(B\) by striking “identifying such covert agent” and

inserting “identifying such covert agent or such protected

defense individual”;

\(C\) by striking “identifies such covert agent” and

inserting “identifies such covert agent or such protected

defense individual”; and

\(D\) by inserting after “United States,” the following:

“or that the United States is taking affirmative measures to

conceal such individual's service in a sensitive unit or

participation in a Department of Defense sensitive

activity,”.

\(2\) In subsection \(b\)—

\(A\) by striking “a covert agent and” and inserting “a

covert agent or protected defense individual and”;

\(B\) by striking “identifying such covert agent” and

inserting “identifying such covert agent or such protected

defense individual”;

\(C\) by striking “identifies such covert agent” and

inserting “identifies such covert agent or such protected

defense individual”; and

\(D\) by inserting after “United States,” the following:

“or that the United States is taking affirmative measures to

conceal such protected defense individual's service in a

sensitive unit or participation in a Department of Defense

sensitive activity,”.

\(3\) In subsection \(c\)—

\(A\) by striking “covert agents” and inserting “covert

agents or protected defense individuals”;

\(B\) by striking “as a covert agent” and inserting “as a

covert agent or protected defense individual”; and

\(C\) by inserting after “to the United States,” the

following: “or that the United

States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such

individual's service in a sensitive unit or participation in

a Department of Defense sensitive activity,”.

\(b\) Defenses and Exceptions.—Section 602 of such Act \(50

U.S.C. 3122\) is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by striking “It is a defense to a prosecution under

section 601” and inserting “\(1\) With respect to a

prosecution under section 601 relating to the identity of a

covert agent, it is a defense”; and

\(B\) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(2\) With respect to a prosecution under section 601

relating to the identity of a protected defense individual,

it is a defense before the commission of the offense with

which the defendant is charged, the United States had

publicly acknowledged or revealed that the individual, in the

course of serving in the Armed Forces, served in a sensitive

unit or participated in a Department of Defense sensitive

activity.”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\), by inserting “or protected defense

individuals” after “covert agents”; and

\(3\) in subsection \(d\), by inserting after “to disclose

information that solely identifies himself as a covert

agent” the following: “or as an individual who, in the

course of serving in the Armed Forces or being employed by

the Department of Defense, served in a sensitive unit or

participated in a Department of Defense sensitive activity”.

\(c\) Definitions.—Section 605 of such Act \(50 U.S.C. 3126\)

is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

“\(11\) The term \`protected defense individual' means the

following:

“\(A\) A member of the special operations forces of the

Armed Forces serving in a sensitive unit.

“\(B\) A member of the Armed Forces or civilian personnel of

the Department of Defense who is serving in a sensitive unit

or who participates in a sensitive activity.

“\(12\) The term \`sensitive activity' has the meaning given

the term \`Department of Defense sensitive activity' in

section 130g of title 10, United States.

“\(13\) The term \`sensitive unit' has the meaning given that

term in section 130b of title 10, United States Code.”.

\(d\) Clerical Amendment.—Section 601 of the National

Security Act of 1947 \(50 U.S.C. 3121\) is amended in the

heading by adding at the end the following: “, and certain

other individuals” \(and by conforming the table of contents

at the beginning of such Act accordingly\).

amendment no. 258 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

Add at the end of subtitle E of title XVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHEDULE V FOR VETERAN EMPLOYMENT

REPORTING BY DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.

Chapter 367 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following new section:

“Sec. 4755. Schedule V for veteran employment reporting by

defense contractors

“\(a\) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense shall

develop and implement a standardized disclosure schedule, to

be known as \`Schedule V', to be included in the terms of

award of any contract, subcontract, or grant—

“\(1\) where the estimated annual value of such contract,

subcontract, or grant is greater than or equal to

$20,000,000; or

“\(2\) if the awardee of such contract, subcontract, or

grant has an average annual revenue greater than or equal to

$1,000,000,000.

“\(b\) Disclosure Requirements.—An awardee of a contract,

subcontract, or grant described in subsection \(a\) shall, on

an annual basis, disclose on Schedule V veteran employment

and retention date, including—

“\(1\) the number of veterans hired annually for the

previous three years;

“\(2\) the number of those veterans retained 12 and 24

months after initial hire date; and

“\(3\) a summary of the awardee's veteran retention

initiatives, if any.

“\(c\) Subcontracting and Indirect Vendors.—The Secretary

shall ensure Schedule V requirements apply, to the greatest

extent practicable, to an indirect supplier or subcontractor

of an awardee, where such supplier or subcontractor is

performing a work under the awardee's contract, subcontract,

or grant with estimated annual value greater than or equal to

$20,000,000 or with an average annual revenue greater than or

equal to $1,000,000,000.

“\(d\) Public Accessibility.—The disclosures required under

subsection \(c\) shall be submitted to the relevant contracting

officer or grant officer and made publicly available through

the Federal Procurement Data System or another centralized

Government database designated by the Secretary.

“\(e\) Implementation.—The Secretary shall issue

regulations to implement this section not later than one year

after the date of the enactment of this section. These

regulations may include exemptions for small business

concerns \(as defined under section 3 of the Small Business

Act \(15 U.S.C. 632\)\) and flexibilities for pilot

implementation of the requirements of this section.”.

amendment no. 259 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle B of title IV, add the following new

section:

SEC. 4\_\_. REMOVAL OF END STRENGTH LIMITATION FOR NATIONAL

GUARD SUPPORT FOR COUNTERDRUG ACTIVITIES.

Section 112 of title 32, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking subsection \(e\); and

\(2\) by redesignating subsections \(f\) and \(g\) as subsections

\(g\) and \(h\), respectively.

amendment no. 260 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

Page 278, after line 11, insert the following new section:

SEC. 5\_\_. CONTINUATION IN OFFICE OF VICE CHIEF OF THE

NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU WHEN NECESSARY TO ENSURE

LEADERSHIP CONTINUITY.

\(a\) Extension of Term When Position of Chief of the

National Guard Bureau Is Vacant.—Section 10505\(a\)\(3\) of

title 10, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subparagraph \(A\), by striking “subparagraph \(B\)”

and inserting “subparagraphs \(B\) and \(C\)”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“\(C\) If upon the date on which the term of the Vice Chief

of the National Guard Bureau would otherwise expire the

position of Chief of the National Guard Bureau is vacant and

a replacement for the position of Vice Chief of the National

Guard Bureau has not been confirmed by the Senate, the term

of the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall be

extended until the date on which the Senate has confirmed a

nominee for either position.”.

\(b\) Inclusion as a Member of the Joint Requirements

Oversight Council.—Section 181 of such title is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(c\)\(1\), by adding at the end the

following new subparagraph:

“\(G\) The Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau.”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(d\), by striking paragraph \(4\).

amendment no. 261 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of title IX, add the following:

SEC. 9\_\_. COAST GUARD INPUT TO THE JOINT REQUIREMENTS

OVERSIGHT COUNCIL.

Section 181\(d\) of title 10, United States Code, is amended

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(6\) Input from commandant of coast guard.—The Council

shall seek, and strongly consider, the views of the

Commandant of the Coast Guard regarding Coast Guard

capabilities in support of national defense.”.

amendment no. 262 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

LIBRARY.

Chapter 803 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following new section:

“Sec. 8030. Department of the Navy: library

“\(a\) Authority.—The Secretary of the Navy may maintain in

the Department of the Navy a library as a centralized

institution dedicated to preserving, curating, and providing

access to historical records, technical documents, and

educational resources pertinent to the mission and heritage

of the Department of the Navy.

“\(b\) Mission.—The mission of a library maintained under

this section shall include the following:

“\(1\) Collecting and preserving naval historical records,

manuscripts, artifacts, and publications.

“\(2\) Supporting research, education, and training for

historians, the general public, and personnel of the

Department of the Navy.

“\(3\) Enhancing the institutional knowledge and operational

readiness of the Department of the Navy through access to

technical, strategic, operational, and doctrinal resources.

“\(4\) Promoting public understanding of the contributions

of the Navy and Marine Corps to national defense and maritime

history.

“\(5\) Supporting such other missions, functions,

activities, and requirements of the Department of the Navy as

the Secretary of the Navy considers appropriate.”.

amendment no. 263 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle B of title X, insert the following

new section:

SEC. 10\_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING AN AIRCRAFT

CARRIER AFTER THE UNITED STATES.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) The first USS United States was one of the original six

frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794, launched in

1797. It saw action in the Quasi-War with France and the War

of 1812.

\(2\) In addition to the frigate, there was a proposed Civil

War ironclad that never got built, and the aircraft carrier

USS United States \(CVA-58\) was canceled in 1949.

\(b\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Secretary of the Navy should name an aircraft carrier USS

United States.

amendment no. 264 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of title IX, add the following:

SEC. 9\_\_. ELIGIBILITY OF CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU

FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS

OF STAFF.

Section 152\(b\)\(1\)\(B\) of title 10, United States Code, as

amended by section 902 of

this title, is further amended by striking “or the

Commandant of the Coast Guard” and inserting “the

Commandant of the Coast Guard, or the Chief of the National

Guard Bureau”.

amendment no. 265 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle B of title VI, add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. PROHIBITION ON CHARGING MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

FOR MEALS WHILE SERVING ON NAVAL VESSELS.

\(a\) In General.—Section 402 of title 37, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsection \(i\) as subsection \(j\); and

\(2\) by inserting after subsection \(h\) the following new

subsection:

“\(j\) Prohibition on Charging Members of the Armed Forces

for Meals While Serving on Naval Vessels.—A member of the

armed forces assigned to duty on a naval vessel of the United

States shall not be required to pay any charge for meals

provided to the member while the vessel is underway or

deployed from the homeport of the vessel.”.

\(b\) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection \(a\)

shall take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to meals

provided to a member of the Armed Forces on or after that

date.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\) and the gentleman from Washington \(Mr. Smith\) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I have no speakers on this en bloc package.

Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I, too, urge support of the en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\).

The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 5 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.

Amendments en bloc No. 5 consisting of amendment Nos. 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 317, 318, 319, and 320 printed in part A of House Report 119-755, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama:

amendment no. 266 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

Add at the end of subtitle G of title XXVIII, the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. REPORT ON BIOLOGICAL READINESS OF MILITARY

INSTALLATIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE

SECRETARY OF THE ARMY.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than March 31, 2027, the

commanding officer of the United States Army Installation

Management Command shall submit to the congressional defense

committees a report on the readiness of military

installations under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the

Army to detect, respond to, mitigate, and sustain operations

during biological threat conditions.

\(b\) Elements.—The report shall include—

\(1\) an assessment of current biological detection, warning,

mitigation, emergency response, and continuity-of-operations

capabilities at military installations under the jurisdiction

of the Secretary of the Army;

\(2\) an assessment of the extent to which biological

resilience has been incorporated into installation readiness,

force protection, emergency management, continuity-of-

operations, and facility operations plans;

\(3\) an assessment of capability gaps, resource constraints,

policy barriers, and acquisition challenges affecting

installation biological readiness;

\(4\) an assessment of opportunities to employ commercial and

other mature technologies, including air monitoring,

filtration, treatment, detection, and facility-level warning

systems, to improve biological security and resilience; and

\(5\) a five-year implementation and budget plan for

improving biological readiness across military installations

under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army,

including consideration of ASHRAE Standard 241 titled

“Control of Infectious Aerosols” and related commercial

best practices.

\(c\) Form.—The report shall be submitted in both classified

and unclassified forms.

amendment no. 267 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

In title XV, subtitle A, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 15\_\_. REPORT ON INTEGRATION OF COMMERCIAL CYBER

CAPABILITIES INTO THE JOINT CYBER WARFIGHTING

ARCHITECTURE.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, in

coordination with the Commander of the United States Cyber

Command, shall submit to the congressional defense committees

a report on the integration of commercial cyber capabilities

into the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) A description of actions taken by United States Cyber

Command to incorporate commercial technologies and

capabilities into operational cyber activities.

\(2\) An assessment of the role of commercially developed

capabilities, including the PATHFINDER initiative, in

supporting targeting, access, operational agility, and other

offensive cyber mission requirements.

\(3\) An assessment of how commercially developed

capabilities may complement, enhance, or be integrated into

the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture.

\(4\) A description of any challenges, limitations, or

barriers to the integration of commercial cyber capabilities

into operational cyber architectures and activities.

\(5\) A detailed accounting of planned funding for

commercially developed cyber capabilities, including

capabilities associated with the PATHFINDER initiative,

across the future-years defense program, identified by

appropriation account, budget activity, program element, and,

where applicable, project line.

\(6\) Any recommendations for improving the integration and

operational employment of commercially developed cyber

capabilities within the Department of Defense.

amendment no. 268 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title XVI, add the following

new section:

SEC. 16\_\_. REPORT ON MODERNIZATION OF THE AEGIS ASHORE

MISSILE DEFENSE SITE AT DEVESSELU, ROMANIA.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the

United States European Command shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report on options to

modernize the missile defense capabilities of the Aegis

Ashore site located in Deveselu, Romania.

\(b\) Elements.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of requirements to improve the capability

of the site to defend against advanced ballistic missile

threats.

\(2\) An assessment of requirements to improve the capability

of the site to defend against maneuvering and hypersonic

missile threats.

\(3\) An assessment of options for integrating counter-

unmanned aircraft systems capabilities.

\(4\) An assessment of options for advanced sensing,

tracking, and command-and-control capabilities.

\(5\) An assessment of force protection requirements and

enhancement options for the site.

\(6\) An assessment of opportunities to improve integration

with regional air and missile defense architectures.

\(7\) An assessment of opportunities for greater cooperation

with Romania relating to infrastructure, logistics, force

protection, training, sustainment, and other host-nation

support requirements associated with the continued operation

and modernization of the site.

\(8\) An assessment of estimated costs, implementation

timelines, and operational benefits associated with any

modernization option identified in the report.

\(9\) Any other matter the Secretary of Defense determines

appropriate to improve the effectiveness, survivability,

readiness, or interoperability of the Aegis Ashore site.

amendment no. 269 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIVERSITY.

Chapter 108 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by

inserting after section 2165 the following new section:

“Sec. 2166. Joint Special Operations University

“\(a\) Establishment.—There is a Joint Special Operations

University in the Department of Defense.

“\(b\) Functions.—The Joint Special Operations University

shall—

“\(1\) provide relevant joint special operation-peculiar

education programs that strengthen the impact of special

operations on the armed forces and the United States;

“\(2\) provide joint special operation-peculiar staff

education and development programs tailored to the needs of

joint special operations forces headquarters and commanders;

“\(3\) provide education and academic enabling programs

required for special operations mission and activities for

which no solution exists in an armed force to address

critical special operations knowledge gaps;

“\(4\) provide accredited graduate-level programs,

professional military education, and specialized short

courses for special operations forces of the armed forces and

associated personnel;

“\(5\) conduct and coordinate research and analysis on the

full range of special operations activities to inform

Department of Defense policy and strategy;

“\(6\) serve as a hub for collaboration with academic

institutions, allied countries, and

interagency partners to advance special operations

capabilities;

“\(7\) provide outreach and education to enhance

understanding of special operations roles within the

Department of Defense and the Federal Government; and

“\(8\) provide input to service and joint professional

military education institutions to ensure special operations

capabilities and activities are incorporated into curricula

and courses.

“\(c\) Administration.—\(1\) Subject to the authority,

direction, and control of the Assistant Secretary of Defense

for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, the

Commander of United States Special Operations Command shall

oversee the Joint Special Operations University.

“\(2\) The Commander of United States Special Operations

Command shall appoint a President of the Joint Special

Operations University, who shall be a senior officer of the

armed forces or a civilian with expertise in special

operations and education, to manage the operations and

academic programs of the Joint Special Operations

University.”.

amendment no. 270 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCE READINESS AND CONTESTED

LOGISTICS.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 807 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:

“Sec. 8064. Naval construction force prepositioned equipment

and readiness requirements

“\(a\) Requirement.—The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff shall provide a Report to Congress on Combatant

Commander requirements for Naval Construction Force to

support contested logistics and expeditionary infrastructure

requirements.

“\(b\) Elements.—The requirement under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

“\(1\) Identification of mission requirements by combatant

command.

“\(2\) Current and future force structure and capability

mix.

“\(3\) Integration with joint logistics, theater opening,

and expeditionary basing operations.

“\(4\) Infrastructure and equipment requirements.

“\(5\) Identified capability gaps.

“Sec. 8065. Naval construction force equipment and personnel

readiness requirements

“\(a\) Requirement.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Secretary of the Navy shall provide a brief/report to

Congress on Naval Construction Force support to combatant

commanders, to include:

“\(1\) Theater-aligned, prepositioned expeditionary

construction equipment sets to enable the rapid employment of

the Naval Construction Force in support of combatant command

operational requirements.

“\(2\) A comprehensive baseline and recapitalization plan

for Civil Engineer Support Equipment and other mission-

essential equipment of the Naval Construction Force.

“\(3\) An assessment of the mobilization readiness of the

reserve component of the Naval Construction Force.

“\(b\) Elements.—The requirement under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

“\(1\) Identification of priority geographic locations for

such equipment.

“\(2\) Equipment configurations necessary to support—

“\(A\) expeditionary airfield damage repair;

“\(B\) austere port and waterfront repair;

“\(C\) fuel, water, and power generation systems; and

“\(D\) expeditionary basing and logistics node

establishment.

“\(3\) Defined readiness standards, including equipment

availability, serviceability, and deployment timelines.

“\(4\) Integration with strategic mobility and sealift

requirements.

“\(5\) Identification of capability gaps and associated

resource requirements.

“\(6\) Recapitalization and Readiness Metrics—

“\(A\) inventory age, condition, and service life data;

“\(B\) mission-capable rates and readiness trends;

“\(C\) identification of high-risk equipment categories

affecting readiness;

“\(D\) a prioritized recapitalization schedule with cost

estimates; and

“\(E\) identification of supply chain and sustainment risks.

“\(7\) Reserve Component Mobilization Readiness elements—

“\(A\) time required to achieve mission-ready status upon

mobilization;

“\(B\) availability of equipment upon activation;

“\(C\) training equivalency between active and reserve

units;

“\(D\) reliance on cross-leveling of personnel and

equipment; and

“\(E\) barriers to rapid deployment.

“\(8\) A plan to reduce mobilization timelines and improve

readiness.

“\(c\) Annual Updates.—The Secretary of the Navy shall

submit an annual update to the congressional defense

committees on—

“\(1\) the requirements under subsection \(a\);

“\(2\) specific shortfalls and associated funding

requirements; and

“\(3\) alignment with Combatant Commander Naval Construction

Force requirements.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents for chapter

807 of such title is amended by inserting at the end the

following new items:

“8064. Naval construction force prepositioned equipment and readiness

requirements. “8065. Naval construction force equipment and personnel readiness

requirements.”.

amendment no. 271 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle B of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. \_\_. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NAMING A FUTURE NAVAL VESSEL

USS SHANGRI-LA.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) The April 18, 1942, Doolittle Raid against the Japanese

homeland was one of the most daring and consequential

operations of World War II, demonstrating American resolve

during a critical period of the war.

\(2\) Following the raid, President Franklin D. Roosevelt,

when asked where the aircraft had originated, famously

replied that they had come from “Shangri-La”, a reference

that helped protect operational security and became

permanently associated with the raid and its participants.

\(3\) The Secretary of the Navy subsequently named the

aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La \(CV-38\), which served with

distinction during World War II, the Cold War, and the

Vietnam War.

\(4\) The legacy of the Doolittle Raiders, USS Shangri-La

\(CV-38\), and the generations of sailors and aviators who

served aboard that vessel represents an enduring example of

courage, innovation, and determination in the defense of the

United States.

\(b\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Secretary of the Navy should give favorable consideration

to naming a future naval vessel USS Shangri-La in honor of

the Doolittle Raiders and the proud service of USS Shangri-La

\(CV-38\).

amendment no. 272 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, insert the

following:

SEC. 12\_\_. UNITED STATES-POLAND SPECIAL OPERATIONS

COOPERATION PROGRAM.

\(a\) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense shall

establish a United States-Poland Special Operations

Cooperation Program.

\(b\) Purpose.—The purpose of the Program shall be to

enhance cooperation between the special operations forces of

the United States and the Republic of Poland through the

development, integration, and exchange of knowledge,

doctrine, training, and operational lessons related to—

\(1\) special operations;

\(2\) irregular warfare;

\(3\) unconventional warfare;

\(4\) support to territorial defense forces;

\(5\) countering hybrid warfare activities;

\(6\) operations in contested environments; and

\(7\) lessons learned from contemporary armed conflicts

relevant to such activities.

\(c\) Activities.—The Program may include the following

activities:

\(1\) Development and dissemination of doctrine, concepts,

tactics, techniques, and procedures.

\(2\) Collection, analysis, and publication of operational

lessons learned.

\(3\) Joint training, seminars, workshops, and professional

military education activities.

\(4\) Operational experimentation and assessments of emerging

technologies applicable to special operations missions.

\(5\) Exchanges of military personnel, instructors, and

subject matter experts.

\(6\) Such other activities as the Secretary of Defense

determines necessary to carry out the purposes of the

Program.

amendment no. 273 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, insert the

following:

SEC. 12\_\_. REPORT ON MOLDOVA AIRSPACE DEFENSE REQUIREMENTS

AND OPTIONS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Commander of United States European Command shall submit to

the congressional defense committees a report on options to

support the development of the territorial airspace awareness

and defensive capabilities of the Republic of Moldova using

existing Department of Defense security cooperation

authorities.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) An assessment of the current air surveillance, counter-

unmanned aircraft system, and short-range air defense

capabilities of the Republic of Moldova, including identified

capability gaps and operational shortfalls.

\(2\) An assessment of options to improve Moldova's airspace

awareness through radar coverage, sensor networks,

communications infrastructure, and command-and-control

capabilities.

\(3\) An assessment of training, personnel, sustainment, and

institutional requirements associated with potential security

cooperation activities to enhance Moldova's airspace

awareness and defensive capabilities.

\(4\) A description of feasible support activities that could

be conducted under existing Department of Defense

authorities, including section 333 of title 10, United States

Code, military exercises, training activities,

the State Partnership Program, and other applicable security

cooperation programs.

\(5\) An assessment of opportunities for coordination with

allies and partners to support Moldova's airspace awareness

and defensive capabilities.

\(6\) A description of any additional authorities the

Secretary of Defense determines may be necessary to improve

support for the development of Moldova's airspace awareness

and defensive capabilities.

\(c\) Form.—The report required under subsection \(a\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form but may include a

classified annex.

Amendment No. 274 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia

At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following:

SEC. 1\_\_. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR ARMORED MULTI-

PURPOSE VEHICLES.

\(a\) Authority for Multiyear Procurement.—Subject to

section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary

of the Army may enter into one or more multiyear contracts,

beginning with the fiscal year 2027 program year, for the

procurement of armored multipurpose vehicles.

\(b\) Condition for Out-year Contract Payments.—A contract

entered into under subsection \(a\) shall provide that any

obligation of the United States to make a payment under the

contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2027 is subject

to the availability of appropriations or funds for that

purpose for such later fiscal year.

\(c\) Authority for Advance Procurement.—The Secretary of

the Army may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in

fiscal year 2028, for advance procurement associated with the

vehicles for which authorization to enter into a multiyear

procurement contract is provided under subsection \(a\), which

may include procurement of economic order quantities of

material and equipment for such vehicles when cost savings

are achievable.

Amendment No. 275 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia

At the end of subtitle C of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. MINIMUM INVENTORY OF P-8A POSEIDON AIRCRAFT.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure

that the total number of P-8A Poseidon aircraft in the

inventory of the Navy is not less than 136 aircraft.

\(b\) Authority to Increase Planned Procurement.—Beginning

on October 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Navy may increase

the total planned procurement of P-8A Poseidon aircraft to

beyond 136 aircraft.

\(c\) Limitation.—None of the funds authorized to be

appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the

Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to retire,

divest, transfer to a nonoperational status, place in

storage, prepare for retirement, or otherwise reduce the

total active inventory of P-8A Poseidon aircraft below the

number specified in subsection \(a\).

\(d\) Waiver.—The Secretary of Defense may waive the

limitation under subsection \(c\) if the Secretary certifies to

the congressional defense committees that—

\(1\) the reduction is required due to the loss of an

aircraft through combat, accident, or other unforeseen

circumstance; and

\(2\) the reduction will not materially degrade the ability

of the Navy to conduct maritime patrol, antisubmarine

warfare, antisurface warfare, intelligence, surveillance,

reconnaissance, and fleet support missions.

Amendment No. 276 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia

At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 17\_\_. EXTENSION OF SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT

AUTHORITY TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS PROCUREMENT.

\(a\) Coverage of Special Operations Forces.—Section 1903 of

title 41, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end

the following new subsection:

“\(d\) Special Operations Forces Procurement.—

“\(1\) In general.—The authorities provided in subsections

\(b\) and \(c\) apply with respect to a procurement of property

or services that are to be used for operations and activities

of special operations forces.

“\(2\) Applicability of overseas thresholds.—For the

purposes of this section—

“\(A\) a contract to be awarded with respect to such a

procurement shall be deemed to be awarded and performed

outside of the United States; and

“\(B\) a purchase to be made under such a procurement shall

be deemed to be made outside of the United States.

“\(3\) Definition.—In this subsection, the term \`special

operations forces' has the meaning given such term in section

167\(j\) of title 10.”.

\(b\) Conforming Amendment.—Subsection \(b\) of such section

is amended by inserting “or \(d\)” after “subsection \(a\)”.

Amendment No. 277 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia

At the end of subtitle D of title I, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1\_\_. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT OF E-11 BATTLEFIELD

AIRBORNE COMMUNICATIONS NODE AIRCRAFT.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act

or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2027 for the

Department of the Air Force may be obligated or expended to

retire, divest, place in storage, transfer to nonoperational

status, or prepare for retirement any E-11 Battlefield

Airborne Communications Node aircraft.

Amendment No. 278 Offered by Mr. Self of Texas

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 12\_\_. ANNUAL REPORT ON SPACE CAPABILITIES OF THE

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through

the date that is three years after the date of submission of

the first report under this subsection, the Secretary of

Defense and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit to

the appropriate congressional committees a report on covered

space capabilities of the People's Republic of China.

\(b\) Form.—Each report under subsection \(a\) shall be

submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified

annex.

\(c\) Public Availability.—Not later than the date on which

the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Commerce submit

to the appropriate congressional committees a report under

subsection \(a\), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Commerce shall jointly make the unclassified portion of the

report publicly available on websites of the Department of

Defense and the Department of Commerce.

\(d\) Contents.—Each report under subsection \(a\) shall

include the following:

\(1\) An inventory of covered space capabilities of the

People's Republic of China, including a description, to the

extent practicable, of capabilities of PRC-affiliated

entities relating to the following:

\(A\) Launch systems, including space launch vehicles, launch

sites, and launch support infrastructure.

\(B\) Satellites and spacecraft, including for—

\(i\) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance;

\(ii\) navigation and positioning; and

\(iii\) communications.

\(C\) Space stations and human spaceflight capabilities.

\(D\) Ground systems, including command and control,

tracking, telemetry, and data receiving and processing.

\(2\) An assessment of the readiness of the covered space

capabilities described in paragraph \(1\), including an

assessment of operational status, surge capacity,

sustainment, resiliency, and the ability to support military

and civil missions.

\(3\) An assessment of counterspace capabilities of the

People's Republic of China, including capabilities of PRC-

affiliated entities relating to the following:

\(A\) Kinetic and nonkinetic antisatellite capabilities.

\(B\) Electronic warfare, including jamming and spoofing.

\(C\) Cyber capabilities affecting space systems, ground

systems, and associated networks.

\(D\) Rendezvous and proximity operations and other

capabilities that could be used to interfere with or degrade

the operation of spacecraft.

\(4\) An assessment of the space industrial base and space-

related supply chains of the People's Republic of China,

including significant dependencies, chokepoints, and

constraints.

\(5\) An assessment of pathways by which the People's

Republic of China and PRC-affiliated entities acquire space-

related technology, expertise, components, and services,

including through licit and illicit means.

\(6\) A description of material changes during the one-year

period preceding the date of the report in the covered space

capabilities, readiness, counterspace capabilities,

industrial base, and technology acquisition pathways

described in paragraphs \(1\) through \(5\).

\(7\) If the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Commerce include a classified annex under subsection \(b\),

such annex shall include additional information the

Secretaries determine appropriate, including information

necessary to describe capabilities, readiness, or intent with

greater specificity, consistent with the protection of

sources and methods.

\(e\) Consultation.—In preparing each report under

subsection \(a\), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Commerce shall consult with the Director of National

Intelligence and the heads of other Federal departments and

agencies the Secretaries determine appropriate.

\(f\) Submission of Classified Annex.—The Secretary of

Defense and the Secretary of Commerce shall submit any

classified annex included with a report under subsection \(b\)

only to the appropriate congressional committees, and shall

submit such annex in accordance with applicable congressional

and executive branch procedures for the handling of

classified information.

\(g\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “appropriate congressional committees” means

the following:

\(A\) The Committee on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives.

\(B\) The Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

\(C\) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of

Representatives.

\(D\) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

\(E\) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the

House of Representatives.

\(F\) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

of the Senate.

\(2\) The term “control” means the power, directly or

indirectly, whether exercised or

exercisable, to determine, direct, or decide important

matters affecting an entity.

\(3\) The term “covered space capabilities” means space-

related capabilities, systems, infrastructure, or services,

whether civil or military, relating to launch, satellites and

spacecraft, space stations and human spaceflight,

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, navigation

and positioning, communications, or ground systems.

\(4\) The term “People's Republic of China” includes the

Government of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese

Communist Party, and the People's Liberation Army.

\(5\) The term “PRC-affiliated entity” means any entity,

wherever organized or operating, that—

\(A\) is organized under the laws of the People's Republic of

China, including the laws of the Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative

Region;

\(B\) is owned or controlled by one or more PRC persons, the

Government of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese

Communist Party, or the People's Liberation Army; or

\(C\) acts on behalf of, at the direction of, or for the

benefit of the Government of the People's Republic of China,

the Chinese Communist Party, or the People's Liberation Army.

\(6\) The term “PRC person” means—

\(A\) a citizen or national of the People's Republic of

China;

\(B\) an entity organized under the laws of the People's

Republic of China, including the laws of the Hong Kong

Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special

Administrative Region; or

\(C\) an entity owned or controlled by a person described in

subparagraph \(A\) or \(B\).

Amendment No. 279 Offered by Mr. Sessions of Texas

Page 806, after line 22, insert the following new

subsection:

\(a\) In General.—Section 1005 of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31;

137 Stat. 379; 10 U.S.C. 240a note\) is amended by inserting

“and for three consecutive fiscal years thereafter” after

“2028”.

Page 806, line 23, strike “\(a\)” and insert “\(b\)”.

Page 807, line 5, strike “\(b\)” and insert “\(c\)”.

Page 807, line 6, strike “\(a\)” and insert “\(b\)”.

Page 807, line 11, strike the closing period and insert “,

and for three consecutive fiscal years thereafter.”.

Page 808, line 5, strike “\(c\)” and insert “\(d\)”.

Page 808, line 6, strike “\(a\)” and insert “\(b\)”.

Page 808, line 9, strike “\(d\)” and insert “\(e\)”.

Page 808, line 10, strike “\(a\)” and insert “\(b\)”.

Amendment No. 280 Offered by Ms. Sewell of Alabama

At the end of subtitle XXVI, add the following new section:

SEC. 26\_\_. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO CARRY

OUT FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROJECT AT SUMPTER SMITH

AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

\(a\) Extension.—Notwithstanding section 2002 of the

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

\(division B of Public Law 117-81; 135 Stat. 2161\) the

authorization set forth in the table in subsection \(c\), as

provided in section 2604 of that Act \(135 Stat. 2179\), shall

remain in effect until October 1, 2028, or the date of the

enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military

construction for fiscal year 2029, whichever is later.

\(b\) Modification of Project Amounts.—

\(1\) Project authorization.—The authorization table in

section 2604 of the Military Construction Authorization Act

for Fiscal Year 2022 \(division B of Public Law 117-81; 135

Stat. 2179\) is amended in the item relating to Sumpter Smith

Air National Guard Base, Alabama, by striking the dollar

amount and inserting “$15,000,000”.

\(2\) Funding authorization.—The funding table in section

4601 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 2022 is amended in the item relating to Sumpter Smith

Air National Guard Base, Alabama—

\(A\) by striking the dollar amount and inserting

“$15,000,000”; and

\(B\) by striking “security and”.

\(c\) Table.—The table referred to in subsection \(a\) is as

follows:

Air National Guard: Extension of 2022 Project Authorization ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Original

### State/Country Installation or Location Project Authorized Amount

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Alabama............................... Sumpter Smith Air National Services Training $7,500,000

Guard Base............... Facility................ ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Amendment No. 281 Offered by Mr. Shreve of Indiana

Add at the end of subtitle A of title XVI the following new

section:

SEC. 16\_\_. GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) The Global Positioning System \(in this section referred

to as “GPS”\) is a critical national asset that underpins

military operations, civilian infrastructure, and economic

activities. While newer satellites are part of the

constellation, the GPS constellation still depends on many

aging satellites, 15 of which are operating well beyond their

design life with limited signal technologies in the older

satellites.

\(2\) Modernizing the GPS Enterprise is an essential national

priority to ensure the continued reliability and security of

the system in the face of growing threats and aging and

delayed GPS infrastructure.

\(3\) Adversaries are interfering with, jamming, or spoofing

GPS signals, posing risks to national defense and public

safety. Commercial satellite positioning, navigation, and

timing systems can augment and complement GPS operations

globally. Terrestrial systems, which depend on ground-based

transmitters, can provide signals to receivers within a

localized area during disruption despite being more

geographically limited.

\(4\) Rapidly transitioning to more resilient systems like

GPS IIIF, to include monitoring and declaring the L5 signal

as “healthy” can significantly reduce these vulnerabilities

and enhance operational effectiveness. A transition plan

accounting for both the satellites that transmit positioning,

navigation, and timing signals and the ground control and

monitoring systems that command and control the constellation

and update timing and other data is necessary to avoid

capability gaps and ensure continuity of essential services

as legacy elements are phased out and new capabilities are

fielded.

\(5\) Federal agency execution delays in updating GPS

constellation and infrastructure has slowed progress toward

modernization, and successfully executing Space Policy

Directive-7 is necessary to align efforts across the

government and accelerate the deployment of next-generation

GPS capabilities.

\(b\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

modernizing GPS is a national priority to safeguard military

readiness, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain

economic competitiveness and the as-yet unimplemented system

required by section 312 of title 49, United States Code,

remains no less crucial to the protection of United States

security and prosperity than when it was mandated in 2018.

\(c\) Modernized GPS Enterprise.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the President shall accelerate the

transition to a modernized GPS Enterprise to enhance the

resilience and security of GPS.

\(2\) Components.—The acceleration of the transition to a

modernized GPS Enterprise required by paragraph \(1\) shall

include—

\(A\) a clear timeline for the development and deployment of

a full constellation of 24 GPS IIIF satellites and associated

ground control segment upgrades;

\(B\) a clear timeline for the upgrade of the control segment

to meet the needs of the modernized constellation and to

mitigate threats, along with a plan to maintain service while

the upgrades progress;

\(C\) prioritization of the L5 signal for civilian and

military applications to augment legacy frequencies and

provide additional resilience;

\(D\) coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the

Secretary of Transportation, and other heads of relevant

departments and agencies of the Federal Government to

expedite system upgrades;

\(E\) strategies developed in coordination with the Secretary

of Transportation to further incentivize critical

infrastructure assets to mitigate risks associated with GPS

signal interference, jamming, and spoofing, including

considering the integration of commercial satellite

positioning, navigation, and timing systems; and

\(F\) strategies to accelerate the deployment of military GPS

user equipment, Increments 1 and 2, and the integration of

new receivers into weapons systems.

\(d\) Report.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a

period not to exceed three years, the Secretary of Defense,

in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation for

commercial uses and with respect to any system required under

section 312 of title 49, United States Code, and the

protection of critical infrastructure, shall submit to the

congressional defense committees, the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on

Science, Space, and Technology of the House of

Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure

of the House of Representatives a report that includes—

\(A\) a detailed schedule and assessment of progress made

toward transitioning to the modernized GPS and positioning,

navigation, and timing enterprise;

\(B\) an evaluation of interagency coordination efforts,

including challenges in implementing system upgrades

necessary for such modernization, except spectrum referenced

in section 312\(d\) of title 49, United States Code, associated

with LORAN infrastructure necessary for use in any system

required in such section 312;

\(C\) a description of strategies to counter GPS military and

civil signal interference, jamming, and spoofing, from state

and nonstate actors along with their effectiveness;

\(D\) funding allocations, expenditures, and any additional

resource needs for the Department of Defense and Department

of Transportation to meet modernization objectives; and

\(E\) recommendations for legislative or administrative

actions to further encourage critical infrastructure

upgrades, modern commercial satellite positioning,

navigation, and timing systems, and other efforts to enhance

GPS security, reliability, and resilience.

\(2\) Form.—The report required under paragraph \(1\) shall be

submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a

classified annex.

\(e\) Applicability.—Nothing in this section with respect to

the coordination of spectrum allocation applies to any

spectrum referenced in section 312\(d\) of title 49, United

States Code, associated with LORAN infrastructure necessary

for use in any system required in section 312.

Amendment No. 282 Offered by Mr. Shreve of Indiana

In title XVIII, subtitle A, add at the end the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON COMBATANT COMMAND CRITICAL

MINERALS MANAGEMENT.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a

study assessing the feasibility of enabling commanders of

unified combatant commands to independently identify,

acquire, and dispose of critical minerals to enhance

operational resilience and decentralized management of

resources.

\(b\) Contents.—The study required by subsection \(a\) shall

include the following: —

\(1\) An assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of

providing commanders of unified combatant commands authority

to independently identify, acquire, and dispose of critical

minerals through contracts, cooperative agreements, or other

mechanisms to address vulnerabilities in the supply chains

for critical minerals.

\(2\) An assessment of how commanders of unified combatant

commands could use the authority described in paragraph \(1\)

to develop and implement plans for the decentralized

management of resources for the areas of responsibility of

the unified combatant command of the commander, including

advantages, challenges, and scalability across the Department

of Defense of such decentralized management of resources.

\(3\) An estimate of the costs associated with providing the

authority described in paragraph \(1\) and potential sources of

funds to pay for such costs, including amounts authorized for

the Department of Defense or the Combatant Commander

Initiative Fund under section 166a of title 10, United States

Code, and amounts from the disposal of critical minerals

under such authority.

\(4\) An identification of the risks to the security of the

supply chain of critical minerals, operational readiness, and

partnerships between the United States and other countries

resulting from providing commanders of unified combatant

commands the authority described in paragraph \(1\), and

strategies to mitigate such risks.

\(5\) Specific recommendations on whether to provide the

authority described in paragraph \(1\) under a pilot program or

a permanent grant of authority and any necessary changes to

law or regulation required to provide such authority in the

manner recommended.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the congressional defense committees and the Comptroller

General of the United States a report on the findings of the

study required by subsection \(a\).

\(d\) Evaluation.—Not later than 180 days after the date on

which the Secretary of Defense submits the report required

under subsection \(c\) to the Comptroller General of the United

States, the Comptroller General shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report assessing the

findings and recommendations in the report submitted to the

Comptroller General under such subsection, including an

evaluation of the benefits, risks, and costs of providing

commanders of unified combatant commands authority to

independently identify, acquire, and dispose of critical

minerals.

\(e\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “critical mineral” means a mineral

designated by the Secretary of Defense as a critical mineral.

\(2\) The term “unified combatant command” has the meaning

given such term in section 161 of title 10, United States

Code.

Amendment No. 283 Offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. REVIEW AND REPORT ON UAS ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY

OF CRITICAL INSTALLATIONS.

\(a\) In General.—The Inspector General of the Department of

Defense shall conduct a review of potential foreign adversary

connected unmanned aircraft system \(UAS\) activity over

critical military installations, vessels, aircraft, and the

homeland, and other matters.

\(b\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Inspector General shall submit to

the relevant committees a report on—

\(1\) UAS activity over military installations in the United

States and abroad;

\(2\) UAS activity in close proximity to sensitive national

security installations;

\(3\) instances of UAS activity in the vicinity of United

States military and law enforcement vessels and aircraft;

\(4\) the process for deploying counter-UAS systems to assist

State and local law enforcement;

\(5\) instances where the Department of Defense deployed

counter-UAS systems to assist State and local law

enforcement;

\(6\) instances where the Department of Defense received

requests for counter-UAS assistance from Installation

Commanders;

\(7\) whether the Department of Defense possess appropriate

capabilities to supply all installations with counter-UAS

technology;

\(8\) whether Installation Commanders possess the capability

and authorities to address UAS incursions to installations

and in the immediate vicinity of installations; and

\(9\) an analysis of near-peer actors who possess the

capabilities to conduct such activities.

\(c\) Definition of Relevant Committee.—In this section, the

term “relevant committees” means—

\(1\) the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate;

\(2\) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and

Government Affairs of the Senate;

\(3\) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of

the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

\(4\) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the

Senate;

\(5\) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the

House of Representatives and the Select Committee on

Intelligence of the Senate;

\(6\) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the

Senate; and

\(7\) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the

House of Representatives.

\(d\) Form.—The report required under subsection \(b\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a

classified annex.

Amendment No. 284 Offered by Mr. Smith of Washington

Page 279, after line 4, insert the following new section:

SEC. 5\_\_. CHANGE IN EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR OFFICERS:

NOTIFICATION; CONSULTATION.

\(a\) In General.—Not less than 180 days before the

Secretary of Defense changes any criterion used in the

evaluation of an officer of a covered Armed Force, the

Secretary shall—

\(1\) submit to the covered committees a written explanation

of such proposed change; and

\(2\) consult, in conversation, with the covered committees

regarding such proposed change.

\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “covered Armed Force” means the Army, Navy,

Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

\(2\) The term “covered committees” means the Committees on

Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Amendment No. 285 Offered by Mr. Soto of Florida

At the end of subtitle F of title XVII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 18\_\_. FUNDING FOR FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGING PROGRAM

OF INDUSTRIAL BASE ANALYSIS AND SUSTAINMENT

PROGRAM.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, line 233, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, is hereby

increased by $10,000,000 for the fan-out wafer level

packaging program of the Industrial Base Analysis and

Sustainment Program of the Department of Defense.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance

Defense-wide, line 480, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4301, for the Office of the

Secretary of Defense, is hereby reduced by $10,000,000.

Amendment No. 286 Offered by Mr. Soto of Florida

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR HIGH-HYPERSONIC DETONATION PROPULSION

RESEARCH AND FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Air Force, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Aerospace Systems

Technologies \(PE 0602203F\), line 008, is hereby increased by

$5,000,000 for the acceleration of high-hypersonic detonation

propulsion research and flight demonstrations.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Defense-wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table

in section 4301, for administration and service-wide

activities, Office of the Secretary of Defense, line 480, is

hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

Amendment No. 287 Offered by Mr. Soto of Florida

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED

INFORMATION FACILITIES.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Air Force, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Future AF Capabilities

Applied Research \(PE 0602020F\), line 003, is hereby increased

by $1,200,000 for Secure Research Facilities in fast-growing

metropolitan areas located in proximity to aerospace

industries and facilities.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Defense-wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table

in section 4301, for administration and service-wide

activities, Office of the Secretary of Defense, line 480, is

hereby reduced by $1,200,000.

Amendment No. 288 Offered by Ms. Stefanik of New York

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. DEVELOPMENT, TEST, EVALUATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND

TRANSITION TO PRODUCTION OF ALTERNATIVE LOW-

COST WEAPON SYSTEMS.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through

the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

Sustainment and in coordination with Secretaries of the

military departments and the Director of the Missile Defense

Agency, shall develop, test, evaluate, demonstrate, and

transition to production, as appropriate, a portfolio of

alternative, affordable, low-cost weapon systems in each of

the following categories:

\(1\) Hypersonic strike systems.

\(2\) Cruise missiles.

\(3\) Shoulder-launched missiles.

\(4\) Extended range munitions.

\(5\) Mid-range integrated air and missile defense

interceptors.

\(6\) Exoatmospheric interceptors.

\(7\) Short-range integrated air and missile defense

interceptors.

\(8\) Medium-range air-to-air missiles.

\(9\) Autonomous systems, counter-unmanned systems, and

loitering munitions.

\(b\) Requirements.—In carrying out subsection \(a\), the

Secretary of Defense shall—

\(1\) employ innovative acquisition strategies, including

rapid prototyping, digital engineering, modular open-system

architectures, commercial-off-the-shelf components where

feasible, and other cost-reduction initiatives to achieve

significantly lower unit costs than current baseline systems

while maintaining operationally relevant performance;

\(2\) prioritize expendable designs optimized for attritable,

high-volume employment, compatibility with existing launch

platforms, logistics infrastructure, and command-and-control

networks, and the ability to complement existing programs of

record;

\(3\) ensure systems are designed to enable production at

scale in significantly greater quantities than current

program of record systems through the prioritization of

manufacturing ease and speed;

\(4\) include technology maturation, risk reduction, testing,

and transition planning to low-rate initial production not

later than fiscal year 2030 for each category of weapon

system specified in subsection \(a\);

\(5\) establish specific cost and performance targets through

competitive analysis, market research, prototyping, and

experimentation;

\(6\) maximize the use of commercial acquisition procedures,

commercial solutions openings, other transaction authority,

and other rapid acquisition authorities to increase

participation by nontraditional defense contractors,

commercial suppliers, and small businesses;

\(7\) treat autonomous systems described in subsection \(a\)\(9\)

as consumable combat equipment, including for purposes of

acquisition, budgeting, sustainment, inventory, training,

fielding, expenditure, replenishment, repair, upgrade, and

replacement, unless the Secretary of Defense, or a covered

designee, determines in writing that such treatment is

inappropriate based on cost, complexity, expected service

life, safety requirements, operational role, or replenishment

requirements; and

\(8\) ensure that autonomous systems described in subsection

\(a\)\(9\) are not subjected to acquisition, sustainment,

inventory, training, or fielding requirements applicable to

aircraft, vessels, or enduring major platforms solely on the

basis that such systems operate in the air, on the surface of

the sea, or undersea, unless the Secretary of Defense, or a

covered designee, determines in writing that such

requirements are necessary based on safety, operational, or

legal requirements.

\(c\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) The term “alternative low-cost” systems means weapon

systems in the categories listed in subsection \(a\) that are

designed to achieve unit procurement costs significantly

lower than existing program of record systems while

delivering the minimum requirements set forth by the

Secretary.

\(2\) The term “autonomous systems” means unmanned,

remotely operated, optionally unmanned, autonomous, or

semiautonomous systems, including associated software,

sensors, payloads, communications equipment, and mission

autonomy capabilities, that operate in the air, on land, on

or below the surface of the sea, or across multiple domains.

\(3\) The term “counter-unmanned systems” means systems

designed to detect, track, and defeat unmanned platforms

through kinetic, directed energy, electronic warfare, cyber,

or other means.

\(4\) The term “covered designee” means the Under Secretary

of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under

Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the

Secretary of a military department, or a service acquisition

executive.

\(5\) The term “cruise missiles” means turbojet-powered

missiles designed for standoff precision strikes against land

or sea targets at ranges generally exceeding 250 nautical

miles, with simplified guidance, propulsion, and airframe

designs.

\(6\) The term “exoatmospheric interceptors” means kinetic

hit-to-kill interceptors designed for ballistic missile

defense in the exoatmosphere, with engagement ranges

generally exceeding 300 nautical miles \(or equivalent

altitudes above 50 nautical miles\) and closing speeds of not

less than Mach 8.

