S.Amdt. 2688

SA 2688. Mr. THUNE 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 D of title X, add the following:

SEC. 1037. TRANSFER OF EXCESS AIR FORCE MQ-1 PREDATOR
REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR U.S.
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL PURPOSES.

(a) Offer of First Refusal Outside DoD.--
(1) In general.--Upon a determination that aircraft or
equipment specified in subsection (b) is also excess to the
requirements of all components of the Department of Defense,
the Secretary of the Air Force shall offer to the Secretary
of Homeland Security to transfer such aircraft or equipment
to the Secretary of Homeland Security for use by U.S. Customs
and Border Patrol.
(2) Timing of offer.--Any offer under this subsection for
aircraft or equipment shall be made before such aircraft or
equipment is

[[Page S3691]]

otherwise disposed of outside the Department of Defense.
(b) Aircraft and Equipment.--The aircraft and equipment
specified in this subsection is the following:
(1) Retired MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft of the
Air Force that are excess to Department of the Air Force
requirements.
(2) Initial spare MQ-1 Predator remotely pilot aircraft of
the Air Force that are excess to such requirements.
(3) Ground support equipment of the Air Force for MQ-1
Predator remotely piloted aircraft that is excess to such
requirements.
(c) Transfer.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security
accepts an offer under subsection (a), the Secretary of the
Air Force shall transfer the aircraft or equipment concerned
to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The cost of any
aircraft or equipment so transferred, and the cost of
transfer, shall be borne by the Secretary of Homeland
Security.
(d) Demilitarization.--Any aircraft or equipment
transferred under this section shall be demilitarized before
transfer. The cost of demilitarization shall be borne by the
Secretary of the Air Force.
(e) Use of Transferred Aircraft and Equipment.--Any
aircraft or equipment transferred to the Secretary of
Homeland Security pursuant to this section shall be used by
the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for border
security, enforcement of the immigration laws, and related
purposes.
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