TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: September 29, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

Bills and resolutions: S. 528 (119th Congress), S. 1574 (119th Congress), S. 3383 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Readable version of the official text

SA 6839. Ms. MURKOWSKI (for Mr. Schatz (for himself and Ms. Murkowski)) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 3383, to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to make improvements to that Act, and for other purposes; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the

following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Unlocking Native Lands and

Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act

of 2025”.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF TRIBAL LEASES AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY

ACROSS INDIAN LAND.

(a) Leases of Trust or Restricted Lands.—The first section

of the Act of August 9, 1955 (69 Stat. 539, chapter 615; 25

U.S.C. 415) (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing

Act”), is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by inserting

“, land held in trust for any other Indian tribe included on

the most recent list published by the Secretary pursuant to

section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List

Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a))” after “Chehalis

Reservation”;

(2) by striking “That (a) any” and inserting the

following:

“SECTION 1. LEASES OF TRUST OR RESTRICTED LANDS.

“(a) Authorized Purposes; Term; Approval by Secretary.—

Any”; and

(3) in subsection (h)(1)—

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

“and the term of the lease does not exceed—” and inserting

a period; and

(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B).

(b) Technical Correction.—Section 2 of the Act of August

9, 1955 (69 Stat. 539, chapter 615; 25 U.S.C. 415a) (commonly

known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), is amended by

inserting “of the Interior” after “Secretary” each place

it appears.

Act of February 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 17, chapter 45), is

amended—

(1) in the first section (62 Stat. 17, chapter 45; 25

U.S.C. 323), by striking “That the Secretary of the Interior

be, and he is hereby, empowered to” and inserting the

following:

“SECTION 1. RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR ALL PURPOSES ACROSS INDIAN

LAND.

“(a) Rights-of-Way.—The Secretary of the Interior may”;

(2) in section 2 (62 Stat. 18, chapter 45; 25 U.S.C. 324),

by striking “organized under the Act of June 18, 1934 (48

Stat. 984), as amended; the Act of May 1, 1936 (49 Stat.

1250); or the Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967),”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 8. TRIBAL GRANTS OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

“(a) Rights-of-Way.—

“(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2), an Indian

tribe may grant a right-of-way over and across the Tribal

land of the Indian tribe for any purpose.

“(2) Authority.—A right-of-way granted under paragraph

(1) shall not require the approval of the Secretary of the

Interior or a grant by the Secretary of the Interior under

the section 1 if the right-of-way granted under paragraph (1)

is executed in accordance with a Tribal regulation approved

by the Secretary of the Interior under subsection (b).

“(b) Review of Tribal Regulations.—

“(1) Tribal regulation submission and approval.—

“(A) Submission.—An Indian tribe seeking to grant a

right-of-way under subsection (a) shall submit for approval a

Tribal regulation governing the granting of rights-of-way

over and across the Tribal land of the Indian tribe.

“(B) Approval.—Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of

the Interior shall have the authority to approve or

disapprove any Tribal regulation submitted under subparagraph

(A).

“(2) Considerations for approval.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary of the Interior shall

approve a Tribal regulation submitted under paragraph (1)(A),

if the Tribal regulation—

“(i) is consistent with any regulations (or successor

regulations) issued by the Secretary of the Interior under

section 4;

“(ii) provides for an environmental review process that

includes—

“(I) the identification and evaluation of any significant

impacts the proposed action may have on the environment; and

“(II) a process for ensuring—

“(aa) that the public is informed of, and has a reasonable

opportunity to comment on, any significant environmental

impacts of the proposed action identified by the Indian tribe

under subclause (I); and

“(bb) the Indian tribe provides a response to each

relevant and substantive public comment on the significant

environmental impacts identified by the Indian tribe under

subclause (I) before the Indian tribe approves the right-of-

way.

“(B) Statutory exemptions.—The Secretary of the Interior,

in making an approval decision under this subsection, shall

not be subject to—

“(i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);

“(ii) section 306108 of title 54, United States Code; or

“(iii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.).

“(3) Review process.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date

on which the Indian tribe submits a Tribal regulation to the

Secretary of the Interior under paragraph (1)(A), the

Secretary of the Interior shall—

“(i) review the Tribal regulation;

“(ii) approve or disapprove the Tribal regulation; and

“(iii) notify the Indian tribe that submitted the Tribal

regulation of the approval or disapproval.

“(B) Written documentation.—If the Secretary of the

Interior disapproves a Tribal regulation submitted under

paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary of the Interior shall include

with the disapproval notification under subparagraph (A)(iii)

written documentation describing the basis for the

disapproval.