\(7\) The term “extended range munitions” means ground-

launched precision munitions designed for extended standoff

strikes at ranges generally exceeding 50 nautical miles.

\(8\) The term “hypersonic strike systems” means systems

capable of Mach 5 or greater flight with maneuverability,

designed for long-range precision strikes against time-

sensitive, defended, or high-value targets at ranges

generally exceeding 400 nautical miles.

\(9\) The term “loitering munitions” means expendable

unmanned aerial systems designed to loiter in a target area

and deliver kinetic effects against surface targets, capable

of autonomous or semiautonomous terminal guidance.

\(10\) The term “medium-range air-to-air missiles” means

guided missiles providing beyond-visual-range air-to-air

intercept capability with diverse target-set engagement

potential, performing intercepts at not less than 60 nautical

miles and with a maximum speed of not less than Mach 3.

\(11\) The term “mid-range integrated air and missile

defense interceptors” means interceptors optimized for

integrated air and missile defense against cruise missiles,

aircraft, and short- to medium-range ballistic missiles, with

engagement ranges of not less than 30 nautical miles and

speeds of not less than Mach 3.5.

\(12\) The term “short-range integrated air and missile

defense interceptors” means interceptors for terminal

defense against aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned

aerial systems, with engagement ranges of not less than five

nautical miles and maximum speeds of not less than Mach 2.

\(13\) The term “shoulder-launched missiles” means man-

portable or vehicle-launched missiles providing fire-and-

forget or command-guided antiarmor capability at ranges of

not less than one nautical mile.

amendment no. 289 offered by mr. steube of florida

In title XVI, subtitle B, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 16\_\_. OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE INTEGRATION INTO

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT.

\(a\) Recognition and Integration of Open-source

Intelligence.—The Under Secretary of Defense for

Intelligence and Security shall—

\(1\) ensure that the Department of Defense recognizes open-

source intelligence as a source of intelligence collection;

\(2\) integrate open-source intelligence into the processes

of the Department for intelligence collection management,

including processes for requirements development,

prioritization, and tasking;

\(3\) maintain procedures for identifying and validating

intelligence requirements that may be satisfied through open-

source intelligence;

\(4\) maintain guidance for tasking, coordination, and

deconfliction of open-source intelligence collection

activities across the Department;

\(5\) identify roles and responsibilities for elements of the

Department conducting open-source intelligence collection,

including the Defense Intelligence Agency, the military

departments, and the combatant commands; and

\(6\) maintain alignment of open-source intelligence

collection activities with policies

of the Department and of the intelligence community for

collection of publicly available information and commercially

available information.

\(b\) Integration With Collection Management Systems.—The

Under Secretary shall ensure that open-source intelligence

collection is incorporated into the Department's intelligence

collection management systems, including systems used to

manage requirements, tasking, and coordination across

intelligence disciplines.

\(c\) Tracking and Accountability Mechanisms.—The Under

Secretary shall ensure that open-source intelligence

collection activities are incorporated into and trackable

within the processes of the Department for collection

management and shall establish mechanisms to track

requirements, tasking, and performance of such activities.

\(d\) Instruction.—The Under Secretary shall ensure that

Department of Defense Instruction 3325.08 \(relating to

intelligence collection management\), or any successor

instruction, incorporates the requirements of this section.

\(e\) Implementation.—This section shall be implemented not

later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this

Act.

amendment no. 290 offered by mr. steube of florida

At the end of subtitle D of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. CEREMONIAL HORSES ADOPTION PROGRAM OF THE ARMY.

Section 2583\(c\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “A military animal” and

inserting, “Except as provided in paragraph \(3\), a military

animal”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“\(3\) If the Secretary of the Army determines that an

adoption or transfer of a horse used in any ceremonial horse

program of the Army is justified under subsection \(a\), the

Secretary shall follow the recommended priority order in

paragraph \(1\) except that the Secretary shall give first

priority to making the horse available for transfer to a

State, local, municipal, or Tribal law enforcement agency

capable of humanely caring for the horse \(including by

demonstrating the capability to adequately care, house, and

train the horse\).”.

amendment no. 291 offered by ms. tenney of new york

At the end of subtitle B of title VIII, insert the

following new section:

SEC. 8\_\_. AMENDMENT TO REQUIREMENT FOR DOMESTIC STAINLESS

STEEL FLATWARE AND DINNERWARE.

Section 842 of the Servicemember Quality of Life

Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 2025 \(Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 4862 note\) is

amended by striking subsection \(c\).

amendment no. 292 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR ADVANCED NAVAL CASTING FOR HARDWARE AND

OPERATIONAL REPAIRS.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Navy, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Ship Concept Advanced

Design \(PE 0603563N\), line 044, is hereby increased by

$16,000,000 for Advanced Naval Casting for Hardware and

Operational Repairs.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Navy, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

section 4301, for Administration, line 410, is hereby reduced

by $16,000,000.

amendment no. 293 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF NAVAL

AVIATION ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Navy, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Navy Advanced

Manufacturing \(PE 0604286N\), line 084, is hereby increased by

$15,000,000 for Accelerating the Adoption of Naval Aviation

Advanced Manufacturing Processes.

\(b\) Offsets.—

\(1\) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding

tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Cyber

Operations Technology Support, line 293, is hereby reduced by

$5,000,000.

\(2\) Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding

tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Navy, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for Marine Corps Ground

Combat/Support System, line 057, is hereby reduced by

$10,000,000.

amendment no. 294 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR AIR FORCE MATERIALS RESEARCH.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Air Force, as specified in the corresponding

funding table in section 4201, for applied research,

materials \(PE 0602102F\), line 005, is hereby increased by

$6,400,000 to secure U.S. silicon carbide for national

security and critical technologies.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Air Force, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

section 4301, for other servicewide activities, line 410, is

hereby reduced by $6,400,000.

amendment no. 295 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

PROCESSING MODERNIZATION RESEARCH.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for Defense-wide

manufacturing science and technology program \(PE 0603680D8Z\),

line 062, is hereby increased by $5,000,000 for university

innovative materials processing modernization research.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 301 for operation and maintenance,

Defense-wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table

in section 4301, for Washington Headquarters Services, line

510, is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

amendment no. 296 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

In title XV, add at the end the following new section:

SEC. 15\_\_. REPORT ON THREAT OF CYBER ATTACKS ON UNIVERSITY-

AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS.

The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report

on the threat of cyber attacks, including cyber attacks

carried out with the assistance of artificial intelligence,

on university-affiliated research centers. The report shall

include a plan for the Department of Defense to provide

assistance to such centers against the threat of such

attacks.

amendment no. 297 offered by mr. thompson of pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 17\_\_. PARTNERSHIP WITH SCOUTING AMERICA.

The Secretary of Defense shall maintain a partnership

between the Department of Defense and Scouting America in the

manner in which such partnership has historically been

maintained.

Amendment No. 298 Offered by Mr. Turner of Ohio

At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. IMPROVEMENT TO THE TRICARE COMPETITIVE PLANS

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

Section 707 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 1073a note\) is

amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subsection \(b\) as subsection \(c\); and

\(2\) by inserting after subsection \(a\) the following new

subsection:

“\(b\) Extension.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary shall seek to extend

contracts under the TRICARE Competitive Plans Demonstration

Project to carry out the project until the date on which the

next generation of TRICARE managed support contracts are

fully awarded, transitioned, and placed into operational

status.

“\(2\) Considerations.—In exercising the authority under

paragraph \(1\), the Secretary shall consider—

“\(A\) beneficiary health and quality of care; and

“\(B\) any disruption associated with changes in enrollment

in the TRICARE program.”.

Amendment No. 299 Offered by Mr. Turner of Ohio

At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 1. FUNDING FOR AUTONOMOUS HIGH-ALTITUDE LONG-ENDURANCE

AIRCRAFT AND PSEUDO-SATELLITES.

\(a\) Increase.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for the Rapid

Prototyping Program \(PE 604331D8Z\), line 111, is hereby

increased by $5,000,000 for the development, prototyping, and

demonstration of autonomous High-Altitude Long-Endurance

Aircraft \(HALE\) and High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites \(HAPS\)

capable of providing resilient

intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications,

and sensing capabilities in contested environments.

\(b\) Offset.—Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the

funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be

appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test,

and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the

corresponding funding table in section 4201, for JADC2

Development and Experimentation Activities \(PE 0604122D8Z\),

line 169, is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

Amendment No. 300 Offered by Ms. Van Duyne of Texas

Page 582, line 22, insert “, and long-term care” before

“pharmacies”.

Page 583, line 6, strike “and specialty pharmacies” and

insert “specialty, and long-term care pharmacies”.

Page 583, beginning line 12, strike “and specialty

pharmacies” and insert “specialty, and long-term care

pharmacies”.

Amendment No. 301 Offered by Ms. Van Duyne of Texas

Add at the end of title XI of division A the following:

SEC. 11\_\_. EXTENSION OF POSTAGE STAMP FOR BREAST CANCER

RESEARCH.

Section 414\(h\) of title 39, United States Code, is amended

by striking “2027” and inserting “2037”.

Amendment No. 302 Offered by Mr. Van Epps of Tennessee

At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. \_\_. ANNUAL REPORT ON THE TRANSITION OF SUCCESSFUL

PROTOTYPE PROJECTS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than the last day of each of

fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the Secretary of Defense

shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the

Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the

transition of successful prototype projects into procurement,

follow-on production, or operational deployment.

\(b\) Annual Reporting Requirements.—Each report required

under subsection \(a\) shall include the following information:

\(1\) The average time between the successful completion of a

prototype project and a determination regarding procurement,

follow-on production, operational deployment, additional

testing, or program termination.

\(2\) The number and percentage of successful prototype

projects that transitioned into procurement, follow-on

production, or programs of record during the preceding year.

\(3\) The number and percentage of successful prototype

projects that failed to transition into procurement or

production capabilities during the preceding year.

\(4\) Explanations for delays exceeding 365 days between

prototype completion and procurement or production decisions.

\(5\) Data on prototype projects funded through the Small

Business Innovation Research \(SBIR\) Program, Other

Transaction Authority \(OTA\) agreements, the Defense

Innovation Unit \(DIU\), and other defense innovation and

prototyping initiatives.

\(6\) Data broken down by military department, defense

agency, and technology category, including artificial

intelligence, autonomy, cyber capabilities, microelectronics,

advanced manufacturing, and other critical emerging

technologies.

\(c\) One-time Reporting Requirements.—In addition to the

information required under subsection \(b\), the final report

required under subsection \(a\) shall include the following

information:

\(1\) An identification of acquisition, contracting,

budgeting, testing, or requirements-related bottlenecks that

delay the transition of innovative technologies into

operational capability.

\(2\) Recommendations to improve procurement efficiency and

accelerate transition timelines for prototype projects.

\(3\) An assessment of barriers faced by small businesses and

nontraditional defense contractors participating in defense

innovation programs, including challenges related to

financing, cybersecurity compliance, intellectual property

protection, and access to follow-on procurement

opportunities.

\(d\) Successful Prototype Project Defined.—In this section,

the term “successful prototype project” means a prototype

project that achieved the operational, technical, or mission

requirements identified by the sponsoring military department

or defense agency.

\(e\) Form of Report.—Each report required under subsection

\(a\) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a

classified annex.

Amendment No. 303 Offered by Mr. Van Epps of Tennessee

Page 1337, after line 13, insert the following:

SEC. 18\_\_. INCREASED MAXIMUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY PLANS FOR

KEY MUNITIONS AND WEAPONS SYSTEMS.

\(a\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense

shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report

on increased maximum production capacity for each covered

system.

\(b\) Contents.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall

include, for each covered system, the following:

\(1\) The current maximum production level and the maximum

production level that could be established in the following

fiscal year.

\(2\) A description of the specific steps required to

increase maximum production capacity, including capital

equipment acquisitions, facility modifications, workforce

expansion, and supply chain development.

\(3\) An identification of the leading challenges and

bottlenecks that would constrain production increases,

including single-source supplier dependencies, long-lead

material shortfalls, workforce certification requirements,

facility or tooling limitations, and critical subcontractor

and supplier dependencies necessary to achieve surge

production capacity.

\(4\) The estimated timeline for achieving production at each

of the following capacity levels relative to the current

contract rate, together with the assumptions underlying each

timeline estimate:

\(A\) 150 percent of the current production rate.

\(B\) 200 percent of the current production rate.

\(C\) 500 percent of the current production rate.

\(5\) The estimated cost to the Government of the actions

necessary to achieve each capacity level identified under

paragraph \(4\), expressed as—

\(A\) the estimated additional contract cost per covered

system at each such level; and

\(B\) the estimated total capital and nonrecurring investment

required.

\(c\) Form.—The report under subsection \(a\) may be submitted

in classified form.

\(d\) Covered System Defined.—In this section, the term

“covered system” means—

\(1\) each munition or weapon system for which multiyear

procurement authority is provided under this Act, including

each system described in sections 1839 and 1840 of this Act;

and

\(2\) any other system, as determined by the Secretary of

Defense.

Amendment No. 304 Offered by Mr. Van Epps of Tennessee

At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following

new section:

SEC. 3\_\_. REPORT ON CERTAIN WATER AND WASTEWATER

INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS AT MILITARY

INSTALLATIONS.

\(a\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the congressional defense committees a report identifying

any water and wastewater infrastructure system—

\(1\) that is located at a military installation;

\(2\) the age of which exceeds 60 years;

\(3\) that the Secretary determines requires substantial

deferred maintenance, or replacement, to maintain compliance

with applicable environmental or public health requirements;

and

\(4\) the failure of which the Secretary determines—

\(A\) presents a significant risk to installation readiness,

force health protection, continuity of operations, or mission

execution; and

\(B\) would result in significant contingency operating

costs.

\(b\) Matters.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall include

the following:

\(1\) For each system identified pursuant to such report, the

following information:

\(A\) The age and condition of the system.

\(B\) The estimated cost to maintain, restore, modernize, or

replace the system.

\(C\) The estimated contingency operating costs associated

with the failure of the system.

\(D\) An assessment of the effect such failure would have

with respect to installation readiness, force health

protection, continuity of operations, and mission execution.

\(E\) An assessment of the effect such failure would have

with respect to members of the Armed Forces, military

families, and quality of life at the military installation,

including such effects on access to safe drinking water,

sanitation, housing, healthcare, and other essential

services.

\(2\) A prioritized ranking across the systems so identified,

based on an assessment of the lifecycle condition of such

systems, the operational risks, and effects on installation

readiness, that would result from the failure of such

systems, and the compliance requirements specified in

subsection \(a\)\(3\) applicable to such systems.

\(3\) Recommendations for addressing, through maintenance,

restoration, modernization, or replacement activities, the

systems ranked as the highest priority pursuant to paragraph

\(2\).

Amendment No. 305 Offered by Mr. Van Orden of Wisconsin

At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new

section:

SEC. 5\_\_. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY EMERGENCY

RESPONSE MAPPING.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 108 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended by inserting after section 2164d the

following new section:

“SEC. 2164E. PROCUREMENT OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAPS FOR

SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

EDUCATION ACTIVITY.

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through

the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity,

shall prioritize the procurement of emergency response maps

for Defense Dependent Schools to ensure, to the greatest

extent practicable, compatibility with public safety systems

in the event of an emergency.

“\(b\) Requirements.—Maps procured under subsection \(a\)

shall—

“\(1\) be—

“\(A\) in a digital file format accessible through a

standard or open-source file reader or image viewer on a

laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone, or other mobile

platform;

“\(B\) verified through on-site walkthrough inspections by

the entity producing the mapping data;

“\(C\) developed in coordination with industry partners

possessing demonstrated expertise in emergency response

mapping for schools;

“\(D\) capable of being updated, printed, and shared

electronically;

“\(E\) accessible without a subscription fee or other

restriction; and

“\(F\) verified for accuracy by a walkthrough inspection;

“\(2\) integrate with software used by Federal, State, and

local public safety agencies;

“\(3\) not be stored in a data center outside of the United

States;

“\(4\) display information oriented true north and on a

coordinate grid; and

“\(5\) depict any floor of such site or such portion through

overlaid, aerial imagery.

“\(c\) Defense Dependent School Defined.—In this section,

the term \`Defense Dependent School' means—

“\(1\) a school operated under the Defense Dependents'

Education System, as authorized under the Defense Dependents

Education Act of 1978 \(20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.\); or

“\(2\) a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary

and secondary school, as authorized under section 2164 of

this title.”.

\(b\) Briefing.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide

to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the

plan of the Department of Defense Education Activity for

procuring emergency response maps under section 2164e of

title 10, United States Code, as added by this section.

amendment no. 306 offered by mr. vasquez of new mexico

At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 28\_\_. EXPANSION OF PRIORITY LIST FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS PROGRAM.

The Secretary of Defense shall revise the notice titled

“Department of Defense Program for Construction, Renovation,

Repair or Expansion of Public Schools Located on Military

Installations” \(76 Fed. Reg. 55883 et seq.; published

September 9, 2011\) to ensure that not fewer than 90 public

schools included on the 2018 Public Schools on Military

Installations \(PSMI\) Priority List \(approved April 15, 2019\)

are eligible to submit requests for competitive grants

awarded pursuant to such program.

amendment no. 307 offered by mr. vindman of virginia

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. REPORT ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CAPABILITIES

AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

\(a\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit

to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the

House of Representatives a report on emergency medical

services capabilities at military installation.

\(b\) Matters Included.—The report under subsection \(a\)

shall include an assessment of emergency medical services

capabilities at military installations, including—

\(1\) the number and distribution of emergency medical

services response units;

\(2\) ambulance capabilities and equipment levels;

\(3\) staffing levels and certification levels of emergency

medical personnel;

\(4\) availability of advanced life support services;

\(5\) integration with military medical treatment facilities

and local civilian hospitals; and

\(6\) an evaluation of systems used to track naloxone

distribution, including—

\(A\) the degree of integration of such tracking systems

between emergency medical services reporting systems and

medical record systems;

\(B\) procedures for documenting naloxone administration

during emergency responses; and

\(C\) recommendations for establishing a standardized

Department-wide tracking framework.

amendment no. 308 offered by mrs. wagner of missouri

In title XVI, subtitle B, add at the end the following new

section:

SEC. 16\_\_. OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE DEFINITIONS.

\(a\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(1\) Publicly available information, including commercially

available information, has become increasingly important to

intelligence analysis, strategic warning, economic security,

and understanding adversarial activities.

\(2\) Consistent governance, oversight, and safeguarding

standards are necessary to support the lawful and effective

use of publicly available information and commercially

available information across the intelligence community.

\(b\) Establishment of Definitions.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under

Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security shall, in

coordination with the Director of National Intelligence,

establish definitions for the terms listed in subsection \(c\).

\(c\) Terms.—The terms referred to in subsection \(b\) are—

\(1\) open-source intelligence;

\(2\) commercially available information; and

\(3\) publicly available information.

\(d\) Applicability.—In establishing the definitions as

required by subsection \(b\), the Under Secretary of Defense

for Intelligence and Security, in coordination with the

Director of National Intelligence, shall ensure such

definitions may be applicable across the Department of

Defense and the intelligence community.

\(e\) Briefing Required.—Not later than 30 days after the

date of the establishment of the definitions required by

subsection \(b\), the Under Secretary of Defense for

Intelligence and Security shall provide to the congressional

defense committees and the congressional intelligence

committees a briefing on the rationale behind such

definitions.

\(f\) Definitions.—In this section, the terms

“congressional intelligence committees” and “intelligence

community” have the meanings given those terms in section 3

of the National Security Act of 1947 \(50 U.S.C. 3003\).

amendment no. 309 offered by mr. walkinshaw of virginia

In title XV, subtitle A, add at the end the following:

SEC. 15\_\_. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CLOUD SECURITY AUTHORIZATION

RECIPROCITY PILOT PROGRAM.

\(a\) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Officer

of the Department of Defense shall, in consultation with the

Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, establish

a pilot program on cloud security authorization reciprocity

to assess the feasibility and advisability of creating a

reciprocal compliance baseline between the Federal Risk and

Authorization Management Program \(“FedRAMP”\) for civilian

agency networks and the Cloud Computing Security Requirements

Guide \(“CC SRG”\) of the Department of Defense for

Department of Defense networks and national security systems.

\(b\) Selection of Solutions.—Under the pilot program

required by subsection \(a\), the Chief Information Officer

shall select a minimum of five cybersecurity solutions

authorized at the FedRAMP high impact level and perform an

accelerated assessment to validate them for CC SRG impact

level 5.

\(c\) Report to Congressional Committees.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of

the establishment of the pilot program required by subsection

\(a\), the Chief Information Officer shall submit to the

congressional defense committees a report on the findings of

the Chief Information Officer with respect to the pilot

program.

\(2\) Contents.—The report submitted under paragraph \(1\)

shall cover the following:

\(A\) The findings described in paragraph \(1\), including a

detailed analysis of benefits, risks, and any specific

security control gaps.

\(B\) A strategy and implementation plan to establish a

reciprocal compliance mechanism for CC SRG and FedRAMP

cybersecurity requirements.

\(C\) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of

expanding the number of authorized cybersecurity solutions to

participate in the pilot program.

\(3\) Form.—The report submitted under paragraph \(1\) shall

be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a

classified annex.

amendment no. 310 offered by mr. webster of florida

At the end of subtitle F of title VI, add the following new

section:

SEC. 6\_\_. REPORT ON MILITARY CAMPING AND RECREATIONAL PARK

PROGRAM.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed

Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a

report describing how each military department administers

military camping and recreational parks to ensure such parks

are equally accessible to all persons authorized to use such

parks.

\(b\) Elements.—The report required under subsection \(a\)

shall include the following:

\(1\) A list of military camping and recreational vehicle

parks that includes the location of each park and an

identification of the military department that administers

such park.

\(2\) An estimate of the average number of members of the

Armed Forces and veterans who use each facility in a year,

disaggregated by members of an active component, members of a

reserve component, and veterans.

\(3\) A list of such parks that allow users to stay more than

30 days during any 90-day period.

\(4\) A list of such parks that allow users to live at a park

full-time.

\(5\) An explanation of how the Department of Defense policy

on recreational vehicle parks complies with industry safety

standards.

\(6\) An explanation of the differences between the policies

that apply to such parks and the policies that apply to other

morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of the Department

of Defense that do not allow persons to stay more than 30

days.

\(7\) A description of any additional authorities or

resources the Secretary determines are necessary to increase

capacity and to ensure such parks are equally accessible to

all persons authorized to use such parks.

amendment no. 311 offered by mr. womack of arkansas

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following new

section:

SEC. 10\_\_. REPORT ON COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BASING LOCATIONS

FOR F-35 AIRCRAFT.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct an

analysis to evaluate the full life-cycle costs associated

with proposed or potential basing locations for F-35 aircraft

expected to be delivered to the Department of Defense during

the period of fiscal years 2030 through 2035.

\(b\) Contents.—The analysis under subsection \(a\) shall

include—

\(1\) an evaluation of the costs of military construction,

infrastructure upgrades, and simulator procurement and

installation associated with proposed basing locations for

the F-35 aircraft described in subsection \(a\) compared to

those costs at existing Air Force and Air National Guard

installations currently hosting fighter aircraft operations,

including installations supporting United States formal

training and foreign military training missions;

\(2\) identification of any military construction,

infrastructure, and simulator costs for the F-35 aircraft

described in subsection \(a\) that are already programmed or

funded in the budget of the President \(as submitted as

submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105\(a\) of title

31, United States Code\) or the most recent future-years

defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of

title 10, United States Code; and

\(3\) an estimate of any current or expected reductions in

funding to support F-35 basing at military installations.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 210 days after the date of the

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall

submit to the congressional defense committees a report on

the results of the analysis conducted under subsection \(a\).

amendment no. 312 offered by mr. zinke of montana

At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new

section:

SEC. 2\_\_. MODIFICATION TO USE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERMEDIARIES

TO PROMOTE DEFENSE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

Section 4124\(f\) of title 10, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) by inserting “or Department of Defense laboratory”

after “Center” each place it appears;

\(2\) by redesignating paragraph \(2\) as paragraph \(3\);

\(3\) by inserting after paragraph \(1\) the following new

paragraph:

“\(2\) A Department of Defense laboratory may pay the

Federal costs of a contract, memorandum of understanding, or

other transaction entered into under this subsection out of

funds available to the laboratory for the support of

technology transfer and transition functions, research and

development, or operation and maintenance.”; and

\(4\) in paragraph \(3\)\(B\), as so redesignated, by adding “,

or that can assist a Center or Department of Defense

laboratory with technology transition, either out of, or

into, the Center or laboratory” before the semicolon.

Amendment No. 313 Offered by Mr. Kelly of Mississippi

Strike title XXXVI and insert the following:

TITLE XXXVI—SHIPS FOR AMERICA

SEC. 3601. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the “Shipbuilding and Harbor

Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of

2026” or the “SHIPS for America Act of 2026”.

SEC. 3602. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

\(1\) Strategic sealift, made up of Government and commercial

vessels and mariners, is a critical capability for executing

the maritime defense strategy and the wartime and peacetime

economy of the United States.

\(2\) Ensuring a modern and ready capability will require

significant investment, policy prioritization, and the

innovation of the people of the United States.

\(3\) The worldwide ocean economy is worth between

$3,000,000,000,000 and $6,000,000,000,000, according to the

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Yet,

vessels of the United States carry less than 2 percent of

United States international commercial cargoes by weight.

\(4\) The United States has fewer than 200 oceangoing vessels

of the United States, of which only approximately 80 vessels

participate in international commerce, compared with more

than 5,500 Chinese documented vessels.

\(5\) Bracketed by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans,

the prosperity and security of the United States has always

been tied to its position as a maritime Nation. Throughout

human history, the strength of maritime nations has been

directly tied to the strength of their maritime industry. The

United States won two world wars on the back of a strong

maritime industry.

\(6\) Decades of apathy by the United States Government has

harmed our strategically important maritime industry. Our

weakened shipbuilding capacity, undersized maritime

workforce, and shrinking fleet of shipping vessels means the

United States relies on other nations to conduct

international commerce and lacks the strategic sealift to

support the United States military during wartime.

\(7\) Today, there are just 20 shipbuilders in the United

States capable of building oceangoing vessels—down from more

than 80 at the end of the Second World War.

\(8\) During World War II, the United States Merchant Marine

powered the Allies to victory with more than 10,000

oceangoing vessels of the United States. Today there are just

80 vessels of the United States engaged in international

trade.

\(9\) The People's Republic of China has made investments in

the maritime industry a strategic priority over the past 20

years.

\(10\) As of 2023, shipyards in the United States had fewer

than 5 shipbuilding orders for oceangoing vessels, while

shipyards in the People's Republic of China had more than

1,700 orders, according to BRS Group. According to the Office

of Naval Intelligence, the People's Republic of China became

the world's top shipbuilding and shipping nation, boasting

230 times more shipbuilding capacity than the United States.

\(11\) With just 12,000 United States merchant mariners

operating oceangoing vessels, the United States may not have

a sufficient number of mariners to fully power the strategic

sealift vessels necessary in a future prolonged conflict.

\(12\) The American Civil Society of Engineers assesses that

the United States has a national maintenance backlog

amounting to $125,000,000,000 for bridges, $163,000,000,000

for ports, and $6,800,000,000 for inland waterways.

\(13\) The maritime industry is inherently international.

Eighty percent of United States goods are imported by sea, of

which 98 percent come into the United States on foreign

documented vessels. Only 2 percent of such goods come into

the United States on vessels of the United States, leaving

the United States economy disproportionately dependent on

oceangoing trade controlled by often adversarial foreign

nations. The Nation's ability to provide services in both

international and interstate commerce is critical to national

and economic defense.

\(14\) Since November 2023, vessels engaged in international

commerce have been threatened by the Houthis, which has

threatened global supply chains, increased costs, and

required naval force protection operations in the Red Sea

through the United States-led Operation Prosperity Guardian

that formed in December 2023.

\(15\) A fleet of commercial shipping vessels of the United

States, crewed with citizen mariners, that is competitive in

domestic and international trade enhances the United States

military's readiness, allows the United States to more

strategically compete with China, and underwrites the

security and survival of the United States in times of crisis

and war.

SEC. 3603. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States must—

\(1\) create a more favorable domestic and global maritime

environment for vessels of the United States engaged in

international commerce, shipbuilding, ship repair, maritime

logistics, the maritime workforce, and naval power,

contributing to assured access to the world's oceans free

from coercion from strategic competitors and asymmetric

adversaries;

\(2\) increase domestic shipbuilding and ship repair

capacity, with programs and policies that enable the growth

of United States shipyards and the maritime industrial base,

enhance military sealift capacity, expand the United States

maritime workforce, and enhance national security;

\(3\) revitalize the international fleet of vessels of the

United States and foster a comparative advantage for the

United States through targeted incentives and regulatory

reforms to make the fleet competitive with international

carriers and to gain a sustainable share of the global

maritime market in order to bolster supply chains, strengthen

economic security, and lower prices, while protecting the

United States economy from economic coercion;

\(4\) take all measures necessary to ensure that sufficient

military, civil, and commercial resources will be available

with assured access to meet defense deployment needs and

essential economic activities for our Nation in times of

crisis, war, or peace;

\(5\) recognize that a vibrant commercial shipbuilding

industry provides supply chain resiliencies and creates

economies of scale that improve military, Coast Guard, and

Government shipbuilding and support military operations

through strategic sealift to defend the freedom of the seas;

\(6\) nurture the comparative advantages of the United States

to innovate to better compete in the global maritime

marketplace, grow the maritime workforce, and create a

favorable environment for investments to build modern

maritime facilities and world-class academic institutions;

\(7\) ensure better coordination between Federal agencies,

including the Maritime Administration, the United States

Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, the Federal Maritime

Commission, and all other Federal agencies with a maritime

nexus, to protect, regulate, and support the United States

maritime industry, resolve disputes, and implement a whole-

of-Government national maritime strategy;

\(8\) recognize that, while a strong Navy is the surest

guarantee of peace, building the

Navy, sustaining the Navy, and supplying the Navy is founded

on a robust commercial industrial base;

\(9\) establish reliable long-term demand signals for, and

investments in, oceangoing commercial vessels that are built

in the United States, documented under the laws of the United

States, and crewed by United States mariners;

\(10\) evaluate past and present maritime efforts to take

actions to revitalize the United States maritime industry;

\(11\) strengthen the United States intercoastal and domestic

trade fleet, which is the foundation upon which a revitalized

United States-documented shipping and domestic shipbuilding

industry will be built;

\(12\) recognize the important role that the support craft,

passenger, and fishing vessel fleet play in the United States

maritime industry;

\(13\) encourage the shipping of commercial cargo on vessels

of the United States, with the aim of growing the size and

carrying capacity of the international fleet of vessels of

the United States;

\(14\) grow the shipping capacity of vessels of the United

States and guarantee United States Government cargo during

peacetime;

\(15\) develop a whole-of-Government effort to expand,

develop, and protect the maritime workforce;

\(16\) recognize the need for more workers in the maritime

sector and stimulate growth in the United States maritime and

shipbuilding industries, including by increasing access to

early maritime education, commissioning national marketing

campaigns to demonstrate how United States shipbuilding,

United States-documented shipping, and maritime workers are

critical to national security, and implementing workforce

accelerator programs;

\(17\) remove barriers to training mariners, including

reevaluating Coast Guard training requirements regarding

faculty credentials, instructional facility designs, sea time

requirements, and other identified barriers, consistent with

international treaty obligations;

\(18\) expand and nurture a robust mariner workforce that

enhances the national security and strategic sealift

readiness of the United States by increasing the number of

United States mariners and improving existing pathways and

establishing new pathways for new, current, and former

merchant mariners to go to sea;

\(19\) recognize that the United States Merchant Marine

Academy and our State maritime academies are critical to

training the next generation of licensed officers and

engineers on vessels of the United States;

\(20\) invest and innovate in domestic shipbuilding, ship

repair, and the shipping capabilities and capacity of vessels

of the United States to advance the power and influence of

the maritime industry of the United States;

\(21\) drive multi-stakeholder research, development,

assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies

and best practices related to the maritime transportation

system to ensure United States leadership in next-generation

shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime logistics;

\(22\) drive modern business and manufacturing approaches,

such as innovative maritime logistics, clean fuels, and

advanced nuclear energy, human-machine teaming, additive

manufacturing, and other advanced technologies;

\(23\) review and update regulations governing vessel design

and engineering, vessel and facility operation, and merchant

mariner credentialing, in order to revitalize the United

States maritime industry;

\(24\) seek mutually beneficial relationships with treaty

allies and strategic partners to grow the domestic shipping

and shipbuilding industries of the United States and to share

the burden of providing freedom of navigation on the high

seas, while de-risking the United States maritime domain from

the People's Republic of China, foreign countries of concern,

and asymmetric or emerging maritime threats;

\(25\) harden critical maritime infrastructure and networks,

and incrementally replace infrastructure built by foreign

adversaries with domestic-built and allied-built

infrastructure; and

\(26\) promote the values of the United States for freedom of

the seas, worker safety and quality of life, environmental

stewardship, and the resilience of our oceans, seas, and

inland waterways.

SEC. 3604. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

\(1\) The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

\(A\) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the Senate; and

\(B\) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

\(2\) The term “domestic commerce” means the transportation

of goods or passengers between places in the United States.

\(3\) The term “foreign commerce” means—

\(A\) commerce or trade between the United States, its

territories or possessions, or the District of Columbia, and

a foreign country; and

\(B\) commerce or trade between foreign countries.

\(4\) The term “foreign country of concern” means—

\(A\) a country that is a covered nation \(as defined in

section 4872\(d\) of title 10, United States Code\); and

\(B\) any country that the Maritime Administrator, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of

State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Chair

of the Federal Maritime Commission, determines to be engaged

in conduct that is detrimental to the national security or

foreign policy of the United States.

\(5\) The term “foreign entity”—

\(A\) means—

\(i\) a government of a foreign country or a foreign

political party, as those terms are defined in section 1 of

the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended \(22

U.S.C. 611\);

\(ii\) a natural person who is not a lawful permanent

resident of the United States, a citizen of the United

States, or any other protected individual \(as such term is

defined in section 274B\(a\)\(3\) of the Immigration and

Nationality Act \(8 U.S.C. 1324b\(a\)\(3\)\)\); or

\(iii\) a partnership, association, corporation,

organization, or other combination of persons organized under

the laws of or having its principal place of business in a

foreign country; and

\(B\) includes—

\(i\) any person \(including an owner or operator of a vessel\)

owned by, controlled by, or subject to the direction of an

entity listed in subparagraph \(A\);

\(ii\) any person, wherever located, who acts as an agent,

representative, or employee of an entity listed in

subparagraph \(A\);

\(iii\) any person who acts in any other capacity at the

order, request, or under the direction or control, of an

entity listed in subparagraph \(A\), or of a person whose

activities are directly or indirectly supervised, directed,

controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in major part

by an entity listed in subparagraph \(A\);

\(iv\) any person who directly or indirectly through any

contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or

otherwise, owns 25 percent or more of the equity interests of

an entity listed in subparagraph \(A\);

\(v\) any person with significant responsibility to control,

manage, or direct an entity listed in subparagraph \(A\);

\(vi\) any person, wherever located, who is a citizen or

resident of a country controlled by an entity listed in

subparagraph \(A\); or

\(vii\) any corporation, partnership, association, or other

organization organized under the laws of a country controlled

by an entity listed in subparagraph \(A\).

\(6\) The term “foreign entity of concern” means any

foreign entity that is—

\(A\) designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the

Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and

Nationality Act \(8 U.S.C. 1189\);

\(B\) included on the list of specially designated nationals

and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign

Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury;

\(C\) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction

or direction of a government of a foreign country of concern;

\(D\) alleged by the Attorney General to have been involved

in activities for which a conviction was obtained under—

\(i\) chapter 37 of title 18, United States Code \(commonly

known as the “Espionage Act”\) \(18 U.S.C. 792 et seq.\);

\(ii\) section 951 or 1030 of title 18, United States Code;

\(iii\) chapter 90 of title 18, United States Code \(commonly

known as the “Economic Espionage Act of 1996”\);

\(iv\) the Arms Export Control Act \(22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.\);

\(v\) section 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 of the Atomic Energy

Act of 1954 \(42 U.S.C. 2274, 2275, 2276, 2277, and 2284\);

\(vi\) the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 \(50 U.S.C. 4801

et seq.\); or

\(vii\) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act \(50

U.S.C. 1701 et seq.\);

\(E\) designated by the Federal Maritime Commission as a

controlled carrier under chapter 407 of title 46, United

States Code;

\(F\) found by the Federal Maritime Commission to be

practicing unfavorable conditions in foreign trade under

chapter 421 or 423 of title 46, United States Code; or

\(G\) determined by the Maritime Administrator, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of

State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Chair

of the Federal Maritime Commission, to be engaged in

unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to the national

security or foreign policy of the United States.

\(7\) The term “vessel of the United States” has the

meaning given that term in section 116 of title 46, United

States Code.

Subtitle A—Oversight and Accountability

SEC. 3611. MARITIME SECURITY ADVISOR; MARITIME SECURITY

BOARD.

\(a\) Amendments.—Chapter 504 of part A of subtitle V of

title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking the chapter heading and inserting the

following: “OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY”;

\(2\) by redesignating section 50401 as section 50403; and

\(3\) by inserting before section 50402, the following:

“Sec. 50401. Maritime Security Advisor; Maritime Security

Board

“\(a\) Maritime Security Advisor.—

“\(1\) In general.—Not later than 60 days after the date of

enactment of this section, the President shall appoint a

Special Advisor

to the President \(to be known as the \`Maritime Security

Advisor'\) for coordinating national maritime affairs and

policy, including developing, updating, and implementing the

National Maritime Strategy as required under section 50114 of

this title.

“\(2\) Duties.—The Maritime Security Advisor appointed

under paragraph \(1\) shall serve as the Chair of the Maritime

Security Board, shall be the principal advisor to the

President on all issues related to the maritime industry,

shipbuilding, and ship repair, and shall be responsible for

developing, updating, and implementing the National Maritime

Strategy under section 50114 of this title within and across

the Federal Government.

“\(3\) Office of the maritime security advisor.—

“\(A\) In general.—There is established in the Executive

Office of the President, an Office of the Maritime Security

Advisor. The Maritime Security Advisor described in this

subsection shall be the head of such Office.

“\(B\) Employees; contracts.—In carrying out the functions

under this section, the Maritime Security Advisor is

authorized to—

“\(i\) appoint such officers and employees as the Maritime

Security Advisor may deem necessary to perform the functions

now or hereafter vested in the Maritime Security Advisor and

to prescribe their duties; and

“\(ii\) enter into contracts and other arrangements for

studies, analyses, and other services with public agencies

and with private persons, organizations, or institutions, and

make such payments as the Maritime Security Advisor deems

necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

“\(b\) Maritime Security Board.—Not later than 90 days

after the date of enactment of this section, the President

shall establish a board, to be known as the \`Maritime

Security Board' \(in this section referred to as the \`Board'\).

“\(1\) Composition.—

“\(A\) In general.—The Board shall be comprised of the

following individuals and representatives:

“\(i\) The Maritime Security Advisor described in subsection

\(a\).

“\(ii\) The Maritime Administrator.

“\(iii\) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.

“\(iv\) The Secretary of the Navy.

“\(v\) The Commander of the United States Transportation

Command.

“\(vi\) The Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission.

“\(vii\) The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil

Works.

“\(viii\) The chief United States delegate to the

International Maritime Organization.

“\(ix\) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and

Atmosphere.

“\(x\) The Commissioner for Customs and Border Protection.

“\(xi\) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget,

or a designee.

“\(xii\) The Secretary of Transportation, or a designee.

“\(xiii\) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or a designee.

“\(xiv\) The Secretary of State, or a designee.

“\(xv\) The Secretary of Labor, or a designee.

“\(xvi\) The Secretary of Commerce, or a designee.

“\(xvii\) The Secretary of the Treasury, or a designee.

“\(xviii\) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection

Agency, or a designee.

“\(xix\) From the Department of Defense—

“\(I\) the Secretary of Defense, or a designee;

“\(II\) The Commander of the Military Sealift Command.

“\(III\) The Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command.

“\(IV\) a representative of the Army, as appointed by the

Secretary of Defense;

“\(V\) a representative of the Air Force, as appointed by

the Secretary of Defense; and

“\(VI\) a representative of the Navy, as appointed by the

Secretary of Defense.

“\(B\) Nonvoting members.—The individuals and

representatives listed in clauses \(xi\) through \(xxi\) shall be

nonvoting members.

“\(C\) Chair.—The Maritime Security Advisor shall serve as

the Chair of the Board.

“\(2\) Duties.—Consistent with the National Maritime

Strategy under section 50114 of this title, the Board shall

carry out the following duties:

“\(A\) Supporting the development of the marine

transportation system of the United States, including—

“\(i\) assessing the adequacy of the marine transportation

system \(including ports, waterways, channels, and their

intermodal connections\);

“\(ii\) promoting the integration of the marine

transportation system with other modes of transportation and

other uses of the marine environment; and

“\(iii\) coordinating, improving the coordination of, and

making recommendations with regard to Federal policies that

impact the marine transportation system.

“\(B\) Establishing policy priorities relating to, and

conducting independent oversight over, the financial

assistance programs under part C of subtitle V of this title,

including—

“\(i\) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of

the SHIPS for America Act of 2026 and annually thereafter,

establishing targets for the number, type, and requirements

of vessels to be included in each of—

“\(I\) the Maritime Security Fleet \(consistent with the most

recent Mobility Capability Requirements Study produced by

United States Transportation Command\);

“\(II\) the Cable Security Fleet;

“\(III\) the Tanker Security Fleet \(consistent with the most

recent Mobility Capability Requirements Study produced by

United States Transportation Command\);

“\(IV\) the Strategic Commercial Fleet; and

“\(V\) the Shipbuilding Financial Incentives Program;

“\(ii\) submitting annual recommendations to the appropriate

committees of Congress for any needed changes in the

authorized number of vessels eligible to participate in the

programs under part C of subtitle V of this title; and

“\(iii\) conducting oversight of the administration of such

financial assistance programs to ensure such programs support

the strategic sealift objectives and policy of the United

States, as established in section 59101 of this title.

“\(C\) Supporting the Maritime Administrator in all efforts

to conduct independent oversight of passenger and cargo

preference requirements and supporting efforts to enable

cargo to be carried on vessels of the United States,

including—

“\(i\) conducting oversight and coordinating interagency

efforts to comply with cargo preference requirements

established under chapter 553 of this title and section 2631

of title 10;

“\(ii\) independently verifying that all Federal agencies

follow the requirements for cargoes procured, furnished, or

financed by the United States Government under section 55305

of this title, and notifying the appropriate committees of

Congress of any identified violations of the requirements of

such section;

“\(iii\) conducting outreach among nongovernmental

stakeholders, including private industry, to encourage more

cargo to be moved on vessels of the United States;

“\(iv\) developing recommendations for regulations to be

issued by Federal agencies to preference the movement of

cargo on vessels of the United States; and

“\(v\) submitting recommendations to the appropriate

committees of Congress for changes to laws relating to

passenger and cargo preferences for the purpose of

establishing a more robust fleet of vessels of the United

States.

“\(D\) Conducting independent oversight and developing

guidance and recommendations related to the enforcement of

the requirements of chapters 121 and 551 of this title.

“\(E\) Coordinating national efforts to develop a robust

maritime workforce that enhances the national security and

strategic sealift readiness of the United States, including—

“\(i\) coordinating and conducting oversight of interagency

efforts and partnerships with the maritime industry and

qualified labor organizations to recruit, train, and retain

qualified licensed and unlicensed merchant mariners; and

“\(ii\) coordinating and conducting oversight of interagency

efforts and partnerships with the shipbuilding industry to

recruit, train, and retain qualified workers in the

shipbuilding industry of the United States.

“\(F\) Establishing national priorities for research and

development of next-generation technologies to enhance United

States leadership in the shipbuilding and maritime

industries, including through the Center for Maritime

Innovation established under section 50307.

“\(G\) Coordinating efforts to protect vessels of the United

States operating in international or domestic commerce from

physical and cybersecurity threats.

“\(H\) Conducting oversight of the use of funds from the

Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section

50301\(b\) of this title, and making recommendations to

Congress for expenditures from the Trust Fund.

“\(I\) Conducting studies on subjects related to the

maritime industry and international shipping, and undertaking

other efforts related to strengthening the maritime security

of the United States.

“\(J\) Carrying out other duties, as assigned by the

President in consultation with the Maritime Security Advisor,

related to the maritime industry, shipbuilding, ship repair,

strategic sealift, and the marine transportation system of

the United States.

“\(3\) Delegation.—The Board may task agencies who are

represented by individuals on the Board \(as described under

paragraph \(1\)\(A\)\) to carry out any duties of the Board.

“\(4\) Meetings.—The Board shall meet not less frequently

than quarterly.

“\(5\) Staff.—The Board may hire staff to support its

activities.

“\(c\) Report to Congress.—

“\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the

President establishes the Maritime Security Board under this

section, and annually thereafter, the Board shall submit a

report to the appropriate committees of Congress describing—

“\(A\) the actions that the Board has taken to carry out the

duties required of the Board under subsection \(b\)\(2\); and

“\(B\) a list of recommended actions that the Board

recommends Congress take to enhance the strength of the

United States maritime industry and support the economic and

national security needs of the United States;.

“\(2\) Appropriate committees of congress.—In this section,

the term \`appropriate committees of Congress' means—

“\(A\) the Committees on Armed Services of the House of

Representatives and the Senate;

“\(B\) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of

the House of Representatives; and

“\(C\) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation of the Senate.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

504 of subtitle V of title 46, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

“50401. Maritime Security Advisor; Maritime Security Board. “50402. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee. “50403. United States Committee on the Marine Transportation

System.”.

\(c\) National Maritime Strategy.—Section 50114 of title 46,

United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking subsection \(a\), and inserting the

following:

“\(a\) In General.—

“\(1\) In general.—Subject to paragraph \(2\), the Maritime

Security Advisor, in consultation with the Maritime Security

Board, shall develop a National Maritime Strategy and submit

that National Maritime Strategy to the appropriate committees

of Congress \(as that term is defined in section 3604 of the

SHIPS for America Act of 2026\).

“\(2\) Transition.—Notwithstanding paragraph \(1\), if a

national maritime strategy has been developed and submitted

in accordance with this section, as in effect on the day

before the date of enactment of the SHIPS for America Act of

2026, in the 1-year period before such date of enactment, the

Maritime Security Advisor shall implement and update that

national maritime strategy and shall not develop a new

national maritime strategy.”; and

\(2\) by striking subsections \(c\) and \(d\) and inserting the

following:

“\(c\) Implementation.—Upon the release of a strategy under

this section, the Maritime Security Advisor, in consultation

with the Maritime Security Board, shall be responsible for

implementing the contents and recommendations of the

strategy.

“\(d\) Update.—The Maritime Security Advisor, in

coordination with the Maritime Security Board, shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress \(as that term is

defined in section 3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026\)

an update to the strategy developed under subsection \(a\) not

less often than every 5 years.

“\(e\) Public Availability; Implementation Plan.—Not later

than 6 months after the submission of a strategy or update

under subsection \(a\), the Maritime Security Advisor, in

consultation with the Maritime Security Board, shall make

publicly available on an appropriate website each strategy or

updated strategy and an implementation plan for such strategy

or update.”.

SEC. 3612. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL ADVISORY

COMMITTEE.

