In the nature of a substitute.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

______

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026

Mr. THUNE. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative
session and execute the order with respect to Calendar No. 115, S.
2296.
I would reiterate that last vote was a 10-minute vote that took 27
minutes. People should stay close to the floor. Ten-minute votes, OK?
Ten-minute votes.
Thank you.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Kentucky.

Amendment No. 3761 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 3761 and ask that
it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The bill clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Paul] proposes an amendment
numbered 3761 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To prohibit earnings on balances maintained at a Federal
Reserve bank by or on behalf of a depository institution)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. _____. PROHIBITION ON EARNINGS AND OVERNIGHT REVERSE
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT FACILITIES.

(a) Earnings.--Section 19(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (12
U.S.C. 461(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (12) and
inserting the following:
``(12) Earnings on balances.--No Federal Reserve bank may
pay earnings on balances maintained at a Federal Reserve bank
by or on behalf of a depository institution.''.
(b) Overnight Reverse Repurchase Agreement Facilities.--
Section 14(b)(2) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C.
355(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(2) To'' and inserting ``(2)(A) Except as
provided in subparagraph (B), to''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) No Federal reserve bank may participate in any
overnight reverse repurchase agreement facility or enter into
any reverse repurchase agreement.''.
(c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made
by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Mr. PAUL. I ask unanimous consent that the debate be 4 minutes,
equally divided.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, the Federal Reserve pays both foreign and
domestic banks to simply park their money in Fed accounts--in other
words, to not loan money at all.
Over the past 5 years, the Fed's big bank bailout amounts to over
half a trillion dollars. This bailout causes the Fed to operate at a
loss, which means the Fed cannot remit profits to the taxpayer as it
normally does. According to the economist Judy Shelton, if these
payments stopped, ``banks would [buy] Treasury Securities,'' and it
would bring interest rates down. Some people say that this program is a
floor to interest rates.
My amendment ends these subsidies. Let's end the Fed's big bank
bailout. Let's lower interest rates. Please vote for my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, during the 2008 financial crisis and the
$700 billion bailout for giant banks, the Federal Reserve exploited
another authority to shovel money out the back door and into the hands
of those giant banks.
For the first time ever, the Fed started paying interest on overnight
funds that big financial institutions deposit with the Fed. This was a
dream come true for those financial giants--no risk and lots of free
money printed by the Fed.
How much money? Seven hundred eighty-five billion dollars since 2008.
Some of that money could have been used to pay down the national debt
or fund tax cuts or whatever Congress wanted. Instead, public money
went

[[Page S7063]]

straight into the pockets of giant banks.
And the Fed has a very convoluted argument about why they should be
allowed to pay interest, claiming it helps them set interest rates. But
no one is fooled. Before 2008, the Fed managed interest rates while
paying zero on overnight funds and never had a problem.
Let's call this out for what it is: another taxpayer subsidy for
giant banks.
If another emergency happens and the Fed needs authority to lend out
money like that, make them come to Congress, and let's get a vote on
it.
Last year alone, the banks earned $270 billion in profits. Jamie
Dimon made $39 million. Other megabanks' CEOs made at least $30
million. The banking industry does not need another subsidy from
American taxpayers.
This bipartisan proposal would end that subsidy. I urge a ``yes''
vote on Paul No. 3761. And understand, today's vote is just the start
of a bipartisan fight to get this bill signed into law.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I oppose the Paul amendment. This amendment
would remove one of the primary tools used by the Federal Reserve to
implement monetary policy. The Fed used these tools that have been
indicated on the floor with great effectiveness to contain the damage
in financial crises in 2008 and 2020.
In this uncertain economic moment, handcuffing the Fed would be a
grave mistake. Unemployment is increasing, inflation is not contained,
markets are highly volatile, tariffs are imposed and rescinded, and the
Fed is under constant attack from the White House.
The Fed needs all the tools in its box to prevent a crisis. We cannot
wait in another crisis to have the Fed ask Congress to respond. That
would be going in the wrong direction. If Congress does remove these
tools, then the Fed could be forced to begin a fire sale on Treasury
securities and mortgage-backed securities worth trillions of dollars,
and the Fed will no longer be able to control the monetary system.
We have to do what we can to ensure that the Federal Reserve can
prevent a crisis, and that it is not left waiting on the sidelines in
the crisis unable to respond effectively.
I urge a ``no'' vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, briefly, a number of Members are at their
desks and will vote from their desks. I am told that the majority
leader means it when he says we are going to have 10-minute votes. I
would urge my colleagues, we can have a speedy disposition of all of
these important amendments or we can go into the wee hours. I urge my
Members to consider their votes.

Vote on Amendment No. 3761

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on adoption of the
amendment.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) and the Senator from Alaska (Ms.
Murkowski).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 14, nays 83, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 562 Leg.]

YEAS--14

Cantwell
Durbin
Hawley
Lee
Lummis
Markey
Marshall
Merkley
Murphy
Paul
Sanders
Scott (FL)
Warren
Welch

NAYS--83

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Banks
Barrasso
Bennet
Blackburn
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Coons
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Duckworth
Ernst
Fetterman
Fischer
Gallego
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kaine
Kelly
Kennedy
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lankford
Lujan
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Ricketts
Risch
Rosen
Rounds
Schatz
Schiff
Schmitt
Schumer
Scott (SC)
Shaheen
Sheehy
Slotkin
Smith
Sullivan
Thune
Tillis
Tuberville
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Whitehouse
Wicker
Wyden
Young

NOT VOTING--3

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Murkowski
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 14, the nays are
83.
The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is not
agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3761) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.

Amendment No. 3274 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I would call up amendment No. 3274 and ask
that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Texas [Mr. Cornyn], for Mr. Cruz, proposes
an amendment numbered 3274 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To extend the prohibition on certain reductions to B-1 bomber
aircraft squadrons)

At the appropriate place in subtitle D of title I, insert
the following:

SEC. __. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO B-
1 BOMBER AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS.

Subsection (d)(1) of section 133 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81;
135 Stat. 1574), as most recently amended by section 146 of
the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law
118-159; 138 Stat. 1810), is further amended by striking
``September 30, 2026'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''.

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, this amendment would make sure there is no
gap between the deployment of the B-1 bomber currently housed in
Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and Dyess Air Force Base in
Texas. No gap--we don't retire this workhorse prematurely until the
development and deployment of the B-21 bomber.
This not only has the largest payload of any U.S. aircraft, it is
also the U.S. Air Force's testbed bomber for hypersonic weapons, making
it a supersonic standoff missile truck ready for future conflict.
I would ask all of my colleagues to support it, and we would be happy
to have a voice vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, this amendment would not change the current
budget or program of the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force is already
planning to keep the B-1 fleet longer than 2030, but this will signal a
congressional intent to do so.
I would also request a voice vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, this is an excellent amendment.
I ask unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation
to the Cruz amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Amendment No. 3274

The question occurs on adoption of the amendment.
The amendment (No. 3274) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

Amendment No. 3535 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 2
minutes for each side.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Would you call up your amendment, please.
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3535 and
ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Florida [Mr. Scott] proposes an amendment
numbered 3535 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To require Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation
of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection)

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

[[Page S7064]]

SEC. 1067. PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE
SYSTEM AND THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION.

(a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in section 401--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer
Financial Protection,'' after ``National Security Agency,'';
and
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``the Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;'' after
``National Security Agency;'';
(2) in section 415--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ``the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection,'';
(B) in subsection (c), by striking the third and fourth
sentences; and
(C) in subsection (g)--
(i) by striking paragraph (3); and
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3);
(3) in section 418, by striking ``or 421'' and inserting
``421, or 425''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 425. Special provisions concerning the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection

``(a) In General.--The Inspector General of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection shall have all of the
authorities and responsibilities provided by this chapter--
``(1) with respect to the Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection, as if the Bureau were part of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and
``(2) with respect to a Federal reserve bank without the
permission of the Federal reserve bank.
``(b) Relationship to Department of Treasury.--The
provisions of subsection (a) of section 412 of this title
(other than the provisions of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C),
and (E) of subsection (a)(1) of section 412 of this title)
shall apply to the Inspector General of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of
Consumer Financial Protection and the Chairman of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the same manner
as such provisions apply to the Inspector General of the
Department of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury,
respectively.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 424
the following:

``425. Special provisions concerning the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer
Financial Protection.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on January 31, 2029.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I ask that each side have 2 minutes to discuss
it.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my
amendment, Scott No. 3535, to bring accountability and transparency to
every American, including our brave service men and women.
For too long, our Nation's central bank, under the leadership of Jay
Powell, has failed to do its basic duty of providing stability for
American families.
Jay Powell's Federal Reserve has not only mismanaged the Federal's
monetary policy but is overseeing regulatory and bank failures, reports
of corruption, unethical practices among its own members, and a
flagrant disregard for the best interest of American families.
This is all being completely overlooked by their inspector general
because he is handpicked by the Fed Chairman, reports to the Fed
Chairman. He gets paid by the Fed Chairman. He sets his salary. It is a
clear conflict of interest.
We need accountability at the Fed to rebuild the public's trust, and
that means bringing in an independent, Senate-confirmed inspector
general at the Federal Reserve.
I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort to
establish an independent inspector general at the Federal Reserve so we
can bring true accountability to the Fed and ensure the central bank is
working in America's best interest.
I yield to my colleague Senator Warren.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, I rise to support Senator Scott's bill
that would increase oversight of the Federal Reserve.
I believe in Fed independence so the Fed can do its work setting
interest rates and maximizing employment, but independence does not
mean insulation from following the rules--especially ethics rules.
For years, the Fed has rebuffed congressional oversight, and for
years, Fed officials have been caught up in ethics scandals without any
accountability.
Unlike virtually every other major Federal Agency, the Fed hires and
fires and sets the salary for its own inspector general. That means
that in 2021, when high-level Fed officials were embroiled in a scandal
involving financial trades they made during the COVID pandemic, the
Fed's own in-house IG conducted the only investigation and said,
essentially: Nothing to see here.
Maybe that is right, but the Fed's watchdog should be truly
independent and able to call out abuses.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
Ms. WARREN. I urge a ``yes'' vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to oppose this amendment.
I will say there is no argument that we should reform parts of the
process for an IG for the Federal Reserve, but this amendment is not
that reform that is necessary.
What this amendment does is it will increase the political control
over an independent central bank by allowing the President--the
President--to hire and fire the Federal Reserve's independent inspector
general at will.
This is part of the administration's attack on the Fed's
independence--the independence that is absolutely integral to our
economy's success. The President has attempted to illegally remove a
Governor from her post and threatened to fire the Chair of the Board.
He is doing this to exert political control over the Fed's monetary
decisions.
No President, current or future--this should also apply to future
Presidents--should have increased powers to politicize our central bank
and its critical monetary policy decisions, whether it is by attempting
to take it over through the OMB, manufacturing partisan investigations
at the Justice Department, or appointing a political operative as the
inspector general.
I would urge my colleagues to vote against increasing Presidential
power and threatening the independence of the Federal Reserve. We are
seeing that now. We cannot further that attempt.

