S.Amdt. 3224

SA 3224. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2026 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 appropriate place in title II, insert the following:

SEC. __. REPORT ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT WOULD
ENHANCE NATIONAL SECURITY AND READINESS.

(a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2026, and
annually thereafter through October 1, 2031, the Director of
the National Science Foundation and the Under Secretary of
Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the
congressional defense committees, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Deputy Secretary of Defense a report identifying
opportunities for National Science Foundation basic research
programs that would enhance national security and readiness.
(b) Briefing Requirement.--Not later than November 1, 2026,
and annually thereafter through November 1, 2031, the
Director of the National Science Foundation and the Under
Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall
provide to the congressional defense committees, the
Secretary of Defense, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense a
briefing on the report required under subsection (a).
(c) Elements.--Each report required under subsection (a)
and briefing required under subsection (b) shall include the
following elements:
(1) A Department of Defense assessment of critical
technology areas where there is a need for basic research
programs to enhance national security and readiness.
(2) A National Science Foundation assessment of its basic
research and STEM talent development activities currently
contributing to national security goals.
(3) A description of opportunities jointly identified for
additional contributions by the National Science Foundation
and the Department of Defense.
(4) An assessment of research funded by the National
Science Foundation relative to the Office of the Under
Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering's 14
Critical Technology Areas (CTAs), as identified in the 2023
National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, and its
successors, to formally establish the pipeline of basic
research key to national security challenges.
(5) An identification of emerging CTAs.
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