Section 50402 is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “Secretary of

Transportation” and inserting “Maritime Security Advisor

and Maritime Security Board”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(c\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “by the Secretary of

Transportation”;

\(B\) by striking paragraph \(3\) and inserting the following:

“\(3\) Representation.—Members of the Committee shall be

appointed as follows:

“\(A\) The Maritime Security Advisor shall appoint the

following members of the Committee:

“\(i\) At least one member to represent the Environmental

Protection Agency.

“\(ii\) At least one member to represent the Department of

Commerce.

“\(iii\) At least one member to represent the Corps of

Engineers.

“\(iv\) At least one member to represent the Coast Guard.

“\(v\) At least one member to represent Customs and Border

Protection.

“\(vi\) At least one member to represent the Maritime

Administration.

“\(vii\) At least one member to represent the Department of

Agriculture.

“\(viii\) At least one member to represent the State

Department.

“\(ix\) At least one member to represent State and local

governmental entities.

“\(B\) Additional members shall represent private sector

entities that reflect a cross-section of maritime industries,

including credentialed United States merchant mariners, port

and water stakeholders, academia, and labor, of whom—

“\(i\) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the

Senate;

“\(ii\) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the

Senate;

“\(iii\) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of

Representatives; and

“\(iv\) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the

House of Representatives.

“\(C\) The Maritime Security Advisor may appoint additional

members of the Committee, including additional

representatives from the United States Merchant Marine

Academy, State maritime academies, or other Federal agencies,

as the Secretary considers appropriate.”; and

\(C\) in paragraph \(4\), by redesignating subparagraphs \(A\)

and \(B\) as clauses \(i\) and \(ii\), respectively, and adjusting

the margins accordingly;

\(D\) by redesignating paragraph \(4\) as subparagraph \(A\) and

adjusting the margins accordingly;

\(E\) by inserting after paragraph \(3\) the following:

“\(4\) Restrictions on members.—”; and

\(F\) at the end of paragraph \(4\), as so designated, by

inserting the following:

“\(B\) Restrictions on additional members.—Members

appointed under this paragraph that are not representing

Federal agencies—

“\(i\) shall remain on the Committee for a term of 3 years

from the date that the member is appointed; and

“\(ii\) may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.”.

SEC. 3613. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; AUTHORIZATION FOR

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

\(a\) Maritime Administration Direct Hire Authority.—

\(1\) In general.—The Maritime Administrator may appoint,

without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through

3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates to positions

in the competitive service within the Maritime Administration

for which—

\(A\) public notice has been given;

\(B\) the Administrator has determined that a critical hiring

need exists; and

\(C\) the Administrator has consulted with the Director of

the Office of Personnel Management regarding—

\(i\) the positions for which the Administrator plans to

recruit;

\(ii\) the quantity of candidates the Administrator is

seeking; and

\(iii\) the assessment and selection policies the

Administrator plans to utilize.

\(2\) Definition of critical hiring need.—In this

subsection, the term “critical hiring need” means personnel

necessary for the implementation of this title and associated

work.

\(b\) Coast Guard Direct Hire Authority.—

\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of the department in which

the Coast Guard is operating may appoint, without regard to

the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5,

United States Code, candidates to positions in the

competitive service within offices under the Assistant

Commandant for Prevention Policy of the Coast Guard, for

which—

\(A\) public notice has been given;

\(B\) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring

need exists; and

\(C\) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the

Office of Personnel Management regarding—

\(i\) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit;

\(ii\) the quantity of candidates the Secretary is seeking;

and

\(iii\) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary

plans to utilize.

\(2\) Definition of critical hiring need.—In this

subsection, the term “critical hiring need” means personnel

necessary for the implementation of this title and associated

work.

\(c\) Competitive Service.—In this section, the term

“competitive service” has the meaning given the term in

section 2102 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3614. FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION REPORT ON VESSELS OF

THE UNITED STATES.

\(a\) In General.—The Federal Maritime Commission shall

annually submit a report to the Maritime Security Board and

the appropriate committees of Congress evaluating the

competitiveness of vessels of the United States in foreign

commerce. The Maritime Security Board shall utilize the

findings of such report to inform the National Maritime

Strategy under section 50114 of title 46, United States Code,

and other activities of the Board.

\(b\) Contents.—The report shall include—

\(1\) metrics concerning carriage of foreign commerce on

vessels of the United States;

\(2\) information about the price parity of carriage of

foreign commerce on vessels of the United States versus

foreign vessels \(as defined in section 110 of title 46,

United States Code\) by market;

\(3\) identification of markets of opportunity for the United

States to compete in foreign commerce where rates are in

relative parity to vessels of the United States;

\(4\) markets in which United States interests paid above

average rates for foreign commerce, including with foreign

and domestic carriers; and

\(5\) an assessment of the foreign vessel registries of peer

competitor countries to determine—

\(A\) the roles of the governments of peer competitor

countries in their vessel registry processes, including

policy practices that may provide a disadvantage to the

United States;

\(B\) the sizes of the fleets of foreign vessels registered

with such countries, including how many of such foreign

vessels are domestically built and how many are built in

other countries; and

\(C\) the price parity of vessels of the United States, as

compared to foreign vessels registered with peer competitor

countries that are operating in global markets identified as

a priority by the Federal Maritime Commission.

Subtitle B—Maritime Security Trust Fund

SEC. 3621. MARITIME SECURITY TRUST FUND ESTABLISHED.

Section 50301 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking the section heading and inserting “Funds

established”;

\(2\) in subsection \(e\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(2\), by redesignating subparagraphs \(A\),

\(B\), and \(C\), as clauses \(i\), \(ii\), and \(iii\), respectively,

and adjusting the margins accordingly;

\(B\) by redesignating paragraphs \(1\), \(2\), and \(3\), as

subparagraphs \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\), respectively, and adjusting

the margins accordingly;

\(C\) in subparagraph \(A\), as redesignated by subparagraph

\(B\), by striking “paragraph \(2\)” and inserting

“subparagraph \(B\)”;

\(D\) in subparagraph \(B\), as redesignated by subparagraph

\(B\), in the matter preceding clause \(i\), by striking

“Paragraph \(1\)” and inserting “Subparagraph \(A\)”; and

\(E\) in subparagraph \(C\), as redesignated by subparagraph

\(B\), by striking “Paragraph \(1\)” and inserting

“Subparagraph \(A\)”;

\(3\) in subsection \(f\), by redesignating paragraphs \(1\)

through \(4\) as subparagraphs \(A\) through \(D\), respectively,

and adjusting the margins accordingly;

\(4\) by redesignating subsections \(b\) through \(g\) as

paragraphs \(2\) through \(7\), respectively, and adjusting the

margins accordingly;

\(5\) in subsection \(a\), by striking “In General” and all

that follows through “There is a” and inserting the

following:

“\(a\) Vessel Operations Revolving Fund.—

“\(1\) In general.—There is a”;

\(6\) in paragraph \(4\), by striking “subsection \(a\)” and

inserting “paragraph \(1\)”; and

\(7\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(b\) Maritime Security Trust Fund.—

“\(1\) In general.—There is a \`Maritime Security Trust

Fund' for use in carrying out programs or activities

associated with supporting the merchant marine of the United

States and the maritime industrial base.

“\(2\) Total balance.—The total amount in the Maritime

Security Trust Fund at any time shall not exceed

$20,000,000,000.

“\(3\) Expenditures.—Amounts in the Maritime Security Trust

Fund shall be authorized to be appropriated out of the

Maritime Security Trust Fund as provided by in appropriations

acts made after the date of enactment of this Act.”.

Subtitle C—Sealift Capability

SEC. 3631. SEALIFT CAPABILITY.

\(a\) In General.—Subtitle V of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“PART H—STRATEGIC SEALIFT

- “Sec.
- “59101. Objectives and policy.
- “59102. Procurement, maintenance, and operation.
- “59103. Sealift prioritization.
- “59104. Report on privilege.

“Sec. 59101. Objectives and policy

“\(a\) Objectives.—It is necessary for the national defense

and economic security of the United States that the United

States have vessels of the United States capable of providing

and supporting strategic sealift—

“\(1\) sufficient to meet surge defense deployment and

essential economic activities for the United States in times

of crisis or war;

“\(2\) sufficient to respond unilaterally to national

security threats in geographic areas not covered by alliance

commitments and ensure economic security resilience for

United States trade; and

“\(3\) built, operated, and maintained during all times,

primarily in the United States to protect and ensure national

security resiliency and avoid foreign coercion of critical

supply chains.

“\(b\) Policy.—It is the policy of the United States to

encourage and aid the development and maintenance of vessels

of the United States with strategic sealift capabilities

satisfying the objectives described in subsection \(a\).

“\(c\) Strategy Required.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Maritime Security Board shall

annually develop a strategy to leverage the financial

assistance programs established under part C of this subtitle

to expand the number of vessels of the United States needed

to accomplish the objectives described under subsection \(a\).

“\(2\) Strategy components.—The strategy developed by the

Maritime Security Board shall include—

“\(A\) annual goals for the number of vessels that will be

brought into the fleet of vessels of the United States

capable of providing strategic sealift utilizing the Maritime

Security Fleet under chapter 531 of this title, the Cable

Security Fleet under chapter 532 of this title, the Tanker

Security Fleet under chapter 534 of this title, the Strategic

Commercial Fleet under chapter 536 of this title, and the

Shipbuilding Financial Incentives program, consistent with

the most recent Mobility Capability Requirements Study

produced by United States Transportation Command; and

“\(B\) an assessment of domestic shipbuilding capacity and a

strategy to increase the capacity of the domestic

shipbuilding industry utilizing the Shipbuilding Financial

Incentives program.

“\(3\) National maritime strategy.—The strategy developed

by the Maritime Security Board under paragraph \(1\) shall be

consistent with the National Maritime Strategy developed

under section 50114.

“\(d\) Report Required.—

“\(1\) In general.—Upon completion, the Maritime Security

Board shall transmit to the appropriate committees of

Congress a summary of the strategy developed under subsection

\(c\), with a classified annex as necessary.

“\(2\) Definition.—In this part, the term \`appropriate

committees of Congress' has the meaning given that term in

section 3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026.

“Sec. 59102. Procurement, maintenance, and operation

“\(a\) Statement of Policy.—The Maritime Administrator, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary

of Homeland Security, shall build, acquire, maintain,

coordinate, support, and operate a sufficient and privileged

fleet of vessels of the United States with commercial and

military sealift capability.

“\(b\) Supplemental Capability.—In developing sealift

capability under this part, the Secretary of Transportation

and the Secretary of Defense shall continue to support a

sufficient Maritime Security Fleet under chapter 531 of this

title, a Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of this

title, a Tanker Security Fleet under chapter 534 of this

title, the Strategic Commercial Fleet under chapter 536 of

this title, a Military Sealift Command of the Department of

the Navy, and a Ready Reserve Force component of the National

Defense Reserve Fleet under section 57100 of this title, to

provide capacity and resiliency for unilateral United States

strategic sealift in peace, crisis, and war.

“\(c\) Judicial Review.—No court shall have jurisdiction to

review decisions made by the Maritime Administrator, the

Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security

with respect to this section.

“Sec. 59103. Sealift prioritization

“\(a\) In General.—In acquiring, maintaining, coordinating,

and supporting a fleet of vessels capable of providing

sealift capacity during wartime and crisis, the Maritime

Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense,

shall ensure the availability of vessels, in the following

order of priority:

“\(1\) Commercial vessels of the United States.

“\(2\) Vessels of the United States that are owned and

operated by the United States Government.

“\(3\) Vessels of countries that are defense treaty allies

of the United States.

“\(4\) Vessels of countries that are strategic partners of

the United States.

“\(b\) Judicial Review.—No court shall have jurisdiction to

review decisions made by the Maritime Administrator or the

Secretary of Defense with respect to this section.

“Sec. 59104. Report on privilege

“\(a\) In General.—Not later than March 1, 2027, the

Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the

Secretary of Commerce, the Chair of the Federal Maritime

Commission, and the Director of the Office of Management and

Budget, shall submit to the appropriate committees of

Congress a report including ways to ensure vessels of the

United States operating in foreign commerce are privileged in

regulation, fees, insurance, and policy compared to foreign

vessels conducting trade with a United States domiciled

entity, while remaining consistent with the international

obligations of the United States.

“\(b\) Contents.—In submitting the report under subsection

\(a\), the Secretary of Transportation shall include options

for regulating trade with foreign vessels in order to sustain

and grow the Maritime Security Fleet under chapter 531 of

this title, the Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of

this title, the Tanker Security Fleet under chapter 534 of

this title, the Strategic Commercial Fleet under chapter 536

of this title, and other vessels of the United States

operating in foreign commerce.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of chapters for subtitle

V of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“Part H—Strategic Sealift”.

SEC. 3632. NATIONAL FREIGHT STRATEGIC PLAN.

Section 70102\(b\) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(16\), by striking “and” after the

semicolon;

\(2\) in paragraph \(17\), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(18\) consideration of United States strategic sealift

objectives and strategies established under section 59101 of

title 46; and

“\(19\) consideration of maritime networks in multimodal

freight corridors.”.

SEC. 3633. FOREIGN SHIPPING PRACTICES; CONTROLLED CARRIERS.

\(a\) Foreign Shipping Practices.—Section 42301\(b\) of title

46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(2\), by inserting “or passengers” after

“transportation of cargo”; and

\(2\) in paragraph \(5\), by inserting “or passengers” after

“carriage of cargo”.

\(b\) Controlled Carriers.—Chapter 407 of title 46, United

States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in section 40701—

\(A\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “or” at the end;

\(ii\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; or”; and

\(iii\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(3\) arrange or provide passenger transportation at a fare

that is below a just and reasonable level.”;

\(B\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”;

\(C\) in subsection \(c\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”; and

\(D\) in subsection \(d\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”;

\(2\) in section 40702\(b\)—

\(A\) in the matter preceding paragraph \(1\), by striking

“rule, or regulation” and inserting “rule, regulation, or

fare”;

\(B\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “rate or charge” and

inserting “rate, charge, or fare”; and

\(C\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”;

\(3\) in section 40703, by striking “a rate, charge,” and

inserting “a rate, fare, charge,”; and

\(4\) in section 40704—

\(A\) in subsection \(a\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”;

\(B\) in subsection \(b\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare”;

\(C\) in subsection \(c\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare” each place the

term appears;

\(D\) in subsection \(d\)—

\(i\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare” each place the

term appears; and

\(ii\) in paragraph \(2\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare” each place the

term appears; and

\(E\) in subsection \(e\), by striking “rule, or regulation”

and inserting “rule, regulation, or fare” each place the

term appears.

Subtitle D—Vessels of the United States in International Commerce

CHAPTER 1—STRATEGIC SEALIFT PROGRAMS

SEC. 3641. FLEET TESTING AND BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.

\(a\) Test.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States

Transportation Command, in coordination with the Secretary of

the Navy and the Maritime Administrator, shall devise a

tabletop exercise to test the effective control of the

Maritime Security Fleet under chapter 531 of title 46, United

States Code, and the Tanker Security Fleet under chapter 534

of such title, in case of crisis or war.

\(b\) Briefing.—After completion of the tabletop exercise

under subsection \(a\), the Commander shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress a briefing on the results

of such tabletop exercise.

\(c\) Annual Testing.—Beginning not later than 1 year after

the briefing is submitted under subsection \(b\), the Commander

shall—

\(1\) carry out tabletop drills to test effective control of

the Maritime Security Fleet under chapter 531 of title 46,

United States Code, and the Tanker Security Fleet under

chapter 534 of such title; and

\(2\) provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a

briefing after each such drill on the results of such drill.

SEC. 3642. ASSESSMENT OF UNDERSEA CABLE REPAIR CONTINGENCIES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in

coordination with the Maritime Administrator, the Federal

Communications Commission, and other relevant Federal

agencies, shall submit to the appropriate committees of

Congress an assessment on the ability and preparedness of the

USNS Zeus and the Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of

title 46, United States Code, to repair transoceanic

submarine fiber optic cables that may be damaged or cut by

adversaries.

\(b\) Contents.—The assessment under subsection \(a\) shall

include—

\(1\) a description of preparedness to address a situation in

which the cables of partner countries in both the Pacific and

Atlantic Oceans are damaged or severed at or around the same

time;

\(2\) a determination as to how long it would take for the

Cable Security Fleet, in coordination with partner countries,

to repair such cables; and

\(3\) the options available to provide connectivity in an

emergency or crisis caused by, or related to, the damaging or

severing of such cables.

SEC. 3643. SHIPBUILDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

\(a\) In General.—Part C of subtitle V of title 46, United

States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 537 the

following:

“CHAPTER 538—SHIPBUILDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

“\(a\) Establishment.—The Maritime Administrator shall

establish a program that, in accordance with the requirements

of this section, provides Federal grant assistance to covered

entities to—

“\(1\) aid in the construction of a vessel that shall be

documented under the laws of the United States; or

“\(2\) incentivize a qualified shipyard investment.

“\(b\) Definitions.—In this section:

“\(1\) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

\`appropriate committees of Congress' means the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Armed

Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate

and the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

“\(2\) Covered entity.—The term \`covered entity' means—

“\(A\) any proposed vessel purchaser who is a citizen of the

United States; or

“\(B\) any shipyard of the United States with the ability,

experience, financial resources, and other qualifications to

construct or repair a military vessel or a vessel to be used

in the foreign commerce of the United States.

“\(3\) Foreign commerce.—The term \`foreign commerce'

means—

“\(A\) commerce or trade between the United States, its

territories or possessions, or the District of Columbia, and

a foreign country; and

“\(B\) commerce or trade between foreign countries.

“\(4\) Foreign country of concern; foreign entity of

concern.—The terms \`foreign country of concern' and \`foreign

entity of concern' have the meanings given such terms in

section 3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026.

“\(5\) Qualified shipyard investment.—The term \`qualified

shipyard investment' means an investment to construct,

modernize, or expand—

“\(A\) a shipyard of the United States that constructs or

repairs civilian or military vessels; or

“\(B\) a manufacturing facility—

“\(i\) that is—

“\(I\) a component supplier;

“\(II\) a subcomponent supplier; or

“\(III\) a manufacturing equipment supplier;

“\(ii\) that is based in the United States; and

“\(iii\)\(I\) at which at least 50 percent of the products

produced will be sold to shipyards of the United States or

used to construct vessels of the United States; or

“\(II\) at which the investment will more than double the

facility's capacity to produce products to be sold to

shipyards of the United Sates or used to construct vessels of

the United States, as determined by the Administrator.

“\(6\) Shipyard of the united states.—The term \`shipyard of

the United States' has the meaning given that term in section

505 of the Merchant Marine Act,1936 \(46 U.S.C. 53101 note\).

“\(c\) Procedure.—

“\(1\) Application.—A covered entity applying for grant

funding under this section shall submit an application to the

Maritime Administrator.

“\(2\) Requirements.—In order for a covered entity to

qualify for a grant under this section, the covered entity

shall—

“\(A\) for grants related to construction of a vessel of the

United States as described in subsection \(a\)\(1\)—

“\(i\) enter into an agreement with the Maritime

Administrator establishing that the vessel that is

constructed with Federal financial assistance shall be, for a

period of not less than 10 years, documented under the laws

of the United States; and

“\(ii\) agree to carry out all construction in a shipyard of

the United States as the result of competitive bidding, after

due advertisement, with the right reserved by the

Administrator to disapprove any or all bids;

“\(B\) for a grant related to qualified shipyard investments

as described in subsection \(a\)\(2\), use the award amounts for

investments in—

“\(i\) facilities or equipment related to shipbuilding or

ship repair; or

“\(ii\) maritime component suppliers and subcomponent

suppliers with over 50 percent maritime use in each such

investment; and

“\(C\) make commitments to worker and community investment,

including through—

“\(i\) programs to expand employment opportunity for

economically disadvantaged individuals; and

“\(ii\) securing commitments from regional educational and

training entities and institutions of higher education to

provide workforce training, including programming for

training and job placement of economically disadvantaged

individuals.

“\(3\) Review of applications.—

“\(A\) Considerations for review.—With respect to the

review by the Maritime Administrator of an application

submitted—

“\(i\) the Maritime Administrator may not approve an

application for construction of a vessel as described in

subsection \(a\)\(1\) unless the Administrator—

“\(I\) determines that a vessel funded through the program

will aid in the promotion and development of foreign

commerce;

“\(II\) determines that the vessel purchaser applying for

funding under this section possesses the ability, experience,

financial resources, and other qualifications necessary for

the operation and maintenance of the proposed new vessel;

“\(III\) determines that the shipyard that will construct a

vessel under this section possesses the ability, experience,

financial resources, equipment, and other qualifications

necessary to properly to construct the proposed vessel;

“\(IV\) confirms that any newly constructed vessel has

dedicated space for workforce training programs identified by

the Administrator; and

“\(V\) has notified the appropriate committees of Congress

not later than 15 days before making any award to any covered

entity;

“\(ii\) the Maritime Administrator may not approve an

application for qualified shipyard investments as described

in subsection \(a\)\(2\) unless the Administrator—

“\(I\) confirms that the covered entity has received an

incentive offered by a governmental entity to a covered

entity for the purposes of supporting a qualified shipyard

investment within that jurisdiction;

“\(II\) ensures that the covered entity has an executable

plan to sustain the facility without additional Federal

financial assistance under this subsection for the facility;

“\(III\) determines that the project to which the

application relates is in the economic interests of the

United States; and

“\(IV\) receives detailed information on—

“\(aa\) the customers, or categories of customers, which the

covered entity plans to serve;

“\(bb\) the type of expenditures which the covered entity

plans to make; and

“\(cc\) the workforce positions that the covered entity

plans to employ, including any required recruitment,

training, and hiring; and

“\(iii\) the Maritime Administrator may consider—

“\(I\) whether the covered entity has previously received

financial assistance under this section;

“\(II\) the price for the construction or repair of a vessel

that has been negotiated between a shipyard and proposed

vessel purchaser, and whether the negotiated price is fair

and reasonable;

“\(III\) whether the covered entity commits to use

equipment, materials, and supplies that are produced in the

United States, and utilize, to the maximum extent

practicable, subcontractors and suppliers that are based in

the United States; and

“\(IV\) whether the covered entity commits to utilizing new

or emerging technologies.

“\(B\) Records.—The Maritime Administrator may request

records and information from the covered entity. The covered

entity shall provide the records and information requested by

the Administrator.

“\(d\) Award Amounts.—

“\(1\) Construction of a vessel of the united states.—

“\(A\) In general.—For grant awards related to construction

of a vessel of the United States, as described in subsection

\(a\)\(1\), the Maritime Administrator shall determine the

appropriate amount and funding for each financial assistance

award made under this section.

“\(B\) Determination.—In making the determination under

subparagraph \(A\), the Maritime Administrator shall consider

the difference in the cost of constructing the proposed

vessel within the United States over the fair and reasonable

estimate of cost of the construction of that type of vessel

if it were constructed under similar plans and specifications

in a foreign shipbuilding center that is deemed by the

Administrator to furnish a fair and representative example

for the determination of the estimated foreign cost of

construction of vessels of the type proposed to be

constructed.

“\(2\) Qualified shipyard investments.—For grant awards

provided to incentivize qualified shipyard investments as

described in subsection \(a\)\(2\), the Maritime Administrator

shall determine the appropriate amount for each financial

assistance award made to a covered entity to maximize private

sector investments and to expand shipyard and ship building

capacity of the United States.

“\(3\) Use of funds.—A covered entity that receives a

financial assistance award under this section may only use

the financial assistance award amounts to—

“\(A\)\(i\) finance the construction of a vessel to be built

in the United States and documented under the laws of the

United States; or

“\(ii\) support site development, construction, and

modernization for qualified shipyard investments; and

“\(B\) support workforce development for a shipyard or

qualified shipyard investment.

“\(e\) Applications for Reconstruction, Conditioning, or

Repowering.—The Maritime Administrator may consider an

application as described in subsection \(a\)\(1\), and award

grants under this section, for the reconstruction,

reconditioning, or repowering of an existing vessel in a

shipyard of the United States.

“\(f\) Pilot Program for Vessels in Domestic Commerce.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Maritime Administrator may, if

determined to be consistent with all other requirements of

this section \(except the requirement under subsection

\(c\)\(3\)\(A\)\(i\)\(I\)\(aa\)\), establish a pilot program to consider

an application as described in subsection \(a\)\(1\), and award

financial assistance under this section for the construction

or repair of a vessel for use in service other than foreign

commerce.

“\(2\) Eligible vessels.—In addition to all other

requirements of this section \(except the requirement under

subsection \(c\)\(3\)\(A\)\(i\)\(I\)\(aa\)\), funding through the pilot

program under this subsection shall only be used for

construction or repair of vessels of the United States that—

“\(A\)\(i\) will operate in an emerging industry or a new

trade lane;

“\(ii\) will not compete with existing vessels of the United

States; and

“\(iii\) will not serve a market already served by a vessel

of the United States with a coastwise endorsement;

“\(B\)\(i\) will replace an existing vessel of the United

States that is or will be acquired by the Administrator to be

placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, pursuant to

section 57101; and

“\(ii\) as consideration for the payment of financial

assistance, will operate for not longer than 21 years, at

which time ownership will be transferred to the Maritime

Administrator and the vessel placed in the National Defense

Reserve Fleet, pursuant to section 57101; or

“\(C\) will be an oceanographic research vessel \(as defined

in section 2101 of this title\).

“\(3\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to alter the requirements under section

55102.

“\(g\) Clarification.—Notwithstanding any other provision

of law, the provision by the Administrator of Federal

financial assistance for a project described in this section

shall not be considered to be a major Federal action under

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 \(42 U.S.C. 4321

et seq.\) or an undertaking for the purposes of division A of

subtitle III of title 54, United States Code.

“\(j\) Buy America.—Section 54101\(d\)\(2\) shall apply to any

funds obligated by the Administrator under this section.

“\(k\) GAO Review.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall—

“\(1\) not later than 2 years after the date of disbursement

of the first financial award under this section, and

biennially thereafter for 10 years, conduct a review of the

program under this section; and

“\(2\) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the

results of each review.

“\(l\) Prohibition on Use of Funds.—

“\(1\) In general.—No funds made available under this

section may—

“\(A\) be used to construct, modify, or improve a facility

outside of the United States;

“\(B\) be provided to a foreign entity of concern or to

support a foreign entity of concern; or

“\(C\) be used to purchase materials that are procured or

sourced from a foreign entity of concern, if such funds are

for construction of a vessel as described in subsection

\(a\)\(1\).

“\(2\) Stock buybacks.—An entity receiving financial

assistance under this section may not engage in any stock

buyback for a period of 5 years after receiving such

assistance.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of chapters at the

beginning of part C of subtitle V of title 46, United States

Code, and at the beginning of subtitle V of such title, are

each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter

537 the following new item:

“538. Shipbuilding financial incentives...................53801”.....

CHAPTER 2—CARGO PREFERENCE

SEC. 3644. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CARGO.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) only the Maritime Administrator, acting in the

Administrator's capacity as Director of the National Shipping

Authority, has the authority to determine the non-

availability of qualified capacity of vessels of the United

States \(referred to in this subsection as “qualified United

States flag capacity”\) at fair and reasonable rates for

commercial vessels of the United States to meet the

requirements of section 55305 or 55314 of title 46, United

States Code; and

\(2\) the requirements of section 55305 or 55314 of title 46,

United States Code, may only be waived temporarily by the

President, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of

Transportation during a declared emergency justifying such a

temporary waiver, following a determination by the Maritime

Administrator, acting in the Maritime Administrator's

capacity as Director of the National Shipping Authority, of

the non-availability of qualified United States flag capacity

at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the

United States pursuant to section 55305\(d\) of title 46,

United States Code.

\(b\) Applicable Percentage.—

\(1\) In general.—Section 55305\(a\) of title 46, United

States Code, is amended by striking “at least 50” and

inserting “100”.

\(2\) Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph \(1\)

shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act.

\(c\) Waiver.—Section 55305\(d\)\(1\) of title 46, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

“\(1\) Waiver authority.—

“\(A\) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, when the President, the Secretary of Defense, or the

Secretary of Transportation declares the existence of an

emergency justifying a temporary waiver of this section or

section 55314 of this title, the President, the Secretary of

Defense, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of

Transportation, following a determination by the Maritime

Administrator, acting in the Administrator's capacity as

Director, National Shipping Authority, in consultation with

the Maritime Security Board, of the non-availability of

qualified United States flag capacity at fair and reasonable

rates for commercial vessels of the United States to meet the

requirements of this section or section 55314 of this title,

may waive compliance with such section to the extent, in the

manner, and on the terms the Maritime Administrator, acting

in such capacity, prescribes, and no other waivers of the

requirements of this section or section 55314 of this title

shall be authorized.

“\(B\) Interagency agreement for the determination of non-

availability.—

“\(i\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026, the

Maritime Security Advisor shall facilitate an interagency

agreement between the Maritime Administrator and the head of

each agency subject to the requirements of subsection \(a\).

“\(ii\) Contents.—Each interagency agreement shall

include—

“\(I\) an explanation of the process the agency shall follow

to request a determination of non-availability by the

Maritime Administrator under subparagraph \(A\);

“\(II\) a standard process that the Maritime Administrator

shall follow for making such a determination of non-

availability; and

“\(III\) deadlines—

“\(aa\) for when an agency shall submit a request for such a

determination of non-availability prior to the transportation

of equipment, materials, or commodities subject to subsection

\(a\); and

“\(bb\) for when the Maritime Administrator shall make such

a determination of non-availability after receiving a request

for a temporary waiver under subparagraph \(A\).

“\(iii\) Congressional notification.—The Maritime Security

Advisor shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress—

“\(I\) when each interagency agreement required under this

subparagraph is finalized; and

“\(II\) any time that an interagency agreement required

under this subparagraph is updated.”.

\(d\) Clarification.—Section 55305\(d\)\(3\)\(B\) of title 46,

United States Code, is amended by inserting “Maritime

Security Board and the” after “to the”.

SEC. 3645. CARGO PREFERENCE IMPLEMENTATION REGULATIONS.

\(a\) Regulations and Guidance.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Maritime

Administrator, notwithstanding any other provision of law,

regulation, or administrative order, shall—

\(1\) promulgate regulations under subchapter III of chapter

5 of title 5, United States Code, to fully implement and

ensure compliance with sections 55305, 55314, 55315, and

55316 of title 46, United States Code;

\(2\) issue interagency guidance to other Federal departments

and agencies on how to administer the programs that are

subject to such sections in accordance with those sections,

as applicable; and

\(3\) publish such guidance in the Federal Register and on

the website of the Maritime Administration.

\(b\) Repeal of Earlier Regulatory Deadline.—Subsection \(a\)

of section 3502 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 \(46 U.S.C. 55305 note;

Public Law 117-263\), is repealed.

SEC. 3646. CARGO PREFERENCE OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT.

Section 55301 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)\(2\), by striking “section 55305” and

inserting “sections 55305, 55314, 55315, and 55316”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(d\) Notification of Violation.—The Maritime

Administrator shall—

“\(1\) upon receiving any credible information, as

determined by the Administrator, that a Federal department or

agency that administers a program covered by a report

required under subsection \(a\) was not in compliance with the

requirements of section 55305, 55314, 55315, or 55316 of this

title \(as applicable\), notify the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of

Representatives not later than 14 days after receiving such

information; and

“\(2\) upon receiving any credible information, as

determined by the Administrator, that a Federal department or

agency that administers a program covered by a report

required under subsection \(a\) was not in compliance with the

requirements of section 2631 of title 10, United States Code,

notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives

not later than 14 days after receiving such information.”.

SEC. 3647. PRIORITY FOR VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES.

\(a\) In General.—Part D of subtitle V of title 46, United

States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 553 the

following:

“CHAPTER 555—PRIORITY FOR VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES

- “Sec.
- “55501. Priority for vessels of the United States.

“Sec. 55501. Priority for vessels of the United States

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Transportation may

allow a vessel of the United States to be given priority at

any port in the United States, ahead of a waiting vessel of a

foreign country of concern \(as defined in section 3604 of the

SHIPS for America Act of 2026\) or owned by a foreign entity

of concern \(as so defined\).

“\(b\) Exception.—Notwithstanding subsection \(a\), if the

Secretary of Transportation finds that it is in the national

interest, the Secretary may eliminate the priority under this

section at any port. The Secretary shall report to the

appropriate committees of Congress, as defined in section

3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026, by not later than

30 days after an action eliminating priority under this

section.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of chapters for subtitle

V of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting

after the item relating to chapter 553 the following:

“555. Priority for vessels of the United States...........55501”.....

SEC. 3648. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN EXPORTS

SPONSORED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

Section 55314 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) by inserting before subsection \(b\) the following:

“\(a\) Applicability.—The requirements under section 55305

of this title shall apply with respect to the activities

specified in subsection \(b\).”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(A\) in the matter preceding paragraph \(1\), by striking

“Secretary of Agriculture or the Commodity Credit

Corporation” and inserting “Federal Government”;

\(B\) in paragraph \(1\), by inserting “titles I, II, or III

of” after “carried out under”;

\(C\) in paragraph \(4\), by striking “agricultural

commodities or their products” and inserting “agricultural

products”;

\(D\) in paragraph \(5\), by striking “agricultural

commodities or their products” and inserting “agricultural

products”;

\(E\) in paragraph \(6\), by striking “agricultural

commodities or their products” and inserting “agricultural

products”;

\(F\) in paragraph \(7\), by striking “agricultural

commodities” and inserting “agricultural products”;

\(G\) by redesignating paragraphs \(4\), \(5\), \(6\), and \(7\) as

paragraphs \(6\), \(7\), \(8\), and \(9\), respectively; and

\(H\) by inserting after paragraph \(3\) the following:

“\(4\) carried out under the Food for Progress Act of 1985

\(7 U.S.C. 1736o\);

“\(5\) carried out under the McGovern-Dole International

Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program under section

3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 \(7

U.S.C. 1736o-1\);”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(c\) Agricultural Product Defined.—In this section, the

term \`agricultural product' means any food product, including

an agricultural commodity, specialty crop \(as such term is

defined in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness

Act of 2004 \(7 U.S.C. 1621 note\)\), or processed food product,

exported from the United States.”.

SEC. 3649. SHIP AMERICA OFFICE.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 553 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SUBCHAPTER IV—SHIP AMERICA OFFICE

“Sec. 55341. Establishment of Ship America Office

“\(a\) Establishment.—The Maritime Administrator shall

establish within the Maritime Administration an office to be

known as the \`Ship America Office'. The Maritime

Administrator shall appoint the head of the Ship America

Office \(in this section referred to as the \`Ship America

Associate Administrator'\).

“\(b\) Duties.—The Ship America Associate Administrator

shall have the following duties:

“\(1\) Providing assistance to private sector entities,

Federal financial assistance recipients, Federal agencies,

Federal contractors, and owners and operators of oceangoing

vessels of the United States to facilitate the movement of

commercial and government cargo on vessels of the United

States in international commerce.

“\(2\) Maximizing compliance across Federal agencies with

this chapter, section 2631 of title 10, and any other cargo

preference law of the United States.

“\(3\) Providing training and assistance to Federal

employees, in all Federal agencies responsible for shipping

preference cargo, on the legal obligations under this

chapter, section 2631 of title 10, United States Code, and

any other cargo preference law of the United States.

“\(4\) Developing a \`Ship America' verification program to

develop self-certification industry standards, in partnership

with private sector entities, to allow private sector

entities to verifiably demonstrate that a product was

transported to the United States aboard a vessel of the

United States.

“\(5\) Supporting the efforts of the executive branch to

develop and sustain a fleet of vessels of the United States

and maritime industrial base to meet the sealift needs of

Federal agencies.

“\(6\) Where practicable, making accessible, and regularly

updating, the publicly available contact information for

oceangoing vessels of the United States for the purposes of

moving international commerce.

“\(7\) Publishing, and regularly updating, centralized

information on the commercial benefits available to private

sector entities for moving commercial cargo on oceangoing

vessels of the United States.

“\(8\) Preparing the reports under subsection \(c\).

“\(c\) Reports Required.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter,

the Maritime Administrator, acting through the Ship America

Associate Administrator, shall report to the appropriate

committees of Congress \(as defined in section 3604 of the

SHIPS for America Act of 2026\) and the Maritime Security

Board on—

“\(1\) the opportunities and challenges faced by commercial

entities to move cargo on oceangoing vessels of the United

States; and

“\(2\) recommendations to increase international commerce

moving on vessels of the United States.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

553 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“subchapter iv—ship america office

“55341. Establishment of Ship America Office.”.

CHAPTER 3—REGULATORY REFORM

SEC. 3655. ALTERNATE STANDARDS.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 33 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating sections 3317 and 3318 as sections

3318 and 3319, respectively; and

\(2\) by inserting after section 3316 the following:

“Sec. 3317. Alternate standards

“\(a\) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026, the

Secretary, in consultation with the Maritime Administrator,

shall establish alternate standards to allow self-propelled

vessels providing oceangoing transportation that are not

documented under chapter 121 of this title to receive a

certificate of inspection if the vessel will become a

documented vessel.

“\(b\) Requirements.—Under the program established under

subsection \(a\), a self-propelled vessel used to provide

oceangoing transportation that is not documented under

chapter 121 of this title shall be eligible for a certificate

of inspection if the Secretary determines that—

“\(1\) the owner of the vessel has agreed to apply to have

the vessel documented under chapter 121 upon receiving the

certificate;

“\(2\) at the time of the receipt of such certificate, the

vessel is eligible for documentation under such chapter;

“\(3\) the vessel is classed by and designed in accordance

with the rules of a classification society accepted by the

Secretary;

“\(4\) the vessel complies with applicable international

agreements and associated guidelines, as determined by the

country in which the vessel was documented immediately before

becoming documented under chapter 121, notwithstanding any

other law including any regulation;

“\(5\) the vessel has been assessed for cybersecurity and

surveillance risks; and

“\(6\) the country in which the vessel was documented

immediately before becoming documented under chapter 121 has

not been identified by the Secretary as inadequately

enforcing international vessel regulations as to that vessel.

“\(c\) Continued Eligibility for Certificate.—This section

does not apply to a vessel after any date on which the vessel

fails to comply with the applicable international agreements

and associated guidelines referred to in subsection \(b\)\(4\).

“\(d\) Reliance on Classification Society.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary may rely on a

certification from the American Bureau of Shipping or,

subject to paragraph \(2\), another classification society

accepted by the Secretary to establish that a vessel is in

compliance with the requirements of paragraphs \(3\), \(4\), and

\(6\) of subsection \(b\) and of subsection \(c\).

“\(2\) Foreign classification society.—The Secretary may

accept certification from a foreign classification society

under paragraph \(1\) only—

“\(A\) to the extent that the government of the foreign

country in which the society is headquartered provides access

on a reciprocal basis to the American Bureau of Shipping; and

“\(B\) if the foreign classification society has offices and

maintains records in the United States.

“\(e\) Rulemaking Procedure.—The Secretary may initiate a

rulemaking procedure to implement this standard.

“\(f\) Savings Provision.—Nothing in this section shall be

interpreted to affect requirements related to merchant seamen

credentials under part E of subtitle II of this title or the

requirements related to manning of vessels under part F of

such subtitle.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

33 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking

the items relating to sections 3317 and 3318 and inserting

the following:

- “3317. Alternate standards.
- “3318. Fees.
- “3319. Penalties.”.

SEC. 3656. RULEMAKING COMMITTEE ON COMMERCIAL MARITIME

REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.

\(a\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Covered regulation.—The term “covered regulation”—

\(A\) means a commercial regulation or standard issued by the

Coast Guard relating to the operation of vessels in foreign

commerce, including—

\(i\) vessel design and engineering standards;

\(ii\) merchant mariner training and credentialing; or

\(iii\) vessel operating and environmental standards; and

\(B\) does not include any commercial regulation or standard

issued by the Coast Guard that exclusively applies to vessels

in domestic commerce.

\(2\) Rulemaking committee.—The term “rulemaking

committee” means the committee established under subsection

\(b\).

\(3\) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating.

\(b\) Establishment of Rulemaking Committee.—There is

established, in the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating, a rulemaking committee on commercial maritime

regulations and standards to—

\(1\) review, and develop findings and recommendations

regarding, the covered regulations; and

\(2\) provide to the Secretary a report on opportunities to

review and update regulations governing vessel design and

engineering, vessel and facility operation and environmental

standards, and merchant mariner credentialing, in order to—

\(A\) revitalize the merchant marine and the commercial

maritime industry in the United States; and

\(B\) better align, and limit redundancies between, the

regulatory standards of the Coast Guard and the International

Maritime Organization and international treaty requirements,

while protecting United States mariners and the United States

maritime industry from foreign regulations that undermine the

maritime industrial competitiveness of the United States.

\(c\) Members.—

\(1\) Composition of rulemaking committee.—The Secretary

shall appoint the following as members of the rulemaking

committee:

\(A\) Each of the following Federal officers or employees, or

their designees:

\(i\) The Maritime Security Advisor.

\(ii\) The Maritime Administrator.

\(iii\) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.

\(iv\) The Secretary of Commerce.

\(v\) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection

Agency.

\(vi\) The Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission.

\(vii\) The chief United States delegate to the International

Maritime Organization.

\(B\) Representatives from recognized classification

societies, including the American Bureau of Shipping.

\(C\) Representatives of industry, including—

\(i\) owners and operators of vessels in domestic and foreign

commerce of the United States;

\(ii\) shipbuilders; and

\(iii\) other representatives of industry the Secretary

determines appropriate.

\(D\) Individuals with a merchant mariner credential, as

defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.

\(E\) Representatives of maritime labor organizations.

\(F\) Experts in maritime safety and regulatory matters.

\(G\) Other stakeholders the Secretary determines

appropriate.

\(2\) Period of appointment; vacancies.—

\(A\) In general.—A member of the rulemaking committee shall

be appointed for the life of the rulemaking committee.

\(B\) Vacancies.—A vacancy in the rulemaking committee—

\(i\) shall not affect the powers of the rulemaking

committee; and

\(ii\) shall be filled in the same manner as the original

appointment.

\(3\) Chairperson and vice chairperson.—The Secretary shall

select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the

members of the rulemaking committee.

\(d\) Meetings.—

\(1\) Initial meeting.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene

the rulemaking committee for the first meeting of the

rulemaking committee.

\(2\) Quorum.—A majority of the members of the rulemaking

committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of

members may hold hearings.

\(e\) Duties of Committee.—

\(1\) Considerations.—The rulemaking committee shall

consider each of the following:

\(A\) How the covered regulations interact with and compare

to the treaty requirements and regulations established by the

International Maritime Organization, including comparisons

and interactions on the basis of—

\(i\) safety;

\(ii\) cost;

\(iii\) enforceability and compliance; and

\(iv\) international competitiveness.

\(B\) The benefits and challenges vessel owners and operators

and United States mariners encounter when complying with both

regulations of the International Maritime Organization and

the covered regulations.

\(C\) The role that covered regulations play in enhancing the

size and strength of the merchant marine and the domestic and

international fleet of the United States.

\(D\) Recommended changes to covered regulations, and

regulatory frameworks, to better promote alignment with

international standards and the standards of countries that

are allies and partners, with a focus on—

\(i\) increasing opportunities for qualified mariners that

enter the merchant marine and reducing the barriers that lead

qualified mariners to leave the merchant marine;

\(ii\) increasing the number of vessels documented under the

laws of the United States that are operating in domestic and

foreign commerce;

\(iii\) enhancing United States leadership within the

International Maritime Organization and other international

treaty organizations with a focus on the maritime industry;

\(iv\) streamlining regulatory processes and processing

timelines to minimize duplicative reviews and eliminate

preventable delays; and

\(v\) maintaining and enhancing the safety and security of

the merchant marine.

\(E\) Recommended changes to covered regulations and

regulatory frameworks that govern mariner education training

requirements, which may include—

\(i\) expanding the pool of qualified instructors for mariner

training programs;

\(ii\) streamlining requirements related to training facility

size and design to improve operational efficiencies at

mariner training

facilities, including requirements related to classroom size

and design;

\(iii\) standardizing and streamlining training course and

curriculum approval and evaluation to provide more certainty

to mariner training programs; and

\(iv\) enhancing opportunities for mariner training programs

to flexibly integrate sea-time into course instruction,

consistent with treaty requirements and regulations

established by the International Maritime Organization.

\(F\) Any other matters the Secretary determines appropriate.

\(2\) Report.—Not later than 12 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the rulemaking committee shall submit

to the Secretary a report that includes the findings and

recommended changes to covered regulations of the rulemaking

committee, as required under paragraph \(1\).

\(f\) Powers of Rulemaking Committee.—

\(1\) Hearings.—The rulemaking committee may hold such

hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such

testimony, and receive such evidence as the rulemaking

committee considers advisable to carry out this section.

\(2\) Information from federal agencies.—

\(A\) In general.—The rulemaking committee may secure

directly from a Federal department or agency such information

as the rulemaking committee considers necessary to carry out

this section, as permitted by law.

\(B\) Furnishing information.—On request of the Chairperson

of the rulemaking committee, the head of the department or

agency shall furnish the information to the rulemaking

committee.

\(g\) Rulemaking Committee Personnel Matters.—

\(1\) No compensation.—A member of the rulemaking committee

shall not be compensated for service on the rulemaking

committee.

\(2\) Travel expenses.—A member of the rulemaking committee

shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu

of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies

under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States

Code, while away from their homes or regular places of

business in the performance of services for the rulemaking

committee.

\(h\) Administration.—Except as specified otherwise in this

section, the rulemaking committee shall be treated as a

committee established under chapter 151 of title 46, United

States Code, for purposes of section 15109 of such title and

shall not be considered a temporary organization under

section 3161 of title 5, United States Code.

\(i\) Termination.—The rulemaking committee shall terminate

on the earlier of—

\(1\) the date that is 90 days after the date on which the

rulemaking committee submits the report under subsection

\(e\)\(2\); or

\(2\) the date that is 7 years after the date on which the

rulemaking committee is established.

\(j\) Duties of the Secretary.—The Secretary shall—

\(1\) not later than 30 days after receiving the rulemaking

committee's report under subsection \(e\)\(2\), submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress, and make publicly

available, a copy of such report and the Secretary's views on

the recommendations of the committee; and

\(2\) not later than 90 days after submitting the report

under paragraph \(1\)—

\(A\) initiate a rulemaking activity and make such policy and

guidance updates determined necessary by the Secretary to

address the consensus recommendations reached by the

rulemaking committee under subsection \(e\);

\(B\) submit a report to the appropriate committees of

Congress identifying the recommendations of the rulemaking

committee that require legislative changes; and

\(C\) submit a report to the Secretary of State identifying

recommendations of the rulemaking committee that require

changes to treaty requirements and regulations established by

the International Maritime Organization, including

recommendations that should inform the policy of the United

States as a member of the International Maritime

Organization.

SEC. 3657. AMENDMENTS TO SHIPOWNERS' LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

ACT OF 1851.

\(a\) In General.—Section 30523 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) by striking subsection \(a\) and inserting the following:

“\(a\) Limit of Owner Liability.—

“\(1\) In general.—Except as provided in section 30524 of

this title, the liability of—

“\(A\) the owner of a vessel of the United States for any

claim, debt, or liability described in subsection \(b\) shall

not exceed the value of the vessel and pending freight; and

“\(B\) the owner of a foreign vessel for any claim, debt, or

liability described in subsection \(b\) shall not exceed the

amount that is 5 times the value of the vessel and pending

freight.

