S.Amdt. 3509

SA 3509. Mr. DAINES 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 end of subtitle B of title III, add the following:

SEC. 320A. EXCLUSION FROM COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969 OF SENTINEL
PROGRAM OR GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT
PROGRAM.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 109 the
following:

``SEC. 109A. EXEMPTION OF ACTIONS RELATING TO SENTINEL
PROGRAM OR GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT
PROGRAM.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, after
conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
the Interior, or both, as appropriate, may exempt any action
or category of actions undertaken by the Department of
Defense or any component of the Department of Defense
relating to the Sentinel program or the ground-based
strategic deterrent program, or successor similar program,
from compliance with any requirement of this Act if the
Secretary determines that it is critical to national
security.
``(b) Additional Exemptions.--The Secretary of Defense may
issue additional exemptions under this section for the same
action or category of actions after--
``(1) conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of the Interior, or both as appropriate; and
``(2) making a new determination that the additional
exemption is necessary for national defense.
``(c) Effect.--An exemption granted under subsection (a) or
(b)--
``(1) subject to paragraph (2), shall be effective for a
period specified by the Secretary of Defense; and
``(2) shall not be effective for more than 2 years.
``(d) Notice.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after issuing an
exemption under subsection (a) or (b), 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 notice describing the exemption and the
reasons therefor.
``(2) Form.--Notice under paragraph (1) may be provided in
classified form if the Secretary of Defense determines that
use of the classified form is necessary for reasons of
national security.''.
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