“(C) Extension.—The Secretary of the Interior may, after

consultation with the Indian tribe that submitted a Tribal

regulation under paragraph (1)(A), extend the 180-day period

described in subparagraph (A).

“(4) Federal environmental review.—Notwithstanding

paragraphs (2) and (3), if an Indian tribe carries out a

project or activity funded by a Federal agency, the Indian

tribe may rely on the environmental review process of the

applicable Federal agency rather than any Tribal

environmental review process required under this subsection.

“(c) Documentation.—An Indian tribe granting a right-of-

way under subsection (a) shall provide to the Secretary of

the Interior—

“(1) a copy of the right-of-way, including any amendments

or renewals; and

“(2) if the right-of-way allows for compensation to be

made directly to the Indian tribe, documentation of payments

that are sufficient, as determined by the Secretary of the

Interior, as to enable the Secretary of the Interior to

discharge the trust responsibility of the United States under

subsection (d).

“(d) Trust Responsibility.—

“(1) In general.—The United States shall not be liable

for losses sustained by any party to a right-of-way granted

under subsection (a).

“(2) Authority of the secretary.—

“(A) In general.—Pursuant to the authority of the

Secretary of the Interior to fulfill the trust obligation of

the United States to the applicable Indian tribe under

Federal law (including regulations), the Secretary of the

Interior may, on reasonable notice from the applicable Indian

tribe and at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior,

enforce the provisions of, or cancel, any right-of-way

granted by the Indian tribe under subsection (a).

“(B) Authority.—The enforcement or cancellation of a

right-of-way under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted using

regulatory procedures issued under section 6.

“(e) Compliance.—

“(1) In general.—An interested party, after exhaustion of

any applicable Tribal remedies, may submit a petition to the

Secretary of the Interior, at such time and in such form as

determined by the Secretary of the Interior, to review the

compliance of an applicable Indian tribe with a Tribal

regulation approved by the Secretary of the Interior under

subsection (b).

“(2) Violations.—If the Secretary of the Interior

determines that a Tribal regulation was violated after

conducting a review under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the

Interior may take any action the Secretary of the Interior

determines to be necessary to remedy the violation, including

rescinding the approval of the Tribal regulation and

reassuming responsibility for approving rights-of-way through

the trust land of the applicable Indian tribe.

“(3) Documentation.—If the Secretary of the Interior

determines that a Tribal regulation was violated after

conducting a review under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the

Interior shall—

“(A) provide written documentation, with respect to the

Tribal regulation that has been violated, to the appropriate

interested party and Indian tribe;

“(B) provide the applicable Indian tribe with a written

notice of the alleged violation; and

“(C) prior to the exercise of any remedy, including

rescinding the approval for the applicable Tribal regulation

or reassuming responsibility for approving rights-of-way

through the trust land of the applicable Indian tribe,

provide the applicable Indian tribe with—

“(i) a hearing that is on the record; and

“(ii) a reasonable opportunity to cure the alleged

violation.

“(f) Savings Clause.—Nothing in this section affects the

application of any Tribal regulations issued under Federal

environmental law.

“(g) Effect of Tribal Regulations.—An approved Tribal

regulation under subsection (b) shall not preclude an Indian

tribe from, in the discretion of the Indian tribe, consenting

to the grant of a right-of-way by the Secretary of the

Interior under the section 1.

“(h) Terms of Right-of-Way.—The compensation for, and

terms of, a right-of-way granted under subsection (a) will be

determined by—

“(1) negotiations by the Indian tribe; or

“(2) the regulations of the Indian tribe.

“(i) Jurisdiction.—The grant of a right-of-way under

subsection (a) does not waive the sovereign immunity of the

Indian tribe or diminish the jurisdiction of that Indian

tribe over the Tribal land subject to the right-of-way,

unless otherwise provided in—

“(1) the grant of the right-of-way; or

“(2) the regulations of the Indian tribe.”.

SA 6840. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Booker, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Welch) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 9340, to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Redesignate section 2 as section 4.