“\(2\) Multiple owners.—If a vessel has more than one

owner, the proportionate share of the liability under

paragraph \(1\) of any one such owner shall not exceed that

owner's proportionate interest in the vessel and pending

freight.”; and

\(2\) by striking subsection \(c\) and inserting the following:

“\(c\) Claims Not Subject to Limitation.—Subsection \(a\)

does not apply to—

“\(1\) a claim for wages; or

“\(2\) with respect to the liability of an owner of a

foreign vessel, a claim, debt, or liability arising from

personal injury or wrongful death of a person who was not a

crewmember or passenger of the foreign vessel at the time the

injury \(including fatal injury, if applicable\) occurred.”.

\(b\) Amendment to Cessation of Certain Actions.—Section

30529\(c\) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by

striking “the matter in question” and inserting “a matter

subject to consideration for limitation under section 30523

or section 30524”.

\(c\) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsections \(a\)

and \(b\) shall apply to any liability subject to section

30523\(a\) of title 46, United States Code, that arises on or

after the date of enactment of this Act.

Subtitle E—Shipbuilding

CHAPTER 1—SHIPBUILDING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

SEC. 3661. ANTICIPATED COMMERCIAL VESSEL CONSTRUCTION SURVEY.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 501 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 50115. Anticipated commercial vessel construction

survey

“\(a\) Definition.—In this section, \`commercial vessel of

the United States' means a vessel that is documented under

the laws of the United States, not less than 6,000 deadweight

tons, and operated in the domestic trade of the United States

or foreign commerce, and may include—

“\(1\) a bulk carrier vessel;

“\(2\) a tanker vessel;

“\(3\) a roll-on/roll-off vessel;

“\(4\) a liquefied natural gas tanker vessel;

“\(5\) a container vessel;

“\(6\) a multi-purpose vessel;

“\(7\) a cable vessel \(as defined in section 53201\);

“\(8\) a heavy-lift vessel; or

“\(9\) any other type of vessel determined appropriate by

the Administrator, in consultation with the Maritime Security

Board.

“\(b\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the

Maritime Administrator shall conduct a survey of owners,

agents, or operators of commercial vessels of the United

States to identify plans for the construction, maintenance,

and modernization of commercial vessels of the United States.

“\(c\) Purpose.—The purpose of the survey conducted under

this section is to inform the maritime industrial base of the

future need for the construction of commercial vessels.

“\(d\) Inclusions.—In conducting the survey under this

section, the Maritime Administrator shall collect the

following information from owners, agents, or operators of

commercial vessels of the United States who participate in

the survey:

“\(1\) The number of commercial vessels of the United States

the participant is looking to construct during the 10-year

period beginning on the date on which the participant takes

the survey.

“\(2\) The capabilities of the vessels described in

paragraph \(1\) that the participant is seeking in constructing

such vessels.

“\(3\) Estimated timelines for when the participant aims to

place each such vessel into service.

“\(4\) The number of major repairs of commercial vessels of

the United States and overhauls of such commercial vessels

the participant is looking to carry out during the 10-year

period described in paragraph \(1\).

“\(5\) The major components that a shipbuilder would need

from industrial base suppliers to support the construction,

overhaul, or repair of commercial vessels of the United

States during such 10-year period.

“\(6\) Estimates for the capital expenditures the

participant is planning to make for the construction,

overhaul, or repair of commercial vessels of the United

States during such 10-year period.

“\(7\) Any additional information the Maritime Administrator

determines appropriate.

“\(e\) Participation.—The Administrator may not require any

owner, agent, or operator of a commercial vessel of the

United States to participate in the survey unless that owner,

agency, or operator is participating in a financial

assistance program established under part C of this subtitle.

“\(f\) Release of Findings.—

“\(1\) Distribution.—Each year, the Maritime Administrator

may release the findings of the survey with shipyards in the

United States and other maritime industrial base stakeholders

the results of the survey conducted under this section for

such year in such a manner as the Administrator determines

appropriate.

“\(2\) Proprietary information.—Notwithstanding any other

provision of law, including section 552 of title 5, United

States Code, at the request of a survey participant, the

Maritime Administrator shall withhold proprietary information

provided as a part of a survey conducted under this section.

“\(3\) Coordination.—To the maximum extent practicable, the

Maritime Administrator shall seek to conduct the annual

surveys under this section and publish the results of such

surveys on a similar timeline as the timeline for the annual

naval vessel construction plans under section 231\(a\)\(1\) of

title 10 and other shipbuilding construction surveys

published by other Federal agencies.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

501 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting

after the item relating to section 50114 the following:

“50115. Anticipated commercial vessel construction survey.”.

SEC. 3662. STREAMLINED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Section 41001\(6\) of the Fixing America's Surface

Transportation Act \(42 U.S.C. 4370m\(6\)\) is amended—

\(1\) in subparagraph \(A\)—

\(A\) in the matter preceding clause \(i\), by inserting “the

maritime industry” after “waterways,”;

\(B\) by redesignating clauses \(iii\) and \(iv\) as clauses \(iv\)

and \(v\), respectively; and

\(C\) by inserting after clause \(ii\) the following:

“\(iii\) is covered by a programmatic plan or environmental

review developed for a project related to the maritime

industry;”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(D\) Maritime industry.—For the purposes of subparagraph

\(A\), the term \`construction of infrastructure' for the

maritime industry includes construction of—

“\(i\) shipyards and ship repair facilities;

“\(ii\) port terminals and other port facilities;

“\(iii\) manufacturing facilities for equipment and

technology instrumental to the facilitation of maritime trade

and commerce, as defined by the Council; and

“\(iv\) other industrial base facilities that support the

Navy or the merchant marine of the United States.”.

SEC. 3663. REPORTS.

\(a\) Report on National Defense Reserve Fleet.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the

Maritime Administrator, in consultation with the Commander of

the United States Transportation Command and the Secretary of

the Navy, and in accordance with paragraph \(2\), shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Maritime

Security Board a report—

\(A\) outlining a plan for using shipbuilding financial

incentives and the financial incentive programs under subpart

C of subtitle V of title 46, United States Code, to

supplement the size and readiness of the National Defense

Reserve Fleet and to improve national shipbuilding and

shipping infrastructure; and

\(B\) describing ways in which an expanded and creative view

of the make-up of vessels with Voluntary Intermodal Sealift

Agreements or Voluntary Tanker Agreements and the

shipbuilding financial incentives program authorized under

such section can be used to ensure government access to other

vessels that are critical to national security, such as

icebreakers, oil and natural gas tankers, floating dry docks,

salvage vessels, dredges, ocean tugs, offshore construction

vessels, multi-use workboats, and commercial shipping vessels

using small nuclear reactors.

\(2\) Additional consultation.—In preparing the report under

paragraph \(1\), the Maritime Administrator shall also consult

with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy

with respect to shipping vessels or mobile maritime power

plants using small nuclear reactors.

\(b\) Report on De-Risking Maritime Sector.—Not later than

180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2

years thereafter, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary

of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretaries of

Treasury and State, the Maritime Administrator, and the

Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Maritime

Security Board a report outlining a comprehensive strategy

for de-risking the United States maritime domain from the

People's Republic of China and other asymmetric or emerging

maritime threats.

\(c\) Report on Restricting Flow of Capital to CCP.—Not

later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Defense,

the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, and the

Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress and the Maritime Security Board a

report on ways and means for restricting the flow of capital

from the United States to Chinese Communist Party maritime

industries, which shall include recommendations for promoting

the flow of capital within and between the United States and

treaty allies of the United States. The report shall also

include a survey of banks, pension funds, and large financial

institutions, with recommendations for ways the United States

can incentivize domestic financial investments in the

maritime industry.

SEC. 3664. EXPORT CONTROL REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce

shall jointly submit to Congress a report assessing methods

to reduce the use of export controls and other restrictions

under the Arms Export Control Act \(22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.\)

and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under

subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal

Regulations, and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 \(50

U.S.C. 4801 et seq.\) and the Export Administration

Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15,

Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations, that

limit the ability of foreign-owned marine industrial base

companies to participate in the United States shipbuilding

industry, specifically including shipbuilding for the Federal

Government, while ensuring appropriate safeguards for United

States-based firms and American workers.

CHAPTER 2—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS

SEC. 3665. ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF COMMERCIAL BEST PRACTICES

FOR NAVY SHIPBUILDING.

\(a\) Assessment.—

\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of the Navy, in coordination

with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the

Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall—

\(A\) conduct an assessment of best practices used in the

construction and repair of commercial, oceangoing maritime

vessels; and

\(B\) identify—

\(i\) opportunities for the Navy and Coast Guard to leverage

those best practices to make ship construction and repair

efforts of combatant and non-combatant vessels more

efficient; and

\(ii\) advanced technologies that can be leveraged to improve

the overall readiness and dominance of the United States

maritime fleet \(both commercial and military\), to

specifically include small modular reactors for ship power

and propulsion.

\(2\) Elements.—The assessment required by paragraph \(1\)

shall include the following:

\(A\) An evaluation of the best practices described in

subparagraph \(A\) of such paragraph, including best practices

used by commercial shipyards in foreign allied countries,

consideration of commercial design standards, and the vessel

construction manager model used to construct the National

Security Multi Mission Vessel Program, that could improve the

efficiency of shipbuilding and repair by the Navy and Coast

Guard.

\(B\) An identification of commercial-grade components and

capabilities being used in state-of-the-art commercial,

oceangoing maritime vessels and an assessment of whether the

Navy and Coast Guard could better use commercial off-the-

shelf components or capabilities to reduce costs, improve

efficiencies, or enhance capabilities in the construction of

new naval vessels and cutters, and in repair of naval vessels

and cutters.

\(C\) A determination as to whether shipbuilding and

acquisition programs of the Navy and Coast Guard use modern

best practices from the commercial maritime industry in terms

of contracting, ship design, construction, overhaul, and

maintenance.

\(D\) An identification of technologies and procedures that

are used in commercial shipbuilding that, if used by the Navy

and Coast Guard, would improve the efficiency of designing

and constructing new naval vessels.

\(E\) An identification of technologies and procedures that

are used in commercial shipbuilding and repair that, if used

by the Navy and Coast Guard, would improve the efficiency of

repairing naval vessels.

\(F\) An identification of opportunities to improve

commonality in ship design, ship components, and shipbuilding

procedures between commercial, oceangoing maritime vessels,

naval vessels, and cutters that could lead to improved

efficiencies and a more resilient industrial base to support

shipbuilding and repair for military and civil maritime

vessels.

\(G\) An identification of advanced nuclear technologies that

are under development for use in commercial shipbuilding

that, if used by the Navy and Coast Guard, would improve the

operational capability of naval vessels and cutters.

\(H\) An identification of the barriers preventing or making

prohibitive the use of small modular reactors in naval or

commercial, oceangoing maritime vessels, including—

\(i\) ambiguity in regulations governing nuclear propulsion

restricting the commercial maritime industry from utilizing

nuclear propulsion or collaborating between United States and

foreign entities under export controls requirements,

including section 744.5 of title 15, Code of Federal

Regulations \(or a similar successor regulation\); and

\(ii\) a lack of clarity in the meaning of “maritime \(civil\)

nuclear propulsion plant projects” contained in the Export

Administration Regulations and “Naval Nuclear Propulsion”

contained in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations

\(Cat VI\).

\(I\) An evaluation of education and technology development

best practices used by commercial shipyards in foreign allied

countries, and an identification of education and technology

development opportunities, that could improve the efficiency

of shipbuilding and repair by the Navy and Coast Guard.

\(J\) An evaluation of whether adoption of the best practices

evaluated under subparagraph \(A\) for the construction and

repair of naval vessels and cutters would support the

domestic commercial maritime shipbuilding industry, the

commercial maritime industrial base, and the merchant marine

of the United States.

\(b\) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall

provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing

on—

\(1\) the results of the assessment required by subsection

\(a\); and

\(2\) a plan to execute any measures pursuant to such

assessment.

\(c\) Strategy Required.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the

Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of the Department in

which the Coast Guard is operating shall—

\(1\) provide to the appropriate committees of Congress

strategies describing how measures identified as a result of

the assessment required by subsection \(a\) will be

incorporated into shipbuilding programs for the Navy and

Coast Guard; and

\(2\) publish a public version of the strategies.

\(d\) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.—In this

section, the term “congressional defense committees” has

the meaning given that term in section 101\(a\) of title 10,

United States Code.

SEC. 3666. PLAN OF ACTION FOR USE OF DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT

OF 1950 AUTHORITIES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress a report on a plan of

action for any use of authorities available under title III

of the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4531 et

seq.\)—

\(1\) to establish or enhance a domestic production

capability for the construction of militarily useful,

commercial maritime vessels that can be operated in foreign

commerce or the domestic commerce of the United States;

\(2\) to establish, improve, or enhance the defense shipyard

industrial base; or

\(3\) to establish, improve, or enhance maritime port

infrastructure of the United States, including containers and

ship-to-shore cranes that were built in the United States and

are owned by citizens of the United States.

\(b\) Coordination.—The President shall develop the plan of

action required by subsection \(a\) in consultation with—

\(1\) the maritime security advisor \(as established by this

title\);

\(2\) the Maritime Security Board \(as established by this

title\);

\(3\) an advisory committee established under section 708\(d\)

of the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C. 4558\(d\)\);

and

\(4\) such stakeholders in the private sector as the

President considers appropriate.

\(c\) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.—In this

section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress”

means—

\(1\) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the Senate; and

\(2\) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 3667. MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND.

\(a\) Authority To Offer Increased Paid Leave Accrual.—The

Secretary of the Navy is authorized to offer government

merchant mariners employed by Military Sealift Command paid

leave accrual at a faster rate than provided pursuant to the

standard General Schedule \(GS\) system to make government

seafaring jobs more competitive with the commercial sector.

\(b\) Report on Recruiting and Retention Efforts.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the

Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the Commander of

the Military Sealift Command and the Maritime Security Board,

and in consultation with the Commander of United States

Transportation Command, the Commander of United States Fleet

Forces Command, and the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for

Research, Development and Acquisition, shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress a report on efforts to

improve recruitment and retention of Military Sealift Command

Mariners.

\(2\) Elements.—The report required under paragraph \(1\)

shall consider—

\(A\) opportunities to enhance the integration of Military

Sealift Commander civilian mariners into the military command

structure;

\(B\) providing training on the roles and significance of

Military Sealift Command civilian mariner workforce to

relevant military commands; and

\(C\) authorities required to improve recruitment and

retention of civilian mariners in Military Sealift Command.

\(c\) Report on Extending Charter Durations.—Not later than

90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the

Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress a report assessing the merits of

extending the maximum charter durations of commercial and

specialty vessels for the Military Sealift Command.

CHAPTER 3—SHIPBUILDING INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SEC. 3668. UNITED STATES CENTER FOR MARITIME INNOVATION.

\(a\) In General.—Section 50307\(e\) of title 46, United

States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(1\), by inserting “through the

establishment, management, and coordination of geographically

and topically diverse maritime incubators” after “maritime

transportation system”; and

\(2\) by striking paragraphs \(2\), \(3\), and \(4\), and inserting

the following:

“\(2\) Cooperative agreement.—The cooperative agreement

shall be with an organization or persons with substantial

experience in the maritime industry, as determined by the

Secretary, in consultation with the Maritime Security Board.

“\(3\) Selection.—The Center shall be—

“\(A\) selected through a competitive process of eligible

entities, and if a private entity, a domestic entity;

“\(B\) based in the United States with technical expertise

in emerging marine technologies and practices related to the

maritime transportation system; and

“\(C\) located in close proximity to eligible entities with

expertise in United States emerging maritime technologies and

practices.

“\(4\) Coordination.—The Secretary of Transportation shall

coordinate with the Maritime Security Board and other

agencies critical for science, research, and regulation of

emerging marine technologies for the maritime sector,

including the Department of Defense, the Department of

Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National

Science Foundation, the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Association, and the Marine Board of the National

Academies when establishing the Center.

“\(5\) Responsibilities.—The Center shall carry out the

following activities:

“\(A\) Establish and support maritime incubators in

accordance with paragraph \(6\).

“\(B\) Accelerate the adoption or integration of commercial

technologies within the maritime industry to transform the

capacity and capabilities of the merchant marine of the

United States.

“\(C\) Serve as the principal liaison between the Maritime

Security Board and maritime incubators.

“\(D\) Carry out programs, projects, and other activities to

strengthen the merchant marine of the United States and the

maritime industrial base.

“\(E\) Coordinate and harmonize the activities of other

organizations and elements of the maritime industry on

matters relating to commercial technologies, dual use

technologies, and the innovation of such technologies.

“\(F\) Coordinate and advise efforts among elements of the

maritime industry on matters relating to the development,

procurement, and fielding of nontraditional capabilities and

connect entities developing those capabilities with the

relevant incubators.

“\(G\) Coordinate with maritime industry stakeholders to

identify operational challenges that have the potential to be

addressed through the use of nontraditional capabilities,

including dual-use technologies that are being developed and

financed in the commercial sector.

“\(H\) Coordinate with maritime industry stakeholders and

relevant Federal agencies to enhance the capacity and

performance of seaports of the United States, including

through hardening security, enhancing preparedness, and

developing United States-based supply chains for port

technologies and equipment.

“\(I\) Coordinate with other research and development

programs and centers focused on modes of transportation

besides maritime to develop intermodal interoperability with

the maritime industry.

“\(J\) Develop a standard design for commercial vessels and

components and features of commercial vessels to be

manufactured in the United States, using mature, proven

designs, which—

“\(i\) includes, to the maximum extent practicable, included

parts, components, and material manufactured in and sourced

from the United States;

“\(ii\) does not include any parts, components, or materials

manufactured by foreign entities of concern or which are

produced in foreign countries of concern \(as such terms are

defined in section 3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of

2026\); and

“\(iii\) includes priorities for design identified in

consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, as necessary for

strategic sealift, informed by requirements to sustain a

wartime economy and military operations.

“\(K\) Lead engagement with industry, academia, labor

organizations, and other nongovernmental entities to

develop—

“\(i\) innovative, commercial, and dual-use manufacturing

technologies and processes to construct, rehabilitate, or

repair maritime vessels of the Armed Forces or the merchant

marine of the United States;

“\(ii\) additional naval architecture programs at

institutions of higher education in the United States and to

expand existing naval architecture programs;

“\(iii\) next-generation propulsion technologies for the

merchant marine of the United States, to include small

modular reactors, low-emission or carbon capture propulsion

technologies, and other renewable energy solutions;

“\(iv\) new and innovative hardware, software, and systems

for remote or autonomous operations at ports, intermodal

facilities, or aboard oceangoing vessels;

“\(v\) technology and infrastructure solutions that enhance

the safe operation of oceangoing vessels to protect lives,

property, and the environment;

“\(vi\) solutions to recruit, train, and retain a skilled

workforce capable of supporting a vibrant and growing United

States maritime industry; and

“\(vii\) the capacity of international allies and partners

of the United States, with respect to manufacturing

technologies and processes, to construct, rehabilitate, or

repair maritime vessels.

“\(L\) Work with academic and private sector response

training centers and Centers of Excellence for Domestic

Maritime Workforce Training and Education to develop maritime

strategies and workforce development plans applicable to

various segments of the United

States maritime industry, including the inland, deep water,

and coastal fleets.

“\(M\) Establish programs and initiatives to share—

“\(i\) shipbuilding best practices and maritime technology

between vessels of the Department of Defense and commercial

vessels of the United States; and

“\(ii\) port technology and logistics best practices between

the Department of Defense and commercial port operators and

port authorities within the United States.

“\(N\) Carry out such other activities as the Maritime

Security Board determines appropriate.

“\(6\) Establishment of maritime incubators.—

“\(A\) Establishment.—The Center shall, in consultation

with the Maritime Security Board, seek out, identify, and

support the development of and experimentation with

commercial technologies that have the potential to be

implemented within the maritime industry, through the

establishment of a series of maritime incubators.

“\(B\) Reflection.—Each incubator shall reflect the unique

nature of the region's capabilities and academic and investor

base.

“\(C\) Selection.—Incubators shall be—

“\(i\) selected through a competitive process of eligible

entities, and if a private entity, a domestic entity;

“\(ii\) based in the United States with technical expertise

in emerging marine technologies and practices related to the

maritime transportation system;

“\(iii\) based within a United States maritime security

investment zone as defined in section 1400Z-3 of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 \(as added by section 708 of this Act\);

and

“\(iv\) topic-specific, according to regional maritime

expertise in United States emerging maritime technologies and

practices, to include designated incubators focused on—

“\(I\) clean energy, carbon capture, and alternative fuels;

“\(II\) ports and shoreside infrastructure;

“\(III\) vessel design and naval architecture;

“\(IV\) shipbuilding and next generation manufacturing;

“\(V\) advanced materials for ship construction; and

“\(VI\) other areas for maritime innovation and technology,

as determined by the Center in coordination with the Maritime

Security Board.

“\(D\) Incubator responsibilities.—Each maritime incubator

shall—

“\(i\) serve as the principal liaison between the Center and

individuals and entities that can contribute to innovation

within the maritime industry, including other maritime

incubators under this subsection, entrepreneurs, startups,

commercial technology companies, and venture capital sources;

and

“\(ii\) establish and support multi-stakeholder research and

innovation partnerships, as described in subparagraph \(G\).

“\(E\) Report.—Each incubator shall submit quarterly

activity and status reports to the Center.

“\(F\) Review and termination.—

“\(i\) In general.—The Maritime Administrator may, in

consultation with the Maritime Security Board, terminate an

agreement with an eligible entity selected to lead a maritime

incubator if the Administrator certifies that the eligible

entity is failing to meet the requirements of this section.

“\(ii\) Reselection.—If the Administrator terminates an

agreement with an eligible entity to lead a maritime

incubator, the Center shall initiate a new selection process

as required under subparagraph \(C\) to select a new eligible

entity.

“\(iii\) Review of eligible entities.—Not later than 5

years after the establishment of maritime incubators under

this paragraph, and every 5 years thereafter, the

Administrator, in coordination with the Maritime Security

Board, shall conduct a review of all eligible entities

selected to lead a maritime incubator and confirm the entity

is adequately fulfilling the requirements of this section.

“\(G\) Multi-stakeholder partnerships.—

“\(i\) In general.—The maritime incubators established

under this subsection shall establish and support multi-

stakeholder research and innovation partnerships that—

“\(I\) have the potential to generate technologies,

processes, products, or other solutions that support the

United States maritime industry;

“\(II\) have as an objective the technology transfer or

commercialization of the work product generated by the

partnership, which may include work product that incorporates

intellectual property developed by the Federal Government and

licensed to the partnership in accordance with clause \(iii\);

and

“\(III\) incentivize and expand geographically diverse

participation in graduate and undergraduate institutions of

higher education, community college, and other workforce

programs relevant to the maritime industry.

“\(ii\) Support provided.—Support provided by the maritime

incubator to a multi-stakeholder research and innovation

partnership under this subsection may include—

“\(I\) providing funding or other resources to the

partnership;

“\(II\) participating in the partnership;

“\(III\) providing technical and technological advice and

guidance to the partnership;

“\(IV\) suggesting and introducing other participants for

inclusion in the partnership;

“\(V\) providing the partnership with insight into desired

solutions for defense and security needs;

“\(VI\) providing access to Ready Reserve ships for testing

new technologies and conducting research, as the maritime

incubator determines appropriate, in coordination with the

Center and the Administrator; and

“\(VII\) such other forms of support as the Center, in

consultation with maritime incubators and Maritime Security

Board, determines appropriate.

“\(iii\) Availability of intellectual property.—To the

extent the Center determines appropriate, the Center, in

coordination with the maritime incubators, shall seek to

actively inform potential participants in multi-stakeholder

research and innovation partnerships of the availability of

intellectual property developed by the Federal Government

that may be licensed to the partnership.

“\(7\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026, and annually

thereafter, the Center shall submit to the Maritime Security

Board and the appropriate congressional committees a report

on the activities, advances, outcomes, and work product of

the maritime incubators and the multi-stakeholder research

and innovation partnerships supported under this subsection.

“\(8\) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“\(A\) Multi-stakeholder research and innovation

partnership.—The term \`multi-stakeholder research and

innovation partnership' means a partnership composed of any

combination of 2 or more of the following:

“\(i\) Institutions of higher education \(as defined in

section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 \(20 U.S.C.

1002\)\) with research and innovation capability.

“\(ii\) Nonprofit organizations that provide policy,

research, outreach, operations, organizational, management,

testing, evaluation, technology transfer, legal, financial,

or advocacy expertise.

“\(iii\) For-profit commercial enterprises that may be

publicly or privately owned, early stage or mature, and

incorporated or operating by another ownership structure.

“\(iv\) Centers of excellence for domestic maritime

workforce training and education \(established under section

51706\).

“\(v\) Maritime labor organizations.

“\(vi\) Departments or agencies of the Federal Government

with expertise, operations, or resources related to the

objectives of the multi-stakeholder research and innovation

partnership.

“\(vii\) State maritime academies \(as defined in section

51102\(4\)\).

“\(viii\) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.

“\(ix\) National research laboratories with expertise,

operations, or resources related to the objectives of the

partnership.

“\(x\) Operators and users of vessels of the University-

National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

“\(B\) Nontraditional capability.—The term \`nontraditional

capability' means a solution to an operational challenge that

can significantly leverage commercial innovation or external

capital with minimal dependencies on fielded systems.

“\(C\) Maritime industry.—The term \`maritime industry'

includes—

“\(i\) shipbuilders and ship repair facilities;

“\(ii\) ship owners;

“\(iii\) port operators;

“\(iv\) personnel of the merchant marine of the United

States;

“\(v\) manufacturers of equipment, software, and technology

instrumental to the facilitation of maritime trade and

commerce; and

“\(vi\) other members of the industrial base that support

the Navy or the merchant marine of the United States.”.

\(b\) Transition.—A Center for Maritime Innovation

established by the Secretary of Transportation through a

cooperative agreement pursuant to section 50307 of title 46,

United States Code, as of the day before the date of

enactment of this Act shall—

\(1\) be deemed to be the United States Center for Maritime

Innovation under section 50307 of title 46, United States

Code, as of the date of enactment of this Act, with all the

authorities granted by such section; and

\(2\) coordinate activities of the Center with the Maritime

Security Board pursuant to subsection \(e\)\(4\) of such section,

as amended by this title.

SEC. 3669. NATIONAL SHIPBUILDING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Section 50105\(c\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended to read as follows:

“\(c\) National Shipbuilding Research Program.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Maritime Administrator shall

establish and carry out, in coordination with the Secretary

of the Navy, the National Shipbuilding Research Program.

“\(2\) Purposes.—The purpose of the National Shipbuilding

Research Program shall be to develop plans for the economical

construction of vessels and their propelling machinery, of

most modern economical types, giving thorough consideration

to all well-recognized means of propulsion and taking into

account the benefits from standardized production where

practicable and desirable.

“\(3\) Activities.—The National Shipbuilding Research

Program shall—

“\(A\) support technology transfers and industry networking;

“\(B\) select and execute research and development projects,

which may include—

“\(i\) advancing best practices in shipbuilding and ship

repair, including alternative project management and project

financing arrangements for shipyards, such as public-private

financing;

“\(ii\) improving efficiency across the shipyard industrial

base of the United States; and

“\(iii\) developing, maturing, and implementing industry-

relevant shipbuilding and sustainment technologies;

“\(C\) carry out ad hoc initiatives focused on specific

target areas in shipbuilding and ship repair; and

“\(D\) carry out additional activities as determined by the

Maritime Administrator or the Secretary of Defense.”.

SEC. 3670. ASSESSMENT ON MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Maritime Administrator shall

submit to Congress a report on the status and resources and

authorities needed to execute and complete necessary vessels,

harborcraft, port, shipyard, and other infrastructure

improvements to ensure the national security interests of the

United States and support the domestic and foreign commerce

of the United States.

\(b\) Contents.—The report under subsection \(a\) shall

include—

\(1\) consideration of existing literature and reporting from

Federal and non-Federal sources;

\(2\) an assessment of the number of commercial shipping

vessels by class required to sustain a peace-time and wartime

national economy;

\(3\) an assessment of opportunities to leverage private

sector funding to enhance the capability of marine

infrastructure of the United States;

\(4\) an evaluation of future infrastructure needs to support

alternative fuels for vessels and harborcraft;

\(5\) an assessment of an ability to construct and repair

seaports and shipyards during national security emergencies,

including readiness to construct temporary facilities, and

carry out marine salvage and firefighting operations; and

\(6\) an evaluation of the possible effects on the commercial

operations of United States ports and other critical

infrastructure of prohibiting any entity that owns or

operates a port or terminal in the United States from using

or sharing data with—

\(A\) LOGINK;

\(B\) any logistics platform controlled by, affiliated with,

or subject to the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party

or the Government of the People's Republic of China; or

\(C\) any logistics platform that shares data with a system

described in subparagraph \(A\) or \(B\).

\(c\) Definitions.—

\(1\) Critical infrastructure.—The term “critical

infrastructure” has the meaning given the term in section

721\(a\) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 \(50 U.S.C.

4565\(a\)\).

\(2\) LOGINK.—The term “LOGINK” means the public, open,

shared logistics information network known as the National

Public Information Platform for Transportation and Logistics

by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of

China.

Subtitle F—Workforce Development

CHAPTER 1—WORKFORCE INCENTIVES

SEC. 3671. ELIGIBILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 521 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 52102. Eligibility for educational assistance

“\(a\) Eligibility.—A covered individual shall be treated

as an individual described in section 3311\(b\)\(1\) of title 38,

United States Code, for purposes of entitlement to

educational assistance under chapter 33 of such title.

“\(b\) Covered Individual.—

“\(1\) In general.—In this section, the term \`covered

individual' means an individual who—

“\(A\) served as a full-time, credentialed United States

Merchant Mariner for not less than 10 years;

“\(B\) as a result of such service received the Merchant

Marine Expeditionary Medal or another award for service in a

designated combat zone after the date of enactment of this

section; and

“\(C\) is not eligible under any other provision of law for

benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs.

“\(2\) Full-time, credentialed united states merchant

mariner.—For purposes of paragraph \(1\), serving as a \`full-

time, credentialed United States Merchant Mariner' means

possession of a Merchant Mariner Credential authorized by the

Coast Guard and employment on board a vessel of the United

States for not less than 150 days in a calendar year.

“\(c\) Reimbursement.—There is authorized to be

appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such sums

as may be necessary to carry out this section from the

Maritime Security Trust Fund established under section

50301\(b\) of this title.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

521 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“52102. Eligibility for educational assistance.”.

SEC. 3672. ELIGIBILITY OF MARINERS TO ATTEND NAVAL

POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL.

\(a\) In General.—Section 8545 of title 10, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\), by adding at the end the following

new paragraph:

“\(3\) The Secretary may permit an officer or unlicensed

mariner of the United States Merchant Marine to receive

instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School.”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)\(1\), by adding at the end the

following new sentence: “The Secretary of Transportation

shall bear the cost of the instruction received by officers

and unlicensed mariners of the United States Merchant Marine

detailed for that instruction.”; and

\(3\) in subsection \(c\), by inserting “, and officers and

unlicensed mariners of the United States Merchant Marine,”

after “Coast Guard”.

\(b\) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of

Defense, shall submit to Congress a report assessing what

matters relating to military training it would be beneficial

for mariners to study at the Naval Postgraduate School.

SEC. 3673. REIMBURSEMENT OF QUALIFYING SPOUSE RELICENSING

COSTS AND BUSINESS COSTS.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 521 of title 46, United States

Code, as amended by section 3671, is further amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 52103. Reimbursement of qualifying spouse relicensing

costs and business costs

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Transportation shall

establish a program to reimburse an individual serving in the

merchant marine of the United States for qualified

relicensing costs and qualified business costs of the spouse

of that individual when the individual relocates to a new

jurisdiction or geographic area as the result of a

reassignment as a result of service as a commissioned officer

in the Navy Reserve \(including the Strategic Sealift Officer

Program, Navy Reserve\), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other

reserve component of the Armed Services of the United States.

“\(b\) Limitations.—

“\(1\) Relicensing.—Reimbursement provided to a member

under this subsection for qualified relicensing costs may not

exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in

paragraph \(1\).

“\(2\) Business costs.—Reimbursement provided to a member

under this subsection for qualified business costs may not

exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in

paragraph \(1\).

“\(3\) Deadline.—No reimbursement may be provided under

this subsection for qualified relicensing costs or qualified

business costs paid or incurred after December 31, 2036.

“\(c\) Qualified Relicensing Costs.—In this section, the

term \`qualified relicensing costs' means costs, including

exam, continuing education courses, business license, permit,

and registration fees, incurred by the spouse of an

individual serving in the merchant marine of the United

States if—

“\(1\) the spouse was licensed or certified in a profession,

or owned a business, during the individual's previous

assignment and requires a new professional license or

certification, or business license or permit, to engage in

that profession in a new jurisdiction because of the

individual's relocation described in paragraph \(1\); and

“\(2\) the costs were incurred or paid to secure or maintain

the professional license or certification, or business

license or permit, from the new jurisdiction in connection

with such relocation.

“\(d\) Qualified Business Costs.—In this section, the term

\`qualified business costs' means costs, including moving

services for equipment, equipment removal, new equipment

purchases, information technology expenses, and inspection

fees, incurred by the spouse of an individual serving in the

merchant marine of the United States if—

“\(1\) the spouse owned a business during the individual's

previous assignment and the costs result from the

individual's relocation described in paragraph \(1\); and

“\(2\) the costs were incurred or paid to move such business

to a new location in connection with such relocation.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

521 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by section

3671, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“52103. Reimbursement of qualifying spouse relicensing costs and

business costs.”.

SEC. 3674. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.

\(a\) Amendment.—Chapter 521 of title 46, United States

Code, as amended by sections 3682 and 3684, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 52104. Noncompetitive eligibility for Federal

employment

“\(a\) Definition of Agency.—In this section, the term

\`agency'—

“\(1\) has the meaning given the term \`Executive agency' in

section 105 of title 5, United States Code;

“\(2\) includes the United States Postal Service and the

Postal Regulatory Commission; and

“\(3\) does not include the Government Accountability

Office.

“\(b\) Appointment Authority.—The head of an agency may

appoint noncompetitively—

“\(1\) a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine

Academy who has met all of the requirements of their cadet

commitment agreement under section 51306 of title 46, United

States Code; or

“\(2\) a credentialed United States Merchant Mariner with an

officer or rating endorsement who has completed not less than

7 years of service aboard a vessel of the United States.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

521 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by sections

3682 and 3684, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“52104. Noncompetitive eligibility for Federal employment.”.

SEC. 3675. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE CAREER RETENTION

PROGRAM.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) it takes years of training and experience, and costly

license trainings, to earn mariner qualifications;

\(2\) with just around 12,000 merchant mariners of the United

States operating oceangoing vessels, compared with China's

more than 1,700,000 seafarers, the United States may not have

a sufficient number of mariners to fully power the strategic

sealift vessels necessary in a future prolonged conflict;

\(3\) the United States requires a qualified workforce of

sufficient size that is ready and available to crew vessels

of the United States for national defense or national

emergency; and

\(4\) a workforce committed to take all measures possible to

expand, develop, and protect the domestic maritime workforce

should—

\(A\) support a retention program to permit credentialed

merchant mariners to maintain recency through a coordinated

Federal program, in coordination with maritime labor

organizations; and

\(B\) implement civil service, workplace, and hiring

protections.

\(b\) Amendment.—Chapter 521 of title 46, United States

Code, as amended by sections 3682, 3684, and 3685, is further

amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 52105. United States Merchant Marine Career Retention

Program

“\(a\) Establishment.—The Maritime Administrator shall

establish a program, to be known as the \`United States

Merchant Marine Career Retention Program', to ensure that a

qualified workforce of sufficient size is ready to crew

strategic sealift vessels in the event of a national defense

or national emergency activation. Through the United States

Merchant Marine Career Retention Program, the Maritime

Administrator shall establish and administer mechanisms to

register merchant mariners and mariner employers to

participate in the Program.

“\(b\) Implementation.—The Maritime Administrator shall—

“\(1\) appoint a board of directors to oversee the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program;

“\(2\) appoint and facilitate a working group to recommend

policies, procedures, and a prioritization matrix for the

United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program, which

shall be composed of representatives from major stakeholders,

including maritime labor organizations, credentialed United

States Merchant Mariners, vessel owners, vessel operators,

the United States Merchant Marine Academy, State maritime

academies, United States Military Sealift Command, and other

likely employers of members of the United States Merchant

Marine Career Retention Program; and

“\(3\) submit to Congress an annual evaluation of the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program.

“\(c\) Membership in United States Merchant Marine Career

Retention Program.—

“\(1\) In general.—There shall be 2 paths to enrollment in

the United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program as

described in paragraphs \(2\) and \(3\).

“\(2\) Members who work ashore who hold mariner

qualifications.—

“\(A\) Opportunities.—The United States Merchant Marine

Career Retention Program shall provide individuals who hold

Coast Guard issued mariner qualifications who work ashore

with an opportunity to maintain, or potentially upgrade,

their mariner qualifications and credentials by—

“\(i\) providing qualified service at sea on vessels of the

United States; and

“\(ii\) participating in compulsory training.

“\(B\) Structure.—The United States Merchant Marine Career

Retention Program shall be open for enrollment to both

licensed and unlicensed mariners and provide members with an

8-3-1 schedule as follows:

“\(i\) 8 months shoreside employment.

“\(ii\) 3 months sailing employment designed to ensure that

members meet the minimum sea-time requirement to maintain the

credentials required by the Standards of Training,

Certification, and Watchkeeping certification, or, depending

on mariner and employer requirements, more frequent, but

shorter-duration sailing assignments.

“\(iii\) 1 month vacation, which is in addition to vacation

provided by the shoreside employer.

“\(C\) Ashore employers.—

“\(i\) Employer obligations.—The employer of a member of

the United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program

described under this paragraph shall grant the member—

“\(I\) an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the

member's training, sailing, and vacation with the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program; and

“\(II\) the same or an equivalent position with the employer

when the member returns from training, sailing, or vacation

with the United States Merchant Marine Career Retention

Program.

“\(D\) Sea day assignments.—The United States Merchant

Marine Career Retention Program shall, with respect to

members described under this paragraph—

“\(i\) maintain records of each member's qualifications, sea

time, and availability, and prioritize assignments on these

and other factors with the goal of maximizing the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program readiness to

support strategic sealift;

“\(ii\) maintain a \`job call' program office that

coordinates how jobs become available for members from State

maritime academies, vessel operating companies, maritime

labor organizations, United States Military Sealift Command,

and other organizations responsible for crewing vessels of

the United States of qualifying tonnage or horsepower;

“\(iii\) establish partnerships with State maritime

academies and the United States Military Sealift Command that

aim to establish reliable crewing jobs with job cycles that

maximize the readiness of United States Merchant Marine

Career Retention Program;

“\(iv\) dispatch members to fill available jobs,

prioritizing maximizing readiness for strategic sealift,

taking into consideration mariner availability and

credentials, sea time requirements to maintain merchant

mariner credentials, predicted program demand for specific

ratings, and expected expansion or contraction of the

program's membership; and

“\(v\) coordinate with vessel operators and labor

organizations to ensure that members in the United States

Merchant Marine Career Retention Program are given

opportunities to fulfill their sea time and maintain the

credentials required by the Standards of Training,

Certification, and, Watchkeeping certification.

“\(E\) USERRA protections.—Members of the United States

Merchant Marine Career Retention Program described under this

paragraph shall be entitled to protections and obligations

under chapter 43 of title 38 \(commonly known as the

\`Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act'\).

“\(F\) Requirement.—A member in the United States Merchant

Marine Career Retention Program described under this

paragraph may not fail to accept a sea day assignment and

remain in good standing with the Program, unless a hardship

exemption is provided by the Maritime Administrator under

subsection \(e\).

“\(3\) Members serving on foreign vessels.—

“\(A\) In general.—The United States Merchant Marine Career

Retention Program shall be open for enrollment to individuals

who—

“\(i\) hold Coast Guard issued merchant mariner credentials

required by the Standards of Training, Certification, and

Watchkeeping Certification;

“\(ii\) have completed their service obligations with

respect to any previous enrollment in a Federal or State

maritime academy, if applicable; and

“\(iii\) are serving on a foreign vessel \(as defined in

section 110\) that is not owned by a foreign entity of concern

\(as that term is defined in section 3604 of the SHIPS for

America Act of 2026\) or a vessel registered under a registry

of a foreign country of concern or operated under the

authority of a foreign country of concern \(as that term is

defined in such section 3604\).

“\(B\) Requirement.—Members of the United States Merchant

Marine Career Retention Program described under this

paragraph shall maintain—

“\(i\) Standards of Training, Certification, and

Watchkeeping Certification currency;

“\(ii\) a valid merchant mariner credential, unlimited as to

horsepower or tonnage, issued by the United States Coast

Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of the United

States, accompanied by the appropriate national and

international endorsements and certifications required by the

Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and

international voyages, without limitation;

“\(iii\) a valid transportation worker identification

credential;

“\(iv\) a Coast Guard medical certificate; and

“\(v\) classes and certifications described in subparagraph

\(C\).

“\(C\) Certifications.—The Administrator shall publish a

list of classes and certifications required for individuals

described in subparagraph \(A\) to be eligible for the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program.

“\(D\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in subparagraph \(A\)

shall be construed to allow the United States Coast Guard to

prevent or delay a merchant mariner who is otherwise eligible

from attaining a more advanced rank or credential for

Merchant Mariners sailing on foreign vessels.

“\(E\) USERRA protections.—Members of the United States

Merchant Marine Career Retention Program described under this

paragraph shall be entitled to protections and obligations

under chapter 43 of title 38 \(commonly known as the

\`Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act'\).

“\(d\) Enforcement.—The Maritime Administrator shall ensure

all members of the Merchant Marine Career Retention Program

remain in good standing with the requirements of the Program.

“\(1\) Enforcement.—Subject to paragraph \(2\), members found

to be in noncompliance with the requirements of the Program

shall—

“\(A\) have their reservist status terminated; and

“\(B\) forfeit the protections provided under chapter 43 of

title 38 \(commonly known as the \`Uniformed Services

Employment and Reemployment Rights Act'\).

“\(2\) Exception.—In cases where the Maritime Administrator

determines a hardship exists, which prevents the mariner from

meeting the requirements of the Program, the requirements of

paragraph \(1\) shall not apply.”.

\(c\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

521 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by sections

3682, 3684, and 3685, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“52105. United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program.”.

CHAPTER 2—WORKFORCE PIPELINE

SEC. 3676. MARITIME WORKFORCE PROMOTION AND RECRUITMENT.

Section 539A\(a\) of the Servicemember Quality of Life

Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 2025 \(Public Law 118-159\) is amended by striking “the

heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary

determines appropriate” and inserting “the Maritime

Security Board”.

SEC. 3677. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR DOMESTIC MARITIME

WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

Section 51706\(c\)\(1\)\(B\)\(iii\) of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by striking “nonprofit entity” and

inserting “entity”.

SEC. 3678. MARITIME CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVISORY

COMMITTEE.

\(a\) Definitions.—In this section:

\(1\) Administrator.—The term “Administrator” means the

Maritime Administrator.

\(2\) Advisory committee.—The term “Advisory Committee”

means the Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory

Committee established under subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Advisory Committee Plan and Establishment.—

\(1\) Plan.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a

plan, and notify Congress of such plan, to establish a

Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee

to—

\(A\) bring representatives of maritime industrial base

employers and education providers together to identify joint

opportunities to train needed workers for maritime careers;

and

\(B\) develop and disperse best practices and recommendations

for the improvement of shipbuilding education and training

programs, naval architecture education programs, and merchant

marine training and certification programs.

\(2\) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish the

Advisory Committee.

\(c\) Membership.—

\(1\) Administrator.—The Advisory Committee shall include

the Administrator \(or a delegate of the Administrator\) who

shall serve as Chair of the Advisory Committee.

\(2\) Representatives.—The Advisory Committee shall be

composed of representatives from each of the following, to be

appointed the Administrator:

\(A\) Maritime education, including representatives from—

\(i\) the Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime

Workforce Training and Education designated by the Maritime

Administration, taking into consideration—

\(I\) geographic diversity;

\(II\) the rate of employment after graduation;

\(III\) training or skillset diversity; and

\(IV\) other qualities as determined by the Administrator;

\(ii\) the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps;

\(iii\) kindergarten through grade 12 maritime education

programs designated by the Maritime Administration;

\(iv\) the oceanographic science community, including from a

University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System

institution; and

\(v\) institutions of higher education.

\(B\) The maritime workforce, including representatives

from—

\(i\) skilled workers representing a wide swath of the career

and technical maritime industry both onshore and offshore;

\(ii\) career and technical education certified instructors;

and

\(iii\) maritime labor organizations.

\(C\) Maritime industry, including representatives from—

\(i\) shipbuilding, ship repair, and shipyard industry

stakeholders;

\(ii\) maritime industrial base coalitions;

\(iii\) shipping industry stakeholders; and

\(iv\) owners and operators of vessels of the United States.

\(D\) Technical nonprofit organizations with expertise in the

maritime industry, including representatives from—

\(i\) think tanks;

\(ii\) recognized classification societies; and

\(iii\) professional societies.

\(E\) The Federal Government, including representatives

from—

\(i\) the Department of Education;

\(ii\) the Department of Labor;

\(iii\) the Department of Transportation;

\(iv\) the Department of the Navy;

\(v\) the United States Coast Guard;

\(vi\) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

\(vii\) the Army Corps of Engineers; and

\(viii\) the Federal Maritime Commission.

\(F\) Any other representatives that the Maritime

Administrator determines appropriate to appoint.

\(d\) Meetings.—

\(1\) In general.—The Advisory Committee shall meet not less

often than annually.

\(2\) Quorum established.—Two thirds of all members

appointed by the Administrator under subsection \(c\) shall

constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Advisory Committee.

\(3\) Working groups.—The Advisory Committee shall include

working groups that shall meet not less often than quarterly

each year.

\(e\) FACA.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall

apply to the Advisory Committee.

\(f\) Development of Curricula.—Consistent with the purposes

of the Advisory Committee established in subsection \(b\) and

applicable law \(including regulations\), the Advisory

Committee shall recommend curricula for key skills for

maritime professionals and make such curricula publicly

available to institutions of higher education, career and

technical education schools, and State maritime academies.

\(g\) Reporting.—The Advisory Committee shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress and the Maritime Security

Board and publish on the website of the Maritime

Administration, an annual report that includes best practices

and policy recommendations, as described in subsection \(b\).

\(h\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to create new regulatory authority or supersede

existing law \(including regulations\) as of the day before the

date of enactment of this Act, relating to shipbuilding

education and training programs, naval architecture education

programs, and merchant marine training and certification

programs.

SEC. 3679. MILITARY CANDIDATES TO MARINER CAREERS RECRUITMENT

EXCHANGE.

\(a\) Duties of Secretary of Defense.—The Secretary of

Defense shall—

\(1\) encourage and incentivize military recruiters to

recommend the United States Department of Transportation

Maritime Administration to potential recruits who do not

qualify for military service in the Armed Forces; and

\(2\) establish a mechanism for military recruiters to

introduce recruits described in paragraph \(1\) who are

interested in maritime service to representatives from the

Maritime Administration, in accordance with the procedures

established under subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Duties of the Maritime Administrator.—The Maritime

Administrator shall—

\(1\) establish a mechanism to receive recruitment referrals

from military recruiters;

\(2\) provide hand-off services to connect recruits with

educational resources and institutions, recognized Maritime

Centers of Excellence, eligible maritime industry employers,

and other maritime industry career services, as appropriate;

\(3\) track the number of referrals from the Department of

Defense; and

\(4\) track the number of recruits who enroll in maritime

industry programs, to the extent practicable.

\(c\) Reporting Requirement.—

\(1\) Briefing on the implementation strategy.—Not later

than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the

Maritime Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of

Defense, shall submit a briefing to the appropriate

committees of Congress about a strategy for implementing the

activities required under this section, including—

\(A\) a timeline for implementation; and

\(B\) the identification of the Department of Defense

recruiter incentives and training required for maximum

utility in carrying out such activities.