Vote on Amendment No. 3535

Mr. WICKER. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question occurs on adoption of the
amendment.
Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul),
and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 53, nays 43, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 563 Leg.]

YEAS--53

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Cantwell
Capito
Cassidy
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Durbin
Ernst
Fetterman
Fischer
Graham
Hagerty
Hawley
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Markey
Marshall
McCormick
Merkley
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murphy
Ricketts
Risch
Sanders
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Warren
Wicker
Wyden
Young

NAYS--43

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Collins
Coons
Duckworth
Gallego
Gillibrand
Grassley
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kennedy
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
McConnell
Murkowski
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed

[[Page S7065]]

Rosen
Rounds
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Welch
Whitehouse

NOT VOTING--4

Cortez Masto
Cruz

Paul

Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are
43.
The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is not
agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3535) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

Order of Business

Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the next
amendment in order be the Curtis amendment No. 3697.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Utah.

Amendment No. 3697 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 3697 and ask
that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The bill clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Utah [Mr. Curtis] proposes an amendment
numbered 3697 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To require a review of the methodologies used to determine
the amounts of locality-based comparability payments and to require the
President's Pay Agent to conduct a pilot program establishing
alternative models for determining the amounts of those payments)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. MODERNIZATION OF THE PAY COMPARABILITY SYSTEM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Comparability payment.--The term ``comparability
payment'' means a comparability payment payable under section
5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code.
(2) General schedule position; pay disparity.--The terms
``General Schedule position'' and ``pay disparity'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 5302 of title 5, United
States Code.
(3) Pay agent.--The term ``Pay Agent'' means the agent
designated by the President under section 5304(d) of title 5,
United States Code.
(b) Requirement.--The Pay Agent shall enter into a contract
with the National Academy of Public Administration under
which, not later than 380 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the National Academy of Public Administration, in
consultation with the Pay Agent, the Secretary of Defense,
the Federal Salary Council, and the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management, shall--
(1) conduct a review of the methodologies used to determine
the amounts of comparability payments, which shall include--
(A) an assessment of the extent to which comparability
payments align with cost-of-living and labor market data, as
derived from--
(i) salary data from the National Compensation Survey and
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics programs
administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor;
(ii) the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department
of Labor;
(iii) regional price parity indices published by the Bureau
of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce;
(iv) the House Price Index published by the Federal Housing
Finance Agency;
(v) the National Housing Market Indicators produced by the
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(vi) other Federal indicators or reputable publicly
available indicators, as determined appropriate by the Pay
Agent; and
(B) a specific analysis of--
(i) pay disparities in Utah; and
(ii) regional pay disparities affecting the recruitment and
retention of Federal employees in defense-related roles,
using Utah as a case study for areas undergoing rapid
economic growth; and
(2) recommend alternative models for determining the
amounts of comparability payments, including by--
(A) making adjustments based on broader economic
indicators;
(B) comparing the rates of pay payable under General
Schedule positions with the rates of pay payable under
positions in the Federal Government that are not General
Schedule positions, such as rates of pay established under
the AcqDemo Project of the Department of Defense carried out
under section 1762 of title 10, United States Code; and
(C) using regional housing market trends, with a particular
focus on the markets in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Layton, Utah,
and other similarly fast-growing areas, as determined by the
Pay Agent.
(c) Pilot Program.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding sections 5304 and 5304a of
title 5, United States Code, after the National Academy of
Public Administration completes the review described in
subsection (b), the Pay Agent shall carry out a pilot program
under which the Pay Agent, after consideration of the
alternative models recommended under subsection (b)(2), uses
alternative models to determine the amounts of comparability
payments that shall be paid in Utah and each area in which a
pay disparity described in subsection (b)(1)(B)(ii) exists.
(2) Length of pilot program.--The pilot program under this
subsection shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after
the date on which the National Academy of Public
Administration completes the review under subsection (b).
(3) Notification.--Before implementing a pilot program
under this subsection, the Pay Agent shall provide notice
regarding, and an explanation of, that pilot program to
Congress and the public.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to limit the authority of an agency under section
5305, 5753, or 5754 of title 5, United States Code, to
establish special salary rates or offer recruitment,
relocation, or retention bonuses while the Pay Agent is
carrying out the requirements under subsection (b) or any
pilot program under subsection (c).
(e) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
as granting authority to use alternative models to determine
the amounts of comparability payments after the termination
of the pilot program under subsection (c)(2).

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be up
to 2 minutes, equally divided.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of my amendment to
create a pilot program to address the shortcomings in the locality pay
system that are impacting Utah and likely impacting all of you in your
military installations and all of your Federal employees around this
country.
The outdated locality pay formula has several flaws in its metrics.
In my State, it doesn't take into account blue-collar workers. It
doesn't even take into account cost of living.
My amendment creates a pilot program for OPM to use Utah's situation
as a case study on these pay disparities to improve the formulas for
all of us. It is a top priority for Hill Air Force Base and a top
priority for me. I suspect, in many of your cases, it is a priority as
well.
I urge my colleagues to vote for my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, first off, I would just like to say I
thank my colleague from Utah for raising this incredibly important
issue.
I have also heard about this issue with Federal locality pay in my
home State of Michigan. And I don't think this is a problem just in
Utah and Michigan; it is in all of our States. However, I have concerns
about how this amendment, as drafted, could unintentionally weaken
existing safeguards that ensure consistency and competitive salaries
across the Federal workforce. Opening the door to these kinds of
changes, in this current environment that we are in right now, is
particularly concerning.
The administration has already frozen locality pay and is reshaping
the Federal workforce in ways that I certainly do not support. This
amendment would give the administration too much authority to inflict
additional pain on Federal employees. I would be happy to work together
with my colleague on a bill that provides Federal employees with the
competitive compensation that they certainly deserve and includes
appropriate safeguards to prevent unintended consequences that I know
the sponsor of this amendment wants to avoid as well.
But I would urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment
until we can go through the work necessary. And I give my commitment to
do that to my colleague and friend the Senator from Utah and that we
will get this right because it is an issue. It is just not ready today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, my thanks to my colleague from Michigan. I
think it is clear that we share the objective together.
I also want to point out that I do share your concerns and am anxious
to work with you. In my perfect world, we would do this in conference
because every day this is not figured out is a day that our troops are
not getting the

[[Page S7066]]

appropriate pay. If that doesn't happen, let's work together; let's
find that common ground between the objective we are trying to
accomplish here and the safeguards that you are worried about.
I yield back my time.

Vote on Amendment No. 3697

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on adoption of
amendment No. 3697.
Mr. CURTIS. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The senior assistant executive clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 46, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 564 Leg.]

YEAS--51

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Durbin
Fischer
Graham
Hagerty
Hawley
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kaine
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Paul
Ricketts
Risch
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Welch
Wicker
Young

NAYS--46

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Cantwell
Coons
Duckworth
Ernst
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Grassley
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Rounds
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Whitehouse
Wyden

NOT VOTING--3

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. MOODY). On this vote, the yeas are 51,
the nays are 46. The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the
amendment is not agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3697) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

Order of Business

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the next
amendment in order be the Cotton-Gillibrand amendment, No. 3759, and I
further ask unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in
relation to that amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Amendment No. 3759 to Amendment No. 3748

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3759 and
ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from New York [Mrs. Gillibrand], for Mr.
Cotton, proposes an amendment numbered 3759 to amendment No.
3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To modify the authority to protect certain facilities and
assets of the United States from incursions)

At the end of subtitle E of title III, add the following:

SEC. 350. MODIFICATION OF PROTECTION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES
AND ASSETS FROM INCURSIONS.

Section 130i of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``any provision of title 18'' and inserting
``sections 32, 1030, and 1367 and chapters 119 and 206 of
title 18''; and
(B) by striking ``officers and civilian employees'' and
inserting ``officers, civilian employees, and contractors'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Detect'' and
inserting ``During the operation of the unmanned aircraft
system or unmanned aircraft, detect''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period at
the end the following: ``, including through the use of
remote identification broadcast or other means'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``Any unmanned'' and inserting ``(1) Any
unmanned''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) Any forfeiture conducted under paragraph (1) shall be
made subject to the requirements for civil, criminal, or
administrative forfeiture, as the case may be, under
applicable law or regulation.'';
(4) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the
regulations prescribed or guidance issued under paragraph (1)
require that, when taking an action described in subsection
(a)(1), all due consideration is given to--
``(i) mitigating impacts on privacy and civil liberties
under the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution of
the United States;
``(ii) mitigating damage to, or loss of, real and personal
property;
``(iii) mitigating any risk of personal injury or death;
and
``(iv) when practicable, obtaining the identification of or
issuing a warning to the operator of an unmanned aircraft
system or unmanned aircraft prior to taking action under
subparagraphs (C) through (F) of subsection (b)(1), unless
doing so would--
``(I) endanger the safety of members of the armed forces or
civilians;
``(II) create a flight risk or result in the destruction of
evidence; or
``(III) seriously jeopardize an investigation, criminal
proceeding, or legal proceeding pursuant to subsection (c).
``(B) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit
the inherent right to self defense of a member of the armed
forces.'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) the interception, acquisition, maintenance, or use
of, or access to, communications to or from an unmanned
aircraft system under this section is conducted in a manner
consistent with the First and Fourth Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States and applicable provisions
of Federal law;'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``a function of the
Department of Defense'' and inserting ``an action described
in subsection (b)(1)'';
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) records of such communications are maintained only
for as long as necessary, and in no event for more than 180
days unless the Secretary of Defense determines that
maintenance of such records--
``(A) is necessary to investigate or prosecute a violation
of law or to directly support an ongoing security operation;
or
``(B) is required under Federal law or for the purpose of
any litigation;''; and
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) is necessary to support an ongoing action described
in subsection (b)(1);'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph
(D);
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) is necessary to support the counter unmanned aircraft
systems activities of another Federal agency with authority
to mitigate the threat of unmanned aircraft systems or
unmanned aircraft in mitigating such threats; or''; and
(v) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by clause (iii),
by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
(6) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), (i), and
(j) as subsections (g), (h), (j), (k), (l), respectively;
(7) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Claims.--Claims for loss of property, injury, or
death pursuant to actions under subsection (b) may be made
consistent with chapter 171 of title 28, and chapter 163 of
this title, as applicable.'';
(8) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (6), by
striking ``March 1, 2018'' and inserting ``March 1, 2026'';
(9) by inserting after subsection (h), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(i) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees and publish on a
publicly available website a report summarizing all detection
and mitigation activities conducted under this section during
the previous year to counter unmanned aircraft systems.
``(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) information on any violation of, or failure to comply
with, this section by personnel authorized to conduct
detection and mitigation activities, including a description
of any such violation or failure;
``(B) data on the number of detection activities conducted,
the number of mitigation activities conducted, and the number
of instances of communications interception from an unmanned
aircraft system;
``(C) whether any unmanned aircraft that experienced
mitigation was engaged in or attempting to engage in
activities protected under the First Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States;

