S.Amdt. 2610

SA 2610. Mr. RUBIO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2282 submitted by Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. McCain)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 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 C of title III, add the following:

SEC. 323. REPORTS ON MITIGATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL EPISODES
ASSOCIATED WITH AIRCRAFT.

(a) Report on t-45 Aircraft Physiological Episode
Mitigation Actions.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than March 1, 2019, the
Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on modifications made to T-45
aircraft and associated ground equipment to mitigate the risk
of physiological episodes among T-45 aircraft crewmembers.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) a list of all modifications to the T-45 aircraft and
associated ground equipment carried out during fiscal years
2017 through 2019 to mitigate the risk of physiological
episodes among T-45 crewmembers;
(B) the results achieved by such modifications as
determined by relevant testing and operational activities;
(C) the cost of such modifications; and
(D) any plans of the Navy for future modifications.
(b) Report on Efforts of the Air Force to Mitigate
Physiological Episodes Affecting Aircraft Crewmembers.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than March 1, 2019, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on all efforts of the Air

[[Page S3623]]

Force to reduce the occurrence of, and mitigate the risk
posed by, physiological episodes affecting crewmembers of
covered aircraft.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) information on the rate of physiological episodes
affecting crewmembers of covered aircraft;
(B) a description of the specific actions carried out by
the Air Force to address such episodes, including a
description of any upgrades or other modifications made to
covered aircraft to address such episodes;
(C) schedules and cost estimates for any upgrades or
modifications identified under subparagraph (B); and
(D) an explanation of any organizational or other changes
to the Air Force carried out to address such physiological
episodes.
(3) Covered aircraft defined.--In this subsection, the term
``covered aircraft'' means--
(A) F-35A aircraft of the Air Force;
(B) T-6A aircraft of the Air Force; and
(C) any other aircraft of the Air Force as determined by
the Secretary of the Air Force.
(c) F-18 Aircraft.--
(1) Modifications required.--The Secretary of the Navy
shall modify the F/A-18 aircraft to reduce the occurrence of,
and mitigate the risk posed by, physiological episodes
affecting crewmembers of the aircraft. The modifications
shall include, at minimum--
(A) replacement of the F/A-18 cockpit altimeter;
(B) upgrade of the F/A-18 onboard oxygen generation system;
(C) redesign of the F/A-18 aircraft life support systems
required to meet onboard oxygen generation system input
specifications;
(D) installation of equipment associated with improved F/A-
18 physiological monitoring and alert systems; and
(E) installation of an automatic ground collision avoidance
system.
(2) Report required.--Not later than February 1, 2019, and
annually thereafter through February 1, 2021, the Secretary
of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a written update on the status of all
modifications to the F/A-18 aircraft carried out by the
Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Waiver.--The Secretary of the Navy may waive the
requirement to make a modification under paragraph (1) if the
Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees
that the specific modification is inadvisable and provides a
detailed justification for excluding the modification from
the Navy's planned upgrades for the F/A-18 aircraft.
(d) Certification on Inclusion of Technology to Minimize
Physiological Episodes in Certain Aircraft.--
(1) Certification required.--Not later than 15 days before
entering into a contract for the procurement of a covered
aircraft, the Secretary concerned shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a written statement
certifying that the aircraft to be procured under the
contract will include the most recent technological
advancements necessary to minimize the impact of
physiological episodes on aircraft crewmembers.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary concerned may waive the
requirement of paragraph (1) if the Secretary--
(A) determines the waiver is required in the interest of
national security; and
(B) not later than 15 days before entering into a contract
for the procurement of a covered aircraft, notifies the
congressional defense committees of the rationale for the
waiver.
(3) Termination.--The requirement to submit a certification
under paragraph (1) shall terminate on September 30, 2021.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) The term ``covered aircraft'' means a fighter aircraft,
an attack aircraft, or a fixed wing trainer aircraft.
(B) The term ``Secretary concerned'' means--
(i) the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to covered
aircraft of the Navy; and
(ii) the Secretary of the Air Force, with respect to
covered aircraft of the Air Force.
______