\(2\) Annual report on program efficacy.—One year after the

date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the

Maritime Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of

Defense, shall submit a report to the appropriate committees

of Congress on the efficacy and utility of the activities

carried out under this section, including—

\(A\) the number of Department of Defense referrals to the

Maritime Administration;

\(B\) the number of Maritime Administration hand-offs to the

maritime industry;

\(C\) an assessment of the efficacy of the activities carried

out under this section; and

\(D\) challenges and recommendations relating to such

activities.

SEC. 3680. MARITIME WORKER DATA COLLECTION.

\(a\) Publication of Report.—The Maritime Administrator

shall publish an biennial report on the state of the merchant

mariner workforce.

\(b\) Completion of Report.—The Maritime Administrator shall

complete the biennial report required under subsection \(a\) or

enter into a contract with another entity to complete the

report.

\(c\) Content of Report.—The biennial report required under

subsection \(a\) shall include, at minimum—

\(1\) a count of United States Merchant Mariners with valid

merchant mariner credentials and credentials in continuity

endorsement;

\(2\) a count of inactive but credentialed and formerly

credentialed United States Merchant Mariners, to the extent

practicable, and an evaluation of—

\(A\) the challenges to identifying such individuals;

\(B\) opportunities to partner with Federal, State, local,

and non-government entities to identify such individuals; and

\(C\) an action plan of how to implement the opportunities

described under subparagraph \(B\);

\(3\) a count of United States mariners and foreign workers

employed on vessels, rigs, platforms, and other vehicles or

structures off the coast of the United States and an

evaluation of the percentage of United States and foreign

workers employed on—

\(A\) coastwise-endorsed vessels; and

\(B\) vessels of the United States which do not have a

coastwise endorsement;

\(4\) a listing of actively operating vessels of the United

States;

\(5\) a report of merchant mariner requirements needed in the

event of a national defense sealift operation and any gaps

identified in quantity and quality, and other variables of

concern, as determined by the Administrator;

\(6\) a general outlook for the future of the merchant

mariner industry and potential gaps or surpluses of merchant

mariners;

\(7\) identification of any concerns in the credentialing of

merchant mariners, which may include general processing

issues, shortage of training providers or instructors, and

barriers to entry due to costs to the economically

disadvantaged; and

\(8\) recommendations, based on data collected, on ways to—

\(A\) improve retention of existing merchant mariners;

\(B\) create expedited pathways for mariners with expired

credentials to renew their credentials; and

\(C\) encourage new merchant mariners to enter the industry.

\(d\) Accessibility of Data.—

\(1\) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph \(2\), the

Maritime Administrator, and any authorized agent of the

Maritime Administrator, shall have full access to available

Coast Guard mariner credentialing data, in a manner that

ensures the protection of personally identifiable

information, in order to complete the report required under

subsection \(a\).

\(2\) Exception.—The Maritime Administrator, and any

authorized agent of the Maritime Administrator, may not have

access to confidential medical information pursuant to

paragraph \(1\).

SEC. 3681. MILITARY TO MARITIME TRANSITION.

\(a\) Recommendations Required.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, the

Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Army, the

Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating, the Maritime Security Board, the Department of

Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Labor, shall submit a

report to the appropriate committees of Congress containing—

\(1\) recommendations about how to increase and improve

opportunities for transitioning servicemembers to secure

employment in the maritime industry at sea and shoreside; and

\(2\) a plan to implement those recommendations.

\(b\) Considerations.—In carrying out subsection \(a\), the

Secretary of Defense shall—

\(1\) identify barriers that servicemembers face when trying

to transition to the United States maritime industry,

including the merchant marines, shipbuilding, ship repair,

and shipping;

\(2\) consider opportunities to improve, expedite, and

alleviate the burdens on servicemembers transitioning to the

maritime industry, including efforts to—

\(A\) inform transitioning servicemembers of employment

opportunities in the United States maritime industry;

\(B\) assist transitioning servicemembers in determining how

their military credentials and experience translate to

credentialed civilian employment in the maritime industry;

\(C\) increase the establishment and uptake of accelerated or

bridge programs to assist separating members of the Armed

Forces in translating military credentials and experience

into maritime industry credentials and employment;

\(D\) increase the availability and accessibility of

preparatory activities under the SkillBridge program

established under section 1143\(e\) of title 10, United States

Code, in the United States maritime industry;

\(E\) incorporate the maritime industry in the Transition

Assistance Program, as described in chapter 58 of title 10,

United States Code; and

\(F\) enhance the activities carried out pursuant to the

Military to Mariners Act of 2022 \(section 11514 of division K

of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2023 \(Public Law 117-263\)\); and

\(3\) specifically consider the transition of servicemembers

to employment in the shipbuilding and ship repair maritime

industries.

SEC. 3682. EARLY MARITIME EDUCATION AND YOUTH INVOLVEMENT.

\(a\) Secretary of the Navy Budget Request.—In the Secretary

of the Navy's annual budget submission to Congress, the

Secretary of the Navy shall include, as a distinct item, the

funding request for the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

\(b\) Engagement With Elementary School and Secondary School

Students.—The Maritime Administrator shall encourage

designated Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime

Workforce Training and Education to engage with students in

kindergarten through grade 12.

SEC. 3683. INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR MARINER AND NAVAL

ARCHITECTURE EXCHANGES.

\(a\) In General.—The Maritime Administrator shall establish

an international exchange program for mariners, naval

architects, and marine engineers between the United States

and countries described in subsection \(b\).

\(b\) Eligible Participants.—In carrying out the program

under this section, the Administrator shall limit

participation to United States citizens and citizens of—

\(1\) member countries of NATO;

\(2\) treaty allies of the United States; and

\(3\) major non-NATO allies of the United States.

\(c\) Placements.—In carrying out the program under this

section, the Administrator shall seek corporate and

government partners for placement of eligible participants of

the program.

CHAPTER 3—UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY AND STATE MARITIME

ACADEMIES

SEC. 3684. UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY.

\(a\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

\(1\) the United States Merchant Marine Academy, one of our

Nation's 5 Federal service academies, is vital to our

national security, and modernizing the Academy's aging

infrastructure and investing in faculty and students must be

congressional priorities;

\(2\) sufficient funding must be provided to enable the

maximum student enrollment that the campus infrastructure of

the United States Merchant Marine Academy can support; and

\(3\) considering the Academy's role as a co-equal military

service academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy

should be included in the rotation of presidential attendance

at graduations.

\(b\) Campus Modernization Plan.—Chapter 513 of title 46,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“Sec. 51329. Campus modernization plan

“\(a\) In General.—Not later than 30 days after the date of

enactment of this section, the Secretary shall implement the

Department of Transportation's 2025 Campus Modernization Plan

for the phased rehabilitation, modernization, and

construction of facilities and infrastructure at the United

States Merchant Marine Academy.

“\(b\) Requirements.—For the duration of the Campus

Modernization Plan implemented under subsection \(a\), the

Administrator shall ensure that the Academy remains fully

operational.

“\(c\) Reporting.—The Secretary of Transportation shall

provide a briefing once every 6 months to the appropriate

committees of Congress on the status of the implementation of

the 2025 Campus Modernization Plan, as provided under

subsection \(a\).”.

\(c\) Report on Enrollment.—Not later than 180 days after

the date of enactment of this Act, the Maritime Administrator

shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of

Congress identifying the additional resources needed to

increase enrollment at the United States Merchant Marine

Academy.

SEC. 3685. STATE MARITIME ACADEMIES.

\(a\) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Maritime Administrator shall

submit a report to Congress containing the results of a study

to evaluate the additional resources needed to allow State

maritime academies to increase enrollment and produce

additional mariners.

\(b\) Need for Additional State Maritime Academies.—Such

study shall consider whether there is a need for additional

State maritime academies in States that do not operate a

maritime academy.

SEC. 3686. ENFORCEMENT OF SERVICE OBLIGATION REQUIREMENTS.

\(a\) In General.—The Maritime Administrator shall ensure

that—

\(1\) each citizen who is appointed as a cadet at the United

States Merchant Marine Academy and signs a cadet commitment

agreement under section 51306 of title 46, United States

Code, meets the service obligation requirements of that

agreement; and

\(2\) each individual that signs a student incentive payment

agreement under section 51509 of title 46, United States

Code, meets the service obligation requirements under that

agreement.

\(b\) Reporting Requirement.—The Maritime Administrator

shall establish an electronic system through which each

individual with a service obligation under such section 51306

or 51509 \(referred to in this section as a “service-

obligated mariner”\) shall annually demonstrate that they are

meeting their service obligation or have a valid deferment

consistent with section 51310 of title 46, United States

Code, or section 51510 of title 46, United States Code, as

applicable.

\(c\) Notification of Violation.—The Maritime Administrator

shall transmit a written notice to each service-obligated

mariner who

fails to meet the reporting requirement of subsection \(b\),

notifying such individual of the applicable penalties

established under section 51306 of title 46, United States

Code, or section 51509 of title 46, United States Code, for

failure to carry out the applicable service requirements,

including cost recovery.

\(d\) Report to Congress.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter,

the Maritime Administrator shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress a report on the status of all service-

obligated mariners, which shall include—

\(1\) information about how each service-obligated mariner is

meeting their service obligation requirement, which shall be

based on the results of the data collected under subsection

\(b\);

\(2\) the number of service-obligated mariners who have not

met their service obligation and have not complied with the

reporting requirement under subsection \(b\); and

\(3\) the number of actions taken by the Maritime

Administrator under sections 51306\(b\), 51306\(d\), 51306\(f\),

and 51509\(g\) to recover costs from service-obligated mariners

who have not demonstrated that they have met their service

obligation requirements.

SEC. 3687. FUEL FUNDING FOR TRAINING SHIPS OPERATED BY STATE

MARITIME ACADEMIES.

\(a\) Conforming Amendment.—Section 51504 of title 46,

United States Code, is amended by striking subsection \(f\) and

inserting the following:

“\(f\) Fuel Costs.—Subject to the availability of

appropriations, the Secretary shall pay to each State

maritime academy the costs of fuel used by a vessel provided

under this section while used for training in accordance with

section 51512.”.

\(b\) Amendment.—Chapter 515 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 51512. Funding for training ships operated by State

maritime academies

“\(a\) Fuel Funding.—

“\(1\) In general.—Subject to the availability of

appropriations, the Secretary shall pay to each State

maritime academy the costs of fuel used by a vessel that is

loaned to the State maritime academy in accordance with

section 51504 while used for training.

“\(2\) Maximum amounts.—The amount of the payment to a

State maritime academy under subsection \(a\) may not exceed

$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2036.

“\(3\) Prohibition.—Maritime academies that receive funding

under subsection \(a\) may not—

“\(A\) profit from charging cadets to go to sea for their

licensing when using federally provided fuel; or

“\(B\) utilize the vessel as housing for students outside of

seasonal training cruises, unless students elect voluntarily

to live aboard the vessel.

“\(4\) Requirement.—Each State maritime academy that

receives fuel costs under this section shall offer billets

for liaison officers from each military service during the

time such vessel is provided to that State maritime academy.

“\(b\) Crew.—

“\(1\) In general.—Each State maritime academy shall make

crew positions available on a vessel that is loaned to the

State maritime academy for mariners enrolled in the United

States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program established

under section 52105.

“\(2\) Crew funding.—For each crew slot filled by a mariner

enrolled in the career retention program, as provided for

under paragraph \(1\), the Secretary shall pay the crew costs

for that mariner, subject to the availability of

appropriations.”.

\(c\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

515 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“51512. Fuel funding for training ships operated by State maritime

academies.”.

SEC. 3688. STATE MARITIME ACADEMY SEA TERM SCHOLARSHIP

PROGRAMS.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 515 of title 46, United States

Code, as amended by section 3700, is further amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 51513. State Maritime Academy Sea Term Scholarship

Programs

“\(a\) In General.—The Maritime Administrator shall work

with private entities in the maritime industry to establish a

scholarship program—

“\(1\) for students at State maritime academies to offset

expenses associated with completion of a summer sea term to

receive sea-time required to earn a Coast Guard license; and

“\(2\) which is entirely or predominantly funded through

contributions from a private entity.

“\(b\) Contributed Funds.—The Maritime Administrator shall

enter into a cooperative agreement, or other agreement, with

private entities in the maritime industry to accept funding

from private entities for the purpose of establishing such a

scholarship program. The cooperative agreement may include

any terms considered necessary by the Maritime Administrator.

“\(c\) Privileges.—The Maritime Administrator may provide

certain privileges to a private entity who contributes funds

for a scholarship program under this section, including

opportunities to provide information about employment

opportunities with the private entity to students enrolled in

the scholarship program.

“\(d\) Structure.—In establishing a scholarship program to

offset expenses associated with a summer sea term—

“\(1\) the Maritime Administrator may enter into an

agreement with a student at a State maritime academy that has

an agreement with the Secretary of Transportation under

section 51505 of this title, to offset expenses associated

with completion of a summer sea term; or

“\(2\) the Maritime Administrator may enter into an

agreement with a State maritime academy that has an agreement

with the Secretary of Transportation under section 51505 of

this title, to offset expenses for all students who

participate in a summer sea term program.

“\(e\) Relationship to Financial Assistance Programs.—

Recognizing the need for licensed merchant mariners, the

Maritime Administrator shall encourage participants of the

financial assistance programs under part C of this subtitle,

to enter into agreements under this section to establish

scholarship programs to offset expenses associated with

summer sea term.

“\(f\) Requirements for Students.—Any student who benefits

from a scholarship program under this section shall enter

into an agreement with the Maritime Administrator which

requires the student to—

“\(1\) complete the course of instruction at the academy the

individual is attending;

“\(2\) obtain a merchant mariner license, without limitation

as to tonnage or horsepower, from the Coast Guard as an

officer in the merchant marine of the United States,

accompanied by the appropriate national and international

endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard

for service aboard vessels on domestic and international

voyages, without limitation, within 3 months of completion of

the course of instruction at the academy the individual is

attending;

“\(3\) serve in a position that supports the foreign and

domestic commerce and the national defense of the United

States for at least 1 year after graduation from the

academy—

“\(A\) as a merchant marine officer on a documented vessel

or a vessel owned and operated by the United States

Government or by a State; or

“\(B\) as a commissioned officer on active duty in an Armed

Force of the United States, as a commissioned officer in the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or in other

maritime-related Federal employment which serves the national

security interests of the United States, as determined by the

Maritime Administrator; and

“\(4\) report to the Maritime Administrator on compliance

with this subsection.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

515 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by section

3700, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“51513. State Maritime Academy Sea Term Scholarship Programs.”.

SEC. 3689. NAVAL JOINT EXERCISE INVOLVEMENT FOR TRAINING

SHIPS OPERATED BY STATE MARITIME ACADEMIES.

\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of the Navy, in coordination

with the Maritime Administrator, shall, to the extent

practicable, include in national and international maritime

warfare exercises not less than 1 training vessel used by a

State maritime academy and maintained pursuant to section

51504 of title 46, United States Code, in order to provide an

opportunity to integrate merchant mariners with naval and

military operations.

\(b\) Participants.—Subject to guidance issued by the

Secretary of the Navy and Maritime Administrator, an

individual may participate in the exercise aboard that

training ship if the individual is—

\(1\) a licensed merchant mariner; or

\(2\) a student from the United States Merchant Marine

Academy, a State maritime academy, a Center of Excellence for

Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, or a

merchant marine center established under section 147 of the

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act \(29 U.S.C. 3197\), as

added by section 3677 of this title.

\(c\) Priority.—In selecting participants under subsection

\(b\) the Administrator shall give priority to students

described in paragraph \(2\) of subsection \(b\).

\(d\) Vessels.—In coordination with the Secretary of the

Navy, the Maritime Administrator shall rotate training

vessels to ensure that each training vessel described in

subsection \(a\) has an equal opportunity to participate in

such exercises.

CHAPTER 4—MARITIME CREDENTIALING MODERNIZATION

SEC. 3690. MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALING MODERNIZATION.

\(a\) Merchant Mariner Credentialing Modernization.—The

Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is

operating shall carry out necessary system and process

changes to carry out the activities described in paragraphs

\(1\) through \(4\).

\(1\) Licensing, certification, and documentation database.—

Replacement of the merchant mariner licensing, certification,

and documentation database such that the database allows

for—

\(A\) the electronic submission of merchant mariner

credential applications \(including

sea service, professional qualifications, course completion

data, safety and suitability, and medical records\) and course

approval requests;

\(B\) direct submission of sea service information from

employers and course completion data from training providers

and other stakeholders to provide data securely and directly

so that documentation does not need to be submitted later by

the merchant mariner; and

\(C\) the electronic processing and evaluation of information

for the issuance of credentials and course approvals,

including the capability for the Secretary to complete remote

evaluation of the information submitted.

\(2\) System for data exchange.—Implementation of a system

that provides for the exchange of data with government

agencies and industry stakeholders, which provides the

Maritime Administration and other agencies, as appropriate,

anonymized and aggregated data showing the following:

\(A\) The total amount of sea service for individuals with a

valid merchant mariner credential.

\(B\) The number of credentialed mariners by individual

rating and the capability to filter data by endorsements.

\(C\) Demographic information, including age, gender,

ethnicity, and address or location.

\(D\) National Maritime Center processing times.

\(E\) The number of Coast Guard approved training providers,

and, for each such training provider, the number of courses

taken by individuals who have, or who are applying for, a

merchant mariner credential from that training provider.

\(3\) Public facing portal.—Implementation of a system that

includes a public facing portal in the .gov domain instead of

the .mil domain to accept merchant mariner applicant

information, including credential applications, course

completion data, and course approval requests, that complies

with the requirements for cybersecurity and privacy

information of electronic systems in the .gov domain.

\(4\) Examination processes.—Upgrading the examination

processes for merchant mariner examinations, by—

\(A\) implementing an examination regime that provides for

electronic and third party administration of examinations;

\(B\) reassessing the content of tests through the

development of job task analysis for all credentials; and

\(C\) implementing a robust system to analyze examination

data.

\(b\) Report.—The Secretary of the department in which the

Coast Guard is operating shall submit—

\(1\) an annual report to the Committee on Commerce, Science,

and Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the

Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and the Committee

on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on

Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the

House of Representatives, on the progress of the system and

process changes required under subsection \(a\); and

\(2\) a final report to those Committees 1 year after full

operating capability of the complete system, comprised of all

4 systems required under subsection \(a\).

SEC. 3691. INSPECTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 81 of part F of subtitle II of

title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end

the following:

“Sec. 8109. Inspections for transportation security

“\(a\) In General.—

“\(1\) Inspection.—The Secretary shall periodically, but

not less than once annually, inspect each covered facility to

verify that the owner or operator of the covered facility has

a valid exemption under subsection \(c\) of section 30 of the

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act \(43 U.S.C. 1356\(c\)\).

“\(2\) Covered facility.—In this subsection, the term

\`covered facility' means a vessel, rig, platform, or other

vehicle or structure that, but for an exemption under

subsection \(c\) of section 30 of the Outer Continental Shelf

Lands Act \(43 U.S.C. 1356\(c\)\) would otherwise be subject to

the regulations under subsection \(a\)\(3\) of such section.

“\(b\) Transportation Security Card.—During an inspection

under this section, the Secretary shall confirm that all crew

members that are required to have a transportation worker

identification credential pursuant to section 70105 have such

a credential.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

81 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“8109. Inspections for transportation security.”.

SEC. 3692. RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES AND

DOCUMENTS.

Section 7507 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“\(d\) Renewal.—With respect to any renewal of a valid

merchant mariner credential issued under this part that is

not an extension under subsection \(a\) or \(b\), the validity

period of such credential shall begin the day after the

expiration of the current credential.”.

SEC. 3693. REACTIVATION OF EXPIRED LICENSE.

\(a\) In General.—Chapter 75 of subtitle II of part E, of

title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end

the following:

“Sec. 7512. Authority for reactivation of United States

Merchant Mariner credentials

“\(a\) Licenses and Certificates of Registry.—

Notwithstanding sections 7106 and 7107, the Secretary of the

department in which the Coast Guard is operating may renew

for not more than 2 years an expired license or certificate

of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if the

Secretary determines that the renewal is in response to a

national emergency declared by Congress or declared under

section 201 of the National Emergencies Act \(50 U.S.C. 1621\),

as deemed necessary by the Secretary.

“\(b\) Merchant Mariner Documents.—Notwithstanding section

7302\(g\), the Secretary may renew for not more than 2 years an

expiring merchant mariner's document issued for an individual

under chapter 73 if the Secretary determines that the renewal

is in response to a national emergency proclaimed by the

President or declared by Congress, as deemed necessary by the

Secretary.

“\(c\) Manner of Renewal.—Any renewal granted under this

section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically

identified group of seamen.”.

\(b\) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections for chapter

75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

“7512. Authority for reactivation of United States Merchant Mariner

credentials.”.

Amendment No. 314 Offered by Mr. Ezell of Mississippi

Page 1518, line 6, strike “ $15,000,000” and insert

“$20,000,000”.

Page 1518, after line 9, insert the following \(and

redesignate the subsequent subparagraphs accordingly\):

\(B\) $20,000,000 shall be to support the United States

Center for Maritime Innovation under section 50307\(e\) of

title 46, United States Code;

Strike section 3522 and insert the following:

SEC. 3522. FEDERAL SHIP FINANCING PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

\(a\) Section 53701 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(3\), by inserting “retrofitting,

reconfiguration, or similar work, as well as” after

“include”;

\(2\) by redesignating paragraphs \(5\), \(6\), and \(7\) as

paragraphs \(7\), \(8\), and \(10\) respectively and redesignating

paragraphs \(8\) through \(15\) as paragraphs \(12\) through \(19\)

respectively;

\(3\) by inserting after paragraph \(4\) the following:

“\(5\) Eligible export vessel.—The term \`eligible export

vessel' means a vessel that—

“\(A\) is constructed, reconstructed, or reconditioned in

the United States for use in world-wide trade; and

“\(B\) will, on delivery or redelivery, become or remain

documented under the laws of a country other than the United

States.

“\(6\) Fishing.—The term \`fishing' has the meaning given

such term in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act \(16 U.S.C. 1802\).”;

\(4\) by inserting after paragraph \(8\), as redesignated by

paragraph \(2\), the following new paragraph:

“\(9\) General shipyard facility.—The term \`general

shipyard facility' means—

“\(A\) for operations on land—

“\(i\) a structure or appurtenance thereto designed for the

construction, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation, or

refurbishment of a vessel, including a graving dock, building

way, ship lift, wharf, or pier crane;

“\(ii\) the land necessary for the structure or

appurtenance; and

“\(iii\) equipment that is for use with the structure or

appurtenance and that is necessary for performing a function

referred to in clause \(i\); and

“\(B\) for operations not on land, a vessel, floating

drydock, or barge built in the United States and used for,

equipped to be used for, or of a type normally used for,

performing a function referred to in subparagraph \(A\)\(i\).”;

and

\(5\) by inserting after paragraph \(10\), as redesignated by

paragraph \(2\), the following new paragraph:

“\(11\) Modern shipbuilding technology.—The term \`modern

shipbuilding technology' means the best available proven

technology, techniques, and processes appropriate to

enhancing the productivity of shipyards, including

engineering design, quality assurance, concurrent

engineering, continuous process production technology, energy

efficiency, waste minimization, design for recyclability or

parts reuse, inventory management, upgraded worker skills,

and communications with customers and suppliers.”; and

\(6\) in paragraph \(15\), as so redesignated, by inserting

“used”" before “fishing vessels”.

\(b\) Section 53702\(b\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in the subsection heading by striking “Direct Loans

for Fisheries” and inserting “Direct Loans”;

\(2\) in paragraph \(1\) by inserting “used” before “fishing

vessel”; and

\(3\) in paragraph \(4\) by striking “the purpose of” and all

that follows through “financing the purchase” and inserting

“the purpose of financing the purchase”.

\(c\) Section 53703 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) in paragraph \(1\), by striking “signed application”

and inserting “completed application”;

\(B\) by striking paragraph \(2\) and inserting the following:

“\(2\) Additional information.—

“\(A\) The Secretary or the Administrator may—

“\(i\) request from an applicant additional information

required to complete the review of an application; and

“\(ii\) establish a deadline for the applicant to provide

such information.

“\(B\) If the applicant does not respond to the request for

additional information, the Secretary or Administrator may—

“\(i\) notify the applicant that processing of the

application will be suspended until the additional

information is received; and

“\(ii\) toll the time for the decision.”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(c\), by amending paragraph \(1\)\(D\) to read

as follows:

“\(D\) recommend financial covenants or financial ratios to

be met by the applicant during the time a guarantee under

this chapter is outstanding that are—

“\(i\) based on the financial covenants or financial ratios

that are then applicable to the obligor under private sector

credit agreements, if any; or

“\(ii\) in lieu of other financial covenants appropriate to

the obligor under this chapter when evaluating the risks of

the project for compliance with the requirements of section

53708 of this title; and”.

\(d\) Section 53704 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\), by striking the second sentence and

inserting the following: “Of that amount

“\(1\) $850,000,000 shall be limited to obligations by the

Secretary related to fishing facilities and used vessels; and

“\(2\) $3,000,000,000 shall be limited to obligations

related to eligible export vessels.”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(c\)\(4\)—

\(A\) in subparagraph \(I\) by striking “; and” and inserting

a semicolon;

\(B\) in subparagraph \(J\) by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

\(C\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(K\) if applicable, the country risk for each eligible

export vessel financed or to be financed by an obligation.”.

\(e\) Section 53706\(a\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(1\)\(A\)—

\(A\) by striking “Financing \(including reimbursement of an

obligor for expenditures previously made for\) the

construction, reconstruction, or reconditioning, of a

vessel” and inserting “Financing, including reimbursement

of an obligor for expenditures previously made for, the

construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, or purchase of

a vessel \(including an eligible export vessel\)”;

\(B\) in clause \(iv\) by striking the last “or”;

\(C\) in clause \(v\) by striking the period; and

\(D\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(vi\) as an eligible export vessel in worldwide trade; or

“\(vii\) in the fishing industry or seafood related

trade.”; and

\(2\) by striking paragraph \(8\).

\(f\) Section 53707 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(b\) by striking “construction,

reconstruction, or reconditioning” and inserting

“construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, or

purchase”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(c\) by inserting “or Administrator”

after “Secretary”.

\(g\) Section 53708 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(c\)—

\(A\) in the subsection heading—

\(i\) by striking “Fishing”; and

\(ii\) by inserting “Fishing” before “Facilities”; and

\(B\) by amending paragraph \(1\) to read as follows:

“\(1\) in the case of a used vessel, reconstructed or

reconditioned in the United States and will contribute to the

development of the United States commercial shipbuilding or

fishing industries; or”; and

\(2\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(f\) Limitation.—The Administrator may not guarantee or

make a commitment to guarantee an obligation under this

chapter if the Secretary determines such guarantee or

commitment is inconsistent with the wise use of the fisheries

resources and the development, advancement, management,

conservation, and protection of the fisheries resources

consistent with the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act \(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.\).”.

\(h\) Section 53709 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) by amending subsection \(b\) to read as follows:

“\(b\) Limitation on Amount Borrowed.—Except as otherwise

provided, the principal amount of an obligation guaranteed

under this chapter may not exceed 87.5 percent of the actual

cost or depreciated actual cost, as determined by the

Secretary or Administrator, of the vessel used as security

for the guarantee.”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(e\) by inserting “or Administrator”

after “Secretary”.

\(i\) Section 53107\(a\)\(4\)\(A\) of title 46, United States Code,

is amended by inserting “or, in the case of an eligible

export vessel, of the appropriate foreign authorities under a

treaty, convention, or other international agreement to which

the United States is a party” after “Coast Guard”.

\(j\) Section 53714\(b\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

“\(6\) Fees in excess of the cost of a project.—For

projects where the minimum percentage rate calculated under

paragraph \(5\) exceeds the cost of a project required by

section 53704\(c\) of this title and section 502 of the Federal

Credit Reform Act of 1990 \(2 U.S.C. 661a\) such minimum

percentage rate may be reduced to not exceed the cost of the

project.”.

\(k\) Section 53715 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)\(1\)\(B\), by deleting “75 percent or

87.5 percent, whichever is applicable under section 53709\(b\)

of this title,” and inserting “the percent applicable under

section 53709\(b\)”; and

\(2\) in subsection \(e\)\(1\)\(A\)\(ii\), by deleting “75 percent

or 87.5 percent, whichever is applicable under section

53709\(b\) of this title,” and inserting “the percent

applicable under section 53709\(b\)”.

\(l\) Section 53723 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\) by striking “shall be paid in

cash.” and inserting the following: “shall be—

“\(1\) paid in cash; and

“\(2\) include any applicable principal, interest,

capitalized interest, premium, and late charges, if the

obligation is held by the Federal Financing Bank.”;

\(2\) by redesignating subsections \(b\) through \(d\) as

subsections \(c\) through \(e\), respectively; and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(a\) the following:

“\(b\) Subrogation.—If the Secretary or the Administrator

makes a payment under this section, the Secretary or the

Administrator shall be subrogated to the rights of the

recipient of the payment as specified in the guarantee or

related agreements.”.

\(m\) Section 53733 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) by striking subsection \(a\) and redesignating

subsections \(b\) through \(e\) as subsections \(a\) through \(d\),

respectively;

\(2\) in subsection \(a\), as so redesignated,—

\(A\) by striking “advanced shipbuilding technology and

modern shipbuilding technology” and inserting “shipyard

capital improvements, including infrastructure and modern

shipbuilding technology,”; and

\(B\) by striking “Only a private shipyard is eligible to

receive a guarantee” and inserting “To be eligible to

receive a guarantee the obligor must have the authority to

modify the general shipyard facility”;

\(3\) in subsection \(c\), as so redesignated, by striking

“advanced shipbuilding technology” and inserting “shipyard

capital improvements, infrastructure,”; and

\(4\) by inserting the following new subsection \(e\):

“\(e\) Made in America.—The Administrator must exclude

foreign components from a project eligible for a guarantee

under this section, unless the Administrator grants a waiver

based on non-availability of such foreign components due to

timely availability, sufficient quality, or price competitive

basis.”; and

\(5\) by striking subsection \(f\).

\(n\) Section 53734 of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)\(1\) by inserting “fishing, or other

seafood related,” before “coastwise, intercoastal, or

foreign trade”;

\(2\) in subsection \(b\)\(2\) by striking “construction or

reconstruction of the vessel” and inserting “construction

or refinancing and reconstruction of the vessel”; and

\(3\) by adding at the end the following:

“\(f\) Applicability.—Guarantees made under subsection \(a\)

for the construction or refinancing and reconstruction of a

vessel designed and to be used in fishing or seafood related

trade or an eligible export vessel shall be made only with

funds, including funds for the cost of guaranteed loans,

appropriated on or after the date of enactment of the

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.”.

\(o\) Eligibility.—Notwithstanding any requirements that

such vessel be reconstructed, reconditioned, or repaired to

qualify for a guarantee of an obligation, for a period of 2

years after the date of enactment of this Act, a fishing

vessel greater than 79 feet overall in length built and

documented after January 1, 2021, shall be eligible for a

guarantee of an obligation from the Administrator under

chapter 537 of title 46, United States Code.

\(p\) Savings Clause.—Nothing in this section, or the

amendments made by this section, shall limit the authority of

the Secretary of Commerce to provide direct loan obligations

authorized by section 211\(e\) of the American Fisheries Act

\(Public Law 105-277\).

\(q\) Repeal in National Defense Authorization Act.—Sections

3506\(i\)\(2\) and 3506\(1\)\(2\) of the National Defense

Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2020 \(Public Law 116-92\) are

repealed, and the provisions of law that were repealed or

amended by these sections are reenacted and amended,

respectively, to read as if such sections were not enacted.

Page 1546, line 12, insert “\(a\) In General.—” before

“Section”.

Page 1548, after line 7, insert the following:

\(b\) Technical Amendment.—The chapter heading for chapter

541 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking

“MISCELLANEOUS” and inserting “SMALL SHIPYARD GRANT

PROGRAM”.

Page 1548, line 10, insert “\(a\) In General.—” before

“Section”.

Page 1550, after line 5, insert the following:

\(b\) Chapter 504.—Chapter 504 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended by inserting before section 50402 the

following:

“Sec. 50401. Maritime workforce advisory committee

“\(a\) Establishment.—There is established a National

Maritime Workforce Advisory Committee \(in this section

referred to as the \`Committee'\).

“\(b\) Function.—The Committee shall advise the Secretary

of Transportation on matters relating to the skills,

training, and numbers of workers necessary to maintain the

United States maritime industrial base workforce, including

the merchant marine, shipyards, and associated activities.

“\(c\) Membership.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Committee shall consist of not more

than 25 members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with

this section and section 15109.

“\(2\) Expertise.—Each member of the Committee shall have

particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters

relating to the function of the Committee.

“\(3\) Representation.—At least 1 member of the Committee

shall represent 1 of the following:

“\(A\) Ocean Common Carriers.

“\(B\) State maritime academies.

“\(C\) Centers of excellence designated under section 54101.

“\(D\) Unlicensed merchant mariner labor unions.

“\(E\) Licensed merchant mariner labor unions.

“\(F\) Shipyard labor unions.

“\(G\) Shipyards.

“\(H\) Vessel design and construction entities.

“\(I\) Post-secondary education vocational training.

“\(J\) Secondary education vocational training.

“\(K\) Offshore energy production.

“\(L\) Offshore support.

“\(4\) Administration.—For purposes of section 15109—

“\(A\) the Committee shall be treated as a committee

established under chapter 151; and

“\(B\) the Secretary of Transportation shall fulfill all

duties and responsibilities and have all authorities of the

Secretary of Homeland Security with regard to the

Committee.”.

Strike section 3529 and insert the following:

SEC. 3529. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS.

The analysis for chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code,

is amended to read as follows:

“CHAPTER 3—COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION

“subchapter i-organization

- “Sec.
- “301. Grades and ratings.

“subchapter ii-positions

“302. Commandant; appointment. “303. Vice Commandant; appointment. “304. Retirement of Commandant or Vice Commandant. “305. Vice admirals. “306. Retirement. “307. Vice admirals and admiral, continuity of grade. “308. Chief Acquisition Officer. “309. Office of the Coast Guard Reserve; Director. “310. Director of Coast Guard Investigative Service. “311. United States Coast Guard Band; composition; Director. “312. Western Alaska Oil Spill Planning Criteria Program. “313. Chief of Staff to President: appointment. “314. Captains of the port. “315. Congressional affairs; Director. “316. Commandant Advisory Judge Advocate. “317. Special Advisor to Commandant for Tribal and Native Hawaiian

affairs. “318. Judge Advocate General; Deputy Judge Advocate General:

appointment; duties.

“subchapter iii-programs

“331. Centers of expertise for Coast Guard prevention and response. “332. Marine industry training program. “333. Training courses on workings of Congress. “334. National Coast Guard Museum. “335. Environmental Compliance and Restoration Program. “336. Unmanned system program and autonomous control and computer

- vision technology project.
- “337. Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
- “338. Redistricting notification requirement.
- “339. Prevention and response workforces.”.

Page 1556, after line 15, insert the following:

SEC. 3532. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD CORROSION CONTROL

ASSISTANCE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM.

\(a\) Establishment of Pilot Program.—

\(1\) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard,

acting through the Assistant Commandant for Acquisition,

shall establish and carry out a pilot program, to be known as

the “United States Coast Guard Corrosion Control Assistance

Team Pilot Program”, to provide corrosion prevention and

control assistance to Coast Guard field units.

\(2\) Authorities.—In carrying out the pilot program

established under paragraph \(1\), the Commandant shall—

\(A\) provide on-site corrosion prevention and control

technical advisory services and direct assistance to Coast

Guard field units upon request;

\(B\) develop and maintain a repository of corrosion

prevention and control best practices and lessons learned

applicable to Coast Guard maritime assets;

\(C\) assess corrosion conditions and recommend corrective

and preventive maintenance actions at Coast Guard units;

\(D\) support training and education of Coast Guard personnel

in corrosion prevention and control techniques; and

\(E\) collect data and metrics necessary to assess the

effectiveness of the pilot program and inform future

programmatic decisions.

\(3\) Pilot program objectives.—In carrying out the pilot

program established under paragraph \(1\), the Commandant shall

specifically seek to—

\(A\) demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of a

Coast Guard-specific corrosion control assistance capability;

\(B\) apply lessons learned from the Navy's Corrosion Control

Assistance Team program and other Department of Defense

corrosion programs to the unique operational environment of

the Coast Guard;

\(C\) quantify the impact of corrosion prevention and control

interventions on Coast Guard asset readiness and service

life; and

\(D\) develop recommendations related Coast Guard anti-

corrosion prevention and control initiatives.

\(b\) Activities.—In carrying out the pilot program

established under subsection \(a\), the Commandant may—

\(1\) procure equipment, tools, and materials necessary for

corrosion assessment and control activities;

\(2\) train program personnel;

\(3\) contract with non-Federal entities for technical

expertise and advisory services; and

\(4\) develop data systems and information management tools

to support program operations.

\(c\) Organization and Staffing.—

\(1\) Corrosion control assistance teams.—

\(A\) In general.—In carrying out the pilot program

established under subsection \(a\), the Commandant shall

establish not fewer than 2 Corrosion Control Assistance Teams

consisting of qualified corrosion prevention and control

specialists.

\(B\) Team composition.—Each Corrosion Control Assistance

Team shall consist of personnel with technical expertise in—

\(i\) marine coatings and surface preparation;

\(ii\) cathodic protection systems;

\(iii\) coatings and corrosion control training;

\(iv\) corrosion control of C5I \(Command and Control,

Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, and Intelligence\)

systems;

\(v\) corrosion engineering and failure analysis; and

\(vi\) preventive maintenance program development.

\(C\) Qualifications.—

\(i\) In general.—Members of the Corrosion Control

Assistance Team shall possess relevant technical

certifications, including corrosion control credentials from

AMPP \(including certified Coating Inspectors, Protective

Coatings Specialists, Cathodic Protection Specialists, and

Corrosion Specialists\) and commensurate demonstrated

expertise, as determined by the Commandant.

\(ii\) Accreditation.—Firms performing the work should be

AMPP QP 5 Accredited.

\(2\) Contracts.—In establishing and staffing the pilot

program, the Commandant may contract with private sector

entities possessing relevant technical expertise.

\(d\) Reporting Requirements.—

\(1\) Interim report.—Not later than 18 months after the

date on which the pilot program commences operations, the

Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of

Representatives an interim report on the pilot program that

includes—

\(A\) a summary of field unit visits conducted and services

provided;

\(B\) preliminary data on the impact of program activities on

asset readiness and maintenance costs; and

\(C\) any significant challenges encountered in program

implementation and proposed corrective actions.

\(2\) Final report.—Not later than 90 days before the date

on which the pilot program is scheduled to terminate under

subsection \(e\), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the

House of Representatives a final report on the pilot program

that includes—

\(A\) a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the

pilot program in achieving the objectives described in

subsection \(c\)\(3\);

\(B\) quantified metrics on improvements in asset service

life and operational readiness attributable to pilot program

activities;

\(C\) lessons learned from the pilot program;

\(D\) a detailed assessment of the feasibility and projected

cost of a permanent, full-scale Coast Guard corrosion

prevention and control program; and

\(E\) a recommendation from the Commandant on whether to

establish such a permanent program, and if so, a proposed

program structure, staffing plan, and funding requirements.

\(3\) Publication.—The Commandant shall make each report

required under this subsection publicly available on a

publicly accessible website of the Coast Guard.

\(e\) Duration of Pilot Program.—

\(1\) In general.—The pilot program shall terminate on the

date that is 3 years after the date on which the pilot

program commences operations.

\(2\) Extension.—The Commandant may extend the pilot program

for a period of not more than 2 additional years if the

Commandant determines, and notifies the committees specified

in subsection \(d\) not later than 180 days before the

termination date, that—

\(A\) the pilot program has demonstrated sufficient

effectiveness to warrant continuation; and

\(B\) additional time is needed to collect data necessary to

make a final determination on the establishment of a

permanent program.

\(f\) Coast Guard-Specific Adaptations.—

\(1\) In general.—In carrying out the pilot program, the

Commandant shall, where appropriate, develop Coast Guard-

specific adaptations of Department of Defense corrosion

prevention and control standards and processes.

\(2\) Adoption of navy ccat procedures and standards.—The

Commandant shall specifically seek to, wherever practicable,

adopt Navy Corrosion Control Assistance Team operational

procedures and technical standards that are applicable to

Coast Guard assets.

\(g\) Implementation Plan.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the

Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

of the House of Representatives an implementation plan for

the pilot program that includes—

\(1\) identification of the Coast Guard districts or units to

be served during the initial phase of the pilot program;

\(2\) a proposed schedule for commencing pilot program

operations; and

\(3\) a framework for measuring and reporting pilot program

outcomes, including specific performance metrics.

SEC. 3533. DOMESTIC PROCUREMENT OF COAST GUARD BUOY, ANCHOR

AND MOORING CHAIN.

Section 1154 of title 14, United States Code, is amended to

read as follows:

“Sec. 1154. Procurement of buoy, anchor, and mooring chain

“\(a\) In General.—Except as provided in subsection \(b\),

the Secretary may not procure buoy, anchor, or mooring chain

for use on United States Coast Guard cutters, vessels, or

shore facilities—

“\(1\) that is not manufactured in the United States; or

“\(2\) substantially all of the components of which are not

produced or manufactured in the United States.

“\(b\) Exception and Notice.—

“\(1\) Exception.—The Secretary may procure buoy, anchor,

or mooring chain that is not manufactured in the United

States if the Secretary determines that—

“\(A\) the price of buoy, anchor, or mooring chain

manufactured in the United States is unreasonable;

“\(B\) a sufficient quantity of satisfactory quality buoy,

anchor, or mooring chain which the requirement in subsection

\(a\) applies is not available;

“\(C\) application of the requirement in subsection \(a\)

would be inconsistent with the public interest or national

security; or

“\(D\) emergency circumstances exist.

“\(2\) Notice.—Not later than 30 days after making a

procurement under the exception under this subsection, the

Secretary shall notify the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure of the House of the Representatives and the

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the

Senate of the procurement and basis for the procurement.”.

At the end of title XXXV, add the following:

Subtitle D—Maritime Workforce and Education

SEC. 35\_\_. COMMERCIAL SHIPBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

Section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

“Sec. 54101. Commercial shipbuilding infrastructure program

“\(a\) Establishment.—

“\(1\) In general.—Subject to the availability of

appropriations, the Maritime Administrator shall carry out a

program to provide financial assistance to shipyards for the

purposes described in subsection \(c\).

“\(2\) Goal.—The goal of the program shall be to fund

eligible projects that will foster technical skills and

operational productivity relating to shipbuilding, ship

repair, and associated industries.

“\(b\) Grant Authority.—

“\(1\) In general.—In carrying out the program, the

Maritime Administrator shall make grants to eligible

applicants, on a competitive basis, in accordance with this

section.

“\(2\) Administrative costs.—Not more than 2 percent of

amounts made available to carry out the program authorized by

this section may be used for necessary costs of

administration of the program authorized by this section.

“\(3\) Availability.—

“\(A\) In general.—Amounts appropriated to make grants for

shipyards under this section shall remain available until

expended.

“\(B\) Reuse of unexpended grant funds.—Amounts awarded as

a grant under this section that are not expended by the

grantee during the 5-year period following the date of the

award or that are returned shall remain available to the

Maritime Administrator for use for grants under this section

in a subsequent fiscal year.

“\(4\) Awards.—In providing assistance under this section,

the Maritime Administrator shall not select an applicant for

more than one award for the same fiscal year.

“\(5\) Amount.—For grants other than those awarded under

subsection \(i\), the minimum award size shall be $30,000,000.

“\(6\) Prohibited uses.—A maritime training center that has

received funds awarded under section 51706 of title 46,

United States Code, shall not be eligible for grants under

this section for training purposes in the same fiscal year.

“\(c\) Eligible Projects.—Assistance provided under this

section may be used to—

“\(1\) make capital and related improvements to shipyards

owned or operated by eligible applicants; and

“\(2\) provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship

repair, and associated industries.

“\(d\) Eligible Applicants.—To be eligible for financial

assistance pursuant to this section, an applicant shall—

“\(1\) have authority as owner or operator of the shipyard

facility to carry out the proposed project as required by

subsection \(j\); and

“\(2\) be the owner or operator of a shipyard facility in a

single geographic location in the United States that—

“\(A\) constructs, repairs, or reconfigures vessels 40 feet

in length or more for commercial or government use; or

“\(B\) constructs, repairs, or reconfigures vessels 100 feet

in length or more for noncommercial vessels.

“\(e\) Buy America.—

“\(1\) In general.—Subject to paragraph \(2\), the Maritime

Administrator shall not obligate funds under this section,

unless each product and material purchased with those funds

\(including products and materials purchased by a grantee\),

and including any commercially available off-the-shelf item,

is—

“\(A\) an unmanufactured article, material, or supply that

has been mined or produced in the United States; or

“\(B\) a manufactured article, material, or supply that has

been manufactured in the United States substantially all from

articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or

manufactured in the United States.

“\(2\) Exceptions.—

“\(A\) In general.—Notwithstanding paragraph \(1\), the

requirements of that paragraph shall not apply with respect

to a particular product or material if the Administrator

determines—

“\(i\) that the application of those requirements would be

inconsistent with the public interest;

“\(ii\) that such product or material is not available in

the United States in sufficient and reasonably available

quantities, of a satisfactory quality, or on a timely basis;

or

“\(iii\) that inclusion of a domestic product or material

will increase the cost of that product or material by more

than 25 percent, with respect to a certain contract between a

grantee and that grantee's supplier.

“\(B\) Federal register.—A determination made by the

Administrator under this subparagraph shall be published in

the Federal Register.

“\(3\) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“\(A\) Commercially available off-the-shelf item.—The term

\`commercially available off-the-shelf item' means—

“\(i\) any item of supply \(including construction material\)

that is—

“\(I\) a commercial product, as defined by section 2.101 of

title 48, Code of Federal Regulations \(as in effect on the

date of the enactment of this Act\); and

“\(II\) sold in substantial quantities in the commercial

marketplace; and

“\(ii\) does not include bulk cargo, as defined in section

40102\(4\) of this title, such as agricultural products and

petroleum products.

“\(B\) Product or material.—The term \`product or material'

means an article, material, or supply brought to the site by

the recipient for incorporation into the building, work, or

project. The term also includes an item brought to the site

preassembled from articles, materials, or supplies. However,

emergency life safety systems, such as emergency lighting,

fire alarm, and audio evacuation systems, that are discrete

systems incorporated into a public building or work and that

are produced as complete systems, are evaluated as a single

and distinct construction material regardless of when or how

the individual parts or components of those systems are

delivered to the construction site.

“\(C\) United states.—The term \`United States' includes the

District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the

Virgin Islands.

“\(f\) Solicitation and Application.—

“\(1\) Notice of funding opportunity.—Not later than 45

days after the date on which funds are made available to

carry out the program, the Secretary shall publish a notice

of funding opportunity for the funds.

“\(2\) Applications.—

“\(A\) In general.—To be eligible to receive a grant under

this section, an applicant shall submit to the Maritime

Administrator an application in such form and containing such

information and assurances as the Maritime Administrator

considers to be appropriate.

“\(B\) Contents.—Such an application shall include, at

minimum, a comprehensive description of—

“\(i\) the need for the project;

“\(ii\) the methodology for implementing the project; and

“\(iii\) any existing programs or arrangements that can be

used to supplement or leverage assistance under the program.