[[Page S7067]]

``(D) whether any unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft
system was properly or improperly seized, disabled, damaged,
or destroyed and an identification of any methods used to
seize, disable, damage, or destroy such aircraft or system;
and
``(E) a description of the efforts of the Federal
Government to protect privacy and civil liberties when
carrying out detection and mitigation activities under this
section to counter unmanned aircraft systems.
``(3) Each report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted and published in unclassified form, but may include
a classified annex.''.
(10) by striking subsection (k), as so redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(k) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on December 31,
2030.''; and
(11) in subsection (l), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs,'' after ``the
Committee on the Judiciary,''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``the Committee on
Homeland Security,'' after ``the Committee on the
Judiciary,''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by redesignating clauses (i)
through (ix) as subclauses (I) through (IX), respectively,
and moving those subclauses, as so redesignated, two ems to
the right;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively, and moving those
clauses, as so redesignated, two ems to the right; and
(iii) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated
by clause (ii), by striking ``means any facility or asset
that--'' and inserting ``means--
``(A) any facility or asset that--'';
(iv) in clause (iii), as redesignated by clause (ii)--

(I) in subclause (VIII), as redesignated by clause (i), by
striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon;
(II) in subclause (IX), as so redesignated, by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(III) by adding at the end the following new subclauses:
``(X) protection of the buildings, grounds, and property to
which the public are not permitted regular, unrestricted
access and that are under the jurisdiction, custody, or
control of the Department of Defense and the persons on that
property pursuant to section 2672 of this title;
``(XI) assistance to Federal, State, or local officials in
responding to incidents involving nuclear, radiological,
biological, or chemical weapons, high-yield explosives, or
related materials or technologies, as well as support
pursuant to section 282 of this title or the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121 et seq); or
``(XII) activities listed in section 2692(b) of this title;
or''; and

(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) any personnel associated with a facility or asset
specified under subparagraph (A) while engaged in direct
support of a mission of the Department of Defense specified
in clause (iii) of such subparagraph.''.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 2 minutes equally divided.
Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I rise in support of amendment No.
3759, the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization
and Threat Elimination Response Act, or the COUNTER Act.
This is a commonsense amendment to mitigate threats to military
facilities from unmanned aircraft systems. Hundreds of drones have been
spotted in the vicinity of military installations over the past 2
years, including military sensitive sites like Langley Air Force Base.
But current laws give the Department of Defense quite limited
authority to mitigate these threats, and the patchwork of interagency
coordination required to address them leaves gaps that endanger our
military bases and the men and women who serve there.
This is an alarming threat to our national security.
That is why this amendment is so important. It would give the DOD the
authority to secure all of its bases, enhancing the protection against
unmanned aircraft system incursions.
It would also allow the DOD to share information about threats posed
by UAS with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland
Security to improve the interagency mitigation efforts.
Additionally, the amendment includes language that protects
Americans' privacy and constitutional rights, while still meeting the
needs of the military to protect our servicemembers and sensitive
military sites.
I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment to strengthen our
national security and protect our military facilities.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
Mr. COTTON. Madam President, I thank Senator Gillibrand for her work
on this legislation. I think most Americans, if not a few Senators, are
shocked when they learn how little defenses our troops have against
drones that are approaching their military bases. They really have to
wait until an unidentified drone demonstrates hostile intent before
they can neutralize the threat. That is not what we would say if a box
truck was driving up to a base. We shouldn't have to say it when a
drone is approaching a base.
Senator Gillibrand has cited a lot of recent threats here. This
legislation would close the gap, simplify military guidance, and make
our troops safer.
I would urge everyone a ``yes'' vote, and I think Senator Gillibrand
and I would welcome a voice vote as well.

Vote on Amendment No. 3759

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on adoption of
amendment No. 3759.
The amendment (No. 3759) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the next
amendment in order be the Marshall amendment No. 3213, and I further
ask unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation to
that amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senator from Kansas.

Amendment No. 3213 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3213 and
ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Kansas [Mr. Marshall] proposes an
amendment numbered 3213 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To prohibit the flying, draping, or other display of any flag
other than the flag of the United States at covered public buildings)

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

SEC. 1067. PROHIBITION ON FLAGS OTHER THAN THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered public building.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
the term ``covered public building'' has the meaning given
the term ``public building'' in section 3301(a) of title 40,
United States Code.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``covered public building''
includes--
(i) a building in use by the Senate or House of
Representatives or otherwise under the jurisdiction of the
Architect of the Capitol;
(ii) a military installation; and
(iii) any embassy or consulate of the United States.
(2) Flag of the united states.--The term ``flag of the
United States'' has the meaning given the term in section
700(b) of title 18, United States Code.
(3) Military installation.--The term ``military
installation'' has the meaning given the term in section
2801(c) of title 10, United States Code.
(b) Prohibitions.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, except as provided in subsection (c), no flag that is
not the flag of the United States may be flown, draped, or
otherwise displayed--
(1) on the exterior of a covered public building; or
(2) in an area of a covered public building that is fully
accessible to the public, including an entryway or hallway.
(c) Exceptions.--The prohibitions under subsection (b)
shall not apply to--
(1) a National League of Families POW/MIA flag (as
designated by section 902(a) of title 36, United States
Code);
(2) a Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag (as designated by
section 904(a) of title 36, United States Code);
(3) any flag that represents the nation of a visiting
diplomat or a representative of the government of that nation
visiting the covered public building at which the flag is
displayed;
(4) in the case of a Member of Congress, the State flag of
the State represented by the Member that is located outside
or within the office of the Member;
(5) any flag that represents a unit or branch of the Armed
Forces or any flag that supports the Armed Forces;
(6) any flag of historical significance to the United
States, including the Betsy Ross flag, the Gadsden flag, and
the Bennington flag;
(7) any flag that represents public safety;
(8) any flag commemorating a special national observance,
including any 9/11 memorial, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day,
or Memorial Day flag;
(9) in the case of a religious liturgy or ceremony at a
military installation or facility, any flag that represents a
religious organization or church that is described in section

[[Page S7068]]

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code;
(10) in the case of a Federal agency, any flag that
represents the Federal agency;
(11) any flag that represents an Indian Tribe (as defined
in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
(12) any flag that represents the State, territory, county,
city, or local jurisdiction in which the covered public
building is located.

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, the American flag represents something
deeply personal to most of us in this room. Someone from every
generation in my family, going back to the Civil War, has served under
one flag--the American flag.
It is more than stars and stripes. This one flag is a symbol of
sacrifice, of freedom and unity. Every time we place our hands over our
hearts, we are reminded that we are one Nation under God. We are not a
patchwork of ideologies competing for space on a flagpole. No flag that
divides or politicizes should ever be flown on a Federal building.
This is about respect. It is about unity and putting America first,
standing together under one flag--the Stars and Stripes--and that is
why I urge my colleagues to support our amendment, ensuring only the
American flag is flown on Federal buildings.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. REED. Madam President, Senator Marshall's amendment would
prohibit any flag other than the U.S. flag from being flown outside or
in publicly accessible areas of military installations, public
buildings in the United States, American Embassies and consulates, and
public areas of congressional office buildings, including hallways.
This amendment raises serious constitutional concerns about the right
of free expression. But one example would be that a Member of Congress
could not fly the flag of Israel, for example, unless he or she were
being visited by an Israeli Ambassador. And that is a constraint, I
think, on speech and the rights of Members of Congress, as well as
others.
So I would urge a ``no'' vote on this.
With respect to specific military installations, in the fiscal year
2024 national defense bill, section 1052 gave the Secretary of Defense
discretion to indicate what flag would be appropriate on a military
installation. So we have dealt with this issue before in a bipartisan
manner.
I would urge a ``no'' vote on Senator Marshall's amendment.

Vote on Amendment No. 3213

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on adoption of
amendment No. 3213.
The amendment (No. 3213) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.

Amendment No. 3814 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3814 to
substitute amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Kansas [Mr. Moran] proposes an amendment
numbered 3814 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To improve the availability of care for veterans from
facilities and providers of the Department of Defense)

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:

SEC. 724. IMPROVEMENT OF AVAILABILITY OF CARE FOR VETERANS
FROM FACILITIES AND PROVIDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE.

(a) Outreach on Available Care.--Not less frequently than
annually, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall conduct outreach to increase awareness
among veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient
enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established
and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States
Code, of the ability of those veterans to receive care at
military medical treatment facilities.
(b) Training on Referrals.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall ensure training for staff and contractors
involved in scheduling, or assisting in scheduling,
appointments for care under the community care program
specifically includes training regarding options for referral
to facilities and providers of the Department of Defense.
(c) Preferred Providers.--Subsection (g) of section 1703 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and Preferred
Providers'' after ``Network''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) The Secretary shall consider providers under
subsection (c)(2) to be preferred providers under this
section.''.
(d) Action Plans.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement action plans
at covered facilities--
(A) to expand the partnership between the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect
to the provision of health care;
(B) to improve communication between the Department of
Veterans Affairs and pertinent command and director
leadership of military medical treatment facilities;
(C) to increase utilization of military medical treatment
facilities with excess capacity;
(D) to increase case volume and complexity for graduate
medical education programs of the Department of Defense and
the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(E) to improve resource sharing agreements or permits, as
applicable, between the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs, which would also ensure
lessened barriers to shared facility spaces; and
(F) to increase access to care for veterans described in
subsection (a) in areas in which a military medical treatment
facility is located that is identified by the Secretary of
Defense as having excess capacity.
(2) Matters to be included.--The action plans required
under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) Cross-credentialing and privileging of health care
providers, including nurses, medical technicians, and other
support staff, to jointly care for beneficiaries in medical
facilities of the Department of Defense and the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(B) Expediting access to installations of the Department of
Defense for staff and beneficiaries of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(C) Including in-kind or non-cash payment or reimbursement
options for expenses incurred by either the Department of
Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(D) Allowing eligible veterans to seek certain services at
military medical treatment facilities without referral or
preauthorization from the Department of Veterans Affairs, for
which reimbursement to the Department of Defense will be
made.
(E) The designation of a coordinator within each covered
facility to serve as a liaison between the Department of
Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs and to lead
the implementation of such action plan.
(F) A mechanism for monitoring the effectiveness of such
action plan on an ongoing basis, to include establishing
relevant performance goals and collecting data to assess
progress towards those goals.
(G) Prioritize the integration of relevant information
technology and other systems or processes to enable seamless
information sharing, referrals and ancillary orders, payment
methodologies and billing processes, and workload attribution
when Department of Veterans Affairs personnel provide
services at Department of Defense facilities or when
Department of Defense personnel provide services at
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
(H) Any other matter that the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs consider appropriate.
(3) Approval of action plans.--Before implementing any
action plan required under paragraph (1) at a covered
facility or covered facilities, the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that approval
for the action plan is obtained from--
(A) the co-chairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs-
Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee established
under section 320 of title 38, United States Code;
(B) the local installation commander for the covered
facility of the Department of Defense; and
(C) the director of the relevant medical center of the
Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to any covered
facility or covered facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(4) Reports.--
(A) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report containing the
action plans required under paragraph (1).
(B) Subsequent report.--Not later than one year after
submitting the report required under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report containing--
(i) a status update on the progress of implementing the
action plans required under paragraph (1); and
(ii) recommendations for developing subsequent action plans
for each facility with respect to which there is a sharing
agreement in place.
(e) Requirements Relating to Sharing Agreements.--
(1) Lead coordinator.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that there is a
lead coordinator at each facility of the Department of