Insert after section 1 the following:

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) because of current energy policies and electricity

market structures, households and businesses are subsidizing

data center development, paying the way for data centers

through rising energy bills;

(2) recent analysis indicates that data centers are set to

more than double their electricity consumption, accounting

for 6.7 percent to 12 percent of all energy demand by 2028,

which is causing electricity prices to increase for

ratepayers;

(3) ratepayers should not be forced to take on the

financial risks and costs of new infrastructure investments

needed to support projected data center energy demands;

(4) data center owners and operators should be held

accountable for the increased energy costs that data centers

are causing;

(5)(A) the uniquely large size, rapidly increasing pace,

and uncertain nature of projected energy demand from data

centers are impacting both grid reliability and the

affordability of electricity;

(B) energy demand from data centers is also significantly

impacting interstate commerce by putting a strain on the

electric grid and causing reliability issues and energy costs

to rise across State lines; and

ensure that the interconnection of data centers to the

electric grid does not create reliability or affordability

risks;

(6) data centers directly affect the transmission system

and can increase transmission costs, regardless of whether

they are connected directly to transmission facilities;

(7) any policy solutions seeking to hold data center owners

and operators accountable as described in paragraph (4)

should also seek to minimize the climate and environmental

impacts of data center development while creating good-paying

jobs;

(8) the Commission has authority, pursuant to the mandates

to ensure just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory

rates (as established under sections 205 and 206 of the

Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824d, 824e) (including the

standards developed under those sections)) and grid

reliability (as established under section 215 of that Act (16

U.S.C. 824o) (including the standards developed under that

section)), to require grid operators to create “load

queues” for data centers that incentivize certain practices,

including payment for required system upgrades and voluntary

load flexibility;

(9) grid operators, as part of their mandate to provide

reliable transmission service, have the authority to create

load queues specific to data centers that delay or deny

interconnection in order to ensure reliability, and it is not

“unduly discriminatory” to do so under the Federal Power

Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) because data centers, as a

single customer class, constitute enough new load to

overwhelm the electric grid if their interconnection to the

electric grid is left unchecked; and

(10)(A) some States are implementing processes to create

rate classes specific to data centers, which are necessary to

protect ratepayers from unfair costs and unnecessary risk,

given the uncertain nature of data center energy demand

projections and the high costs associated with the energy

demands of data centers; and

(B) rate classes specific to data centers should be adopted

more broadly across all States to help ensure that, across

the United States, energy system cost increases caused by

data centers are paid for by data center owners and

operators.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) Commission.—The term “Commission” means the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission.

(2) Covered interconnection entity.—The term “covered

interconnection entity” means—

(A) an Independent System Operator (as defined in section 3

of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796));

(B) a Regional Transmission Organization (as defined in

that section); and

that is responsible for managing data center load

interconnection requests (or the appropriate regional grid

planning entity for the transmitting utility (as determined

by the Commission)).

(3) Data center.—The term “data center” means any

facility, or group of facilities with the same owner located

in the same utility area, that—

(A) primarily contains electronic equipment used to host

information and information systems accessed by other systems

or by users on other devices both in and outside of the State

in which the facility or group of facilities is located;

(B) may be—

(i) a free-standing structure; or

(ii) a facility that—

(I) is within a larger structure; and

(II) uses environmental control equipment to maintain the

proper conditions for the operation of electronic equipment;

(D) meets such other criteria as the Commission determines

to be appropriate for purposes of this Act, including

anticircumvention provisions; and

(E) is not owned by the Federal Government.

(4) Data center load queue.—The term “data center load

queue” means a load queue that—

(A) relates specifically to data center load

interconnection requests; or

(B) relates to requests made by distribution utilities or

load-serving entities (as those terms are defined in section

217(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824q(a))) to study

impacts on the transmission system caused by the

interconnection of data centers.

(5) Data center owner or operator.—The term “data center

owner or operator” means any person, including a

corporation, that owns, builds, or operates a data center.

(6) Facility used to mine cryptocurrency.—The term

“facility used to mine cryptocurrency” means any facility,

or group of facilities with the same owner located in the

same utility area, that—

(A) is used to mine or create cryptocurrencies or other

blockchain-based digital assets;

(B) may be—

(i) a free-standing structure; or

(ii) a facility that—

(I) is within a larger structure; and

(II) uses environmental control equipment to maintain the

proper conditions for the operation of electronic equipment;

and

electricity demand, as the Commission determines to be

appropriate for purposes of this Act.

(7) Labor organization.—The term “labor organization”

has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the National

Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152).

(8) Labor peace agreement.—The term “labor peace

agreement” means a written agreement between an employer and

a labor organization through which the employer guarantees

that—

(A) the employer will be neutral regarding any of the

employees of the employer seeking to be represented by the

labor organization; and

(B) if employees seek to be represented by a labor

organization, the employer shall recognize the labor

organization as the exclusive bargaining representative on a

showing that a majority of the employees choose to be

represented by the labor organization.

(9) Load growth.—The term “load growth” means increasing

demand for electricity.

(10) Load interconnection request.—The term “load

interconnection request” means the request of a data center

owner or operator to connect, or study the feasibility of

connecting, a data center to the electric grid, whether at

the transmission or distribution level.