“\(3\) Timing of applications.—To be eligible to receive

assistance under this section, an applicant must submit an

application by such date as the Maritime Administrator may

establish.

“\(g\) Primary Selection Criteria.—In awarding grants under

the program, the Maritime Administrator shall evaluate the

extent to which a project fosters—

“\(1\) efficiency, competitive operations, quality ship

construction, repair, and reconfiguration, and improves

capacity at the shipyard \(for capital improvement projects\);

“\(2\) employee skills and enhanced productivity related to

shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries \(for

maritime training program projects\); and

“\(3\) improved capacity at the shipyard \(for projects other

than those under subsection \(i\)\).

“\(h\) Additional Considerations.—In selecting projects to

receive grants under the program, the Maritime Administrator

shall give substantial weight to—

“\(1\) the extent to which the project improves safety;

“\(2\) the utilization of non-Federal contributions;

“\(3\) the utilization of nontraditional financing,

innovative design and construction techniques, or innovative

technologies;

“\(4\) the extent to which the project supports critical

shipbuilding and ship repair infrastructure as determined by

the Maritime Administrator; and

“\(5\) contributions to geographic diversity among grant

recipients.

“\(i\) Assistance to Small Shipyards.—

“\(1\) Allocation of funds.—The Maritime Administrator

shall reserve not less than 25 percent of the amounts made

available for grants under this section each fiscal year to

make grants to eligible applicants for eligible projects at

shipyard facilities that have 1,200 production employees or

fewer in one geographic location.

“\(2\) Limitations.—

“\(A\) In general.—Grants awarded under this subsection may

not be used to construct buildings or other physical

facilities or to acquire land.

“\(B\) Limitation.—Not more than 25 percent of the funds

available under this subsection may be awarded to any small

shipyard in one geographic location that has more than 600

production employees.

“\(3\) Production employees.—In this section, production

employees include eligible applicant employees directly

engaged in repair, construction, or reconstruction of vessels

and does not include—

“\(A\) employees primarily engaged in administration,

engineering, or support functions; or

“\(B\) contractors of any kind.

“\(j\) Conditions on Provision of Assistance.—The Maritime

Administrator may not award a grant under this section unless

the Maritime Administrator determines that—

“\(1\) sufficient funding is available to meet the matching

requirements of subsection \(l\);

“\(2\) the project will be completed without unreasonable

delay; and

“\(3\) the recipient has authority to carry out the proposed

project.

“\(k\) Awards.—

“\(1\) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph \(2\),

not later than 270 days after the date on which amounts are

made available to provide grants under the program for a

fiscal year, the Maritime Administrator shall announce the

selection of awards of eligible projects to receive grants in

accordance with this section.

“\(2\) Announcement.—For projects selected under subsection

\(i\), the Maritime Administrator shall announce the selection

of awards of eligible projects not later than 150 days after

the date on which amounts are made available to provide

grants under the program for a fiscal year, in accordance

with this section.

“\(l\) Federal Share.—The Federal share of the cost of an

eligible project carried out using a grant provided under the

program shall not exceed 75 percent.

“\(m\) Technical Assistance.—

“\(1\) In general.—On request of an eligible applicant that

submitted an application for a project that is not selected

to receive a grant under the program, the Maritime

Administrator shall provide to the eligible applicant

technical assistance and briefings relating to the project.

“\(2\) Treatment.—Technical assistance provided under this

paragraph shall not be considered a guarantee of future

selection of the applicable project under the program.

“\(n\) Audits and Examinations.—All grantees under this

section shall maintain such records as the Maritime

Administrator may require and make such records available for

review and audit by the Maritime Administrator.

“\(o\) Procedural Safeguards.—The Maritime Administrator,

in consultation with the Office of the Inspector General,

shall issue guidelines to establish appropriate accounting,

reporting, and review procedures to ensure that—

“\(1\) grant funds are used for the purposes for which they

were made available;

“\(2\) grantees have properly accounted for all expenditures

of grant funds; and

“\(3\) grant funds not used for such purposes and amounts

not obligated or expended are returned.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. DESIGNATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR DOMESTIC

MARITIME WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

Section 51706\(c\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended—

\(1\) in paragraph \(1\)\(A\)—

\(A\) by inserting “or territory of the United States”

after “State”; and

\(B\) in clause \(i\), by striking “Gulf of Mexico” and

inserting “Gulf of America”;

\(2\) in paragraph \(1\)\(B\)—

\(A\) in clause \(iii\), by inserting “or” at the end;

\(B\) in clause \(iv\), by striking “or” at the end; and

\(C\) by striking clause \(v\);

\(3\) by striking paragraph \(2\); and

\(4\) by redesignating paragraphs \(3\) through \(6\) as

paragraphs \(2\) through \(5\), respectively.

SEC. 35\_\_. CIVILIAN MARINER EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

PAYMENTS.

\(a\) Mariner Education and Development Payments.—Chapter

515 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following new section:

“Sec. 51512. Mariner education development payments

“\(a\) In General.—If a State maritime academy has an

agreement with the Secretary of Transportation under section

51505 of this title, the Secretary may make an agreement with

a student at the academy who is a citizen of the United

States to make mariner education development payments to the

State Maritime Academy on behalf of the individual.

“\(b\) Payments.—

“\(1\) In general.—Payments under an agreement under this

section shall be—

“\(A\) based on the in-state annual cost of in-state

tuition, on-campus room and board, fees, books, and uniforms

at the State maritime academy the individual is attending;

“\(B\) paid in amounts as determined by the Secretary;

“\(C\) paid in such installments as the Secretary shall

determine while the individual is attending the academy; and

“\(D\) allocated among the State maritime academies as

prescribed by the Secretary.

“\(2\) Authorized uses.—The payments shall be used for the

cost of tuition, room and board, fees, books, and uniforms at

the academy.

“\(c\) Agreement Requirements.—An agreement under this

section—

“\(1\) may provide for payments for the cost of tuition,

room and board, fees, books, and uniforms for not more than 4

academic years; and

“\(2\) shall require the individual to—

“\(A\) complete the course of instruction at the academy the

individual is attending within 6 years of the date of

enrollment;

“\(B\) obtain a merchant mariner credential, without

limitation as to tonnage or horsepower, from the Coast Guard

as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States,

accompanied by the appropriate national and international

endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard

for service aboard vessels on domestic and international

voyages, without limitation, within 3 months of completion of

the course of instruction at the academy the individual is

attending;

“\(C\) for at least 6 years after graduation from the

academy, maintain—

“\(i\) a valid merchant mariner credential, unlimited as to

horsepower or tonnage, issued by the Coast Guard as an

officer in the merchant marine of the United States,

accompanied by the appropriate national and international

endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard

for service aboard vessels on domestic and international

voyages, without limitation;

“\(ii\) a valid transportation worker identification

credential; and

“\(iii\) a Coast Guard medical certificate;

“\(D\) apply for, and accept if tendered, a position

commensurate with the obtained merchant mariner credential,

for a period of not less than 1 year but not more than 5

years, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation based

on the amount of payments provided under this section, as—

“\(i\) a civil service mariner aboard a vessel owned and

operated by the Military Sealift Command, National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration, United States Coast Guard,

United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other Federal

agency;

“\(ii\) a merchant marine officer aboard a Federal vessel

owned by the Military Sealift Command or the Maritime

Administration, if the Secretary determines that employment

under clause \(i\) is not available to the individual;

“\(iii\) a merchant marine officer on a vessel owned and

operated by the United States Federal Government or by a

State government of the United States if the Secretary

determines that employment under clauses \(i\) and \(ii\) is not

available to the individual;

“\(iv\) a merchant marine officer on a U.S.-documented

commercial oceangoing vessel if

the Secretary determines that employment under clauses \(i\),

\(ii\), and \(iii\) is not available to the individual;

“\(v\) a merchant marine officer on a U.S.-documented

commercial vessel that is not an oceangoing vessel if the

Secretary determines that employment under clauses \(i\)

through \(iv\) is not available to the individual;

“\(vi\) an employee in a United States maritime-related

industry, profession, or marine science \(as determined by the

Secretary\), if the Secretary determines that service under

clauses \(i\) through \(v\) is not available to the individual;

or

“\(vii\) a merchant marine officer on a foreign-documented

commercial oceangoing vessel that employs mariners through a

U.S.-based labor union, if the Secretary determines that

employment under clauses \(i\) through \(vi\) is not available to

the individual or in the best interests of the United States;

and

“\(E\) report to the State maritime academy of graduation,

or to the Secretary if directed, on compliance with

subparagraphs \(A\) through \(D\) of this subsection.

“\(d\) Failure to Complete Agreement Requirements.—If the

individual is unable or unwilling to meet the agreement

requirements under subsection \(c\), the Secretary of

Transportation may recover from the individual the amount

paid under the commitment agreement, plus interest and

attorney fees. The Secretary may reduce the amount to be

recovered based on factors the Secretary determines merit a

reduction.

“\(e\) Actions to Recover Cost.—To aid in the recovery of

the amount paid by the Government under a commitment

agreement under this section, the Secretary of Transportation

may—

“\(1\) request the Attorney General to bring a civil action

against the individual; and

“\(2\) make use of the Federal debt collection procedures in

chapter 176 of title 28 or other applicable administrative

remedies.

“\(f\) Modification or Waiver.—The Secretary may waive any

of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection \(c\) or

modify such terms and conditions through the imposition of

alternative service requirements.

“\(g\) Eligibility for Additional Payments.—An individual

who receives a payment pursuant to this section shall not be

eligible for payments under section 51708 of this title until

the individual has fulfilled the obligated years of service

under subsection \(c\)\(2\)\(D\) of this section.

“\(h\) Funding Availability.—Not to exceed 10 percent of

the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for payments

authorized under this section may be transferred or

reprogrammed and made available for the purpose of making

payments authorized under sections 51509, 51513, and 51708,

as determined by the Secretary.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. MARITIME SERVICE EMPLOYMENT REIMBURSEMENT.

Chapter 517 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 51708. Maritime service employment reimbursement

“\(a\) In General.—The Secretary of Transportation may make

an agreement with a maritime center of excellence to make

payments to the maritime center of excellence for the cost of

reimbursing an individual for costs incurred to obtain,

renew, or upgrade a merchant mariner credential or other

credentials required for working ashore in the maritime

industry.

“\(b\) Eligible Individual.—To receive assistance under

this section, an individual must be a United States citizen.

“\(c\) Covered Costs.—Costs that are eligible for

reimbursement under this section are costs incurred directly

by an eligible individual to obtain, renew, or upgrade a

merchant mariner credential or credentials required for

working ashore in the maritime industry, including—

“\(1\) training tuition and fees;

“\(2\) credentialing fees;

“\(3\) medical screening and examination fees; and

“\(4\) other fees as determined by the Secretary.

“\(d\) Payments.—Subject to subsection \(e\), the Secretary

of Transportation may provide payments to a maritime center

of excellence for—

“\(1\) reimbursements provided by the maritime center of

excellence to an eligible individual for covered costs

incurred by the individual at the maritime center of

excellence;

“\(2\) the costs of canceling or waiving payments on loans

issued by the maritime center of excellence to an eligible

individual, including interest on the loan of up to 5 percent

per annum; or

“\(3\) other payments as determined by the Secretary.

“\(e\) Authorized Uses.—Payments under subsection \(d\) may

be used for covered costs incurred by an eligible individual

who—

“\(1\) incurred the covered costs at the maritime center of

excellence; and

“\(2\) has completed—

“\(A\) 150 sea service days on a U.S.-flag vessel of greater

than 10,0000 gross register tons within 2 years of completing

the course of instruction; or

“\(B\) 1 year of shoreside employment at a maritime facility

that directly supports the construction, repair, or

maintenance of U.S. vessels, as determined by the Secretary.

“\(f\) Prohibited Uses.—Funds provided to a maritime center

of excellence pursuant to this section may not be used to

reimburse an eligible individual—

“\(1\) if the individual has already received reimbursements

for the covered costs from an entity other than the maritime

center of excellence;

“\(2\) if an entity other than the maritime center of

excellence has paid for covered costs or provided training at

no cost to the individual;

“\(3\) if the individual incurs covered costs associated

with a degree program at a State maritime academy as defined

in section 51501 of this title;

“\(4\) if the individual is a participant in a program under

sections 51509, 51512, or 51513 of this title; or

“\(5\) for any expenses that exceed $10,000 per calendar

year.

“\(g\) Administrative Expenses.—

“\(1\) In general.—A maritime center of excellence may

retain not more than 3 percent of the annual funding provided

by the Secretary to the maritime center of excellence under

this section for administrative expenses incurred in

providing reimbursements or payments under this section.

“\(2\) Administrative and oversight costs.—The Secretary

may retain not more than 2 percent of the amounts

appropriated for each fiscal year to make payments under this

section for the administrative and oversight costs incurred

by the Secretary in implementing this section.

“\(h\) Funding Availability.—Not to exceed 10 percent of

the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for payments

authorized under this section may be transferred or

reprogrammed and made available for the purpose of making

payments authorized under sections 51509, 51512, and 51513,

as determined by the Secretary.

“\(i\) Maritime Center of Excellence Defined.—In this

section, the term \`maritime center of excellence' means—

“\(1\) an American Maritime Center of Excellence, as

designated under section 51501 of this title; or

“\(2\) a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime

Workforce Training and Education, as designated under section

51706 of this title.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. STUDENT INCENTIVE PAYMENT AGREEMENTS.

Section 51509 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(b\)—

\(A\) by striking paragraphs \(1\) and \(2\) and inserting the

following:

“\(1\) In general.—Payments under an agreement under this

section shall be—

“\(A\) paid in amounts as determined by the Secretary, but

shall not exceed 50 percent of the average total of the in-

state cost of attendance charged by all State maritime

academies for a four-year merchant marine officer preparation

program;

“\(B\) paid in such installments as the Secretary shall

determine while the individual is attending the academy; and

“\(C\) allocated among the State maritime academies as

prescribed by the Secretary.”;

\(B\) by redesignating paragraph \(3\) as paragraph \(2\); and

\(C\) in paragraph \(2\), as so redesignated, by striking

“uniforms, tuition, books, and subsistence” and inserting

“the cost of attendance at the Academy”;

\(2\) in subsection \(e\)\(1\)—

\(A\) in subparagraph \(A\)\(ii\) by striking “$8,000” and

inserting “10 percent of the agreed upon amount”; and

\(B\) in subparagraph \(B\)\(ii\) by striking “$16,000” and

inserting “25 percent of the agreed upon amount”; and

\(3\) by inserting after subsection \(i\) the following:

“\(j\) Eligibility for Additional Payments.—A student who

receives a payment pursuant to this section shall not be

eligible for payments under section 51708 of this title until

the student has fulfilled the obligated 3 years of service

under subsection \(d\)\(5\).

“\(k\) Funding Availability.—Not to exceed 10 percent of

the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for payments

authorized under this section may be transferred or

reprogrammed and made available for the purpose of making

payments authorized under sections 51512, 51513, and 51708,

as determined by the Secretary.

“\(l\) Cost of Attendance Defined.—In this section, the

term \`cost of attendance' means tuition, room and board

costs, fees, books, and uniforms.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. STATE MARITIME ACADEMY REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAINING

SHIP CADET TUITION AND FEES.

Chapter 515 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 51513. State maritime academy reimbursement for

training ship cadet tuition and fees

“\(a\) In General.—If a State maritime academy has an

agreement with the Secretary of Transportation under section

51505 of this title, the Secretary may make an agreement with

a student at the academy who is a citizen of the United

States to make payments to the State maritime academy on

behalf of the individual for the cost of the tuition and fees

charged by the State maritime academy for the student to sail

on a training cruise on a training ship owned by the Maritime

Administration.

“\(b\) Payments.—Payments under this section shall be as

prescribed by the Secretary but shall not exceed the cost

charged by the State maritime academy for the student to

obtain the minimum number of sea days needed on board a

training ship owned by the

Maritime Administration to obtain a merchant mariner

credential, without limitation as to tonnage or horsepower,

from the Coast Guard as an officer in the merchant marine of

the United States, accompanied by the appropriate national

and international endorsements and certifications required by

the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and

international voyages, without limitation.

“\(c\) Agreement Requirements.—An agreement under this

section shall require the student to—

“\(1\) complete the course of instruction at the academy the

individual is attending within 6 years of enrollment;

“\(2\) obtain a merchant mariner credential, without

limitation as to tonnage or horsepower, from the Coast Guard

as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States,

accompanied by the appropriate national and international

endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard

for service aboard vessels on domestic and international

voyages, without limitation, within 3 months of completion of

the course of instruction at the academy the individual is

attending;

“\(3\) for at least 6 years after graduation from the

academy, maintain—

“\(A\) a valid merchant mariner credential, unlimited as to

horsepower or tonnage, issued by the Coast Guard as an

officer in the merchant marine of the United States,

accompanied by the appropriate national and international

endorsements and certifications required by the Coast Guard

for service aboard vessels on domestic and international

voyages, without limitation;

“\(B\) a valid transportation worker identification

credential; and

“\(C\) a Coast Guard medical certificate;

“\(4\) apply for, and accept, if tendered a position

commensurate with the obtained merchant mariner credential

for 3 years after graduation from the academy or, if the

individual has a student incentive program agreement under

section 51509 one year in addition to the obligation required

under section 51509\(d\)\(5\)—

“\(A\) as a merchant marine officer on a vessel operated by

the United States Government or by a State;

“\(B\) as a merchant marine officer on a United States

documented vessel;

“\(C\) as an employee in a United States maritime-related

industry, profession, or marine science, as determined by the

Secretary;

“\(D\) as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed

force of the United States, as a commissioned officer in the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or

“\(E\) by a combination of service alternatives referred to

in subparagraphs \(A\) through \(D\) of this subsection; and

“\(5\) report to the State maritime academy of graduation,

or to the Secretary if directed, on compliance with

paragraphs \(1\) through \(4\) of this subsection.

“\(d\) State Maritime Academy Reporting.—

“\(1\) In general.—A State maritime academy that received

payments on behalf of an individual under this section must

provide the Maritime Administrator with information that

demonstrates that compliance with subsection \(c\)\(4\) by that

individual.

“\(2\) Report.—If a State maritime academy is unable to

obtain information that demonstrates compliance with

subsection \(c\)\(4\), the State maritime academy shall report to

the Maritime Administrator that the individual is not in

compliance with subsection \(c\)\(4\).

“\(3\) Frequency.—The frequency of the State maritime

academy reporting period under paragraph \(2\) shall not exceed

365 days.

“\(4\) Limitation.—A State maritime academy may retain not

more than 3 percent of the annual funding provided by the

Secretary under this section for administrative expenses

incurred in complying with this subsection.

“\(e\) Failure to Complete Agreement Requirements.—If the

individual is unable or unwilling to meet the agreement

requirements under subsection \(c\), the Secretary of

Transportation may recover from the individual the amount of

payments in subsection \(b\), plus interest and attorney fees.

The Secretary may reduce the amount to be recovered to

reflect partial performance of obligations and other factors

the Secretary determines merit a reduction.

“\(f\) Actions to Recover Cost.—To aid in the recovery of

funds provided by the Government under a commitment agreement

under this section, the Secretary of Transportation may—

“\(1\) request the Attorney General to bring a civil action

against the individual; and

“\(2\) make use of the Federal debt collection procedures in

chapter 176 of title 28 or other applicable administrative

remedies.

“\(g\) Modification or Waiver.—The Secretary may waive any

of the terms and conditions set forth in subsection \(c\) or

modify such terms and conditions through the imposition of

alternative service requirements.

“\(h\) Eligibility for Additional Payments.—An individual

who receives a payment pursuant to this section shall not be

eligible for payments under section 51708 of this title until

the individual has fulfilled the obligated three years of

service under subsection \(c\)\(4\).

“\(i\) Funding Availability.—Not to exceed 10 percent of

the amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for payments

authorized under this section may be transferred or

reprogrammed and made available for the purpose of making

payments authorized under sections 51509, 51512, and 51708,

as determined by the Secretary.”.

SEC. 35\_\_. MODIFICATION OF CARGO PREFERENCE THREE-YEAR

ELIGIBILITY RULE.

Section 55305\(b\) of title 46, United States Code, is

amended by striking “after January 1, 2030,”.

SEC. 35\_\_. CARGO PREFERENCE ENFORCEMENT.

\(a\) In General.—Section 55305 of title 46, United States

Code, is amended—

\(1\) in subsection \(a\)—

\(A\) by striking “Minimum Tonnage.—When the United States

Government” and inserting “Requirement to Use U.S.-Flag

Vessels.—When a United States department or agency”; and

\(B\) by striking “the appropriate agencies shall take steps

necessary” and all that follows through the end of the

subsection and inserting “the department or agency must

ensure that all equipment, materials, or commodities that may

be transported on ocean vessels, except when required for the

timely transportation of cargoes under the Foreign Assistance

Act of 1961 \(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.\), is transported on

privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States.”;

\(2\) by striking subsection \(d\) and inserting the following:

“\(d\) Waivers.—

“\(1\) The requirements under this section may be waived as

provided for in this subsection.

“\(2\) The President, the Secretary of War, or the Secretary

of State may waive this section temporarily by—

“\(A\) declaring the existence of an emergency justifying a

waiver; and

“\(B\) notifying the appropriate agencies of the waiver; or

“\(3\) Upon the request of a U.S. Government department or

agency filed at least 10 days prior to transportation of

equipment, materials, and commodities subject to this

section, the Secretary of Transportation may waive the

requirements in subsection \(a\), for all or part of the

transportation, if the Secretary determines there are no

privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States—

“\(A\) responsive to the solicitation by vessel type;

“\(B\) available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial

vessels of the United States; or

“\(C\) otherwise available.

“\(4\) For waiver requests filed pursuant to paragraph \(3\),

the Secretary of Transportation shall not be obligated to

issue a waiver sooner than 10 days prior to transportation.

“\(5\) The Secretary of Transportation shall notify the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of

the Senate of—

“\(A\) any waiver request made pursuant to paragraph \(3\) not

later than 72 hours after receiving such a request; and

“\(B\) the issuance of any such waiver not later than 72

hours after issuing the waiver.

“\(6\) Waivers issued pursuant to paragraph \(3\) shall be

published on the Department of Transportation website within

5 business days.

“\(7\) The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with

the Secretary of State, is authorized to promulgate

regulations defining “fair and reasonable rates for

commercial vessels of the United States as cost based” for

purposes of the determinations established in paragraph \(3\).

The goal of such regulations shall be to provide clarity and

reduce procedural friction in the waiver process by

establishing an objective standard based on vessel cost, to

the maximum extent possible, in relevant and accessible

market and cost data.”;

\(3\) in subsection \(e\)—

\(A\) in the subsection heading by striking “Programs of

Other Agencies” and inserting “Department and Agency

Requirements”;

\(B\) by striking paragraph \(1\) and inserting the following:

“\(1\) Each Federal Government department or agency that

transports equipment, commodities, or materials shall—

“\(A\) include provisions in each Federal solicitation,

application, agreement, or procurement contract requiring

each contract applicant or offeror to acknowledge that ocean

transportation contracted under the agreement or procurement

contract must comply with this section and related

regulations issued by the Secretary of Transportation;

“\(B\) submit to the Secretary agreements, procurements, or

other contracts at least 45 days before ocean carriage, along

with corresponding plans for complying with this section that

describe—

“\(i\) all cargoes, both known and anticipated, with

specificity;

“\(ii\) the proposed ports of loading and discharge and

expected dates of ocean carriage;

“\(iii\) all parties involved in the ocean transportation of

the cargoes, including brokers and freight forwarders; and

“\(iv\) any other relevant information required by the

Secretary of Transportation;

“\(C\) provide the Maritime Administration with the

Automated Commercial Environment Internal Transaction Number

that corresponds with each ocean bill of lading number for

each ocean shipment of cargo under

contract, including those transported on foreign-flag

vessels—

“\(i\) within 20 working days after the date of loading for

shipments originating in the United States;

“\(ii\) within 30 working days after the date of loading for

shipments originating outside of the United States; or

“\(iii\) in instances for which an Automated Commercial

Environment Internal Transaction Number is not available, a

legible, complete copy of a rated on-board ocean bill of

lading in English, within times specified in clauses \(i\) or

\(ii\);

“\(D\) exercise contractual rights and remedies against

contractors who fail to comply with contractual provisions

requiring the use of U.S.-flag vessels, as determined by the

Secretary of Transportation, including by—

“\(i\) equitably adjusting the contract price downward by an

amount equal to the difference in the cost of a foreign-flag

vessel used in violation of the contract and the estimated

cost of using a U.S.-flag vessel to carry the same cargo;

“\(ii\) determining that a contractor is ineligible for an

award of such a contract; or

“\(iii\) terminating such a contract or suspension or

debarment of the contractor for such a contract; and

“\(E\) retain records collected pursuant to this section for

5 years after each shipment is completed.”; and

\(C\) in paragraph \(2\)—

\(i\) by striking subparagraphs \(A\) and \(B\);

\(ii\) by redesignating subparagraphs \(C\) and \(D\) as

subparagraphs \(E\) and \(F\), respectively;

\(iii\) by inserting before subparagraph \(E\), as so

redesignated, the following:

“\(A\) has sole authority for determining compliance by a

department, agency, or individual with this section;

“\(B\) may provide guidance on whether a department or

agency is operating in compliance with the requirements of

this section;

“\(C\) shall review every shipment and compliance plan

subject to the requirements of this section;

“\(D\) shall annually submit to the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Armed

Forces of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report

on department and agency compliance with this section,

including submission of compliance plans;”; and

\(iv\) in subparagraph \(F\), as so redesignated, by striking

“may take other measures as appropriate under” and

inserting “shall notify agencies of violations so that other

measures may be taken as appropriate under subsection

\(e\)\(1\)\(D\) of this section or”.

\(b\) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section

shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 35\_\_. UNITED STATES VESSEL PREFERENCE REQUIREMENT.

\(a\) In General.—Part D of subtitle V of title 46, United

States Code, is amended by inserting after subchapter III the

following new subchapter:

“SUBCHAPTER IV—UNITED STATES VESSEL PREFERENCE

“55351. Definitions. “55352. Establishment of the United States vessel preference

- requirement.
- “55353. Maritime special security agreement framework.
- “55354. Enforcement and compliance.

“Sec. 55351. Definitions

“In this subchapter:

“\(1\) Allied country.—The term \`allied country' means a

country or group of countries designated by the Secretary of

Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation

and the Secretary of State, as an ally of the United States

for purposes of this subchapter.

“\(2\) Beneficial cargo owner.—The term \`beneficial cargo

owner' means an entity that retains the power to influence

the routing of the cargo or owns the merchandise being

transported at the time of shipment.

“\(3\) Country of concern.—The term \`country of concern'

means a country identified pursuant to section 4651\(7\) of

title 15, United States Code.

“\(4\) Covered cargo.—The term \`covered cargo' means

inbound containerized cargo and roll-on/roll-off vehicles

imported into the United States in the foreign commerce of

the United States that are subject to entry, manifest

reporting, or other customs documentation requirements under

title 19, United States Code, as further specified by the

Commission by regulation. The term does not include exports,

bulk cargo, breakbulk cargo, or cargo excluded by regulation

consistent with this subchapter.

“\(5\) Industrial readiness certification.—The term

\`industrial readiness certification' means a certification

made by the Maritime Administrator after evaluating shipyard

capacity, mariner availability, and commercial feasibility

for purposes of phased implementation. "\(6\) Maritime Special

Security Agreement; M-SSA.—The term \`Maritime Special

Security Agreement' or \`M-SSA' means an agreement established

under section 55353.

“\(6\) Qualifying united states vessel.—The term

\`qualifying United States vessel' means a vessel documented

under chapter 121 of title 46 and meeting requirements under

section 55352 and not a U.S. warship, auxiliary vessel, or

under time or bare-boat charter by the United States.

“\(7\) Trade lane.—The term \`trade lane' means a geographic

shipping corridor designated by the Secretary of

Transportation.

“\(8\) Compliance year.—The term \`compliance year' means a

calendar year for which participation targets apply under

section 55352, as determined under section 55354\(j\).

“\(9\) Covered movement.—The term \`covered movement' means

the transportation by water of covered cargo to the United

States within a designated trade lane subject to

participation targets under section 55352, as determined by

the Commission under section 55354 using existing customs and

shipping documentation.

“\(10\) Covered shipper.—The term \`covered shipper' means,

with respect to a covered movement, the beneficial cargo

owner, importer of record to which entity-level participation

targets apply under section 55352\(a\)\(2\), or provider of

third-party logistics services for cargo shipments, as

determined by the Commission under section 55354 using

existing customs and shipping documentation. The term does

not include an ocean common carrier or an ocean

transportation intermediary solely by virtue of providing

ocean transportation or arranging ocean transportation.

“\(11\) Affiliated covered shipper group.—The term

\`affiliated covered shipper group' means 2 or more covered

shippers that are treated as a single compliance unit because

they are under common control, are alter egos, are

successors, or act in concert with respect to routing,

contracting, or payment for ocean transportation of covered

cargo, as determined under section 55354.

“\(12\) Control.—The term \`control' means, with respect to

an entity, direct or indirect possession of the power to

direct or cause the direction of management and policies of

such entity \(whether through ownership of voting securities,

by contract, or otherwise\), and shall be presumed where an

entity directly or indirectly owns 50 percent or more of the

equity or voting interests.

“\(13\) Unique entity identifier.—The term \`unique entity

identifier' means an Employer Identification Number \(EIN\) or

such other persistent identifier as the Commission shall

specify by regulation for foreign persons, including an

identifier used in customs entry, manifest, or service

contract documentation.

“\(14\) Ultimate parent entity.—The term \`ultimate parent

entity' means the highest-level entity that controls a

covered shipper, and that is not controlled by another

entity.

“\(15\) Commission.—The term \`Commission' means the Federal

Maritime Commission.

“\(16\) Ocean common carrier.—The term \`ocean common

carrier' has the meaning given that term at section 40102\(18\)

of this title.

“\(17\) Ocean transportation intermediary.—The term \`ocean

transportation intermediary' has the meaning given that term

at section 40102\(20\) of this title.

“\(18\) Service contract.—The term \`service contract' means

service contracts as set forth at section 40102\(21\) of this

title.

“\(19\) Civil penalty.—A \`civil penalty' is a civil penalty

under sections 41107 and 41109 of this title.

“Sec. 55352. Establishment of the United States vessel

preference requirement

“\(a\) Establishment.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Secretary of Transportation shall

establish a United States vessel cargo participation

requirement applicable to the carriage of covered cargo

within designated trade lanes.

“\(2\) Application.—Participation targets established under

this section shall apply as entity-level participation

requirements to each beneficial cargo owner or importer of

record operating within a designated trade lane and shall be

aggregated across the affiliated covered shipper group \(if

any\) of such entity, as determined under section 55354.

“\(3\) Participation targets.—Participation targets—

“\(A\) may be established on a trade-lane-specific and

commodity-specific basis, including the inclusion or

exclusion of particular commodity categories, provided that

aggregate participation meets or exceeds the minimum phase-

based floors established under subsection \(b\); and

“\(B\) shall be implemented on a trade-lane-specific and,

where appropriate, commodity-specific basis and shall be

designed to expand participation of qualifying United States

vessels in a commercially feasible, capacity-aware, and

phased manner.

“\(4\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to establish a uniform nationwide cargo quota or

to require identical participation targets across all trade

lanes or commodity categories.

“\(b\) Phased Implementation.—Participation targets

established under this section shall be implemented through

sequential phases designed to expand United States-flag

participation in a commercially feasible and capacity-aware

manner, as provided for in this section.

“\(1\) Phase i—initial market entry.—

“\(A\) Not later than 180 days following enactment of this

section, the Secretary shall establish an initial

participation target of not less than 3 percent of covered

cargo overall on an annual basis within designated trade

lanes be carried on qualifying United States vessels, unless

a lower percentage is certified as necessary due to vessel or

mariner availability.

“\(B\) Participation targets established during this phase

shall—

“\(i\) be in effect for a period of no less than four years

upon the first day of establishment;

“\(ii\) Be used to incentivize and facilitate re-flagging,

new service entry, and contract restructuring to emphasize

voluntary transition into the U.S.—flag fleet.

“\(iii\) be treated as a pilot period for purposes of

evaluating commercial feasibility, workforce impacts, and

industrial readiness; and

“\(iv\) be prioritized along trade lanes, as described in

subsection \(c\), where qualifying United States vessels are

already operating or can be deployed with minimal disruption

to existing logistics structures.

“\(2\) Phase ii—capacity expansion.—For the four years

following Phase I, the Secretary shall—

“\(A\) increase participation targets incrementally based on

fleet availability, workforce capacity, and industrial

readiness as determined annually by the Maritime

Administrator; and

“\(B\) increase participation targets by not less than 1.5

percent annually unless the Maritime Administrator makes a

determination that the United States fleet or mariner

workforce cannot sustain a growth rate at that level; and

“\(C\) establish participation targets that prioritize the

use of vessels built in the United States over foreign-built

vessels that have reflagged into the U.S. fleet.

“\(3\) Phase iii—adaptive scaling.—Following Phase II—

“\(A\) the Secretary—

“\(i\) shall review participation targets not less than

every three years; and "\(ii\) may establish revised

participation targets reflecting demonstrated fleet growth,

shipyard output, and mariner supply.

“\(B\) participation targets—

“\(i\) may require that a percentage of covered cargo be

carried only on vessels built in the United States; and

“\(ii\) may be trade-lane specific but vary by commodity

classification; and

“\(C\) participation target growth shall be—

“\(i\) not less than 2 percent overall on an annual basis;

and

“\(ii\) 1 percent for United States built ships unless a

determination is made by the Administrator that the United

States fleet or mariner workforce cannot sustain a growth

rate at that level.

“\(4\) Annual review and certification.—Not less than once

each year, the Maritime Administrator shall make a

determination as to whether vessel capacity, mariner

availability, and commercial feasibility support continuation

or adjustment of participation targets.

“\(A\) The Maritime Administration shall provide to Congress

annually a report on the targets for the succeeding fiscal

year showing the growth in reflagged United States flag

ships, growth in United States built ships, and the status of

the overall United States flag fleet in international trade.

“\(B\) The Secretary may temporarily pause or modify

scheduled increases upon certification of material capacity

constraints.

“\(5\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to establish a uniform nationwide cargo

quota or to require identical targets across trade lanes or

commodity categories.

“\(c\) Prioritization of Trade Lanes and Commodities.—

“\(1\) In general.—In selecting trade lanes and commodity

groupings for phased implementation under this section, the

Secretary of Transportation, in concurrence with the

Secretary of State, and in consultation with the Secretary of

the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, United States Trade

Representative, Chairperson of the Federal Maritime

Commission, and Secretary of Homeland Security, shall give

priority to trade lanes and commodities that have a direct

bearing on national security, supply chain resilience, or

United States economic competitiveness.

“\(2\) Priority considerations.—Priority considerations may

include critical minerals, energy systems, defense-related

cargo, strategic manufacturing inputs, and other sectors

determined to be essential to national preparedness or long-

term industrial capacity.

“\(3\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to require uniform application across all

trade lanes or to limit the Secretary's discretion to

consider commercial feasibility, vessel availability, or

workforce capacity.

“\(d\) Commercial Feasibility.—Trade lane targets under

this section must be operationally achievable within existing

commercial shipping practices and account for vessel

availability, mariner supply, and contractual logistics

structures.

“\(e\) United States Content.—For purposes of this

subchapter, United States content shall be measured, at the

vessel level, as a percentage of the total cost of

construction, conversion, repair, and refurbishment of the

vessel that is attributable to labor performed in the United

States and materials produced in the United States,

consistent with the standards articulated in chapter 83 of

title 41, United States Code. The Secretary shall prescribe

by regulation methods of calculation, eligible costs, and

documentation standards for certification and audit.

“\(f\) Equivalency Authority.—The Maritime Administrator

may grant equivalencies on a per country basis where domestic

industrial capacity is insufficient.

“\(g\) Special Rule for Containerized Commodity

Classification.—

“\(1\) Classification.—For purposes of commodity-specific

preference targets, containerized cargo shall be classified

based on Customs and Border Protection-recognized shipment

programs rather than the individual contents of a container.

“\(2\) Commodity categories defined.—The Secretary may

define commodity categories using—

“\(A\) Harmonized Tariff Schedule chapter ranges or

groupings recognized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection;

“\(B\) beneficial cargo owner program declarations or

certified logistics programs; or

“\(C\) service contract filings or vessel service

designations maintained under applicable Federal Maritime

Commission or customs reporting requirements.

“\(3\) Measuring compliance.—Compliance shall be measured

using existing customs documentation, including bills of

lading, manifest filings, or service contract identifiers,

and shall not require inspection or valuation of individual

goods within containers. \\

“\(4\) Mixed merchandise.—Where containers include mixed

merchandise described as general cargo, the Secretary may

treat such containers as part of a designated commodity

program if tendered under a qualifying contract, Harmonized

Tariff Schedule grouping, or certified cargo program.

“\(5\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to require item level auditing of

container contents beyond existing customs reporting

requirements; nor shall it be construed to limit, restrict,

or alter the authority of the U.S. Coast Guard or U.S.

Customs and Border Protection to inspect containers and cargo

for safety, security, or law enforcement purposes.

“\(6\) Reliance on existing systems.—Commodity

classifications and compliance determinations under this

subsection shall rely exclusively on customs declarations,

service contract filings, or other reporting systems already

required under Federal law, and shall not create a separate

cargo classification regime.

“\(h\) Requirement to Protect and Share Information.—The

Secretary and the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission

shall execute an agreement to establish a formal framework

for the exchange of information necessary to implement this

section that protects the privacy and confidentiality rights

of private parties.

“\(i\) National Security Condition for Qualification.—

“\(1\) In general.—A vessel shall not be treated as a

qualifying United States vessel for purposes of this

subchapter if the vessel is owned, chartered, managed, or

operated by or on behalf of an entity subject to foreign

ownership, control, or influence, unless such entity is

operating pursuant to an approved Maritime Special Security

Agreement under section 55353.

“\(2\) No automatic requirement for domestic entities.—

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a

Maritime Special Security Agreement for an entity that the

Maritime Administrator determines is not subject to foreign

ownership, control, or influence.

“\(3\) Country of concern prohibition.—No vessel controlled

by a citizen of a country of concern may qualify under this

subchapter if such citizen holds, directly or indirectly, a

controlling interest or other disqualifying influence in the

entity owning, chartering, managing, or operating the vessel,

as determined under regulations issued pursuant to section

55353.

“\(j\) Qualifying United States Vessel Requirements.—

“\(1\) In general.—A vessel is a qualifying United States

vessel for purposes of this subchapter only if the vessel is

documented under chapter 121 of this title and meets the

requirements of this subsection, subsection \(k\), and section

55353 \(as applicable\).

“\(2\) Repaired or refurbished vessels.—A U.S.-documented

vessel that is repaired or refurbished may be treated as

meeting the United States content thresholds under paragraph

\(3\) if the Secretary determines that the cost of such repairs

or refurbishments includes sufficient United States content

under subsection \(g\), and if the vessel was originally built

in an allied country.

“\(3\) United states content thresholds.—A qualifying

United States vessel shall meet the following minimum United

States content thresholds:

“\(A\) For calendar years 2027 through 2030, an allied-built

vessel may qualify if the vessel is inspected, certificated,

and documented consistent with section 53102\(e\) of this title

and related Coast Guard guidance \(including Navigation and

Vessel Inspection Circular No. 01-13, and any successor

guidance\) and is operated by an entity in compliance with

section 55353.

“\(B\) For calendar years 2031 through 2034, at least 20

percent United States content.

“\(C\) For calendar years 2035 through 2038, at least 30

percent United States content.

“\(D\) For calendar years 2039 through 2042, at least 40

percent United States content.

“\(E\) Beginning in calendar year 2042, at least 51 percent

United States content.

“\(4\) Qualification extension.—Beginning in calendar year

2031, a vessel that first qualifies under this subchapter

shall continue to be a qualifying United States vessel for

not more than 20 years after the date the vessel is first

documented under chapter 121 of this title, provided the

vessel maintains at least 20 percent United States content

throughout that period.

“\(5\) Alternate compliance program requirements.—

Requirements unique to the Alternate Compliance Program shall

not

apply to an allied-built vessel described in paragraph \(3\)\(A\)

unless the Coast Guard determines such requirements are

strictly necessary for safety or security; however, United

States-unique requirements contained in the Alternate

Compliance Program U.S. Supplement are otherwise waived for

eligible vessels.

“\(6\) Coastwise trade.—Nothing in this subchapter shall be

construed to alter or supersede the requirements of chapter

551 of this title \(the coastwise trade laws\). Qualifying

United States vessels under this subchapter are intended for

foreign commerce under United States registry and are not

granted coastwise trading privileges by this subchapter.

“\(7\) Expansion to meet national security needs.—The

President may expand the types of cargo subject to this

subchapter if the President determines such expansion is

necessary to meet the national security needs of the United

States, provided that any cargo so added is afforded the same

phased implementation and United States content requirements

for qualifying vessels specified in this section.

“\(k\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to—

“\(1\) impose a uniform nationwide cargo quota or to require

preference targets to apply across all trade lanes or cargo

categories

“\(2\) waive or modify vessel documentation, inspection,

certification, safety, security, or vessel-to-facility

interface requirements administered by the Coast Guard or the

Department of Labor;

“\(3\) deem any person or entity a citizen of the United

States for purposes of this title, including chapter 121,

except for the limited deeming described in subsection \(j\);

or

“\(4\) limit any other national security review authority of

the United States.

“Sec. 55353. Maritime special security agreement framework

“\(a\) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of enactment of this subchapter, the Secretary of

Transportation in consultation with the Secretary of Defense

and the Secretary of Homeland Security \(including the

Commandant of the Coast Guard\), shall establish by regulation

a Maritime Special Security Agreement framework \(in this

section referred to as an \`M-SSA'\), modeled on foreign-

ownership, control, or influence mitigation agreements used

in national-security sectors, to permit allied and other

foreign capital investment while ensuring United States

operational control and protection of security-sensitive

information.

“\(b\) Purpose; Parties; Covered Entities.—

“\(1\) Purpose.—An M-SSA is a written agreement intended to

mitigate foreign ownership, control, or influence and to

ensure that management and operational control over

qualifying United States vessel operations under this

subchapter remain vested in United States citizens,

consistent with national security requirements.

“\(2\) Parties.—An M-SSA shall be executed between the

Maritime Administrator and a vessel owner, vessel operator,

or other entity that seeks to own, charter, manage, or

operate a qualifying United States vessel under this

subchapter \(in this section referred to as a \`covered

entity'\).

“\(3\) Scope of application.—An M-SSA shall apply only to

the covered entity and the qualifying United States vessels

and related operations identified in the agreement.

“\(c\) Eligibility; Prohibited Capital.—The Maritime

Administrator may approve an M-SSA only if—

“\(1\) the covered entity certifies that no citizen from a

country of concern holds, directly or indirectly, a

controlling interest or other disqualifying influence, as

determined under regulations issued pursuant to subsection

\(j\);

“\(2\) the covered entity agrees to comply with the

governance, operational-control, information-security,

reporting, and audit requirements of this section; and

“\(3\) the Maritime Administrator has consulted with the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security

regarding any national security conditions that should be

incorporated into the M-SSA.

“\(d\) Core Requirements.—A covered entity operating under

an M-SSA shall—

“\(1\) maintain a principal executive responsible for

qualifying United States vessel operations who is a citizen

of the United States;

“\(2\) ensure that qualifying United States vessel

operations under this subchapter remain subject to governance

and operational-control arrangements vested in citizens of

the United States, as specified in the M-SSA;

“\(3\) establish a security committee or comparable

governance mechanism composed solely of citizens of the

United States to oversee security-sensitive decisions

identified in the M-SSA;

“\(4\) implement information firewalls restricting foreign

access to sensitive operational, logistics, and defense-

related data, consistent with subsection \(f\); and

“\(5\) designate one or more compliance officers responsible

for administration of the MSSA who are citizens of the United

States and eligible for any security clearances determined

appropriate by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of the

M-SSA.

“\(e\) Security Committee or Equivalent Governance

Mechanism.—

“\(1\) Composition.—The security committee or equivalent

governance mechanism required under subsection \(d\)\(3\) shall

consist solely of citizens of the United States.

“\(2\) Authorities.—The security committee or equivalent

governance mechanism shall exercise such approval, oversight,

or veto authorities over security-sensitive decisions as are

specified by regulation and in the applicable M-SSA,

including with respect to—

“\(A\) access to and dissemination of security-sensitive

operational, cargo, routing, or defense-related information;

“\(B\) changes in key personnel positions identified in the

M-SSA;

“\(C\) changes in ownership, governance, financing,

chartering, or other arrangements that could increase foreign

ownership, control, or influence; and

“\(D\) such other matters as the Maritime Administrator

determines necessary to mitigate national security risk, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary

of Homeland Security.

“\(3\) Governance instruments.—The covered entity shall

adopt bylaws, delegations of authority, internal controls,

and other governance instruments sufficient to give effect to

the authorities required under this subsection.

“\(f\) Information Firewall; Recordkeeping.—

“\(1\) Firewall.—Each covered entity operating under an M-

SSA shall maintain policies, technical controls, and

procedures that prevent unauthorized foreign access to

security-sensitive operational and defense-related

information, including through remote access or third-party

service providers.

“\(2\) Records.—The covered entity shall maintain such

books, records, and technical logs as the Maritime

Administrator determines necessary to verify compliance,

including records sufficient to support audits under

subsection \(h\).

“\(g\) Notice of Change; Prior Approval.—A covered entity

operating under an M-SSA shall provide advance notice to the

Maritime Administrator of any material change in ownership,

governance, debt covenants, chartering arrangements, or other

relationships that could reasonably increase foreign

ownership, control, or influence, and shall obtain approval

or amended M-SSA terms prior to implementing such change, as

provided by regulation.

“\(h\) Oversight.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Maritime Administrator, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary

of Homeland Security, shall approve, audit, and monitor

covered entities operating under an M-SSA at least annually.

“\(2\) Coast guard and department of labor coordination.—In

conducting oversight under paragraph \(1\), the Maritime

Administrator shall coordinate with the Commandant of the

Coast Guard on matters implicating vessel documentation,

inspection, certification, safety, security, crewing, or

credentialing requirements administered by the Coast Guard

and the Department of Labor on matters implicating safety

requirements administered by the Department of Labor.

“\(i\) Breach of Terms; Remedies.—

“\(1\) Suspension or revocation.—Breach of M-SSA terms, or

material misrepresentation in an application for or

performance under an M-SSA, shall be grounds for suspension

or revocation of—

“\(A\) M-SSA approval; and

“\(B\) the eligibility of any vessel operated by the covered

entity to qualify under section 55352.

“\(2\) Interim measures.—Pending a final determination, the

Maritime Administrator may impose interim mitigation

measures, including enhanced reporting, restricted

information access, or temporary management controls.

“\(j\) Deeming Provision; Limited Scope.—For the limited

purpose of administering this subchapter and any Federal

cargo-preference program that expressly incorporates this

deeming provision, an entity operating under an approved M-

SSA shall be deemed United States-controlled regardless of

capital origin, provided such capital is not from a country

of concern. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to

confer coastwise trading privileges or to alter any

requirement under chapter 551 of this title or any other law

governing coastwise trade.