[[Page S7069]]

Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs, as the case
may be, with respect to which there is a sharing agreement in
place.
(2) List of agreements.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall maintain on a publicly
available website a list of all sharing agreements in place
between medical facilities of the Department of Defense and
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(f) Treatment of Existing Laws Regarding Sharing of Health
Care Resources.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall carry out this section
notwithstanding any limitation or requirement under section
1104 of title 10, United States Code, or section 8111 of
title 38, United States Code.
(g) Funding.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may use funds available in the DOD-VA Health
Care Sharing Incentive Fund established under section
8111(d)(2) of title 38, United States Code, to implement this
section.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section shall be construed to require
veterans to seek care in facilities of the Department of
Defense.
(i) Extension of Certain Limits on Payments of Pension.--
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting
``April 30, 2032''.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Community care program.--The term ``community care
program'' means the Veterans Community Care Program under
section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
(3) Covered facility.--The term ``covered facility''
means--
(A) a military medical treatment facility ias defined in
section 1073c(j) of title 10, United States Code; or
(B) a medical facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs located nearby a military medical treatment facility
described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Sharing agreement.--The term ``sharing agreement''
means an agreement for sharing of health-care resources
between the Department of Defense and the Department of
Veterans Affairs under section 1104 of title 10, United
States Code, or section 8111 of title 38, United States Code.
(5) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask my colleagues to support amendment
No. 3814 to the NDAA. This amendment would improve collaboration
between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of
Defense to expand access to care for veterans and support greater
utilization of military medical treatment facilities. Current law
allows DOD to downgrade the scope of a military treatment facility if
the facility volume doesn't justify the capacity of patients and if
surrounding communities can absorb this capacity.
My amendment, which incorporates feedback from DOD and VA, would
require improved outreach, education, training, and partnership between
the VA and DOD. It would make certain that excess capacity at military
medical treatment facilities is used to increase access to care for
veterans living in that community, while also providing more training
opportunities for DOD personnel.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to vitiate the
60-vote threshold in relation to the Moran amendment No. 3814.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Is there further debate?

Vote on Amendment No. 3814

The question now occurs on adoption of amendment No. 3814.
The amendment (No. 3814) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

Amendment No. 3288 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. LEE. Madam President, I call up the Lee-Duckworth amendment No.
3288 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Utah [Mr. Lee] proposes an amendment
numbered 3288 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To address the treatment of funds received by National Guard
Bureau as reimbursement from States)

At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following:

SEC. 515. TREATMENT OF FUNDS RECEIVED BY NATIONAL GUARD
BUREAU AS REIMBURSEMENT FROM STATES.

Section 710 of title 32, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Treatment of Reimbursed Funds.--Any funds received by
the National Guard Bureau from a State, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin
Islands as reimbursement under this section for the use of
military property--
``(1) shall be credited to--
``(A) the appropriation, fund, or account used in incurring
the obligation; or
``(B) an appropriate appropriation, fund, or account
currently available for the purposes for which the
expenditures were made; and
``(2) may only be used by the Department of Defense for the
repair, maintenance, or other similar functions related
directly to assets used by National Guard units while
operating under State active duty status.''.

Mr. LEE. Madam President, across the country, our guardsmen are on
the frontlines of our national security.
They are on the frontlines of our national security, securing our
cities and our border, and, most commonly, leading natural disaster
recovery efforts in our various States.
In 2022, over half of the National Guard's members responded to
natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms,
tornadoes, and even volcanoes.
The National Guard's motto is ``Always Ready, Always There,'' and yet
there is an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle jeopardizing the readiness
of Guard assets for future missions. When the National Guard is used in
a State Active-Duty status for missions like disaster response, the
State may use Federal equipment to complete the mission but must
reimburse the Federal National Guard Bureau for the associated
expenses. Current law requires those reimbursements to flow through the
Treasury Department rather than the Guard unit incurring the expense.
Why does this matter? Well, it matters because we need to get rid of
this unnecessary step that is harming the States and the Guard.
The amendment simply directs reimbursements to the appropriate Guard
unit directly, the unit where the asset resides, to ensure its
readiness for future missions.
If we are going to expect the Guard to be always ready and always
there, we must streamline the State Active-Duty reimbursement process
and ensure the Guard is made whole.
I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
Ms. DUCKWORTH. Madam President, this is a bipartisan amendment that
deals with a longstanding, multiyear issue supported by 49 State
adjutant generals. When the National Guard units are mobilized by their
Governors and paid for by the Federal Government, our antiquated
reimbursement system for reimbursing the National Guard for maintenance
of their Federal equipment leads to long delays for States to receive
the promised funds.
This amendment only modernizes our payment system to ensure that the
Federal Government more efficiently reimburses States to ensure that
Federal National Guard equipment that is used for title 32 or State
Active-Duty missions of our Guard, such as responses to natural
disasters, can be adequately maintained.
I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, this amendment has widespread support. I
ask unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation to
the Lee-Duckworth amendment No. 3288.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Amendment No. 3288

The question now occurs on adoption of amendment No. 3288.
The amendment (No. 3288) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.

Amendment No. 3926 to Amendment No. 3748

(Purpose: To protect the national security of the United States by
imposing sanctions with respect to certain persons of the People's
Republic of China and prohibiting and requiring notifications with
respect to certain investments by United States persons in the People's
Republic of China.)

[[Page S7070]]

Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I call up the Cornyn and Cortez Masto
amendment No. 3926 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Texas [Mr. Cornyn] proposes an amendment
numbered 3926 to amendment No. 3748.

(The amendment is printed in the Record of October 7, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I would ask unanimous consent that
Senator Warren and I be allowed to speak with 2 minutes divided between
us, a minute each.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CORNYN. If this amendment sounds familiar, it is. It passed the
118th Congress by a vote of 91 to 6. Simply stated, this is a
transparency bill that will give us some insight into the amount of
money being invested in the People's Republic of China and the extent
to which those investment dollars are directly flowing into the arsenal
of our greatest strategic adversary: the People's Republic of China.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission noted that the United
States is the most important foreign source of investment to
semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI in China.
Because of China's military fusion strategy, these investments are
directly bolstering the People's Liberation Army. Voting for this
amendment will provide transparency to us as policymakers to know where
the money is going and how it is being used in China--hopefully, the
way that we can protect ourselves and protect our interests in the
Indo-Pacific.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
Ms. WARREN. Madam President, we have a responsibility to ensure that
the United States remains the world's leader in advanced technology.
There is broad bipartisan agreement that we should be developing the
most sensitive, cutting-edge technologies right here at home, rather
than funding their development in countries that do not share our
values.
This amendment would advance that goal by codifying a program to
screen specific types of U.S. investments in China and other countries
of concern.
It would protect our national security and help ensure that American
ingenuity, innovation, and investment do not end up turbocharging these
countries' advancements in fields like artificial intelligence, quantum
computing, and microelectronics.
I commend Senators Cortez Masto and Cornyn for their leadership in
this effort and look forward to working with my colleagues to get
versions of this important legislation signed into law.
Today's vote is an important bipartisan step to protect American
innovation and safeguard our national security.
I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, we would be happy to have a voice vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, this is an extremely important amendment
which will protect America's interests, and I ask unanimous consent to
vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation to the amendment, Cornyn-
Cortez Masto No. 3926.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Amendment No. 3926

The question now occurs on adoption of amendment No. 3926.
The amendment (No. 3926) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.

Amendment No. 3841 to Amendment No. 3748

(Purpose: To prohibit contracting with certain biotechnology
providers.)
Mr. HAGERTY. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3841 to
substitute amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Hagerty] proposes an
amendment numbered 3841 to amendment No. 3748.

(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 9, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')
Mr. HAGERTY. Madam President, I stand before you today to urge the
adoption of the Hagerty-Peters amendment for the bipartisan BIOSECURE
Act.
The BIOSECURE Act is rooted in basic common sense. It would stop U.S.
taxpayer money from going to Chinese technology companies that are
aligned with the People's Liberation Army, companies like BGI.
The threat we face is real, and it is growing. Communist China has
openly identified biotechnology as a key domain for future warfare. To
cite just one chilling example, in 2017, National Defense University of
the People's Liberation Army wrote about the possibility of ``specific
ethnic genetic attacks'' that ``can be a precise, targeted attack''--
get this--``that destroys a race, or a specific group of people, or a
specific person.'' This is bone-chilling, this is real, and this is the
objective of the CCP and the PLA through this DNA data collection.
The Chinese military entity added that ``its potentially huge war
effectiveness can bring extreme panic to human beings.'' Of course it
would.
That is not science fiction; that is a PLA strategy document.
Companies like BGI--one of the so-called national champions of
Chinese biotech--are in position to facilitate what was once heretofore
unthinkable: a genetically targeted bioweapon. Evidence suggests that
BGI is working with China's military to conduct joint research. It is
using the Chinese military supercomputers to process biodata, and it is
collaborating with Chinese military hospitals to genetically enhance
the performance of Chinese soldiers. Can you believe this?
Under China's national intelligence laws, all Chinese companies,
regardless of where they operate in the world, must turn over any data
they have collected if the Chinese Government wants it. Given the
stated interest of the PLA in bioweapons, you can be sure they will be
interested in the genetic data of Americans.
Make no mistake, BGI and companies like it are not just commercial
actors; they are tools of the CCP--collecting, storing, and analyzing
DNA for millions of people worldwide, including the genetic data of
Americans that they collect, very often without informed consent. That
is why the Department of War has already singled out BGI on its list of
communist companies that operate in the United States and that
collaborate with the People's Liberation Army.
The solution is simple. The BIOSECURE Act stops U.S. taxpayer money
from flowing to biotechnology companies of concern. It ensures that the
Federal Government cannot buy from, contract with, nor subsidize CCP-
controlled biotech firms that put at risk the DNA of American citizens
and the security of the United States. It gives industry an adjustment
period when new entities are designated as ``biotechnology companies of
concern.'' It provides limited waiver authority where absolutely
necessary on a case-by-case basis.
Just last month, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin were overheard talking
about biotechnology, organ transplants, and even the possibly of
extending life to 150 years. They know what is at stake. We must
acknowledge it too.
This amendment is about protecting Americans' most personal
information--their DNA. I urge my colleagues to support it.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I commend Senator Hagerty and Senator
Peters, who is not on the floor right now, but I also commend him for
his leadership on this amendment, which should pass overwhelmingly.
I ask unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation
to the Hagerty-Peters amendment No. 3841.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Amendment No. 3841

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on adoption of the amendment.
The amendment (No. 3841) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.