(11) Organic load growth.—

(A) In general.—The term “organic load growth” means

load growth that is attributable to increases in demand

associated with economic or population growth, including with

respect to hospitals, educational institutions, advanced

manufacturing facilities, residential homes, electric

vehicles, and other facilities, as determined by the

Commission.

(B) Exclusion.—The term “organic load growth” does not

include load growth that is attributable to—

(i) data centers; or

(ii) facilities used to mine cryptocurrency.

(12) Project labor agreement.—The term “project labor

agreement” means a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement

with 2 or more labor organizations of which building and

construction employees are members that—

(A) establishes the terms and conditions of employment for

a specific construction project; and

(B) is an agreement described in subsections (e) and (f) of

section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C.

158).

(13) Qualifying battery energy storage system.—The term

“qualifying battery energy storage system” means a utility-

scale battery energy storage system that is connected to the

electric grid and paid for by a data center owner or

operator, including through a power purchase agreement or

other bilateral contract, regardless of whether the battery

energy storage system is onsite or offsite with respect to

the data center.

(14) Qualifying load flexibility agreement.—The term

“qualifying load flexibility agreement” means an agreement

between a covered interconnection entity and 1 or more data

center owners or operators—

(A) that—

(i) is implemented by the covered interconnection entity;

and

(ii) complies with the minimum standards and guidelines

established by the Commission under section 5(c); and

(B) pursuant to which—

(i) data centers may be interrupted by the covered

interconnection entity; and

(ii) to the extent that the covered interconnection entity

determines that load shedding, curtailments, or other grid

protection is needed, data center service interruptions shall

occur—

(I) before service interruptions for other grid users; and

(II) before emergency conditions occur, as defined in the

emergency procedures established by the interconnection

entity.

(15) Registered apprenticeship program.—The term

“registered apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship

program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly

known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”) (50 Stat. 664,

chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), that meets the standards

of parts 29 and 30 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations

(as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).

(16) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Energy.

Insert after section 4 (as so redesignated) the following:

SEC. 5. DATA CENTER LOAD QUEUES.

(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a rule

requiring all covered interconnection entities to create, for

the purpose of addressing reliability and affordability

concerns from new data center loads, regardless of whether

those loads are connecting directly to the transmission

system or through a distribution utility, a data center load

queue system—

(1) that gives priority for interconnection to data centers

(including data center owners and operators) that, by

implementing each of the strategies described in subsection

(b), offset their electricity demand on the electric grid,

reducing costs for all ratepayers, while also mitigating

local air and noise pollution and providing good-paying job

opportunities; and

(2) pursuant to which data centers are connected to the

electric grid in a manner that does not interfere with

serving organic load growth, which may include delaying or

denying interconnection for a data center if the applicable

covered interconnection entity determines that such

interconnection is likely to adversely affect—

(A) the reliability or resource adequacy of the electric

grid; or

(B) the affordability of electricity or electric capacity

for users of the electric grid that are not data centers.

(b) Strategies Described.—The strategies referred to in

subsection (a)(1) are the following:

(1) Bringing new, additional supply resources to the

electric grid that—

(A) are designated for the service of, and paid for by, the

data center owner or operator, including through a power

purchase agreement or another bilateral contract;

(B) are deliverable to the location where the new data

center is interconnecting;

(D) have at least enough capacity—

(i) to fully serve the new data center; or

(ii) to serve that portion of the capacity need of the new

data center that is not offset by 1 or more qualifying

battery energy storage systems, virtual power plants, or

qualifying load flexibility agreements;

(E) have a generation output that—

(i) is substantially similar to the temporal load profile

of the data center during peak demand; or

(ii) is sufficient to fill any gaps in the temporal load

profile of the data center during peak demand that are not

offset by 1 or more qualifying battery energy storage

systems, virtual power plants, or qualifying load flexibility

agreements; and

(F) are low- or no-carbon forms of generation.

(2) Incorporating low- or no-carbon backup generation,

which excludes diesel generation and may include behind-the-

meter battery energy storage systems.

(3) Ensuring that, in the construction of the data center

and any new energy supply resource that the data center

brings to the electric grid pursuant to paragraphs (1) and

(2)—

(A) all laborers and mechanics employed by the data center

owner or operator and contractors and subcontractors of the

data center owner or operator, in the performance of

construction, shall be paid wages at rates not less than

those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the

locality in which the construction project is located, as

most recently determined by the Secretary of Labor in

accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40,

United States Code; and

(B) all contractors and subcontractors of the data center

owner or operator use registered apprentices participating in

registered apprenticeship programs.

(4) Ensuring that the operator of any new energy supply

resource that the data center brings to the electric grid

pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) agrees that the operator

will use a labor peace agreement for the operation and

maintenance of the energy supply resource.