“\(k\) Regulations.—The Secretary of Transportation shall

promulgate regulations to carry out this section, including—

“\(1\) definitions of \`control', \`disqualifying influence',

and "security-sensitive decisions

“\(2\) minimum required authorities and procedures for the

security committee or equivalent governance mechanism

required under subsection \(e\);

“\(3\) audit standards, reporting requirements, and

confidentiality protections for sensitive security

information; and

“\(4\) procedures for expedited review where necessary to

support timely implementation of section 55352\(l\)\(3\)\(A\).

“\(l\) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to—

“\(1\) waive or modify vessel documentation, inspection,

certification, safety, or security requirements administered

by the Coast Guard or the Department of Labor;

“\(2\) deem any person or entity a citizen of the United

States for purposes of this title, including chapter 121,

except for the limited deeming described in subsection \(j\);

or

“\(3\) limit any other national security review authority of

the United States.

“Sec. 55354. Enforcement and compliance

“\(a\) Administration by Federal Maritime Commission.—

“\(1\) In general.—The Federal Maritime Commission shall

administer and enforce this subchapter, including

participation targets and any penalties for non-participation

established under this subchapter.

“\(2\) Regulations.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this subchapter, the Commission shall prescribe

implementing regulations pursuant to section 46105. Such

regulations and final orders under this section shall be

treated as issued pursuant to section 46105 for purposes of

chapter 158 of title 28.

“\(3\) Preservation of vessel qualification

determinations.—The Secretary of Transportation, in

consultation with the U.S Trade Representative and Secretary

of Commerce, shall retain authority to determine whether a

vessel is a qualifying United States vessel \(including any

determinations involving a Maritime Special Security

Agreement or similar mitigation arrangement\). The Commission

shall accept such determinations as conclusive for purposes

of this subchapter. Such determinations shall be made in

accordance with sections 55351, 55352, and 55353.

“\(b\) Shipper-level Compliance Duty.—

“\(1\) Requirement.—Each covered shipper, and each

affiliated covered shipper group, shall ensure that its

covered movements satisfy the applicable participation

targets under this subchapter for each compliance year, as

determined by the Commission. The Commission may determine,

by regulation or order, to exempt low volume shippers from

the requirements of this section if the Commission finds that

such exemption will not result in a substantial impact on

participation targets.

“\(2\) No liability for qualifying u.s. vessel movements.—A

covered movement transported on a qualifying United States

vessel shall be treated as compliant and shall not give rise

to a non-participation assessment.

“\(3\) Measurement and aggregation.—Compliance shall be

measured using existing customs documentation systems and

shall be aggregated across each affiliated covered shipper

group.

“\(c\) Annual Certification; Disclosure.—

“\(1\) Certification.—Not later than a date set by

regulation \(not later than 120 days after the close of each

compliance year\), each covered shipper shall file with the

Commission an annual certification, in such form as the

Commission shall prescribe, including—

“\(A\) the unique entity identifier of the covered shipper;

“\(B\) the identity and unique entity identifier of the

ultimate parent entity;

“\(C\) a list of affiliated entities sufficient to identify

the affiliated covered shipper group;

“\(D\) an attestation by a responsible corporate officer,

under penalty of perjury, regarding completeness and

accuracy; and

“\(E\) such shipment-level or aggregated data elements as

are necessary to verify compliance using existing customs and

shipping documentation.

“\(2\) Updates.—The Commission may require prompt updates

upon changes in ultimate parent entity or control.

“\(3\) Confidentiality.—Information submitted under this

subsection shall be protected as commercial or financial

information to the extent permitted by law. The Commission

may publish only aggregated, non-confidential compliance

statistics.

“\(d\) Verification; Interagency Coordination.—

“\(1\) Customs integration.—The Commission shall verify

compliance using existing customs documentation, including

vessel manifest and cargo declaration information and entry

data, without creating a new cargo classification regime.

“\(2\) Coordination.—Not later than 180 days after

enactment, the Commission shall enter into memoranda of

understanding, as appropriate, with U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Department

of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to

support data access, verification, and collection.

“\(3\) Audit; records.—The Commission may audit covered

shippers and affiliated covered shipper groups for purposes

of this section and may require retention and production of

records sufficient to substantiate certifications.

“\(e\) Penalties for Non-participation.—

“\(1\) Imposition.—If the Commission determines, after

notice and opportunity for hearing, that a covered shipper or

affiliated covered shipper group failed to satisfy applicable

participation targets for a compliance year, the Commission

shall impose civil penalties equal to not less than 10

percent of the value of the shipper or shipper group's

incoming cargo to the United States in the period of non-

compliance.

“\(2\) No credit for non-compliance.—Payment of an

assessment under this subsection shall not satisfy, offset,

or reduce any participation target applicable in a subsequent

compliance year.

“\(3\) Nature of assessment.—An assessment under this

subsection is a civil monetary assessment and is in addition

to any other civil penalty, customs duty, tax, fee, or remedy

available under this subchapter or any other provision of

law.

“\(4\) Exclusion of compliant movements.—Covered movements

transported on qualifying United States vessels shall not be

included in calculating an assessment under this subsection.

“\(5\) Delinquency; release of cargo.—After a final order

finding repeated delinquency or evasion, the Commission may

require, as a condition of release of additional covered

cargo of the covered shipper or affiliated covered shipper

group, the posting of payment security in a form acceptable

to the Commission and the Secretary of the Treasury,

including a surety bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit.

“\(6\) Escalation.—The Commission may impose additional

penalties for repeated nonparticipation, evasion, or

delinquency, including increased civil monetary penalties,

shortened cure periods, and payment-security requirements

under subsection \(g\).

“\(7\) Regulations.—The Commission shall prescribe

regulations governing calculation, notice, collection, and

mitigation of assessments under this subsection, but may not

reduce the statutory minimum percentages established in

paragraph \(1\).

“\(f\) Waiver of Adjustment.—The Secretary of

Transportation may recommend waivers or reductions of

assessments where compliance will materially disrupt critical

supply chains during an ongoing national emergency as

declared by the President.

“\(g\) Civil Penalties; False Statements.—

“\(1\) In general.—A person that violates this subchapter

or a regulation or order of the Commission under this

subchapter, including failure to file a certification, filing

of a materially false certification, concealment of covered

movements, willful misrepresentation, or evasion, is liable

to the United States Government for a civil penalty not to

exceed— "\(A\) $100,000 for each violation; and

“\(B\) $250,000 for each violation that is willfully and

knowingly committed.

“\(2\) Continuing violations.—Each day of a continuing

violation after written notice from the Commission shall

constitute a separate violation.

“\(3\) Separate offenses.—Each false material statement,

each material omission, each failure to certify, each

concealed covered movement, each use of a successor or

affiliate to evade this subchapter, and each failure to

comply with a payment-security requirement may constitute a

separate violation.

“\(4\) Procedures.—The Commission shall provide notice and

opportunity for hearing prior to issuance of a final order

assessing a penalty or assessment. The Commission may seek

injunctive relief under section 41307 of this title in

connection with an investigation of alleged violations of

this subchapter or a regulation or order of the Commission.

“\(5\) Customs penalties preserved.—Nothing in this section

shall be construed to limit the authority of United States

Customs and Border Protection to take action under title 19

against any person that makes or causes to be made a

materially false statement, act, or omission in customs-

related documentation to evade or defeat this subchapter,

including under section 1592 of title 19.

“\(6\) Seizure and forfeiture.—Covered cargo introduced

into the commerce of the United States through a material

false statement, act, or omission to evade or defeat this

subchapter is subject to seizure and forfeiture under

applicable customs laws.

“\(h\) Anti-evasion; Attribution; Successor and Alter-ego;

Payment Security.—

“\(1\) Aggregation across affiliates.—The Commission shall

attribute covered movements and aggregate compliance across

affiliated covered shipper groups, including common-control

affiliates and persons acting in concert in routing,

contracting, or payment.

“\(2\) Attribution rules.—The Commission shall by

regulation prescribe rules to attribute covered movements

using existing customs and shipping documentation, including

service contract, bill of lading, and manifest/entry data

elements, to the covered shipper and affiliated covered

shipper group most directly benefiting from, directing, or

controlling such movements.

“\(3\) Rebuttable presumptions.—The Commission shall

establish rebuttable presumptions that—

“\(A\) movements are attributable to the entity identified

as the account party/cargo owner in customs and shipping

documentation;

“\(B\) movements of a newly formed or thinly capitalized

entity with substantially common ownership, management,

address, or logistics operations with a covered shipper are

attributable to the affiliated covered shipper group;

“\(C\) a person that materially reorganizes after notice of

investigation acts to evade unless proven otherwise by clear

and convincing evidence; and

“\(D\) a covered movement routed through an intermediate

foreign port or third country shall not be excluded from a

designated trade lane solely by virtue of such intermediate

routing, and may be attributed and treated as occurring

within the designated trade lane based on the shipment's

underlying origin, consignee, and account-party information

in existing customs and shipping documentation, as specified

by regulation.

“\(4\) Successor; alter-ego.—The Commission may treat a

person as a successor or alter ego of another person for

purposes of liability for assessments, penalties, and payment

security where there is substantial continuity of ownership,

management, operations, assets, or purpose, or where the

transaction or formation had a principal purpose of evasion.

Liability may be joint and several within an affiliated

covered shipper group.

“\(5\) Payment security for repeat evasion or delinquency.—

After a final order finding repeated evasion or delinquency,

the Commission may require a covered shipper or affiliated

covered shipper group to post and maintain reasonable payment

security \(including surety bond, letter of credit, or cash

deposit\) to secure future assessments and penalties for a

period not to exceed 2 years, renewable upon a new finding

after notice and opportunity for hearing. This paragraph

shall not be construed to establish a general licensing

regime.

“\(6\) No avoidance by restructuring.—The Commission may

disregard any corporate form, transfer, conversion,

assignment, spin-off, merger, dissolution, reincorporation,

change in importer of record, change in beneficial cargo

owner designation, change in service contract party, or other

restructuring the principal purpose or material effect of

which is to avoid compliance with, attribution under, or

liability arising under this subchapter.

“\(7\) Joint and several liability of controlling persons.—

Where the Commission finds that a predecessor, successor,

affiliate, beneficial owner, ultimate parent entity, or

controlling person participated in, directed, benefited from,

or knowingly facilitated conduct described in paragraph \(6\),

the Commission may impose joint and several liability on such

person for assessments, penalties, interest, and payment-

security obligations under this subchapter.

“\(8\) Control at less than majority ownership.—For

purposes of this subsection, the Commission may find control

notwithstanding section 55351\(13\) at any ownership level, or

through contractual, financial, operational, family, agency,

or other relationships, where the facts demonstrate the power

to direct routing, contracting, payment, or corporate conduct

relating to covered movements.

“\(i\) Limited Carrier Liability; Cooperation.—

“\(1\) No carrier compliance duty.—An ocean common carrier

or ocean transportation intermediary, including a non-vessel-

operating common carrier, shall not be responsible for a

covered shipper's participation targets or assessments solely

by transporting or arranging the transportation of covered

cargo.

“\(2\) Recordkeeping and production.—Ocean common carriers

and ocean transportation intermediaries shall, as specified

by regulation, retain and produce records reasonably

necessary to support verification; failure to maintain or

produce records, or knowing submission of false records, may

be penalized under subsection \(f\).

“\(j\) Transition; Effective Date.—

“\(1\) Initial compliance year.—The first compliance year

shall begin on the first January 1 that occurs not less than

1 year after the date the Commission issues final regulations

under subsection \(a\)\(2\), unless otherwise specified by

statute.

“\(2\) Safe harbor.—For the first compliance year only, the

Commission shall provide a good-faith safe harbor for covered

shippers that timely file complete certifications and enter

into commercially reasonable arrangements to meet targets, as

defined by regulation.”.

\(b\) Interagency Steering Body.—The Secretary, in

consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of

State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary

of Labor, United States Trade Representative, and Chairman of

the Federal Maritime Commission, conduct periodic reviews to

evaluate fleet growth, workforce capacity, industrial

impacts, and compliance effectiveness.

\(c\) Domestic Repair Utilization.—

\(1\) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

\(A\) The United States ship repair sector constitutes a

distinct and strategically critical component of the maritime

industrial base and shall not be treated as merely an

extension of ship construction.

\(B\) Domestic repair capacity supports routine operational

readiness of United States naval forces, sustains commercial

fleet availability during peacetime operations, and will be

essential to maintaining maritime logistics and sealift

capability during periods of contingency, mobilization,

prolonged contested logistics operations, or contested

operations.

\(C\) Strengthening the ship repair sector represents the

most immediate and scalable means of restoring industrial

depth because it leverages the existing fleet and workforce

rather than future vessel construction pipelines.

\(2\) Domestic repair utilization.—Chapter 531 of title 46,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following new section 53112:

“Sec. 53112. Domestic repair utilization

“\(a\) Domestic Maintenance and Repair Requirement.—

“\(1\) In general.—Beginning not later than 3 years after

enactment of this section, Qualified United States Vessels

subject to an operating agreement under this chapter must

have a percentage of maintenance and repair, as determined by

cost, on the vessel conducted in United States shipyards,

subject to a determination by the Maritime Administrator of

sufficient shipyard capacity.

“\(2\) Maintenance and repair targets.—The Secretary of

Transportation shall establish a target of not less than 10

percent of total maintenance and repair expenditures to be

performed in United States shipyards, increasing annually by

not less than 5 percent, unless the Maritime Administrator

determines that available yard capacity, scheduling

constraints, or operational readiness considerations warrant

adjustment.

“\(3\) Implementation.—In implementing this section, the

Secretary shall ensure that—

“\(A\) requirements remain subject to verified shipyard

capacity, workforce availability, and operational schedules;

“\(B\) enhanced domestic repair utilization strengthens

workforce continuity, preserves critical maintenance skills,

and improves surge sustainment capability supporting national

defense; and

“\(C\) implementation relies on existing contracting

structures and avoids creation of duplicative regulatory

regimes.

“\(4\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to interfere with the normal flow of commerce or

disrupt commercially necessary maintenance cycles.

“\(5\) Cost offsets.—To offset commercially reasonable cost

differentials associated with increased domestic repair

activity, the Secretary may—

“\(A\) subject to the availability of appropriations, adjust

stipend amounts paid under vessel operating agreements; and

“\(B\) with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense,

allow surcharges to be placed on certain contracts.

“\(6\) Waivers.—The Secretary of Transportation may grant

waivers or temporary deviations if—

“\(A\) compliance is not commercially feasible;

“\(B\) compliance would materially disrupt logistics

operations; or "\(C\) domestic yard capacity is unavailable.”.

\(d\) Maritime Workforce Development.—

\(1\) Maritime workforce national center of expertise.—The

Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the

Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretaries of Labor,

Homeland Security, and Defense, shall establish a “Maritime

Workforce National Center of Expertise” \(the “Center”\).

The Center shall serve as a national repository of best

practices and provide training, technical assistance, and

curriculum development support to maritime academies, trade

schools, unions, and other training providers.

\(2\) Functions of center.—The Center shall develop model

curricula for mariner and shipbuilding training, expand

simulator training capacity, support the development and

expansion of registered apprenticeship programs \(RAPS\) in

shipbuilding occupations and pre-apprenticeship programs that

lead to such RAPs, and disseminate proven practices to

universities, career and technical schools, and high schools

nationwide. The Center shall make recommendations to the

Secretaries of Transportation and Labor, and through the

Secretaries to Congress, on expanding United States mariner

training programs and shipbuilding workforce development.

\(3\) Mariner training finance plan.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

Labor and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly

develop plans to maximize the use of federal workforce

development and education funds, including Pell, Workforce

Pell, JobCorps, WIOA Adult, WIOA Dislocated Worker, and WIOA

Youth, Apprenticeship, YouthBuild, and Reentry Employment

Opportunities.

\(4\) Review of credentialing requirements.—The Commandant

of the Coast Guard, in consultation with industry

representatives, labor unions, and maritime training

institutions, shall review merchant mariner credentialing and

training requirements and submit to Congress recommendations

to streamline and accelerate training approval and credential

issuance, while maintaining safety standards.

\(5\) International training partnerships.—The Secretary of

State shall prioritize shipbuilding and mariner training in

the Department of State's educational and cultural exchange

programs, in order to strengthen the United States maritime

workforce and share best practices with allied nations.

\(6\) Consultation.—In carrying out this subsection, the

Secretary shall consult with maritime labor organizations,

industry, State maritime academies, and other training

providers.

\(7\) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection shall

be construed to alter the authorities of the Coast Guard with

respect to credentialing, safety, or enforcement.

\(e\) General Rules of Construction.—

\(1\) No effect on coastwise trade laws.—Nothing in this

section or the amendments made by this section shall be

construed to alter, amend, waive, or supersede chapter 551 of

title 46, United States Code, or any other law governing

coastwise trade.

\(2\) Preservation of other authorities.—Nothing in this

section or the amendments made by this section shall be

construed to limit any authority otherwise available under

law to the Federal Maritime Commission, the Department of

Transportation, the Maritime Administration, the Coast Guard,

the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, the Department of the Treasury, or the Department

of Justice.

\(3\) No private right of action.—Nothing in this section or

the amendments made by

this section shall be construed to create a private right of

action.

\(4\) Severability.—If any provision of this section, an

amendment made by this section, or the application of such

provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held

to be invalid, the remainder of this section, the amendments

made by this section, and the application of such provisions

and amendments to any other person or circumstance shall not

be affected thereby.

amendment no. 315 offered by mr. burlison of missouri

Add at the end of title XVII, the following new subtitle:

Subtitle C—Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection At the

National Archives and Records Administration

SEC. 1741. UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS

COLLECTION AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS

ADMINISTRATION.

\(a\) Establishment.—

\(1\) In general.—\(A\) Not later than 60 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Archivist shall commence

establishment of a collection of records in the National

Archives to be known as the “Unidentified Anomalous

Phenomena Records Collection”.

\(B\) In carrying out subparagraph \(A\), the Archivist shall

ensure the physical integrity and original provenance \(or if

indeterminate, the earliest historical owner\) of all records

in the Collection.

\(C\) The Collection shall consist of record copies of all

Government, Government-provided, or Government-funded records

relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies of

unknown origin, and non-human intelligence \(or equivalent

subjects by any other name with the specific and sole

exclusion of temporarily non-attributed objects\), which shall

be transmitted to the National Archives in accordance with

section 2107 of title 44, United States Code.

\(D\) The Archivist shall prepare and publish a subject

guidebook and index to the Collection.

\(2\) Contents.—The Collection shall include the following:

\(A\) All unidentified anomalous phenomena records,

regardless of age or date of creation—

\(i\) that have been transmitted to the National Archives or

disclosed to the public in an unredacted form prior to the

date of the enactment of this Act;

\(ii\) that are required to be transmitted to the National

Archives; and

\(iii\) that the disclosure of which is postponed under this

subtitle.

\(B\) A central directory comprised of identification aids

created for each record transmitted to the Archivist under

section 1742.

\(C\) All Review Board records as required by this subtitle.

\(b\) Disclosure of Records.—All unidentified anomalous

phenomena records transmitted to the National Archives for

disclosure to the public shall—

\(1\) be included in the Collection; and

\(2\) be available to the public—

\(A\) for inspection and copying at the National Archives

within 30 days after their transmission to the National

Archives; and

\(B\) digitally via the National Archives online database

within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 180 days

thereafter.

\(c\) Security of Records.—The National Security Program

Office at the National Archives, in consultation with the

National Archives Information Security Oversight Office,

shall establish a program to ensure the security of the

postponed unidentified anomalous phenomena records in the

protected, and yet-to-be disclosed or classified portion of

the Collection.

SEC. 1742. REVIEW, IDENTIFICATION, TRANSMISSION TO THE

NATIONAL ARCHIVES, AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF

UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS BY

GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

\(a\) Identification, Organization, and Preparation for

Transmission.—

\(1\) In general.—As soon as practicable after the date of

the enactment of this Act, each head of a Government office

shall—

\(A\) identify and organize records in the possession of the

Government office or under the control of the Government

office relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena; and

\(B\) prepare such records for transmission to the Archivist

for inclusion in the Collection.

\(2\) Prohibitions.—\(A\) No unidentified anomalous phenomena

record shall be destroyed, altered, or mutilated in any way.

\(B\) No unidentified anomalous phenomena record made

available or disclosed to the public prior to the date of

enactment of this Act may be withheld, redacted, postponed

for public disclosure, or reclassified.

\(C\) No unidentified anomalous phenomena record created by a

person or entity outside the Federal Government \(excluding

names or identities consistent with the requirements of

section 1743\) shall be withheld, redacted, postponed for

public disclosure, or reclassified.

\(b\) Custody of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records

Pending Review.—During the review by the heads of Government

offices under subsection \(c\) and pending review activity by

the Review Board, each head of a Government office shall

retain custody of the unidentified anomalous phenomena

records of the office for purposes of preservation, security,

and efficiency, unless—

\(1\) the Review Board requires the physical transfer of the

records for purposes of conducting an independent and

impartial review;

\(2\) transfer is necessary for an administrative hearing or

other Review Board function; or

\(3\) it is a third agency record described in subsection

\(c\)\(2\)\(C\).

\(c\) Review by Heads of Government Offices.—

\(1\) In general.—Not later than 300 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, each head of a Government office shall

review, identify, and organize each unidentified anomalous

phenomena record in the custody or possession of the office

for—

\(A\) disclosure to the public;

\(B\) review by the Review Board; and

\(C\) transmission to the Archivist.

\(2\) Requirements.—In carrying out paragraph \(1\), the head

of a Government office shall—

\(A\) determine which of the records of the office are

unidentified anomalous phenomena records;

\(B\) determine which of the unidentified anomalous phenomena

records of the office have been officially disclosed or made

publicly available in a complete and unredacted form;

\(C\)\(i\) determine which of the unidentified anomalous

phenomena records of the office, or particular information

contained in such a record, was created by a third agency or

by another Government office; and

\(ii\) transmit to a third agency or other Government office

those records, or particular information contained in those

records, or complete and accurate copies thereof;

\(D\)\(i\) determine whether the unidentified anomalous

phenomena records of the office or particular information in

unidentified anomalous phenomena records of the office are

covered by the standards for postponement of public

disclosure under this subtitle and

\(ii\) specify on the identification aid required by

subsection \(d\) the applicable postponement provision

contained in section 1743;

\(E\) organize and make available to the Review Board all

unidentified anomalous phenomena records identified under

subparagraph \(D\) the public disclosure of, which in-whole or

in-part, may be postponed under this subtitle;

\(F\) organize and make available to the Review Board any

record concerning which the office has any uncertainty as to

whether the record is an unidentified anomalous phenomena

record governed by this subtitle;

\(G\) give precedence of work to—

\(i\) the identification, review, and transmission of

unidentified anomalous phenomena records not already publicly

available or disclosed as of the date of enactment of this

Act;

\(ii\) the identification, review, and transmission of all

records that most unambiguously and definitively pertain to

unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown

origin, and non-human intelligence;

\(iii\) the identification, review, and transmission of

unidentified anomalous phenomena records that on the date of

enactment of this Act are the subject of litigation under

section 552 of title 5, United States Code; and

\(iv\) the identification, review, and transmission of

unidentified anomalous phenomena records with earliest

provenance when not inconsistent with clauses \(i\) through

\(iii\) and otherwise feasible; and

\(H\) make available to the Review Board any additional

information and records that the Review Board has reason to

believe the Review Board requires for conducting a review

under this subtitle.

\(3\) Priority of expedited review for directors of certain

archival depositories.—The Director of each archival

depository established under section 2112 of title 44, United

States Code, shall have as a priority the expedited review

for public disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena

records in the possession and custody of the depository, and

shall make such records available to the Review Board as

required by this subtitle.

\(d\) Identification Aids.—

\(1\) In general.—\(A\) Not later than 45 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Archivist, in consultation with

the heads of such Government offices as the Archivist

considers appropriate, shall prepare and make available to

all Government offices a standard form of identification, or

finding aid, for use with each unidentified anomalous

phenomena record subject to review under this subtitle

whether in hardcopy \(physical\), softcopy \(electronic\), or

digitized data format as may be appropriate.

\(B\) The Archivist shall ensure that the identification aid

program is established in such a manner as to result in the

creation of a uniform system for cataloging and finding every

unidentified anomalous phenomena record subject to review

under this subtitle where ever and how ever stored in

hardcopy \(physical\), softcopy \(electronic\), or digitized data

format.

\(2\) Requirements for government offices.—Upon completion

of an identification aid using the standard form of

identification prepared and made available under subparagraph

\(A\) of paragraph \(1\)\) for the program established pursuant to

subparagraph \(B\) of such paragraph, the head of a Government

office shall—

\(A\) attach a printed copy to each physical unidentified

anomalous phenomena record, and an electronic copy to each

softcopy or digitized data unidentified anomalous phenomena

record, the identification aid describes;

\(B\) transmit to the Review Board a printed copy for each

physical unidentified anomalous phenomena record and an

electronic copy for each softcopy or digitized data

unidentified anomalous phenomena record the identification

aid describes; and

\(C\) attach a printed copy to each physical unidentified

anomalous phenomena record, and an electronic copy to each

softcopy or digitized data unidentified anomalous phenomena

record the identification aid describes, when transmitted to

the Archivist.

\(3\) Records of the national archives that are publicly

available.—Unidentified anomalous phenomena records which

are in the possession of the National Archives on the date of

enactment of this Act, and which have been publicly available

in their entirety without redaction, shall be made available

in the Collection without any additional review by the Review

Board or another authorized office under this subtitle, and

shall not be required to have such an identification aid

unless required by the Archivist.

\(e\) Transmission to the National Archives.—Each head of a

Government office shall—

\(1\) transmit to the Archivist, and make immediately

available to the public, all unidentified anomalous phenomena

records of the Government office that can be publicly

disclosed, including those that are publicly available on the

date of enactment of this Act, without any redaction,

adjustment, or withholding under the standards of this

subtitle; and

\(2\) transmit to the Archivist upon approval for

postponement by the Review Board or upon completion of other

action authorized by this subtitle, all unidentified

anomalous phenomena records of the Government office the

public disclosure of which has been postponed, in whole or in

part, under the standards of this subtitle, to become part of

the protected, yet-to-be disclosed, or classified portion of

the Collection.

\(f\) Custody of Postponed Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

Records.—An unidentified anomalous phenomena record the

public disclosure of which has been postponed shall, pending

transmission to the Archivist, be held for reasons of

security and preservation by the originating body until such

time as the information security program has been established

at the National Archives as required in section 1741\(c\).

\(g\) Periodic Review of Postponed Unidentified Anomalous

Phenomena Records.—

\(1\) In general.—All postponed or redacted records shall be

reviewed periodically by the originating agency and the

Archivist consistent with the recommendations of the Review

Board in the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan under

section 1746\(c\)\(3\)\(B\).

\(2\) Requirements.—\(A\) A periodic review under paragraph

\(1\) shall address the public disclosure of additional

unidentified anomalous phenomena records in the Collection

under the standards of this subtitle.

\(B\) All postponed unidentified anomalous phenomena records

determined to require continued postponement shall require an

unclassified written description of the reason for such

continued postponement relevant to these specific records.

Such description shall be provided to the Archivist and

published in the Federal Register upon determination.

\(C\) The time and release requirements specified in the

Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan shall be revised or

amended only if the Review Board is still in session and

concurs with the rationale for postponement, subject to the

limitations in section 1746\(d\)\(1\).

\(D\) The periodic review of postponed unidentified anomalous

phenomena records shall serve to downgrade and declassify

security classified information.

\(E\) Each unidentified anomalous phenomena record shall be

publicly disclosed in full, and available in the Collection,

not later than the date that is 25 years after the date of

the first creation of the record by the originating body,

unless the President certifies, as required by this subtitle,

that—

\(i\) continued postponement is made necessary by an

identifiable harm to the military defense, intelligence

operations, law enforcement, or conduct of foreign relations;

and

\(ii\) the identifiable harm is of such gravity that it

outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

\(h\) Requirements for Executive Agencies.—

\(1\) In general.—The heads of Executive agencies shall—

\(A\) transmit digital records electronically in accordance

with section 2107 of title 44, United States Code;

\(B\) charge fees for copying unidentified anomalous

phenomena records; and

\(C\) grant waivers of such fees pursuant to the standards

established by section 552\(a\)\(4\) of title 5, United States

Code.

\(2\) Amount of fees.—The amount of a fee charged by the

head of an Executive agency pursuant to paragraph \(1\)\(B\) for

the copying of an unidentified anomalous phenomena record

shall be such amount as the head determines appropriate to

cover the costs incurred by the Executive agency in making

and providing such copy, except that in no case may the

amount of the fee charged exceed the actual expenses incurred

by the Executive agency in making and providing such copy.

SEC. 1743. GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF

UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS.

Disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena records or

particular information in unidentified anomalous phenomena

records to the public may be postponed subject to the

limitations of this subtitle if there is clear and convincing

evidence that—

\(1\) the threat to the military defense, intelligence

operations, or conduct of foreign relations of the United

States posed by the public disclosure of the unidentified

anomalous phenomena record is of such gravity that it

outweighs the public interest in disclosure, and such public

disclosure would reveal—

\(A\) an intelligence agent whose identity currently requires

protection;

\(B\) an intelligence source or method which is currently

utilized, or reasonably expected to be utilized, by the

Federal Government and which has not been officially

disclosed, the disclosure of which would interfere with the

conduct of intelligence activities; or

\(C\) any other matter currently relating to the military

defense, intelligence operations, or conduct of foreign

relations of the United States, the disclosure of which would

demonstrably and substantially impair the national security

of the United States;

\(2\) the public disclosure of the unidentified anomalous

phenomena record would reveal the name or identity of a

living person who provided confidential information to the

Federal Government and would pose a substantial risk of harm

to that person;

\(3\) the public disclosure of the unidentified anomalous

phenomena record could reasonably be expected to constitute

an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, and that

invasion of privacy is so substantial that it outweighs the

public interest; or

\(4\) the public disclosure of the unidentified anomalous

phenomena record would compromise the existence of an

understanding of confidentiality currently requiring

protection between a Federal Government agent and a

cooperating individual or a foreign government, and public

disclosure would be so harmful that it outweighs the public

interest.

SEC. 1744. ESTABLISHMENT AND POWERS OF THE UNIDENTIFIED

ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS REVIEW BOARD.

\(a\) Establishment.—There is established as an independent

agency a board to be known as the “Unidentified Anomalous

Phenomena Records Review Board”.

\(b\) Appointment.—

\(1\) In general.—The President, by and with the advice and

consent of the Senate, shall appoint, without regard to

political affiliation, 9 citizens of the United States to

serve as members of the Review Board to ensure and facilitate

the review, transmission to the Archivist, and public

disclosure of government records relating to unidentified

anomalous phenomena.

\(2\) Period for nominations.—\(A\) The President shall make

nominations to the Review Board not later than 90 calendar

days after the date of enactment of this Act.

\(B\) If the Senate votes not to confirm a nomination to the

Review Board, the President shall make an additional

nomination not later than 30 days thereafter.

\(3\) Consideration of recommendations.—\(A\) The President

shall make nominations to the Review Board after considering

persons recommended by the following:

\(i\) The majority leader of the Senate.

\(ii\) The minority leader of the Senate.

\(iii\) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

\(iv\) The minority leader of the House of Representatives.

\(v\) The Secretary of Defense.

\(vi\) The National Academy of Sciences.

\(vii\) Established nonprofit research organizations relating

to unidentified anomalous phenomena.

\(viii\) The American Historical Association.

\(ix\) Such other persons and organizations as the President

considers appropriate.

\(B\) If an individual or organization described in

subparagraph \(A\) does not recommend at least 2 nominees

meeting the qualifications stated in paragraph \(5\) by the

date that is 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act,

the President shall consider for nomination the persons

recommended by the other individuals and organizations

described in such subparagraph.

\(C\) The President may request an individual or organization

described in subparagraph \(A\) to submit additional

nominations.

\(4\) Qualifications.—Persons nominated to the Review

Board—

\(A\) shall be impartial citizens, none of whom shall have

had any previous or current involvement with any legacy

program or controlling authority relating to the collection,

exploitation, or reverse engineering of technologies of

unknown origin or the examination of biological evidence of

living or deceased non-human intelligence;

\(B\) shall be distinguished persons of high national

professional reputation in their respective fields who are

capable of exercising the independent and objective judgment

necessary to the fulfillment of their role in ensuring and

facilitating the review, transmission to the public, and

public disclosure of records related to the government's

understanding of, and activities associated with unidentified

anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, and non-

human intelligence and who possess an appreciation

of the value of such material to the public, scholars, and

government; and

\(C\) shall include at least—

\(i\) 1 current or former national security official;

\(ii\) 1 current or former foreign service official;

\(iii\) 1 scientist or engineer;

\(iv\) 1 economist;

\(v\) 1 professional historian; and

\(vi\) 1 sociologist.

\(5\) Mandatory conflicts of interest review.—

\(A\) In general.—The Director shall conduct a review of

each individual nominated and appointed to the position of

member of the Review Board to ensure the member does not have

any conflict of interest during the term of the service of

the member.

\(B\) Reports.—During the course of the review under

subparagraph \(A\), if the Director becomes aware that the

member being reviewed possesses a conflict of interest to the

mission of the Review Board, the Director shall, not later

than 30 days after the date on which the Director became

aware of the conflict of interest, submit to the Committee on

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House

of Representatives a report on the conflict of interest.

\(c\) Security Clearances.—

\(1\) In general.—All Review Board nominees shall be granted

the necessary security clearances and accesses, including any

and all relevant Presidential, departmental, and agency

special access programs, in an accelerated manner subject to

the standard procedures for granting such clearances.

\(2\) Qualification for nominees.—All nominees for

appointment to the Review Board under subsection \(b\) shall

qualify for the necessary security clearances and accesses

prior to being considered for confirmation by the Committee

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

\(d\) Vacancy.—A vacancy on the Review Board shall be filled

in the same manner as specified for original appointment

within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

\(e\) Removal of Review Board Member.—

\(1\) In general.—No member of the Review Board shall be

removed from office, other than—

\(A\) by impeachment and conviction; or

\(B\) by the action of the President for inefficiency,

neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, physical disability,

mental incapacity, or any other condition that substantially

impairs the performance of the member's duties.

\(2\) Notice of removal.—\(A\) If a member of the Review Board

is removed from office, and that removal is by the President,

not later than 10 days after the removal, the President shall

submit to the leadership of Congress, the Committee on

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House

of Representatives a report specifying the facts found and

the grounds for the removal.

\(B\) The President shall publish in the Federal Register a

report submitted under subparagraph \(A\), except that the

President may, if necessary to protect the rights of a person

named in the report or to prevent undue interference with any

pending prosecution, postpone or refrain from publishing any

or all of the report until the completion of such pending

cases or pursuant to privacy protection requirements in law.

\(3\) Judicial review.—\(A\) A member of the Review Board

removed from office may obtain judicial review of the removal

in a civil action commenced in the United States District

Court for the District of Columbia.

\(B\) The member may be reinstated or granted other

appropriate relief by order of the court.

\(f\) Compensation of Members.—

\(1\) In general.—A member of the Review Board, other than

the Executive Director under section 1745\(c\)\(1\), shall be

compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the

annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the

Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United

States Code, for each day \(including travel time\) during

which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties

of the Review Board.

\(2\) Travel expenses.—A member of the Review Board shall be

allowed reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in

lieu of subsistence, at rates for employees of agencies under

subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code,

while away from the member's home or regular place of

business in the performance of services for the Review Board.

\(g\) Duties of the Review Board.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board shall consider and render

decisions on a determination by a Government office to seek

to postpone the disclosure of unidentified anomalous

phenomena records.

\(2\) Considerations and rendering of decisions.—In carrying

out paragraph \(1\), the Review Board shall consider and render

decisions—

\(A\) whether a record constitutes a unidentified anomalous

phenomena record; and

\(B\) whether a unidentified anomalous phenomena record or

particular information in a record qualifies for postponement

of disclosure under this subtitle.

\(h\) Powers.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board shall have the authority

to act in a manner prescribed under this subtitle, including

authority—

\(A\) to direct Government offices to complete identification

aids and organize unidentified anomalous phenomena records;

\(B\) to direct Government offices to transmit to the

Archivist unidentified anomalous phenomena records as

required under this subtitle, including segregable portions

of unidentified anomalous phenomena records and substitutes

and summaries of unidentified anomalous phenomena records

that can be publicly disclosed to the fullest extent;

\(C\)\(i\) to obtain access to unidentified anomalous phenomena

records that have been identified and organized by a

Government office;

\(ii\) to direct a Government office to make available to the

Review Board, and if necessary investigate the facts

surrounding, additional information, records, or testimony

from individuals which the Review Board has reason to believe

are required to fulfill its functions and responsibilities

under this subtitle; and

\(iii\) request the Attorney General to subpoena private

persons to compel testimony, records, and other information

relevant to its responsibilities under this subtitle;

\(D\) require any Government office to account in writing for

the destruction of any records relating to unidentified

anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, or non-

human intelligence;

\(E\) receive information from the public regarding the

identification and public disclosure of unidentified

anomalous phenomena records;

\(F\) hold hearings, administer oaths, and subpoena witnesses

and documents;

\(G\) use the Federal Acquisition Service in the same manner

and under the same conditions as other Executive agencies;

and

\(H\) use the United States mails in the same manner and

under the same conditions as other Executive agencies.

\(2\) Enforcement of subpoena.—A subpoena issued under

paragraph \(1\)\(C\)\(iii\) may be enforced by any appropriate

Federal court acting pursuant to a lawful request of the

Review Board.

\(i\) Witness Immunity.—The Review Board shall be considered

to be an agency of the United States for purposes of section

6001 of title 18, United States Code. Witnesses, close

observers, and whistleblowers providing information directly

to the Review Board shall also be afforded the protections

provided to such persons specified under section 1673\(b\) of

the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2023 \(50 U.S.C. 3373b\(b\)\).

\(j\) Support Services.—The Administrator of the General

Services Administration shall provide administrative services

for the Review Board on a reimbursable basis.

\(k\) Interpretive Regulations.—The Review Board may issue

interpretive regulations.

\(l\) Termination and Winding Down.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board and the terms of its

members shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

\(2\) Reports.—Upon its termination, the Review Board shall

submit to the President and Congress reports, including a

complete and accurate accounting of expenditures during its

existence and shall complete all other reporting requirements

under this subtitle.

\(3\) Transfer of records.—Upon termination and winding

down, the Review Board shall transfer all of its records to

the Archivist for inclusion in the Collection, and no record

of the Review Board shall be destroyed.

SEC. 1745. UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS REVIEW

BOARD PERSONNEL.

\(a\) Executive Director.—

\(1\) Appointment.—Not later than 45 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint 1 citizen

of the United States, without regard to political

affiliation, to the position of Executive Director of the

Review Board. This position counts as 1 of the 9 Review Board

members under section 1744\(b\)\(1\).

\(2\) Qualifications.—The person appointed as Executive

Director shall be a private citizen of integrity and

impartiality who—

\(A\) is a distinguished professional; and

\(B\) is not a present employee of the Federal Government;

and

\(C\) has had no previous or current involvement with any

legacy program or controlling authority relating to the

collection, exploitation, or reverse engineering of

technologies of unknown origin or the examination of

biological evidence of living or deceased non-human

intelligence.

\(3\) Mandatory conflicts of interest review.—

\(A\) In general.—The Director shall conduct a review of

each individual appointed to the position of Executive

Director to ensure the Executive Director does not have any

conflict of interest during the term of the service of the

Executive Director.

\(B\) Reports.—During the course of the review under

subparagraph \(A\), if the Director becomes aware that the

Executive Director possesses a conflict of interest to the

mission of the Review Board, the Director shall, not later

than 30 days after the date on which the Director became

aware of the conflict of interest, submit to the Committee on

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House

of Representatives a report on the conflict of interest.

\(4\) Security clearances.—\(A\) A candidate for Executive

Director shall be granted all the necessary security

clearances and accesses, including to relevant Presidential

and department or agency special access and compartmented

access programs in an accelerated manner subject to the

standard procedures for granting such clearances.

\(B\) A candidate shall qualify for the necessary security

clearances and accesses prior to being appointed by the

President.

\(5\) Functions.—The Executive Director shall—

\(A\) serve as principal liaison to the Executive Office of

the President and Congress;

\(B\) serve as Chairperson of the Review Board;

\(C\) be responsible for the administration and coordination

of the Review Board's review of records;

\(D\) be responsible for the administration of all official

activities conducted by the Review Board;

\(E\) exercise tie-breaking Review Board authority to decide

or determine whether any record should be disclosed to the

public or postponed for disclosure; and

\(F\) retain right-of-appeal directly to the President for

decisions pertaining to executive branch unidentified

anomalous phenomena records for which the Executive Director

and Review Board members may disagree.

\(6\) Removal.—The Executive Director shall not be removed

for reasons other for cause on the grounds of inefficiency,

neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, physical disability,

mental incapacity, or any other condition that substantially

impairs the performance of the responsibilities of the

Executive Director or the staff of the Review Board.

\(b\) Staff.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board, without regard to the

civil service laws, may appoint and terminate additional

personnel as are necessary to enable the Review Board and its

Executive Director to perform the duties of the Review Board.

\(2\) Qualifications.—

\(A\) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph \(B\), a

person appointed to the staff of the Review Board shall be a

citizen of integrity and impartiality who has had no previous

or current involvement with any legacy program or controlling

authority relating to the collection, exploitation, or

reverse engineering of technologies of unknown origin or the

examination of biological evidence of living or deceased non-

human intelligence.

\(B\) Consultation with director of the office of government

ethics.—In their consideration of persons to be appointed as

staff of the Review Board under paragraph \(1\), the Review

Board shall consult with the Director—

\(i\) to determine criteria for possible conflicts of

interest of staff of the Review Board, consistent with ethics

laws, statutes, and regulations for employees of the

executive branch of the Federal Government; and

\(ii\) ensure that no person selected for such position of

staff of the Review Board possesses a conflict of interests

in accordance with the criteria determined pursuant to clause

\(i\).

\(3\) Security clearances.—\(A\) A candidate for staff shall

be granted the necessary security clearances \(including all

necessary special access program clearances\) in an

accelerated manner subject to the standard procedures for

granting such clearances.

\(B\)\(i\) The Review Board may offer conditional employment to

a candidate for a staff position pending the completion of

security clearance background investigations. During the

pendency of such investigations, the Review Board shall

ensure that any such employee does not have access to, or

responsibility involving, classified or otherwise restricted

unidentified anomalous phenomena record materials.

\(ii\) If a person hired on a conditional basis under clause

\(i\) is denied or otherwise does not qualify for all security

clearances necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the

position for which conditional employment has been offered,

the Review Board shall immediately terminate the person's

employment.

\(4\) Support from national declassification center.—The

Archivist shall assign one representative in full-time

equivalent status from the National Declassification Center

to advise and support the Review Board disclosure

postponement review process in a non-voting staff capacity.

\(c\) Compensation.—Subject to such rules as may be adopted

by the Review Board, without regard to the provisions of

title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the

competitive service and without regard to the provisions of

chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title

relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates—

\(1\) the Executive Director shall be compensated at a rate

not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level II of the

Executive Schedule and shall serve the entire tenure as one

full-time equivalent; and

\(2\) the Executive Director shall appoint and fix

compensation of such other personnel as may be necessary to

carry out this subtitle.

\(d\) Advisory Committees.—

\(1\) Authority.—The Review Board may create advisory

committees to assist in fulfilling the responsibilities of

the Review Board under this subtitle.

\(2\) FACA.—Any advisory committee created by the Review

Board shall be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United

States Code.

\(e\) Security Clearance Required.—An individual employed in

any position by the Review Board \(including an individual

appointed as Executive Director\) shall be required to qualify

for any necessary security clearance prior to taking office

in that position, but may be employed conditionally in

accordance with subsection \(b\)\(3\)\(B\) before qualifying for

that clearance.

SEC. 1746. REVIEW OF RECORDS BY THE UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS

PHENOMENA RECORDS REVIEW BOARD.

\(a\) Custody of Records Reviewed by Review Board.—Pending

the outcome of a review of activity by the Review Board, a

Government office shall retain custody of its unidentified

anomalous phenomena records for purposes of preservation,

security, and efficiency, unless—

\(1\) the Review Board requires the physical transfer of

records for reasons of conducting an independent and

impartial review; or

\(2\) such transfer is necessary for an administrative

hearing or other official Review Board function.

\(b\) Startup Requirements.—The Review Board shall—

\(1\) not later than 90 days after the date of its

appointment, publish a schedule in the Federal Register for

review of all unidentified anomalous phenomena records;

\(2\) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of

this Act, begin its review of unidentified anomalous

phenomena records under this subtitle; and

\(3\) periodically thereafter as warranted, but not less

frequently than semiannually, publish a revised schedule in

the Federal Register addressing the review and inclusion of

any unidentified anomalous phenomena records subsequently

discovered.

\(c\) Determinations of the Review Board.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board shall direct that all

unidentified anomalous phenomena records be transmitted to

the Archivist and disclosed to the public in the Collection

in the absence of clear and convincing evidence that—

\(A\) a Government record is not an unidentified anomalous

phenomena record; or

\(B\) a Government record, or particular information within

an unidentified anomalous phenomena record, qualifies for

postponement of public disclosure under this subtitle.

\(2\) Requirements.—In approving postponement of public

disclosure of a unidentified anomalous phenomena record, the

Review Board shall seek to—

\(A\) provide for the disclosure of segregable parts,

substitutes, or summaries of such a record; and

\(B\) determine, in consultation with the originating body

and consistent with the standards for postponement under this

subtitle, which of the following alternative forms of

disclosure shall be made by the originating body:

\(i\) Any reasonably segregable particular information in a

unidentified anomalous phenomena record.

\(ii\) A substitute record for that information which is

postponed.

\(iii\) A summary of a unidentified anomalous phenomena

record.

\(3\) Controlled disclosure campaign plan.—With respect to

unidentified anomalous phenomena records, particular

information in unidentified anomalous phenomena records,

recovered technologies of unknown origin, and biological

evidence for non-human intelligence the public disclosure of

which is postponed pursuant to section 1743, or for which

only substitutions or summaries have been disclosed to the

public, the Review Board shall create and transmit to the

President, the Archivist, the Committee on Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on

Oversight and Government Reform of the House of

Representatives a Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan, with

classified appendix, containing—

\(A\) a description of actions by the Review Board, the

originating body, the President, or any Government office

\(including a justification of any such action to postpone

disclosure of any record or part of any record\) and of any

official proceedings conducted by the Review Board with

regard to specific unidentified anomalous phenomena records;

and

\(B\) a benchmark-driven plan, based upon a review of the

proceedings and in conformity with the decisions reflected

therein, recommending precise requirements for periodic

review, downgrading, and declassification as well as the

exact time or specified occurrence following which each

postponed item may be appropriately disclosed to the public

under this subtitle.

\(4\) Notice following review and determination.—\(A\)

Following its review and a determination that a unidentified

anomalous phenomena record shall be publicly disclosed in the

Collection or postponed for disclosure and held in the

protected Collection, the Review Board shall notify the head

of the originating body of the determination of the Review

Board and publish a copy of the determination in the Federal

Register within 14 days after the determination is made.

\(B\) Contemporaneous notice shall be made to the President

for Review Board determinations regarding unidentified

anomalous phenomena records of the executive branch of the

Federal Government, and to the oversight committees

designated in this subtitle in the case of records of the

legislative

branch of the Federal Government. Such notice shall contain a

written unclassified justification for public disclosure or

postponement of disclosure, including an explanation of the

application of any standards contained in section 1743.