Amendment No. 3109 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3109 to

[[Page S7071]]

amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from New York [Mr. Schumer] proposes an
amendment numbered 3109 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds to procure or modify foreign
aircraft for presidential airlift)

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

SEC. 1038. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO PROCURE OR MODIFY
FOREIGN AIRCRAFT FOR PRESIDENTIAL AIRLIFT.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act
or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the
Department of Defense may be made available for the
procurement, modification, restoration, or maintenance of an
aircraft previously owned by a foreign government, an entity
controlled by a foreign government, or a representative of a
foreign government for the purposes of providing presidential
airlift options.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, back in May, President Trump accepted
the largest foreign gift to an American President in modern history--a
$400 million luxury Boeing 747 for use as Air Force One.
It is outrageous that President Trump wants to fly around the world
like a King while Americans are getting hammered by tariffs and paying
more for healthcare, groceries, rent, and electricity.
Some say that this plane was gifted and that it didn't cost the
United States anything, but make no mistake about it, merely
retrofitting this foreign-owned luxury jet to make it fully operational
will cost hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
That is money that shouldn't be wasted, so, today, I have an
amendment that will make sure not a penny of taxpayer dollars provided
in this NDAA will go to any remodeling or maintenance of the
President's foreign-owned Air Force One.
It would prohibit funds authorized by this bill from being diverted
for procurement, modification, restoration, or maintenance of an
aircraft previously owned by a foreign government for the purpose of
providing a Presidential airlift, and it would ensure the security and
continued reliability of the Air Force One fleet.
Republicans like to talk about eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Spending even a penny of taxpayer dollars on retrofitting this luxury
is about as wasteful--as wasteful--as it gets.
I urge my Republican colleagues who care about spending taxpayer
dollars responsibly to support this amendment.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
Mrs. FISCHER. Madam President, I rise in opposition to this amendment
because it would have a significant negative effect on our U.S. nuclear
deterrence.
In addition to the obvious stab at President Trump, the way the
amendment is drafted would affect one of our military's most important
programs: the Survivable Airborne Operations Center--otherwise known as
the Doomsday Plane.
This aircraft program is crucial to ensuring command and control for
the President if we are attacked with nuclear weapons. It is an
important part of our nuclear deterrent.
The program purchased a Boeing 747 aircraft from Korean Air, and thus
this program would be unable to spend appropriated money this year if
this amendment passes.
For those reasons, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Vote on Amendment No. 3109

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on adoption of the
amendment.
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley),
and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 46, nays 50, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 565 Leg.]

YEAS--46

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Cantwell
Coons
Duckworth
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Welch
Whitehouse
Wyden

NAYS--50

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fischer
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Paul
Ricketts
Risch
Rounds
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Wicker
Young

NOT VOTING--4

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Hawley

Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 46, the nays are
50.
The 60-vote threshold not having been achieved, the amendment is
rejected.
The amendment (No. 3109) was rejected.

Amendment No. 3872 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I call up my amendment No. 3872 and ask that it be
reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Maryland [Mr. Van Hollen] proposes an
amendment numbered 3872 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To amend title 32, United States Code, to clarify certain
limitations on full-time National Guard duty performed in a State,
Territory, or the District of Columbia)

At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following:

SEC. 515. REQUIREMENT OF CONSENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER FOR CERTAIN FULL-TIME NATIONAL GUARD
DUTY PERFORMED IN A STATE, TERRITORY, OR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Subsection (f) of section 502 of title 32, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Under'' and inserting
``Subject to paragraph (2) and under''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (A) to read
as follows:
``(A) Support of operations or missions undertaken by the
member's unit at the request of the President or Secretary of
Defense, with the consent of--
``(i) the chief executive officer of each State (as that
term is defined in section 901 of this title) in which such
operations or missions shall take place; and
``(ii) if such operations or missions shall take place in
the District of Columbia, the Mayor of the District of
Columbia.''.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, this amendment says that the
Governor of one State may not deploy its National Guard to another
State without the consent of the Governor of the recipient State.
As the Republican Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt said today, ``As a
federalist believer, one governor against another governor, I don't
think that's the right way to approach this.''
I agree. And it is worth noting that Governor Stitt is the current
chairman of the National Governors Association.
Voluntary cooperation is one thing, but I don't think any of my
colleagues would appreciate it if the Governor of Maryland used Federal
dollar-supported National Guard troops in Maryland to deploy to any of
your States without the consent of your State. That is the principle
behind this amendment.
I urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.
Mr. SCHMITT. One thing my friend did not mention is this also affects
Washington, DC. Another reason I oppose this amendment is it would
weaken Federal authority over the DC National Guard and hinder its
ability to respond to a crisis.

[[Page S7072]]

Cooperation with the Mayor of DC is valuable, but collaboration does
not require granting the Mayor Commander-in-Chief powers over a Federal
military force. The President must retain that authority to ensure
unity in command in a rapid, coordinated Federal response when it is
needed most.
I ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Vote on Amendment No. 3872

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on adoption of the amendment.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant executive clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 47, nays 50, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 566 Leg.]

YEAS--47

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Cantwell
Cassidy
Coons
Duckworth
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Welch
Whitehouse
Wyden

NAYS--50

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fischer
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hawley
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Paul
Ricketts
Risch
Rounds
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Wicker
Young

NOT VOTING--3

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 47, the nays are
50.
The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is not
agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3872) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

Amendment No. 3210 to Amendment No. 3748

(Purpose: To limit the provision of support by the Armed Forces to
civilian law enforcement activities.)
Ms. DUCKWORTH. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3210 to
amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Illinois [Ms. Duckworth] proposes an
amendment numbered 3210 to amendment No. 3748.

(The amendment is printed in the Record of July 31, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')
Ms. DUCKWORTH. Madam President, in the last few months, we have seen
President Trump force military troops, uninvited, into American
cities--first into Los Angeles, then into our Nation's Capital, and now
into Chicago.
Let's be clear: Ordering our troops to intimidate the very Americans
they were willing to risk their lives to protect does nothing to make
our Nation stronger. It is just another move straight out of an
authoritarian 101 playbook. A move that tramples on civil rights
instills fear among Americans and distracts our troops from their core
mission of keeping Americans safe from actual adversaries who wish to
do us harm. Our National Guard signed up to serve and protect this
country, not to protect one man's thin skin.
That is why, today, I am introducing a provision that would reduce
the misuse of the military for nonmilitary purposes. It would install
commonsense congressional oversight by requiring Congress to approve
any redirection of expensive military assets to support law enforcement
for longer than 30 days. This is essential to protecting against civil
rights abuse, including the use of military bases for detentions or
providing DOD surveillance to support policing on U.S. soil.
To be clear, my provision would allow States facing situations that
overwhelm their capacities from natural disasters and public health
emergencies to benefit from research in military and logistical support
for a month. It would also help ensure that America's elected
representatives, not a wannabe dictator, get to decide whether to bring
in military readiness of such extraordinary measures.
If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle care about respecting
our troops as much as they claim to, they have no choice but to join me
in voting yes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, protecting the American people and their
property is fundamental to the government. In fact, it is a core
principle and the responsibility of the Federal Government. I see no
need or any good reason to remove the tools that the President has to
do exactly that--to protect people and property.
The use of our military to support local law enforcement, not to
become law enforcement, is legal. President Trump has proven it to be
effective. I think that just because you don't like the current
President, it is not a reason to make dramatic changes to the laws that
restrict him from doing the very thing he promised he would do when he
ran for the office.
I oppose the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Vote on Amendment No. 3210

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on adoption of the amendment.
Ms. DUCKWORTH. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 46, nays 52, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 567 Leg.]

YEAS--46

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Cantwell
Coons
Duckworth
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Welch
Whitehouse
Wyden

NAYS--52

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fischer
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hawley
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Paul
Ricketts
Risch
Rounds
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tillis
Tuberville
Wicker
Young

NOT VOTING--2

Cortez Masto
Cruz

The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 46, the nays are
52.
The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is not
agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3210) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.

Amendment No. 3337 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. YOUNG. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3337 to
amendment No. 3748 and ask that it be reported by number.

[[Page S7073]]

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Indiana [Mr. Young], for Mr. Kaine and
himself, proposes an amendment numbered 3337 to amendment No.
3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To repeal the authorizations for use of military force
against Iraq)

At the end of subtitle B of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1219. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE
AGAINST IRAQ.

(a) Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
Resolution.--The Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1; 105 Stat. 3; 50
U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.
(b) Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
Resolution of 2002.--The Authorization for Use of Military
Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243;
116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, the Iraq war started 22 years ago; the Gulf
war, 34 years ago. Today, Iraq is a partner, not an adversary, and it
is time for the law to reflect that.
DOD has assured Congress that operations can continue without these
expired AUMFs. Our amendment does not implicate the 2001 AUMF, which is
critical to ongoing operations.
Both Chambers have passed the same repeal before on a bipartisan
basis. The House included it in its NDAA this year. Let's do the same
here in the Senate and close the book on these forever wars.
I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I would like to ask unanimous consent to
just speak for a minute.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I want to thank my colleague. Senator
Young and I have worked on this for a number of years. As he mentioned,
the first Gulf war started in 1991, the second Gulf war in 2002, and it
was over in 2011--14 years ago.
Last week, the Pentagon issued a statement about the drawdown of U.S.
troops in Iraq, and this was the statement from the Pentagon:

This reduction reflects our combined success in fighting
ISIS and marks an effort to transition to a lasting U.S.-Iraq
security partnership.

An adversary to a partner beating a sword into a plowshare.
Both Houses have voted to repeal this war, and it is time that we
take this action. This will be the first congressional repeal of a war
authorization since the Gulf of Tonkin in 1971.
I ask for a ``yes'' vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I intend to vote against this. I think
keeping this AUMF actually would help us assure continued success.
I think I see how the wind is blowing, and I will consent to a voice
vote. Understanding that that is the sentiment of the body, I ask
unanimous consent to vitiate the 60-vote threshold in relation to
amendment No. 3337.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.

Vote on Amendment No. 3337

The question is on adoption of the amendment.
The amendment (No. 3337) was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.