(1) In general.—The Commission shall establish minimum

standards and guidelines for qualifying load flexibility

agreements.

(2) Requirements.—The standards and guidelines established

under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) reduce costs for ratepayers by minimizing the need for

the build out of new generation and transmission; and

(B) ensure that qualifying load flexibility agreements can

be effectively implemented by the covered interconnection

entity.

(d) Priority.—For purposes of priority in a data center

load queue under subsection

(a)(1), with respect to forms of generation described in

paragraphs (1)(F) and (2) of subsection (b), priority shall

be determined using a sliding scale pursuant to which

additional priority is given for forms of generation having

lower carbon intensity, such that the lower the carbon

intensity of the applicable form of generation, the higher

the priority given to the applicable data center in the data

center load queue.

(e) Effect of Certain Agreements.—

(1) Contractor or subcontractor.—Any individual contractor

or subcontractor of the data center owner or operator that is

a signatory to a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement

described in subsections (e) and (f) of section 8 of the

National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158) that covers

construction work on the data center and any new energy

supply resource that the data center brings to the electric

grid shall be deemed to be in compliance with subsection

(b)(3).

(2) Project labor agreement.—If a project labor agreement

is used to construct a data center and any new energy supply

resource that the data center brings to the electric grid,

the data center (including the data center owner and

operator) shall be deemed to be in compliance with the

requirements of subsection (b)(3).

(f) Labor Standards.—With respect to the labor standards

specified in subsection (b)(3)(A), the Secretary of Labor

shall have the authority and functions set forth in

Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5

U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States

Code.

(g) Deadline for Compliance.—The Commission shall ensure

compliance with the rule issued under subsection (a) by the

date that is 1 year after the date on which the rule is

issued.

(h) Prohibition.—On and after the effective date of the

final rule issued under subsection (a), a data center that is

not already interconnected with the electric grid may not

interconnect with the electric grid unless the data center

has fully advanced through the applicable data center load

queue system created under that subsection.

SEC. 6. LOCAL TRANSMISSION COST ALLOCATION.

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Commission shall direct each public utility (as

defined in section 201(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.

824(e))) to file 1 or more tariff amendments pursuant to

section 205 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 824d) that—

(1) allocate to each interconnecting data center local

transmission upgrade costs that, but for the existence of the

data center, would not be needed; and

(2) require data centers to pay transmission rates

applicable to their rate class that reflect the embedded cost

of the integrated grid, not including those local

transmission upgrade costs that are required to be allocated

to specific data centers under paragraph (1).

SEC. 7. CREATION OF APPROPRIATE RATE CLASSES.

(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

program to provide grants and technical assistance to State

regulatory authorities (as defined in section 3 of the Public

Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602)) and

nonregulated electric utilities (as defined in that section)

considering the standard established by paragraph (22) of

section 111(d) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) to assist in

the creation of appropriate rate classes to ensure that costs

relating to the energy demands of data centers, including

costs of generation, transmission, and distribution network

upgrades, are not borne or subsidized by customers that are

not data centers.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized

to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out

this section.

SEC. 8. LOAD AND INTERCONNECTION FORECASTING.

(a) Technical Assistance.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

program to provide technical assistance to support the

forecasting by covered interconnection entities of long-term

load projections, particularly with respect to improving

forecasting associated with data center load interconnection

requests.

(2) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized

to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out

this subsection.

(b) Transparency and Disclosure.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, to improve the forecasting of

electricity demand and data center load interconnection

requests by covered interconnection entities across the

United States, the Commission shall establish transparency

and disclosure requirements for data center load

interconnection requests, including load interconnection

requests occurring at the transmission level and load

interconnection requests occurring at the distribution level.

(2) Requirement.—The requirements established under

paragraph (1) shall seek to reduce duplicative, speculative,

and other requests that impede accurate forecasting,

including by imposing new transparency and information-

sharing requirements for utilities and covered

interconnection entities to implement with respect to data

center load interconnection requests, as the Commission

determines to be appropriate.

SA 6841. Mr. KELLY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, 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; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1094. BILATERAL RAPID RESPONSE PROTOCOL.

(a) Short Title.—This section may be cited as the

“Nicholas Douglas Quets United States-Mexico Rapid Response

for Victims of Crime Act”.

(b) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

(1) On October 18, 2024, while traveling from Arizona along

the southern border in the Mexican state of Sonora near

Puerto Penasco, Nicholas Quets was attacked and shot by armed

criminals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel at an

unauthorized cartel-controlled highway checkpoint, resulting

in the tragic death of the 31-year-old American.