\(d\) Presidential Authority Over Review Board

Determination.—

\(1\) Public disclosure or postponement of disclosure.—After

the Review Board has made a formal determination concerning

the public disclosure or postponement of disclosure of an

unidentified anomalous phenomena record of the executive

branch of the Federal Government or information within such a

record, or of any information contained in a unidentified

anomalous phenomena record, obtained or developed solely

within the executive branch of the Federal Government, the

President shall—

\(A\) have the sole and nondelegable authority to require the

disclosure or postponement of such record or information

under the standards set forth in section 1743; and

\(B\) provide the Review Board with both an unclassified and

classified written certification specifying the President's

decision within 30 days after the Review Board's

determination and notice to the executive branch agency as

required under this subtitle, stating the justification for

the President's decision, including the applicable grounds

for postponement under section 1743, accompanied by a copy of

the identification aid required under section 1741.

\(2\) Periodic review.—\(A\) Any unidentified anomalous

phenomena record postponed by the President shall henceforth

be subject to the requirements of periodic review,

downgrading, declassification, and public disclosure in

accordance with the recommended timeline and associated

requirements specified in the Controlled Disclosure Campaign

Plan unless these conflict with the standards set forth in

section 1743.

\(B\) This paragraph supersedes all prior declassification

review standards that may previously have been deemed

applicable to unidentified anomalous phenomena records.

\(3\) Record of presidential postponement.—The Review Board

shall, upon its receipt—

\(A\) publish in the Federal Register a copy of any

unclassified written certification, statement, and other

materials transmitted by or on behalf of the President with

regard to postponement of unidentified anomalous phenomena

records; and

\(B\) revise or amend recommendations in the Controlled

Disclosure Campaign Plan accordingly.

\(e\) Notice to Public.—Every 30 calendar days, beginning on

the date that is 60 calendar days after the date on which the

Review Board first approves the postponement of disclosure of

a unidentified anomalous phenomena record, the Review Board

shall publish in the Federal Register a notice that

summarizes the postponements approved by the Review Board or

initiated by the President, the Senate, or the House of

Representatives, including a description of the subject,

originating agency, length or other physical description, and

each ground for postponement that is relied upon to the

maximum extent classification restrictions permitting.

\(f\) Reports by the Review Board.—

\(1\) In general.—The Review Board shall report its

activities to the leadership of Congress, the Committee on

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of

Representatives, the President, the Archivist, and the head

of any Government office whose records have been the subject

of Review Board activity.

\(2\) First report.—The first report shall be issued on the

date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,

and subsequent reports every 1 year thereafter until

termination of the Review Board.

\(3\) Contents.—A report under paragraph \(1\) shall include

the following information:

\(A\) A financial report of the expenses for all official

activities and requirements of the Review Board and its

personnel.

\(B\) The progress made on review, transmission to the

Archivist, and public disclosure of unidentified anomalous

phenomena records.

\(C\) The estimated time and volume of unidentified anomalous

phenomena records involved in the completion of the Review

Board's performance under this subtitle.

\(D\) Any special problems, including requests and the level

of cooperation of Government offices, with regard to the

ability of the Review Board to operate as required by this

subtitle.

\(E\) A record of review activities, including a record of

postponement decisions by the Review Board or other related

actions authorized by this subtitle, and a record of the

volume of records reviewed and postponed.

\(F\) Suggestions and requests to Congress for additional

legislative authority needs.

\(4\) Copies and briefs.—Coincident with the reporting

requirements in paragraph \(2\), or more frequently as

warranted by new information, the Review Board shall provide

copies to, and fully brief, at a minimum the President, the

Archivist, leadership of Congress, the Chairmen and Ranking

Members of the Committee on Homeland Security and

Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on

Oversight and Government Reform of the House of

Representatives, and the Chairs and Chairmen, as the case may

be, and Ranking Members and Vice Chairmen, as the case may

be, of such other committees as leadership of Congress

determines appropriate on the Controlled Disclosure Campaign

Plan, classified appendix, and postponed disclosures,

specifically addressing—

\(A\) recommendations for periodic review, downgrading, and

declassification as well as the exact time or specified

occurrence following which specific unidentified anomalous

phenomena records and material may be appropriately

disclosed;

\(B\) the rationale behind each postponement determination

and the recommended means to achieve disclosure of each

postponed item;

\(C\) any other findings that the Review Board chooses to

offer; and

\(D\) an addendum containing copies of reports of postponed

records to the Archivist required under subsection \(c\)\(3\)

made since the date of the preceding report under this

subsection.

\(5\) Notice.—At least 90 calendar days before completing

its work, the Review Board shall provide written notice to

the President and Congress of its intention to terminate its

operations at a specified date.

\(6\) Briefing the all-domain anomaly resolution office.—

Coincident with the provision in paragraph \(5\), if not

accomplished earlier under paragraph \(4\), the Review Board

shall brief the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office

established pursuant to section 1683 of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 \(50 U.S.C. 3373\), or

any successor Office established by law, on the Controlled

Disclosure Campaign Plan, classified appendix, and postponed

disclosures.

SEC. 1747. DISCLOSURE OF RECOVERED TECHNOLOGIES OF UNKNOWN

ORIGIN AND BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF NON-HUMAN

INTELLIGENCE.

\(a\) Exercise of Eminent Domain.—The Federal Government

shall exercise eminent domain over any and all recovered

technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of

non-human intelligence that may be controlled by private

persons or entities in the interests of the public good.

\(b\) Availability to Review Board.—Any and all such

material, should it exist, shall be made available to the

Review Board for personal examination and subsequent

disclosure determination at a location suitable to the

controlling authority of said material and in a timely manner

conducive to the objectives of the Review Board in accordance

with the requirements of this subtitle.

\(c\) Actions of Review Board.—In carrying out subsection

\(b\), the Review Board shall consider and render decisions—

\(1\) whether the material examined constitutes technologies

of unknown origin or biological evidence of non-human

intelligence beyond a reasonable doubt;

\(2\) whether recovered technologies of unknown origin,

biological evidence of non-human intelligence, or a

particular subset of material qualifies for postponement of

disclosure under this subtitle; and

\(3\) what changes, if any, to the current disposition of

said material should the Federal Government make to

facilitate full disclosure.

\(d\) Review Board Access to Testimony and Witnesses.—The

Review Board shall have access to all testimony from

unidentified anomalous phenomena witnesses, close observers

and legacy program personnel and whistleblowers within the

Federal Government's possession as of and after the date of

enactment of this Act in furtherance of Review Board

disclosure determination responsibilities in section 1744\(g\)

and subsection \(c\) of this section.

\(e\) Solicitation of Additional Witnesses.—The Review Board

shall solicit additional unidentified anomalous phenomena

witness and whistleblower testimony and afford protections

under section 1673\(b\) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 \(50 U.S.C. 3373b\(b\)\)

if deemed beneficial in fulfilling Review Board

responsibilities under this subtitle.

SEC. 1748. DISCLOSURE OF OTHER MATERIALS AND ADDITIONAL

STUDY.

\(a\) Materials Under Seal of Court.—

\(1\) Information held under seal of a court.—The Review

Board may request the Attorney General to petition any court

in the United States or abroad to release any information

relevant to unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies of

unknown origin, or non-human intelligence that is held under

seal of the court.

\(2\) Information held under injunction of secretary of grand

jury.—\(A\) The Review Board may request the Attorney General

to petition any court in the United States to release any

information relevant to unidentified anomalous phenomena,

technologies of unknown origin, or non-human intelligence

that is held under the injunction of secrecy of a grand jury.

\(B\) A request for disclosure of unidentified anomalous

phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, and non-human

intelligence materials under this subtitle shall be deemed to

constitute a showing of particularized need under rule 6 of

the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

\(b\) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of the Congress

that—

\(1\) the Attorney General should assist the Review Board in

good faith to unseal any records that the Review Board

determines to be relevant and held under seal by a court or

under the injunction of secrecy of a grand jury;

\(2\) the Secretary of State should contact any foreign

government that may hold material relevant to unidentified

anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, or

non-human intelligence and seek disclosure of such material;

and

\(3\) all heads of Executive agencies should cooperate in

full with the Review Board to seek the disclosure of all

material relevant to unidentified anomalous phenomena,

technologies of unknown origin, and non-human intelligence

consistent with the public interest.

SEC. 1749. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

\(a\) Precedence Over Other Law.—When this subtitle requires

transmission of a record to the Archivist or public

disclosure, it shall take precedence over any other provision

of law \(except section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of

1986 specifying confidentiality and disclosure of tax returns

and tax return information\), judicial decision construing

such provision of law, or common law doctrine that would

otherwise prohibit such transmission or disclosure, with the

exception of deeds governing access to or transfer or release

of gifts and donations of records to the United States

Government.

\(b\) Freedom of Information Act.—Nothing in this subtitle

shall be construed to eliminate or limit any right to file

requests with any executive agency or seek judicial review of

the decisions pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United

States Code.

\(c\) Judicial Review.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be

construed to preclude judicial review, under chapter 7 of

title 5, United States Code, of final actions taken or

required to be taken under this subtitle.

\(d\) Existing Authority.—Nothing in this subtitle revokes

or limits the existing authority of the President, any

executive agency, the Senate, or the House of

Representatives, or any other entity of the Federal

Government to publicly disclose records in its possession.

SEC. 1750. TERMINATION AND EFFECT OF ACT.

\(a\) Provisions Pertaining to the Review Board.—The

provisions of this subtitle that pertain to the appointment

and operation of the Review Board shall cease to be effective

when the Review Board and the terms of its members have

terminated pursuant to section 1744\(l\).

\(b\) Other Provisions.—\(1\) The remaining provisions of this

subtitle shall continue in effect until such time as the

Archivist certifies to the President and Congress that all

unidentified anomalous phenomena records have been made

available to the public in accordance with this subtitle.

\(2\) In facilitation of the provision in paragraph \(1\), the

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office established pursuant to

section 1683 of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2022 \(50 U.S.C. 3373\), or its successor as

subsequently designated by Act of Congress, shall develop

standardized unidentified anomalous phenomena

declassification guidance applicable to any and all

unidentified anomalous phenomena records generated by

originating bodies subsequent to termination of the Review

Board consistent with the requirements and intent of the

Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan with respect to

unidentified anomalous phenomena records originated prior to

Review Board termination.

SEC. 1751. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the

provisions of this subtitle $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

SEC. 1752. CONFORMING REPEAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.

\(a\) Repeal.—

\(1\) In general.—Subtitle C of title XVIII of the National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law

118-31\) is hereby repealed.

\(2\) Clerical amendment.—The table of contents in section 2

of such Act is amended by striking the items relating to

subtitle C of title XVIII.

\(b\) Automatic Inclusion and Transfer of Certain Records.—

On the date of enactment of this Act—

\(1\) any record placed in, transmitted to, identified for

inclusion in, cataloged for, or otherwise processed for

inclusion in the collection established by subtitle C of

title XVIII of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31\) shall be deemed an

“Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena record” for purposes of

this subtitle; and

\(2\) the Archivist shall transfer the custody and

administrative control of all such records \(together with all

related metadata, indexes, finding aids, processing notes,

redaction logs, correspondence, and unique identifiers\) to

such collection without any further identification,

certification, or action by the originating agency.

\(c\) Continuation of Pending Actions.—Any identification,

search, review, segregation, or transmission required under

subtitle C of title XVIII of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31\)

that is pending on the date of enactment shall continue

without interruption and be completed in accordance with this

subtitle.

\(d\) Deadlines.—All deadlines applicable to the records

described under subsection \(b\)\(1\) shall run from the date of

enactment of this Act unless an earlier date would result in

earlier public disclosure, in which case the earlier date

governs.

\(e\) Public Release.—Any record released, whether

unredacted or redacted, to the public under subtitle C of

title XVIII of the National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31\) shall remain publicly

available. Nothing in this subtitle authorizes re-imposition

of redactions or restrictions on records already made public.

\(f\) References.—Any reference in law, regulation,

directive, or other document to the collection established

under subtitle C of title XVIII of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 \(Public Law 118-31\)

shall be deemed a reference to the Collection.

\(g\) Inventory and Mapping.—Not later than 30 days of after

the date of enactment of this Act, the Archivist shall

publish an inventory mapping prior collection identifiers to

the new Collection identifiers, and shall maintain continuity

of public access links.

SEC. 1753. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle:

\(1\) The term “Archivist” means the Archivist of the

United States.

\(2\) The term “close observer” means anyone who has come

into close proximity to unidentified anomalous phenomena or

non-human intelligence.

\(3\) The term “Collection” means the Unidentified

Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection established under

section 1741.

\(4\) The term “Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan” means

the Controlled Disclosure Campaign Plan required by section

1746\(c\)\(3\).

\(5\) The term “controlling authority” means any Federal,

State, or local government department, office, agency,

committee, commission, commercial company, academic

institution, or private sector entity in physical possession

of technologies of unknown origin or biological evidence of

non-human intelligence.

\(6\) The term “Director” means the Director of the Office

of Government Ethics.

\(7\) The term “Executive agency” has the meaning given

that term in section 552\(f\) of title 5, United States Code.

\(8\) The term “Government office” means any department,

office, agency, committee, or commission of the Federal

Government and any independent office or agency without

exception that has possession or control, including via

contract or other agreement, of unidentified anomalous

phenomena records.

\(9\) The term “identification aid” means the written

description prepared for each record, as required in section

1741.

\(10\) The term “leadership of Congress” means—

\(A\) the majority leader of the Senate;

\(B\) the minority leader of the Senate;

\(C\) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

\(D\) the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

\(11\) The term “legacy program” means all Federal, State,

and local government, commercial industry, academic, and

private sector endeavors to collect, exploit, or reverse

engineer technologies of unknown origin or examine biological

evidence of living or deceased non-human intelligence that

pre-dates the date of the enactment of this Act.

\(12\) The term “National Archives” means the National

Archives and Records Administration and all components

thereof, including presidential archival depositories

established under section 2112 of title 44, United States

Code.

\(13\) The term “non-human intelligence” means any sentient

intelligent non-human lifeform regardless of nature or

ultimate origin that may be presumed responsible for

unidentified anomalous phenomena or of which the Federal

Government has become aware.

\(14\) The term “originating body” means the Executive

agency, Federal Government commission, committee of Congress,

or other Governmental entity that created a record or

particular information within a record.

\(15\) The term “prosaic attribution” means having a human

\(either foreign or domestic\) origin and operating according

to current, proven, and generally understood scientific and

engineering principles and established laws-of-nature and not

attributable to non-human intelligence.

\(16\) The term “public interest” means the compelling

interest in the prompt public disclosure of unidentified

anomalous phenomena records for historical and Governmental

purposes and for the purpose of fully informing the people of

the United States about the history of the Federal

Government's knowledge and involvement surrounding

unidentified anomalous phenomena.

\(17\) The term “record” includes a book, paper, report,

memorandum, directive, email, text, or other form of

communication, or map, photograph, sound or video recording,

machine-readable material, computerized, digitized, or

electronic information, including intelligence, surveillance,

reconnaissance, and target acquisition sensor data,

regardless of the medium on which it is stored, or other

documentary material, regardless of its physical form or

characteristics.

\(18\) The term “Review Board” means the Unidentified

Anomalous Phenomena Records Review Board established by

section 1744.

\(19\) The term “technologies of unknown origin” means any

materials or meta-materials, ejecta, crash debris,

mechanisms, machinery, equipment, assemblies or sub-

assemblies, engineering models or processes, damaged or

intact aerospace vehicles, and damaged or intact ocean-

surface and undersea craft associated with unidentified

anomalous phenomena or incorporating science and technology

that lacks prosaic attribution or known means of human

manufacture.

\(20\) The term “temporarily non-attributed objects”

means—

\(A\) the class of objects that temporarily resist prosaic

attribution by the initial observer as a result of

environmental or system limitations associated with the

observation process that nevertheless ultimately have an

accepted human origin or known physical cause. Although some

unidentified anomalous phenomena may at first be interpreted

as temporarily non-attributed objects, they are not

temporarily non-attributed objects, and the two categories

are mutually exclusive; and

\(i\) includes—

\(I\) natural celestial, meteorological, and undersea weather

phenomena;

\(II\) mundane human-made airborne objects, clutter, and

marine debris;

\(III\) Federal, State, and local government, commercial

industry, academic, and private sector aerospace platforms;

\(IV\) Federal, State, and local government, commercial

industry, academic, and private sector ocean-surface and

undersea vehicles; and

\(V\) known foreign systems.

\(21\) The term “third agency” means a Government agency

that originated a unidentified anomalous phenomena record

that is in the possession of another Government agency.

\(22\) The term “unidentified anomalous phenomena” means—

\(A\) any object operating or judged capable of operating in

outer-space, the atmosphere, ocean surfaces, or undersea

lacking prosaic attribution due to performance

characteristics and properties not previously known to be

achievable based upon commonly accepted physical principles.

Unidentified anomalous phenomena are differentiated from both

attributed and temporarily non-attributed objects by one or

more of the following observables:

\(i\) Instantaneous acceleration absent apparent inertia.

\(ii\) Hypersonic velocity absent a thermal signature and

sonic shockwave.

\(iii\) Transmedium \(such as space-to-ground and air-to-

undersea\) travel.

\(iv\) Positive lift contrary to known aerodynamic

principles.

\(v\) Multispectral signature control.

\(vi\) Physical or invasive biological effects to close

observers and the environment; and

\(vii\) includes what were previously described as—

\(I\) flying discs;

\(II\) flying saucers;

\(III\) unidentified aerial phenomena;

\(IV\) unidentified flying objects \(UFOs\); and

\(V\) unidentified submerged objects \(USOs\).

\(23\) The term “unidentified anomalous phenomena record”

means a record that is related to unidentified anomalous

phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, or non-human

intelligence \(and all equivalent subjects by any other name

with the specific and sole exclusion of temporarily non-

attributed objects\) that was created or made available for

use by, obtained by, or otherwise came into the possession

of—

\(A\) the Executive Office of the President;

\(B\) the Department of Defense and its progenitors, the

Department of War and the Department of the Navy;

\(C\) the Department of the Army;

\(D\) the Department of the Navy;

\(E\) the Department of the Air Force, specifically the Air

Force Office of Special Investigations;

\(F\) the Department of Energy and its progenitors, the

Manhattan Project, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the

Energy Research and Development Administration;

\(G\) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

\(H\) the Central Intelligence Agency and its progenitor, the

Office of Strategic Services;

\(I\) the National Reconnaissance Office;

\(J\) the Defense Intelligence Agency;

\(K\) the National Security Agency;

\(L\) the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency;

\(M\) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration:

\(N\) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

\(O\) the Federal Aviation Administration;

\(P\) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

\(Q\) the National Archives and Records Administration;

\(R\) any Presidential library;

\(S\) any Executive agency;

\(T\) any independent office or agency;

\(U\) any other department, office, agency, committee, or

commission of the Federal Government;

\(V\) any State or local government department, office,

agency, committee, or commission that provided support or

assistance or performed work, in connection with a Federal

inquiry into unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies

of unknown origin, or non-human intelligence; and

\(W\) any private sector person or entity formerly or

currently under contract or some other agreement with the

Federal Government.

amendment no. 317 offered by mr. carter of texas

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following

new section:

SEC. 7\_\_. REVIEW OF CHAPERONE POLICIES WITHIN FACILITIES OF

THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY.

\(a\) Review.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense Health

Agency shall review the compliance by all facilities of the

Defense Health Agency with chaperone policies required by the

policy memorandum of the Defense Health Agency dated December

15, 2025, and titled “Chaperones/Standbys within Defense

Health Agency Facilities” \(DHA-Policy Memorandum 25-020\).

\(b\) Facilities in Noncompliance.—In carrying out the

review under subsection \(a\), the Director shall—

\(1\) identify facilities that are not in compliance with the

memorandum specified in such subsection; and

\(2\) not later than seven days after identifying a facility

under paragraph \(1\), submit to Congress—

\(A\) an identification of the resources needed by such

facility to comply with such memorandum; and

\(B\) information to enable Congress to verify when such

facility is in compliance with such memorandum.

\(c\) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress

a report containing the following:

\(1\) The findings of the review under subsection \(a\).

\(2\) A detailed plan outlining steps the Director has taken

or will take pursuant to such review, including a timeline

for completion of such steps.

\(3\) An evaluation of resourcing constraints of the Defense

Health Agency in ensuring compliance with the memorandum

specified under such subsection.

\(4\) A detailed plan outlining additional formalized

guidance with respect to the provision of chaperones for

sensitive medical examinations to be provided through policy

instructions of the Defense Health Agency.

\(5\) A mechanism for monitoring the effectiveness of the

policies contained within such memorandum on an ongoing

basis, including establishing routine inspections and

collecting data to assess compliance by facilities of the

Defense Health Agency with such memorandum.

\(6\) An assessment of how existing law affects the provision

of chaperones for sensitive medical examinations.

\(7\) Recommendations for changes to relevant law to more

effectively implement the policies contained within such

memorandum.

amendment no. 318 offered by mr. moolenaar of michigan

At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

SEC. 10\_\_. ADDITIONAL DETERMINATION REGARDING CERTAIN

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS.

Section 1078\(a\)\(2\) of the Servicemember Quality of Life

Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 2025 \(Public Law 118-159; 138 Stat. 2075\) is amended—

\(1\) by redesignating subparagraph \(F\) as subparagraph \(G\);

and

\(2\) by inserting after subparagraph \(E\) the following:

“\(F\) A determination of whether the operation of covered

unmanned ground vehicle systems in United States networks

poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the

United States or the security and safety of United States

persons.”.

amendment no. 319 offered by mrs. luna of florida

Page 105, beginning on line 20, strike “and annually

thereafter until 2030” and insert “and annually thereafter

until the date on which there is no longer an executive agent

designated under subsection \(a\)”.

amendment no. 320 offered by mrs. luna of florida

Page 102, line 15, strike “integration,”.

Page 104, line 12, strike “Network integration” and

insert “Networks”.

Page 105, line 14, strike “integration into”.

Page 106, line 11, strike “integration of”.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\) and the gentleman from Washington \(Mr. Smith\) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I don't have any speakers, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I urge support for the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, I rise today to recognize my amendment No. 297 in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2027, which ensures the Department of War and Scouting America remains in a partnership.

### For more than 116 years, Scouting America has endeavored to develop

young Americans into leaders of tomorrow through service, physical activities, and community projects.

### Scouting helps instill a drive in young people to carry out their

duty to God and country, understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems, and take pride in their American heritage, while being prepared to lead their communities.

### With more than one million participants who have contributed more

than seven million service hours in 2024 alone, Scouts know how to build stronger communities and how to lead people.

### Scouting America believes--and through over a century of experience,

knows—that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

### I am grateful for the longstanding partnership between Scouting

America and the Department of War. I can think of no better recruitment tool for our military than the lessons learned through Scouting.

### Scouts are known as leaders within their communities, and

approximately 15 percent of all military academy cadets and midshipmen across U.S. service academies are Eagle Scouts.

Mr. Chair, this historic partnership between Scouting America and the Department of War is a relationship that strengthens our country and ensures our best and brightest become leaders of tomorrow.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Rep. Steve Womack's Amendment No. 311, that I am proud to cosponsor.

Amendment No. 311 seeks to maximize taxpayer value by directing the Department of Defense to conduct and publish a cost comparison study for future F-35 basing locations for aircraft receiving first delivery between Fiscal Year 2030 and Fiscal Year 2035.

### As you may know, the next round of F-35 basing decisions is expected

- in the next 24 months.

### This study is critical to arm military decision-makers with

- objective, data-driven analysis before that decision is made.

### The Arkansas National Guard believes that this study is critical to

ensuring a complete understanding of the current mission and personnel before future F-35 basing decisions are made.

### I agree with the Arkansas National Guard and that is why I urge my

- colleagues to support Amendment No. 311.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chair, my amendment addresses a stark and increasing threat to our Nation's critical infrastructure, the malicious use of drones, especially their use around critical military installations and law enforcement vessels.

Amendment No. 283 requires the Inspector General of the Department of War to produce a report to Congress regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems \(UAS\) activity around military installations in the United States and abroad, sensitive national security sites, military and law enforcement vessels, and the capabilities possessed by installations to counter this activity, protocols in place to coordinate with state and local law enforcement, and the sufficiency of legal authorities provided to installation commanders to address threats both inside and outside the wire.

### Over the last several years, there has been persistent unauthorized

drone activity around military installations. In 2024, for 17 days a fleet of unidentified drones penetrated the airspace over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, home to advance jet fighters including F-22s, continuing on to the airspace over Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek and Naval Station Norfolk.

### Also in 2024, the Department of War confirmed a number of drone

sightings over multiple installations in my state of New Jersey, including Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle in my district. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, also in my district, has seen significant unauthorized drone activity including attempts to smuggle contraband in FCI Dix and other drones whose intent was not clear. Additionally, a Coast Guard Commanding Officer told me more than a dozen drones, in formation, followed a 47-foot rescue boat a mere 100 feet off the stern, as it made maneuvers in the ocean off Ocean County.

### Earlier this year, Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana--home to B-

52 bombers who play a critical role in America's nuclear triad—was forced to issue a shelter in place order due to reports of unauthorized drone activity. And just months ago, here in Washington D.C., Fort McNair saw unauthorized drone overflights. In testimony last year before the Senate Armed Services Committee, NORTHCOM Commander General Gregory M. Guillot expressed concern over what he called the “rapidly evolving strategic environment” and “the emergence of small unmanned aerial systems \(sUAS\) as a threat to infrastructure and personnel in the homeland.” He went on to describe the threat as “widespread” as “there were 350 detections reported” on military installations in 2024.

### At the same time, we have seen adversaries--notably Russia and Iran--

make significant investments in drone technology and seen its impact on the battlefield, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Communist China is a global leader in drone technology and continues to integrate these capabilities into its military doctrine and exercises. It is vital we gain a thorough understanding of adversary capabilities, and their will deploy these technologies to threaten American interests.

### Congress has taken steps to address these threats, both the Armed

Services Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have methodically strengthened military and law enforcements authority and ability to deploy counter-drone technology in recent reauthorization bills to, yet a further accounting of how widespread this threat is and what, if any shortfalls remain is needed.

### Make no mistake, it is imperative Congress ensure that those on the

ground and charged with the safety of military installations and the lives of servicemembers and the community at large have the authority and technology necessary to effectively mitigate and overcome these threats to protect the homeland.

### I thank the Committee on Rules for finding this amendment in order,

- and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment with a yes vote.

Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Amendment No. 309 to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act. My amendment would establish a pilot program to enable the Department of Defense \(DoD\) to more efficiently deploy modern cybersecurity solutions by accelerating the security verification of solutions that have already received FedRAMP High certification.

### FedRAMP is a standardized approach to certifying and assessing the

security of cloud computing technologies used across federal agencies, and a FedRAMP High certification is the strictest cloud security authorization level within FedRAMP.

### This level of certification ensures compliance with the standards

needed to securely handle and process the federal government's most sensitive unclassified information and data.

FedRAMP seeks to create a “certify once, reuse many times” model for cloud products and services that provides a secure and cost- effective approach to federal cloud service adoption.

The idea behind this concept of “certify once, reuse many times” or “reciprocity” as I like to refer to it, is that if a cloud service's security controls have already been certified at a basic level, multiple federal agencies should be comfortable with adopting the service for their own purposes.

### For years, DoD has relied on its own assessment and verification

process for cloud-based services, separate and distinct from FedRAMP— however, both DoD's and FedRAMP's assessment and verification processes rely on the same NIST standards and have the same goal, which is to certify that a cloud-based product meets security standards for federal use.

### What this means in practice is that both the government and our

private sector partners must invest significant time and resources to verify security controls for cloud service deployment not just once, but twice if they hope to make that service available to both Federal Civilian and DoD customers.

### Additionally, maintaining two parallel certification pathways has

created bottlenecks in deploying modern commercial cloud capabilities, including critical cybersecurity tools, within the DoD—even when those solutions have already been certified for civilian agency use under the same NIST standards through the FedRAMP program.

### This amendment would save the federal government time and resources

by encouraging reciprocity between the parallel FedRAMP and DoD cloud security assessment processes.

### It establishes a pilot program to accelerate the DoD's assessment of

cloud-based cybersecurity solutions that have already been authorized under the same underlying NIST standards that the Department's existing assessment process relies on.

### In doing so, this pilot will help deliver innovative commercial

cybersecurity capabilities to the warfighter more quickly, at a time when cyber threats from our adversaries are growing more sophisticated.

I urge my collegues to support this amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Alabama \(Mr. Rogers\).

The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendment No. 316 Offered by Mr. Grothman

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 316 printed in part A of House Report 119-755.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of subtitle A of title XI, insert the following

new section:

SEC.. REPORT ON REDUCING CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT.

\(a\) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of

this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the

Committee on

Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report detailing

options for reducing the number of civilians employed by the

Department of Defense by 200,000. The report shall include—

\(1\) an assessment of current non-uniformed personnel levels

across all components of the Department of Defense;

\(2\) recommendations for achieving a reduction of 200,000

positions while maintaining mission readiness and national

security priorities; \(3\) an analysis of the anticipated cost

savings associated with such reductions; and \(4\) any

legislative or administrative actions needed to implement

such recommendations.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the gentleman from Wisconsin \(Mr. Grothman\) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, this amendment requires the Department of War to examine options for reducing its civilian workforce by 200,000 positions. For point of reference, at the time that President Trump took office, the number of non-uniformed personnel in the Department of War was about 770,000. There was a buyout situation in which they reduced that number by about 80,000, and since that time, they have felt there were certain positions that they had to refill that they probably shouldn't have let go of, so right now they are sitting around 705,000.

### We know that DOGE felt that throughout government they had

unnecessary personnel. We have all heard anecdotal evidence of people working in a variety of agencies, but particularly the Department of War, who may not be necessary.

### I will point out, since I have kind of looked into this, that I have

found shocking anecdotes of people working in the private sector in big companies who manage to get by doing very little work because the companies are just plain too big and people fall between the cracks.

If that is going on in private-sector big companies, Mr. Chair, think how much more likely that is happening in a big organization like the Department of War.

### In any event, right now, we are dealing with a situation in which the

Department of War is asking for a considerable increase in money, in particular with regard to its authorization bill and also with regard to the other bill that we are going to be trying to pass this week.

Given that, we have to make sure that they are not wasting any money. I think it would be a good exercise for the Department of War to say: We have got at least 705,000 people. What would happen if we had to get rid of 200,000?

Maybe we will find they are all necessary, but I don't think so.

### In any event, I think it is good from time to time for big

organizations to look and see whether everybody is necessary and what they are doing. For too long, Washington has allowed Federal bureaucracies to grow without regularly asking whether every position is necessary and asking what people are doing.

### We can protect national security while also demanding efficiency and

accountability. As we know from the proposals that we are going to have to vote on this week, the military certainly needs to find new money and we are broke, so it would be better if they find out whether in their workforce they are wasting money.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1220

### In any event, we are going to ask the Department of War to see what

would happen if they had to reduce their number of nonuniformed positions by 200,000.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Hawaii is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I strongly oppose this amendment, which would require the Department of Defense to develop plans to eliminate 200,000 civilian employees.

I have news for you: This administration already did that, and I saw the consequences with my own eyes. I had lunch with junior enlisted marines in Hawaii. They told me it took months to fix their broken washing machines, a full year to fix a sink in a barracks room. I saw windows duct taped and mold painted over. Childcare rooms were empty because they had no staff to care for servicemembers' children. When I asked the base commander why it took a year to fix a sink, he said it is because almost all of the maintenance staff took the deferred resignation program, and with the hiring freeze, they couldn't find replacements.

### There are 20,000 DoD civilian employees in Hawaii and about 800,000

worldwide. They are essential to readiness. At a time when Americans are struggling to make ends meet, they are good jobs. They have been and should remain stable jobs, too, allowing people to serve their country and care for their families.

### Bottom line, our war fighters rely on civilian employees for

everything, from maintenance to acquisition, to healthcare, to childcare. They keep our subs and jets battle-ready and our servicemembers healthy.

Mr. Chair, it is time we stop treating them as disposable. Instead, we should be investing in the civilian workforce, not continuing to threaten to cut their jobs. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, just one final comment. We didn't say we were going to reduce the workforce by 200,000. We were going to say what happens if we try to do it. I do believe if you get around here and ask people, they will give you anecdotal evidence of people working for a very short period of time.

As far as already dealing with this, there was a buyout. As I mentioned, they bought out several employees who they shouldn't have bought out. Right now, we have reduced the workforce by about 65,000. Again, I think if you ask people in this town, it will not be hard to find people who feel people working in the Federal agencies are not doing a lot. I know that is true in the private sector. It is certainly more likely to be true here.

Mr. Chair, I am a little bit shocked that we won't even allow the Department to do a study. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey \(Mr. Norcross\).

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

### This amendment requires a report to outline the option for reducing

the Department of Defense civilian workforce by 200,000 workers, a very arbitrary number.

### It is truly stunning, a continuation of unprecedented attacks on our

Federal civilian workforce that we have seen under this administration led by the very top, by President Trump and his Cabinet.

### I will remind my colleagues that President Trump established DOGE

last year, which resulted in cuts across the entire Federal workforce of over 280,000 employees. Since then, the Federal Government, and particularly the Department of Defense, has absolutely hemorrhaged critical talent, institutional knowledge, and subject-matter experts across our workforce, the men and women that we cannot afford to lose.

### Over the last year, we have already seen reductions across the

Department of Defense workforce by about 10 percent, over 78,000 workers. In fact, the GAO, the Government Accountability Office, already did a study on the Department of Defense's implementation of the 2025 reductions.

They put out their findings in a report on May 29 of this year. This is what they found: The Department of Defense did not consistently analyze the impacts on the civilian workforce reduction either in \`25 or in prior years.

A study has been done, and they did absolutely nothing with it. Instead, we are taking up this amendment, which arbitrarily seeks recommendations to reach a target of 200,000 people in reduction before we even understand the impacts of the last set of cuts that have taken place.

### Unfortunately, in our country and our national security, we already

are paying the price for these reckless attacks on our hardworking men and women who keep our workforce and our Defense Department running. What we absolutely already know is these firings—

The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 additional seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Chair, let's get to the bottom line here. Our responsibility as Members of Congress is to make sure that we have a Department of Defense that is ready. We can't do it with less people. We are losing this institutional knowledge that is so critical for defending our Nation.

Mr. Chair, I am against this. Please reject this amendment.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, just a final comment. I know somebody who bought a company, and he informs me that he found out that probably half of his white-collar employees were unnecessary.

### I think if you get around this town and talk to people, you will

certainly find a lot of anecdotal evidence. I think it is kind of amazing that the Democratic Party is afraid of a study. Maybe the study will come back and show it is tight as a drum. I don't think so. I am just kind of shocked that at a time when we are asking for tens of billions—hundreds of billions of dollars more for our Department of War, we are not going to do a study on our civilian employees.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Hawaii has 1\\1/4\\ minutes remaining.

- Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois \(Mr.
- Sorensen\).

Mr. SORENSEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the Grothman amendment.

### I am proud to live in an Army town and represent the historic Rock

Island Arsenal in the House of Representatives. Every single one of my neighbors works to support our troops and make sure that our readiness and logistics keep our country safe.

### I find it outrageous that this Commander in Chief and his loyalists

think it is okay to possibly kick these true Americans out of the civilian workforce, 200,000 patriots. These are combat veterans. These are experts.

Back home, the Rock Island Arsenal cannot deal with this. Mr. Chair, I will not remain silent when this amendment is dropped at the eleventh hour to decimate our institution. Mr. Chair, I also can't understand how anyone can call themselves America First when they offer plans to possibly throw men and women in uniform out just as casually as taking out the trash. These are patriots.

Mr. Chair, allowing this to move forward wouldn't just eliminate the jobs of 200,000 Americans, it would put our troops at risk, as well. I urge Republicans and Democrats to please honor them with a “no” vote on amendment No. 316.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Chair, I am just kind of shocked that we have a lot of people who don't want auditors poking around the Department of War and seeing what they will find out. I will point out the Department of War has not passed an audit for, I believe, almost 30 years. They are somewhat alone in that compared to other agencies. I guess one of the reasons, obviously, that you don't want to do an audit is that you are afraid what you might find out.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin \(Mr. Grothman\).

The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.

Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin will be postponed.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word for the purpose of doing closing debate on the NDAA. I assume Mr. Rogers intends to close, as well.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, first of all, I thank everyone involved in the process. We do this every year, but I think it is really important that we recognize the people who did all of the work to make this bill possible—certainly, the HASC staff, my able team behind me and the team that serves Mr. Rogers and serves the full committee. We worked in a bipartisan way through well over a thousand amendments and two or three times that many ideas to craft together a very large piece of incredibly important legislation. That work should not go unrecognized.

### The members of the committee also go out of their way to work in an

incredibly bipartisan way, and that is a credit to Chairman Rogers. He makes a real effort to make sure that Democrats are included, that we have a fair conversation, and that we try to get to the best result possible. I think that is incredibly important.

Mr. Chair, I also thank the Rules Committee for their hard work. They have to sort through over a thousand amendments, as well. Of course, the floor staff that has to work through this entire process every year does an outstanding and amazing job. They are dedicated public servants who deserve our very high praise.

In the bill itself, there are things I like and things I don't like. I think it reflects the process overall. I think it does a very good job of doing oversight of getting to acquisition reform, of continuing along the path of how we innovate faster at scale. The chairman has done an excellent job of pointing out the need for that.

We need innovative technologies. We need them in a more cost- effective way. This bill reflects those priorities. It also supports our troops and our families, including pay raises, general benefits across the board, and a real focus on making sure that our servicemembers are taken care of.

### I don't like that the SAVE America Act is going to be attached to

this. I don't like the gratuitous anti-trans amendments that were added to the bill. There are other aspects of it that I am troubled by, but overall, I respect the process.

### The big point I will make today is, I really think we are at a

crossroads in this Congress, in the appropriations process, as well, but in the NDAA. We are trying to work in a bipartisan way, and I will say that Mr. Rogers does it. I think Senator Wicker in the Senate does it, but we have to do that against the backdrop of an unbelievably partisan and, in many ways, out-of-control administration and Department of Defense. They are taking us down roads that I think are incredibly dangerous and make it very hard to maintain that bipartisan spirit.

Mr. Chair, I want you to know that I am an incredibly reasonable person. I will work with absolutely anybody. Some people will say I am too willing to work with people, but that is the nature of the democratic process. I don't identify the people I like and don't like, and say if I don't like you, I am not going to work with you.

### For representative democracy to work, we have to work with people

that we disagree with—many times passionately, strongly—on incredibly important issues. We have done that throughout my entire time on this committee through a fair number of chairs and ranking members.

### For 65 years--I haven't been on the committee for 65 years, but we

have passed the National Defense Authorization Act. During President Trump's first term, when I was chair of the committee, I worked with the Trump administration. We got a good bill done. The second time, the President threw a little wrench in at the end. In a bipartisan way, we actually overrode the President's veto to make sure that the NDAA got done. This year, we have issues that have risen above the normal flow of partisan divide.

First of all, we have the budget number. When we add it all up—and I know this bill only has $1.15 trillion in it, but baked into the defense budget is another $350 billion in reconciliation. I forget where the supplemental is at these days. I think it is around $90 billion, but you add it all up, and they are asking for $1.6 trillion in the defense budget. That is a 60 percent increase at a time when we are running a nearly $2 trillion deficit.

People are talking openly about what is going to happen when the U.S. has to default in 5 years, 6 years. This is also at a time when, again, we insist on cutting taxes, cutting taxes. No, cutting taxes does not increase revenue. Just because revenue goes up from one year to the next when you have cut taxes—it was going to go up anyway.

The budget office says that the tax cuts cost us $4 trillion over 10 years. When you look at the other priorities that are out there—cuts to Medicaid, cuts to SNAP, inability to invest in infrastructure and housing. The American people are struggling to pay their bills. Then, we are going to put $1.6 trillion into the defense budget. It is not a reasonable thing to ask. We can't work in a bipartisan way on a number like that.

### Again, the White House and Department of Defense take an unbelievably

partisan approach. They have no interest in talking to us. They are giving briefings just to Republicans on crucial issues. That has never happened before. Through Democrat or Republican, I have never seen anything like this. The unbelievable partisanship is undermining our ability to get to a bipartisan bill, and it starts with the budget.

There are many other issues, like the war in Iran. We are in an incredibly dangerous situation. The costs continue to escalate. We have lost more servicemembers.

The Acting CHAIR \(Mr. Goldman of Texas\). The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word again. I have, actually, eight of them if I want to use them.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, we stumbled into a conflict in the dumbest way imaginable. In the history of the United States of America, we have made some mistakes in wars. This was about as idiotic a thing as I have ever seen, and the cost is to the global economy, our reputation, instability in the Middle East, the loss of service members, and thousands of people wounded.

### I know a lot of people say, well, it is terrible because Trump never

had a plan. It is actually a hell of a lot worse than that. He had a plan. His plan was that he was going to bomb Iran for 4 weeks, and they were going to give up. That was literally his plan.

People told him in his own administration that was idiotic. It wasn't going to happen, but he did it anyway. Then, when it didn't work, he just thinks if we drop a few more bombs—here we are.

### We keep hearing about how the Iranian military is completely

obliterated. It is gone. They are defeated, yet the missiles and the drones keep coming. People in the region keep dying, and our service members keep dying.

That is not just a mistake. That is living in an alternative universe. That is not living in the world that we are actually in, and the war continues.

### As we support anything in the defense area, we are de facto

supporting this war with no end in sight. The way the President talks about it: Oh, we are going to take Kharg Island. We can take Kharg Island. It won't be a problem.

That is insane if you actually follow the military plans. Maybe you can take it, but you have to hold it. They are going to be lobbing missiles at you. We are in an incredibly serious business, and the President is talking about this like it is some sort of bad fiction novel.

### We have to hold them accountable for that, and it is not just the war

in Iran. We are engaged in a major conflict in Latin America right now, which people don't know about. We are fighting narcoterrorists. We are still blowing up boats. We are partnering with various different countries and killing people down there, all with no transparency.

Then, we have what is going on in Europe. We periodically threaten to pull troops out of Europe. The President and the Vice President and others talk about Europe facing civilizational erasure and really focused on that issue of pulling back from supporting them in any way because—what?—we are not allies and partners.

### The strongest alliance, NATO, in the history of this country is

regularly denigrated by our President. Now, I know that people want to kid themselves and say, “Look, he is just doing it so that our NATO partners step up. That is all we want to do,” but that is not why he is just doing it.

I will give you a great example: Hungary. I was talking with a Department of Defense official the other day. He said our plan in Europe is actually working because NATO is stepping up, and, crucial to that, was that Orban lost so that Hungary supported the support for Ukraine, but our President and Vice President were supporting keeping the dictator in charge of Hungary so that never would have happened.

### We are in incredibly dangerous times, and then, we have the

President's use of our military domestically, which he has done. He gives a speech talking about election interference, leaving us all to wonder is he going to honor the outcome of this election. What is our obligation to make sure that he does? We are not in normal times.

### I am also deeply concerned about Secretary Hegseth and the way he is

running the Department of Defense. He, too, has no idea what is happening in Iran, or how we are ever going to get out of that war, but he has also talked about giving no quarter to our enemies.

We accidentally bombed a girl's school and killed 145 civilians. I don't know how long ago now, 3 or 4 months ago. It is obvious we did it. We won't take responsibility for it. Then, the Secretary of Defense comes out and says publicly: No quarter for our enemy. He has served in the military. He knows what that means—no survivors.

\&#123;time\&#125; 1240

The President talks about erasing the Iranian civilization. He talks about bombing civilian targets. Never would the United States of America have done any of those things.

We are in an incredibly, incredibly dangerous time. I wish to maintain the bipartisan nature of this bill—I do, and I know that the chairman does.

### But if we are going to do this, we are going to need some Republicans

to stand up to the President of the United States and say, no. No, we are not going to get you $1.6 trillion. No, we are not just going to give you a blank check for a war that is totally out of control, not going anywhere, and with no end in sight.

I keep hearing people say: Well, we just have to finish the job, like we are cleaning out the garage, and if we just stick at it long enough—

The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, if we just stick at it long enough, we will be done. There is no plan. There is no plan to bomb a target that is going to make Iran change their mind.

### We have to stand up and say, no, we can't do those things, and I say

- all of that again.

### I want to get us back to a reasonable place where we can have a

bipartisan agreement, and I hope in the next couple of months we will get there.

### I really want people to understand how unprecedented this moment is

- that we are in.

### The President is taking us down a bitterly partisan and divisive road

and pushing policies—I didn't even talk about the tariffs that he slaps on our allies at a whim.

Look at Canada. Apparently, there are fires up in Canada, and the wind is blowing south, so it is Canada's fault, and we have to slap a 50 percent tariff on them. This is the way we govern? It is insane, and we need to rein it in.

We in Congress need to stand up and say: No, we are going to begin to get some of this under control. At a minimum, let's have a sensible budget. Let's stop the war in Iran.

I can't support this bill. It profoundly hurts me because I believe in this process. It is the last thing I will say. I will continue to want to work with any reasonable person who shows up in the Trump administration. I don't want to shun them because this body has to work. If we don't pass legislation, then the President has even more power. If the legislative branch shuts down, that simply consolidates more power in the executive branch.

We have to find a way through this, but it is not going to be easy. I want to

### make sure people understand the unprecedented nature of where we are

at, and we all begin to work together to get ourselves to a better place.

Mr. Chair, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I will start by thanking my good friend, Adam Smith, the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, for his work on this bill. Again, this year, we have continued to work in a bipartisan fashion to lead the Committee on Armed Services, and we have done this for years. I could not have a better partner in doing that.

### Folks really need to take note of this, because this is the largest

piece of authorizing legislation that moves through the Congress. It authorizes over half of all discretionary spending. We lead this committee in a bipartisan fashion. We passed this bill out of committee in a bipartisan fashion, and that doesn't just happen. That occurs because of leadership that we get from both sides of the aisle.

### The staff take their cue from the chair and the ranking member--and

other Members do—when we conduct our business, and we do it in a bipartisan fashion. It is so important. We are talking about our Nation's security. We are talking about our men and women who put their lives at risk for our Nation, for the families involved. We want them to know that this is not political gamesmanship that is leading up here. This is Members working in a serious, focused fashion to try to get good policy developed that will make their lives better and keep our Nation free and safe.

Adam Smith just does a great job in leading the committee. When he was chair, he led by example, and he has continued to lead by example as ranking member, and I appreciate that.

I also thank the staff for their work. We have an incredible professional staff on the Committee on Armed Services on both sides of the aisle. They do follow our lead, and they work in a very collaborative fashion, and I thank them for that.

### We had a little over a thousand Member provisions submitted to our

committee before the markup. We had 1,200 amendments offered during committee markup and 1,400 amendments here. The staff had to go through all of that and work it up, and they have just done it in a very professional fashion.

### I also thank House legislative counsel, CBO, and the Parliamentarian

for their leadership and staff in developing this bill to the point it is at today.

Mr. Chairman, a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of our independence. But as many of you know, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps are each celebrating their 251st birthday this year. That is because in 1775, the Continental Congress knew we needed a professional fighting force to secure our freedom.

### It was a bold and courageous act that shocked the British and the

world. I am certainly not asking for Congress to do anything that courageous.

### But for the sake of guaranteeing our freedom well into the future, we

need to act now to reverse decades of underinvestment and neglect in our Armed Forces and our defense industrial base.

This bill will do that and much more. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and other adversaries.

### I know there are provisions in this bill that some folks disagree

- with, but understand that this is just a single step in a long process.

### Everyone should know that we will continue to work in a bipartisan

manner as we make our way through the Conference committee. We will work to produce a bill that can best pass both Chambers and be signed into law.

### I urge all Members to help us reach that goal by supporting this bill

- today and moving it along.

Mr. Chair, I urge a “yes” vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

The motion was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore \(Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania\) having assumed the chair, Mr. Goldman of Texas, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill \(H.R. 8800\) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

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