Amendment No. 3853 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 3853 and ask
that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Vermont [Mr. Sanders] proposes an
amendment numbered 3853 to amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To reduce the bloated Pentagon budget by 10 percent and
instead expand veteran dental care at the Department of Veterans
Affairs)

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

SEC. 1067. FUNDING FOR DENTAL CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.--The amount authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 2026 by this Act is--
(1) the aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated for
fiscal year 2026 by this Act (other than for military
personnel and the Defense Health Program); minus
(2) the amount equal to 10 percent of the aggregate amount
described in paragraph (1).
(b) Allocation.--The reduction made by subsection (a)
shall--
(1) apply on a pro rata basis among the accounts and funds
for which amounts are authorized to be appropriated by this
Act (other than military personnel and the Defense Health
Program);
(2) be applied on a pro rata basis across each program,
project, and activity funded by the account or fund
concerned; and
(3) be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide
direct dental care to all veterans eligible for health care
from the Department of Veterans Affairs through expansions in
dental treatment rooms and equipment and hiring of additional
dentists and other clinicians.

Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, amendment No. 3853 is very simple. It
would cut 10 percent from this Defense bill, excluding military
personnel and the Defense Health Program, and it would use those funds
to provide direct dental care to all veterans eligible for healthcare
from the VA.
We are now spending over $1 trillion a year on the military--more
than the next nine nations combined.
While Congress has cut funding for housing, education, nutrition,
this bill increases military spending by over 8 percent.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is the only major Federal Agency not capable
of passing an independent audit, and nobody denies that there is not
massive waste, fraud, and abuse within the DOD.
As the former chair of the Veterans' Committee, I agree with all of
the major veterans organizations, that we have got to strengthen VA
healthcare, and one of the gaps in that system is a lack of dental
care. We have got veterans whose teeth are rotting in their mouth. They
cannot get dental care.
I think we should get our priorities right. Let's cut a very large
military budget, spending much too much. Let's protect our veterans.
Let's pass this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
Mr. TUBERVILLE. Madam President, our military budgets are already
carefully balanced. It is based on our national security priorities.
Indiscriminate cuts contemplated in this amendment would undercut our
readiness.
I ask for a ``no'' vote.

Vote on Amendment No. 3853

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on adoption of the amendment.
Mr. WICKER. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 10, nays 88, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 568 Leg.]

YEAS--10

Baldwin
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Sanders
Smith
Van Hollen
Warren
Welch
Wyden

NAYS--88

Alsobrooks
Banks
Barrasso
Bennet
Blackburn
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Cantwell
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Coons
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Duckworth
Durbin
Ernst
Fetterman
Fischer
Gallego
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hassan
Hawley
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kaine
Kelly
Kennedy
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lankford
Lee
Lujan
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Paul
Peters
Reed
Ricketts
Risch
Rosen
Rounds
Schatz
Schiff
Schmitt
Schumer
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shaheen
Sheehy
Slotkin
Sullivan
Thune
Tillis
Tuberville
Warner
Warnock
Whitehouse
Wicker
Young

[[Page S7074]]

NOT VOTING--2

Cortez Masto
Cruz

The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 10, the nays are
88.
The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is not
agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3853) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

Amendment No. 3927 to Amendment No. 3748

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I call up amendment No. 3927 and ask
that it be reported by number.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Oregon [Mr. Merkley] proposes an amendment
numbered 3927 to Amendment No. 3748.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To limit the use of Federal law enforcement officers for
crowd control, and for other purposes)

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

SEC. 1067. IDENTIFICATION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
ENGAGED IN CROWD CONTROL.

(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``Federal law enforcement officer'' means--
(A) an employee or officer in a position in the executive,
legislative, or judicial branch of the Federal Government who
is authorized by law to engage in or supervise a law
enforcement function; or
(B) an employee or officer of a contractor or subcontractor
(at any tier) of an agency in the executive, legislative, or
judicial branch of the Federal Government who is authorized
by law or under the contract with the agency to engage in or
supervise a law enforcement function;
(2) the term ``law enforcement function'' means the
prevention, detection, or investigation of, or the
prosecution or incarceration of any person for, any violation
of law; and
(3) the term ``member of an armed force'' means a member of
any of the armed forces, as defined in section 101(a)(4) of
title 10, United States Code, or a member of the National
Guard, as defined in section 101(3) of title 32, United
States Code.
(b) Required Identification.--
(1) In general.--Each Federal law enforcement officer or
member of an armed force who is engaged in any form of crowd
control, riot control, or arrest or detainment of individuals
engaged in an act of civil disobedience, demonstration,
protest, other activity protected by the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States, or riot in the United
States shall at all times display identifying information in
a clearly visible fashion, which shall include--
(A) for a Federal law enforcement officer, the Federal
agency and the last name or unique identifier of the officer;
and
(B) for a member of an armed force, the service branch and
the last name or unique identifier of the member.
(2) Prohibition on covering of identifying information.--A
Federal law enforcement officer or member of an armed force
may not tape over or otherwise obscure or conceal the
identifying information required under paragraph (1) while
the officer or member is engaged in any form of law
enforcement activity described in paragraph (1).
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to--
(1) provide any new authority or expand existing authority
for members of an armed force to engage in law enforcement
activity; or
(2) affect existing law regarding the deployment of members
of an armed force for law enforcement activity.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, back in 2021, in the NDAA, we had a
clause that said Federal military police who were responding to a civil
disturbance need to wear visible identification, including an
individual identifier, which could, in fact, be a number or a name, and
the name of the armed services, but there are three points of confusion
that exist in this 2021 law.
The first is, what is included in civil disturbance? So this
amendment clarifies that it includes crowd and riot control and arrests
at protests and demonstrations.
Second of all, what about security contractors that serve the Federal
police or Federal services? It says, yes, those are covered.
Third, that when you are going to a civil disturbance in support of
the Federal Government, it also includes whether you are going in
support of local police, to clarify that distinction.
That is all it is--three simple things--and it is so important to
engender trust in America that we have this type of basic provision but
clarified so we understand exactly when it applies.
I reserve the balance of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.
Mr. ROUNDS. Madam President, I rise in opposition to the amendment,
but let me explain why. During the discussions in our Armed Services
Committee, we recognized that there was an issue that Republicans and
Democrats both agreed on. Senator Duckworth offered a bipartisan
amendment that specifically addressed this particular issue. It
requires members of the armed services to wear their name tag, with one
exception that Senator Merkley does not address appropriately, we
believe; and that is the issue of a riot.
In the case of a riot, we decided that it was not appropriate to
require these young men and women to wear that name tag. They still
have to have their uniforms on, but they don't have to wear a name tag
during that time period.
It is a good, bipartisan amendment. It is already found within the
body of this bill.
I would rise in opposition to the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, let me just note that that provision
now creates a conflict with the 2021 law that does require an
individual identifier. So this amendment resolves that conflict and
ensures there is trust by having that trust-building name or number on
the uniform as well.
I encourage an ``aye'' vote.

Vote on Amendment No. 3927

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on adoption of the amendment.
Mr. WICKER. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 47, nays 50, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 569 Leg.]

YEAS--47

Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Booker
Cantwell
Coons
Duckworth
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Paul
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Welch
Whitehouse
Wyden

NAYS--50

Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fischer
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hawley
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Ricketts
Risch
Rounds
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Wicker
Young

NOT VOTING--3

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this vote, the yeas are 47, the nays are
50. The 60-vote threshold having not been achieved, the amendment is
not agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3927) was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

Amendment Nos. 3340, 2928, 3355, 2952, 3376, 2971, 3405, 3039, 3435,
3136, 3439, 3156, 3489, 3351, 3703, 3530, 3732, 3557, 3788, 3570, 3799,
3601, 3810, 3712, 3811, 3724, 3813, 3751, 3823, 3818, 3702, 3825, 3842,
3834, 3890, 2979, 3272, 3742, 3901, 3819, 3899, 3888, 3880, 3015, 3753,
3826, 3728, 3928, en bloc

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I call up the amendments en bloc as
provided by the previous order.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the following

[[Page S7075]]

amendments are called up en bloc, which the clerk will report by
number:

The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Wicker] proposes
amendment Nos. 3340, 2928, 3355, 2952, 3376, 2971, 3405,
3039, 3435, 3136, 3439, 3156, 3489, 3351, 3703, 3530, 3732,
3557, 3788, 3570, 3799, 3601, 3810, 3712, 3811, 3724, 3813,
3751, 3823, 3818, 3702, 3825, 3842, 3834, 3890, 2979, 3272,
3742, 3901, 3819, 3899, 3888, 3880, 3015, 3753, 3826, 3728,
3928, en bloc.

The amendments are as follows:

AMENDMENT NO. 3340

(Purpose: To require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States to annually review, update, and report on the facilities and
property of the United States Government determined to be national
security sensitive for purposes of review of real estate transactions
under section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950)

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

SEC. 1067. REVIEW OF AND REPORTING ON NATIONAL SECURITY
SENSITIVE SITES FOR PURPOSES OF REVIEWS OF REAL
ESTATE TRANSACTIONS BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN
INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) List of National Security Sensitive Sites.--Section
721(a)(4)(C) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.
4565(a)(4)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) List of sites.--For purposes of subparagraph
(B)(ii), the Committee may prescribe through regulations a
list of facilities and property of the United States
Government that are sensitive for reasons relating to
national security. Such list may include certain facilities
and property of the intelligence community and National
Laboratories (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)).''.
(b) Review and Reports.--Section 721(m) of the Defense
Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4565(m)(2)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:
``(L) A list of all notices and declarations filed and all
reviews or investigations of covered transactions completed
during the period relating to facilities and property of the
United States Government determined to be sensitive for
reasons relating to national security for purposes of
subsection (a)(4)(B)(ii).
``(M) A certification that the list of sites identified
under subsection (a)(4)(C)(iii) reflects consideration of the
recommended updates and revisions submitted under paragraph
(4)(B). Upon request from any Member of Congress specified in
subsection (b)(3)(C)(iii), the chairperson shall provide a
classified briefing to that Member, and staff of the member
with appropriate security clearances, regarding the list of
sites identified under subsection (a)(4)(C)(iii).'';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Annual review of list of facilities and property.--
Not later than January 31 of each year, each member of the
Committee shall--
``(A) review the facilities and property of the agency
represented by that member that are on the list prescribed
under subparagraph (C)(iii) of subsection (a)(4) of
facilities and property that are sensitive for reasons
relating to national security for purposes of subparagraph
(B)(ii) of that subsection; and
``(B) submit to the chairperson a report on that review,
after approval of the report by an Assistant Secretary or
equivalent official of the agency, which shall include any
recommended updates or revisions to the list regarding
facilities and property administered by the member of the
Committee.''.

AMENDMENT NO. 2928

(Purpose: To make certain spouses eligible for services under the
disabled veterans' outreach program)

At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

SEC. ___. ELIGIBILITY OF SPOUSES FOR SERVICES UNDER THE
DISABLED VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM.