(2) The brutal murder of Nicholas Quets reflects the

ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations

and cartel violence in the region.

(3) The violence perpetrated by drug cartels and other

criminal organizations endangers innocent civilians,

undermines the rule of law, and threatens the safety of

United States citizens traveling abroad.

(4) Bilateral coordination in investigations like that of

Nicholas Quets' death can often be delayed or incomplete,

which may deny the administration of justice for victims and

their families.

(5) Each year, millions of United States citizens travel to

Mexico for tourism, work, and family purposes.

(6) In certain cases involving serious crimes, including

homicide, kidnapping, and organized criminal violence, delays

or gaps in coordination between authorities may hinder

investigations and the delivery of justice for victims and

their families.

(7) Enhanced bilateral coordination, communication, and

investigative cooperation is essential to ensure effective

responses to serious crimes involving United States citizens

in Mexico.

United States to collaborate in bilateral rapid response to

ensure efficient communication and coordination between

United States and Mexican authorities when responding to

serious crimes involving United States citizens in Mexico.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term

“appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

Representatives; the

(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of

Representatives.

(2) Protocol.—The term “Protocol” means the bilateral

rapid response protocol for serious crimes committed against

United States citizens in Mexico that may be established

pursuant to subsection (e).

(3) Serious crime.—The term “serious crime” has the

meaning given such term in section 103(14) of the Juvenile

Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C.

11103(14))

(e) Establishment.—In order to carry out the policy

described in subsection (c), the Secretary of State, in

coordination with the Attorney General, may engage with the

Government of Mexico to negotiate and establish a bilateral

rapid response protocol for serious crimes committed against

United States citizens in Mexico.

(f) Purpose.—The Protocol is intended to facilitate timely

coordination between United States and Mexican authorities in

responding to and investigating serious crimes committed

against United States citizens in Mexico.

(g) Recommended Elements.—In negotiating the Protocol, the

Secretary of State may include procedures that provide—

(1) mechanisms for the prompt notification of relevant

United States and Mexican authorities when a serious crime

involving a United States citizen occurs;

(2) secure and reliable communication channels between

designated law enforcement and .059diplomatic authorities in

both countries;

(3) procedures to ensure the timely securing of crime

scenes and the protection of relevant physical evidence;

(4) agreed-upon standards and procedures for preserving and

documenting evidence in a manner that supports potential

prosecutions in either country's jurisdiction;

(5) procedures to facilitate the timely sharing of

investigative leads, intelligence, and forensic information

between United States and Mexican authorities, consistent

with the laws of each country;

(6) the designation of appropriate points of contact within

the Government of Mexico and procedures to facilitate

requests for international extradition and timely

coordination for extradition to United States;

(7) the designation of appropriate points of contact within

relevant United States and Mexican agencies responsible for

coordinating responses to incidents covered by the Protocol;

(8) the designation of a point of contact within the United

States Government responsible for communicating with the

victim or the victim's family and providing timely updates

regarding available assistance and investigative

developments, as appropriate and consistent with the need to

protect the integrity of any ongoing investigation,

prosecution, or other law enforcement proceeding;

(9) appropriate substantive and procedural safeguards for

the protection of privacy and civil liberties with respect to

information shared pursuant to the Protocol;

(10) procedures for coordination between United States

consular officials and Mexican authorities regarding support

for victims and their families; and

(11) opportunities for joint training, planning, or

exercises to ensure effective implementation of the Protocol.

(h) Progress Report.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter

until the Protocol is established, the Secretary of State

shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional

committees that describes—

(1) the progress made toward negotiating the Protocol;

(2) the status of cooperation with the Government of Mexico

relating to crimes against United States citizens while they

are in Mexico; and

(3) any additional legislative or diplomatic steps the

Secretary determines would improve coordination and

accountability in such cases.

(i) Implementation Report.—Not later than 180 days after

the establishment of the Protocol, and annually thereafter,

the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the

appropriate congressional committees that describes—

(1) the status of the implementation of such protocol;

(2) actions taken by United States and Mexican authorities

under the protocol;

(3) the extent to which the protocol has improved

coordination in covered cases; and

(4) any recommendations for improving the protocol.

(j) Rules of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be

construed—

(1) to limit the sovereignty of the United States or of

Mexico;

(2) to require the Government of Mexico to adopt

investigative procedures inconsistent with existing Mexican

law;

(3) to alter the existing authorities of United States law

enforcement or consular officials; or

(4) to limit or otherwise affect any right or protection

afforded to an individual under the Constitution or laws of

the United States.

SA 6842. Mr. KELLY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, 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; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1094. BORDER TRAVEL SAFETY.

(a) Short Title.—This section may be cited as the

“Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act”.

(b) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

(1) On October 18, 2024, while traveling from Arizona along

the southern border in the Mexican state of Sonora near

Puerto Penasco, Nicholas Quets was attacked and shot by armed

criminals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel at an

unauthorized cartel-controlled highway checkpoint, which

resulted in the tragic death of the 31-year-old American.

(2) The brutal murder of Nicholas Quets reflects the

ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations

and cartel violence in the region.

(3) Nicholas Quets was shot while traveling along the

Altar-Caborca highway (Federal Highway 2) in Sonora, which is

frequently listed under a “Reconsider Travel” advisory due

to cartel activity in the area.

(4) The Department of State issues Travel Advisories to

inform United States citizens and other travelers of safety

and security risks in foreign countries and regions.

(5) Department of State Travel Advisories identify certain

foreign regions, including areas near United States land

borders, that present elevated safety or security risks due

to criminal activity, violence, kidnapping, or other threats.

(6) Individuals entering or departing the United States

through land ports of entry may not be aware that nearby

areas identified in Department of State Travel Advisories

pose heightened safety or security risks.

(7) Clear and visible signage at land ports of entry and

surrounding areas would improve traveler awareness of such

risks and promote public safety.

clear and visible signage displaying travel advisories at

land ports of entry along the land boundary between the

United States and Mexico are necessary to improve traveler

awareness of safety or security risks due to criminal

activity, violence, kidnapping, or other threats.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term

“appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental

Affairs of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

Representatives; and

(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of

Representatives.

(2) Travel advisory.—The term “Travel Advisory” means

the country-specific or region-specific safety advisory

issued by the Department of State to inform travelers of

security risks abroad.

(e) Warning Signage for Travelers Near Land Ports of Entry

Along the Southern Border.—

(1) Establishment.—The Secretary of Homeland Security,

acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of State and

the Administrator of the General Services Administration,

shall establish and carry out a program to install and

maintain warning signage informing travelers of dangerous

areas or routes near the southern border of the United States

that have been identified in relevant Department of State

Travel Advisories.

(2) Responsibilities of secretary of state.—The Secretary

of State shall—

(A) identify areas or routes near the United States land

border with Mexico that are designated as dangerous in any

Department of State Travel Advisory;

(B) provide the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border

Protection with updated advisory information necessary for

the content of warning signage; and

appropriate content and messaging of such signage.

(3) Coordination.—In carrying out this section, the

Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall

coordinate with the Secretary of State, appropriate State

transportation and public safety agencies, and relevant

State, local, and tribal government officials.

(f) Placement of Signage.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting

through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, shall, to the maximum extent practicable,

install, maintain, and update warning signage described in

this section.

(2) Locations.—Warning signage developed pursuant to this

section shall—

(A) be placed—

(i) at appropriate land ports of entry along the United

States international boundary with Mexico;

(ii) on appropriate roadways and routes approaching, and in

areas immediately adjacent to, such ports of entry where

travelers are likely to cross the international boundary;

(iii) at any additional locations determined appropriate by

the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with

State and local transportation authorities, to ensure

adequate traveler awareness;

(iv) in locations that are clearly visible to motorists and

pedestrians; and

(v) in sufficient proximity to allow travelers to make

informed travel decisions; and

(B) include the words “pursuant to the Nicholas Douglas

Quets Border Travel Safety Act”.

(3) Coordination with state and local authorities.—In

placing signage pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary of

Homeland Security shall coordinate with, and may enter into

agreements, as may be necessary, with—

(A) State departments of transportation;

(B) local government officials; and

infrastructure near the international border of the United

States.

(4) Content of signage.—Signage required under this

section shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) clearly warn travelers of nearby areas or routes

identified as dangerous in Department of State Travel

Advisories;

(B) provide a reference to additional safety information,

including the Department of State travel advisory website or

a QR code linking to such information;

updated to reflect changes to applicable Department of State

Travel Advisories, and may include risk indicators and

incident alerts from the Department of State;

(D) be displayed in English and Spanish, and any additional

languages the Secretary, in consultation with the Department

of State, determines appropriate; and

(E) include any other safety information the Secretary of

State determines appropriate.

(g) Reviews and Updates.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in

consultation with the Secretary of State, shall—

(A) annually review warning signage to ensure accuracy and

visibility; and

(B) update such signage as necessary to reflect changes in

Department of State Travel Advisories.

(2) Identification of critical changes.—The Secretary of

State shall notify the Secretary of Homeland Security

whenever critical changes have occurred that require warning

signage to be updated.