Section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``and eligible persons'' after ``eligible veterans''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, and eligible
persons,'' after ``Other eligible veterans'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and eligible persons''
after ``veterans'' each place it appears; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``or eligible person'' after ``veteran''
each place it appears; and
(ii) by inserting ``or eligible person's'' after
``veteran's'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) by inserting ``and eligible persons'' after ``eligible
veterans'' each place it appears; and
(B) by striking ``non-veteran-related''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Eligible Person Defined.--In this section, the term
`eligible person' means--
``(1) any spouse described in section 4101(5) of this
title; or
``(2) the spouse of any person who died while a member of
the Armed Forces.''.

AMENDMENT NO. 3355

(Purpose: To expand the authority of the Marshal of the Supreme Court
and the Supreme Court Police to protect retired and former Chief
Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United
States)

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

SEC. 1067. AUTHORITY OF MARSHAL OF THE SUPREME COURT AND
SUPREME COURT POLICE.

Section 6121(a)(2) of title 40, United States Code, is
amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
following:
``(C) if the Marshal determines such protection is
necessary--
``(i) any retired or former Chief Justice or Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court; or
``(ii) any member of the immediate family of the Chief
Justice, any Associate Justice, any retired or former Chief
Justice or Associate Justice, or any officer of the Supreme
Court.''.

AMENDMENT NO. 2952

(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Defense to implement
recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States
relating to critical military housing supply and affordability)

At the end of subtitle B of title XXVIII, add the
following:

SEC. 2827. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO CRITICAL MILITARY
HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
implement each recommendation of the Comptroller General of
the United States contained in the report dated October 30,
2024, and entitled, ``Military Housing: DOD Should Address
Critical Supply and Affordability Challenges for Service
Members'' (GAO-25-106208), as those recommendations are
modified under subsection (b).
(b) Recommendations To Be Implemented.--In carrying out the
requirements under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense
shall implement the recommendations specified under such
subsection as follows:
(1) The Secretary shall--
(A) perform a structured analysis to develop a
comprehensive list of housing areas in which members of the
Armed Forces and their families may face the most critical
challenges in finding and affording private sector housing in
the community;
(B) in conducting the analysis under subparagraph (A),
consider the unique characteristics of a location, such as
vacation rental areas; and
(C) regularly update the list required under subparagraph
(A) not less frequently than once every two years.
(2) The Secretary shall obtain and use feedback on the
financial and quality-of-life effects of limited supply or
unaffordable housing on members of the Armed Forces, through
the status of forces survey and other service or
installation-specific feedback mechanisms.
(3) The Secretary shall, in coordination with the Secretary
of each military department--
(A) develop a plan for how the Department of Defense can
respond to and address the financial and quality-of-life
effects in housing areas identified under paragraph (1); and
(B) in developing the plan under subparagraph (A), examine
strategies for increasing housing supply or providing
alternative compensation to offset the effects of limited
supply or unaffordable housing in housing areas identified
under paragraph (1).
(4) The Secretary shall clarify, through the issuance of
guidance to the military departments, the role of the Office
of the Secretary of Defense in oversight of the Housing
Requirements and Market Analysis process of the military
departments to ensure that--
(A) the military departments conduct such process in a
timely manner; and
(B) the Secretary submits to Congress any plans or other
matters relating to such process for each fiscal year as
required by existing law.
(5) The Secretary shall ensure that the Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment
provides updated guidance to the military departments on how
installations of the Department of Defense should coordinate
with local communities, including by clearly defining the
roles and responsibilities of commanders and military housing
offices of such installations in addressing housing needs.
(c) Non-implementation Reporting Requirement.--If the
Secretary of Defense elects not to implement a recommendation
specified under subsection (a), as modified under subsection
(b), the Secretary shall, not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committees
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report that includes a justification for
such election.

AMENDMENT NO. 3376

(Purpose: To require a strategy for United States security assistance
to Mexico)

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1265. STRATEGY FOR UNITED STATES SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO
MEXICO.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of

[[Page S7076]]

the House of Representatives a report with a strategy for
United States security assistance to Mexico.
(b) Strategy Elements.--The strategy required under
subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
(1) A detailed plan for how United States security
assistance will--
(A) dismantle transnational criminal networks that traffic
illicit drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States and
profit from other criminal activities, including pervasive
human trafficking and human smuggling, weapons trafficking,
cybercrimes, money laundering, and the importation of
precursor chemicals to mass-produce illicit drugs;
(B) increase the capacity of Mexico's military and public
security institutions to improve security at Mexico's
northern and southern borders and degrade transnational
criminal organizations; and
(C) enhance the institutional capacity of civilian law
enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to strengthen rule of
law, redress public corruption related to the activities and
influence of transnational criminal organizations, and combat
impunity.
(2) A detailed summary of activities to implement the plan
described in paragraph (1), including a list of implementing
government entities and nongovernmental organizations.
(3) A detailed summary of priorities, milestones, and
performance measures to monitor and evaluate results of the
strategy.
(c) Bilateral Cooperation Reporting.--The report required
under subsection (a) shall include an overview of bilateral
cooperation mechanisms and engagements between the United
States Government and the Government of Mexico, such as
diplomatic engagements, security assistance programs,
technical assistance, and other forms of cooperation that
advance the priorities described in subsection (b).
(d) Form.--The report and strategy required under
subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but
may include a classified annex.
(e) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the submission
of the report and strategy required under subsection (a), and
annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall provide to
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a briefing on the implementation of the strategy.
(f) Rule of Construction Regarding Use of Military Force
Against Mexico.--Nothing in this section may be construed as
an authorization for the use of military force against Mexico
or any entity within Mexico.

AMENDMENT NO. 2971

(Purpose: To direct the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department
of Justice to continue implementing the anti-trafficking
recommendations of the Government Accountability Office and to report
to Congress regarding such implementation)

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

SEC. 1038. CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025''.
(b) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``anti-
trafficking recommendations'' means the recommendations set
forth in the report of the Government Accountability Office
entitled ``Child Trafficking: Addressing Challenges to Public
Awareness and Survivor Support'', which was published on
December 11, 2023.
(c) In General.--The Office for Victims of Crime of the
Department of Justice, in coordination with the Office on
Trafficking in Persons of the Administration for Children and
Families, shall continue implementing the anti-trafficking
recommendations by--
(1) working together, in accordance with the leading
collaboration practices referenced in GAO-24-106038, to
develop and implement strategies to prevent child trafficking
and support child trafficking survivors; and
(2) establishing achievable performance goals and targets
for anti-trafficking programs for children that reflect
leading practices, such as being objective, measurable, and
quantifiable, using baseline data from program grantees.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office for Victims
of Crime shall submit a report to the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate and Committee on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives that explicitly describes the steps
taken pursuant to subsection (c).

AMENDMENT NO. 3405

(Purpose: To require a plan to modernize the nuclear security
enterprise)

At the appropriate place in subtitle C of title XXXI,
insert the following:

SEC. 31___. PLAN TO MODERNIZE NUCLEAR SECURITY ENTERPRISE.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for Nuclear
Security shall develop a plan--
(1) to accelerate and modernize Material Staging
Capabilities to replace aged, over-subscribed facilities
within the nuclear security enterprise, which shall include a
description of all phases and an estimate of the costs
required to carry out such plan; and
(2) to accelerate near-term Critical Decisions milestones
in fiscal year 2026.
(b) Execution.--The Administrator for Nuclear Security
shall carry out the plan required by subsection (a)
concurrently with an infrastructure modernization program for
high explosives capabilities, including continued
construction of the High Explosives Synthesis Formulation and
Production facility (21-D-510).
(c) Briefings.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for Nuclear
Security shall brief the appropriate congressional committees
on the Material Staging Capabilities plan required by
subsection (a).
(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriated congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

AMENDMENT NO. 3039

(Purpose: To authorize the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague,
Virginia, for costs directly associated with the removal and
replacement of certain drinking water wells)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. DRINKING WATER WELL REPLACEMENT FOR CHINCOTEAGUE,
VIRGINIA.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration may enter into an agreement, as appropriate,
with the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for a period of up
to five years, for reimbursement of the Town of
Chincoteague's costs directly associated with--
(1) the development of a plan for removal of drinking water
wells currently situated on property administered by the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
(2) the establishment of alternative drinking water wells
on property under the administrative control, through lease,
ownership, or easement, of the Town of Chincoteague.
(b) Elements.--An agreement under subsection (a) shall
include, to the extent practicable--
(1) a provision for the removal and relocation of the three
remaining wells described in that subsection;
(2) a description of the location of the site to which such
wells will be relocated or are planned to be relocated; and
(3) a current estimated cost of such relocation, including
for the purchase, lease, or use of additional property,
engineering, design, permitting, and construction.
(c) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in
coordination with the heads or other appropriate
representatives of relevant entities, shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress any agreement entered into
under subsection (a).
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.

AMENDMENT NO. 3435

(Purpose: To reauthorize the Second Chance Act of 2007)

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

SEC. 1067. SECOND CHANCE ACT REAUTHORIZATION.

(a) State and Local Reentry Demonstration Projects.--
Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10631) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) treating substance use disorders, including by
providing peer recovery services, case management, and access
to overdose education and overdose reversal medications; and
``(10) providing reentry housing services.''; and
(2) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``2019 through 2023''
and inserting ``2026 through 2030''.
(b) Grants for Family-based Substance Abuse Treatment.--
Section 2926(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10595a(a)) is amended by striking
``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''.
(c) Grant Program to Evaluate and Improve Educational
Methods at Prisons, Jails, and Juvenile Facilities.--Section
1001(a)(28) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10261(a)(28)) is amended by striking
``2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023'' and inserting ``2026
through 2030''.
(d) Careers Training Demonstration Grants.--Section 115(f)
of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 60511(f)) is
amended by striking ``2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023'' and
inserting ``2026 through 2030''.
(e) Offender Reentry Substance Abuse and Criminal Justice
Collaboration Program.--Section 201(f)(1) of the Second

[[Page S7077]]

Chance Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 60521(f)(1)) is amended by
striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2026 through
2030''.
(f) Community-based Mentoring and Transitional Service
Grants to Nonprofit Organizations.--Section 211(f) of the
Second Chance Act of 2007 (34 U.S.C. 60531(f)) is amended by
striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2026 through
2030''.

AMENDMENT NO. 3136

(Purpose: To require a report on the feasibility of implementing
artificial intelligence into anti-money laundering investigations
relating to activity by foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels,
and other transnational criminal organizations)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
INTO CERTAIN ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
INVESTIGATIONS.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
of the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the
Currency, and the Chair of the National Credit Union
Administration, shall submit to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report
on the feasibility of implementing artificial intelligence
into anti-money laundering investigations relating to
activity by foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels,
and other transnational criminal organizations that addresses
the following:
(1) The types of investigations in which artificial
intelligence would be helpful.
(2) The types of artificial intelligence programs that
would be effective in such investigations.
(3) The types of schemes artificial intelligence would be
best placed to detect.
(4) Any potential issues to implementation of artificial
intelligence in such investigations.