(h) Reports to Congress.—

(1) Implementation report.—Not later than 1 year after the

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

Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall

submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees

that describes—

(A) the implementation of the signage program required

under this section;

(B) the locations where signage has been installed;

(D) any recommendations for improving traveler awareness of

dangerous areas identified in Travel Advisories.

(2) GAO report.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional

committees that—

(A) describes the efficacy of the travel advisory warnings

for travelers; and

(B) indicates whether there are modernizations to warning

delivery that the Department of State or the Department of

Homeland Security could undertake to ensure travelers have

adequate awareness to potential travel-related dangers.

(i) No Additional Appropriations.—

(1) No additional funds authorized.—No additional funds

are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.

(2) Use of existing resources.—The Secretary of Homeland

Security and the Secretary of State shall carry out their

respective responsibilities under this section using amounts

otherwise appropriated or made available to their respective

departments.

(j) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this Act may be

construed as authorizing the use of force against Mexico or

any entity or individual within Mexico.

SA 6843. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Peters) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 528, to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and for other purposes; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the

following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Great Lakes Restoration

Initiative Act of 2026” or the “GLRI Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE.

Section 118(c)(7)(J) of the Federal Water Pollution Control

Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(7)(J)) is amended by striking clause

(i) and inserting the following:

“(i) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated

to carry out this paragraph $475,000,000 for each of fiscal

years 2027 through 2030.”.

SA 6844. Mr. THUNE (for Ms. Cortez Masto) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1574, to amend the Stored Communications Act to include Tribal courts as courts of competent jurisdiction; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the

following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Tribal Access to Electronic

Evidence Act”.

SEC. 2. TRIBAL COURTS AS COURTS OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION

UNDER STORED COMMUNICATIONS ACT.

(a) Definitions.—Section 2711 of title 18, United States

Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);

“(C) a Tribal court; or”; and

(D) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking

“and” at the end; and

(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

“(4) the term `governmental entity' means a department or

agency of—

“(A) the United States;

“(B) any State or political subdivision thereof; or

“(C) any Indian Tribe or political subdivision thereof;

“(5) the term `Indian Tribe' means any Indian or Alaska

Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community,

component band, or component reservation individually

identified (including parenthetically) on the most recent

list published by the Secretary of the Interior under section

104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994

(25 U.S.C. 5131); and

“(6) the term `Tribal court' means a court of general

criminal jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe authorized by the

law of that Indian Tribe to issue search warrants.”.

(b) Required Disclosure of Customer Communications or

Records.—Section 2703 of title 18, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking the first sentence and inserting the

following:

“(1) In storage 180 days or less.—A governmental entity

may require the disclosure by a provider of electronic

communication service of the contents of a wire or electronic

communication, that is in electronic storage in an electronic

communications system for 180 days or less, only pursuant to

a warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction—

“(A) issued using the procedures described in the Federal

Rules of Criminal Procedure;

“(B) in the case of a State court, issued using State

warrant procedures;

“(C) in the case of a court-martial or other proceeding

under chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military

Justice), issued under section 846 of that title, in

accordance with regulations prescribed by the President); or

“(D) in the case of a Tribal court, issued using warrant

procedures that comply with section 202(a)(2) of Public Law

90-284 (commonly known as the `Indian Civil Rights Act of

1968') (25 U.S.C. 1302(a)(2)).

“(2) In storage more than 180 days.—”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), as so designated, by striking “one

hundred and eighty days” and inserting “180 days”;

(2) in subsection (b)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “using the procedures

described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure” and

all that follows through “prescribed by the President)” and

inserting “in accordance with subsection (a)(1)”; and

(B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking “or State” each

place it appears and inserting “, State, or Tribal”; and

(3) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “using the procedures

described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure” and

all that follows through “prescribed by the President)” and

inserting “in accordance with subsection (a)(1)”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), in the undesignated matter following

subparagraph (F), by striking “or State” each place it

appears and inserting “, State, or Tribal”.

United States Code, is amended by striking “or State” each

place it appears and inserting “, State, or Tribal”.

(d) Civil Action.—Section 2707(g) of title 18, United

States Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting

“Tribal,” after “State,”.

(e) Wrongful Disclosure of Video Tape Rental or Sale

Records.—Section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting after “an

equivalent State warrant,” the following: “a warrant issued

by a Tribal court using warrant procedures that comply with

section 202(a)(2) of Public Law 90-284 (commonly known as the

`Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968') (25 U.S.C. 1302(a)(2)),”;

and

(2) in subsection (d), by striking “a State, or a

political subdivision of a State” and inserting “a State or

a political subdivision thereof, or an Indian Tribe or a

political subdivision thereof”.

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