AMENDMENT NO. 3439

(Purpose: To prohibit certain reductions to the inventory of E-3
airborne warning and control system aircraft)

At the end of subtitle D of title I, add the following:

SEC. 142. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO INVENTORY OF
E-3 AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM
AIRCRAFT.

(a) Prohibition.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for
fiscal year 2026 for the Air Force may be obligated or
expended to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or
in backup aircraft inventory any E-3 aircraft if such actions
would reduce the total aircraft inventory for such aircraft
below 16.
(b) Exception for Plan.--If the Secretary of the Air Force
submits to the congressional defense committees a plan for
maintaining readiness and ensuring there is no lapse in
mission capabilities, the prohibition under subsection (a)
shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total aircraft
inventory for E-3 aircraft to below 16, beginning 30 days
after the date on which the plan is so submitted.
(c) Exception for E-7 Aircraft Procurement.--If the
Secretary of the Air Force procures enough E-7 Wedgetail
aircraft to accomplish the required mission load, the
prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to actions
taken to reduce the total aircraft inventory for E-3 aircraft
to below 16 after the date on which such E-7 Wedgetail
aircraft are delivered.

AMENDMENT NO. 3156

(Purpose: To include as an additional right or privilege of
commissioned officers of the Public Health Service (and their
beneficiaries) certain leave provided under title 10, United States
Code, to commissioned officers of the Army (or their beneficiaries)

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

SEC. 1067. APPLICATION OF LEAVE PROVISIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE.

(a) In General.--Section 221(a) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 213a(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(22) Chapter 40, Leave.''.
(b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 219 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 210-1) is repealed.

AMENDMENT NO. 3489

(Purpose: To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to
conduct a study of the national security risks posed by consumer
routers, modems, and devices that combine a modem and router, and for
other purposes)

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

SEC. 1067. STUDY OF NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS POSED BY CERTAIN
ROUTERS AND MODEMS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of the
national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities
posed by consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine a
modem and router that are designed, developed, manufactured,
or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to
the influence of a covered country.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the
study conducted under subsection (a).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered country.--The term ``covered country'' means a
country specified in section 4872(f)(2) of title 10, United
States Code.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Communications and Information.

amendment no. 3351

(Purpose: To authorize grants to implement school-community
partnerships for preventing substance use and misuse among youth)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. KEEPING DRUGS OUT OF SCHOOLS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
(2) Drug-free communities funded coalition.--The term
``Drug-Free Communities funded coalition'' means a recipient
of a grant under section 1032 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of
1988 (21 U.S.C. 1532).
(3) Effective drug prevention programs.--The term
``effective drug prevention programs'', with respect to a
school-community partnership between a Drug-Free Communities
funded coalition and a local school, means strategies,
policies, and activities that--
(A) are tailored to meet the needs of the student
population of the school, based on the environment of the
school and the community surrounding the school; and
(B) prevent and reduce substance use and misuse among local
youth.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
coalition (within the meaning of section 1032 of the Anti-
Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1532)) that--
(A) receives or has received a grant under subchapter I of
chapter 2 of title I of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (21
U.S.C. 1523 et seq.); and
(B) has a memorandum of understanding in effect with not
less than 1 local school to establish a school-community
partnership.
(5) Local school.--The term ``local school'' means an
elementary, middle, or high school located in an area served
by an eligible entity.
(6) School-community partnership.--The term ``school-
community partnership'' means a partnership between a Drug-
Free Communities funded coalition and not less than 1 local
school for the purpose of implementing effective drug
prevention programs.
(7) Substance use and misuse.--The term ``substance use and
misuse''--
(A) has the meaning given the term in paragraph (9) of
section 1023 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C.
1523); and
(B) includes the use of electronic or other delivery
mechanisms to consume a substance described in subparagraph
(A), (B), or (C) of that paragraph.
(b) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Initial grants.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Director
may award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of
implementing a school-community partnership.
(B) Renewal grants.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Director
may award to an eligible entity who has received a grant
under subparagraph (A) an additional grant for each fiscal
year during the 3-fiscal-year period following the fiscal
year for which the grant was awarded under subparagraph (A),
for the purpose of continuing the school-community
partnership.
(2) Limitations.--
(A) Amount.--The amount of a grant under this subsection
may not exceed $75,000 for a fiscal year.
(B) Recipients.--Not more than 1 eligible entity may
receive a grant under this subsection to establish a school-
community partnership with a particular local school.
(c) Interagency Agreement.--The Director may enter into an
interagency agreement with a National Drug Control Program
agency, as defined in section 702 of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C.
1701), to delegate authority for--
(1) the execution of grants under this section; and
(2) other activities necessary to carry out the
responsibilities of the Director under this section.
(d) Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under
this section, in coordination with each local school with
which the eligible entity has a school-community partnership,
shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Director may require.
(2) Plan.--The application submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include a detailed, comprehensive plan for the school-
community partnership to implement effective drug prevention
programs.
(e) Use of Funds.--

[[Page S7078]]

(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall use funds from the grant--
(A) to implement the plan described in subsection (d)(2);
and
(B) if necessary, to obtain specialized training and
assistance from the organization receiving the grant under
section 4(a) of Public Law 107-82 (21 U.S.C. 1521 note).
(2) Supplement not supplant.--Grants provided under this
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant,
Federal and non-Federal funds that are otherwise available
for drug prevention programs in local schools.
(f) Evaluation.--Section 1032(a)(6) of the Anti-Drug Abuse
Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(6)) shall apply to a grant
under this section in the same manner as that section applies
to a grant under subchapter I of chapter 2 of subtitle A of
title I of that Act (21 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2031.
(2) Administrative costs.--Not more than 8 percent of the
funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be used by
the Director for administrative expenses associated with the
responsibilities of the Director under this section.

amendment no. 3703

(Purpose: To address disclosures by directors, officers, and principal
stockholders of foreign private issuers)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. DISCLOSURES BY DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDERS.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act''.
(b) Disclosures.--
(1) Amendments.--Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78p(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(including, solely for
the purposes of this subsection, every person who is a
director or an officer of a foreign private issuer, as that
term is defined in section 240.3b-4 of title 17, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation)'' after
``an officer of the issuer of such security'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) with respect to a foreign private issuer, the
securities of which are, as of the date of enactment of the
Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, registered pursuant
to subsection (b) or (g) of section 12, on the date that is
90 days after that date of enactment.''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting ``and in English''
after ``electronically''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(c) Effect on Regulation.--If any provision of section
240.3a12-3(b) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor regulation, is inconsistent with the amendments
made by subsection (b), that provision of such section
240.3a12-3(b) (or such successor) shall have no force or
effect beginning on the effective date described in
subsection (b)(2).
(d) Issuance or Amendment of Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission
shall issue final regulations (or amend or rescind, in whole
or in part, existing regulations of the Commission) to carry
out the amendments made by subsection (b).
(2) Additional rulemaking.--The Securities and Exchange
Commission may issue such additional regulations (or amend or
rescind, in whole or in part, existing regulations of the
Commission) as necessary to implement the intent of this
section.

amendment no. 3530

(Purpose: To provide for fairness in the issuance of tactical equipment
to Diplomatic Security Service personnel)

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

SEC. 1067. FAIRNESS IN ISSUANCE OF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT TO
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY SERVICE PERSONNEL.

(a) In General.--In any instance when the Diplomatic
Security Service of the Department of State issues tactical
gear to Special Agents, uniform division officers, or
personal service contractors, the Service must, whenever such
products are commercially available, provide both men's and
women's sizing options.
(b) Tactical Equipment Defined.--In this section, the term
``tactical equipment'' includes, among other items, ballistic
plates, ballistic plate carriers, helmets, media jackets,
tactical pants, and gloves.

Amendment No. 3732

(Purpose: To improve the bill.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 2, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

AMENDMENT NO. 3557

(Purpose: To require the Inspector General of the Department of Defense
to conduct an audit of foreign exposure from Department of Defense
cloud computing contracts and to require the Secretary of Defense to
update guidance to reduce, mitigate, or eliminate risk)

At the appropriate place in title XVI, insert the
following:

SEC. 16__. AUDIT AND UPDATED GUIDANCE TO REDUCE, MITIGATE, OR
ELIMINATE RISK FROM CLOUD COMPUTING CONTRACTS
WITH FOREIGN EXPOSURE.

(a) Review of Foreign Exposure From Department of Defense
Cloud Computing Contracts.--
(1) Audit required.--The Inspector General of the
Department of Defense shall conduct an audit of cloud
computing contracts for the Department of Defense to assess
the risk of exposure of sensitive information, including
data, systems architecture details, procedures, or other
controlled unclassified information, as a result of policies
that may have allowed computer scientists or engineers from
foreign countries of concern to access proposed software
updates to underlying cloud computing infrastructure or
operating systems.
(2) Elements.--The audit conducted pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall cover the following:
(A) Determination of how many cloud computing contracts the
Department has that may be or have been supported by
employees located in foreign countries of concern or are
citizens of foreign countries of concern.
(B) Identification of policies or clauses in such cloud
computing contracts that allow for the use of so called
``digital escorts'', computer scientists, or engineers from
foreign countries of concern.
(C) Assessment of agreements in place that use so called
``digital escorts'' to provide oversight to employees from
foreign countries of concern, including identification of
instances in which such authorities were used during the
period beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending on the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(D) Assessment of the national security risks that stem
from cloud computing contracts that use labor from foreign
countries of concern.
(E) Recommendations on ways to reduce, mitigate, or
eliminate risk from initiatives such as so called ``digital
escorting'', or the use of computer scientists or engineers
from foreign countries of concern.
(3) Report to congress.--Not later than July 1, 2026, the
Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on Armed
Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives a report setting forth the
findings of the Inspector General with respect to the audit
conducted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) Guidance to Reduce, Mitigate, or Eliminate Risk.--
(1) Guidance.--Based on the audit conducted under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue new guidance to
reduce, mitigate, or eliminate risk to Department data or
cloud computing infrastructure from foreign countries of
concern.
(2) Requirements.--The guidance issued pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall--
(A) restrict the use of personnel from foreign countries of
concern to support Department information technology systems;
and
(B) require disclosure to the congressional defense
committees if the Secretary finds a Department information
technology system is maintained by personnel from a foreign
country of concern.
(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive any guidance issued
under paragraph (1) in any case in which the Secretary
certifies in writing that such waiver--
(A) does not pose a risk to national security; and
(B) is necessary in the interest of national security.
(c) Definition of Foreign Country of Concern.--ln this
section, the term ``foreign country of concern'' has the
meaning given that term in section 9901 of the William M.
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).

AMENDMENT NO. 3788

(Purpose: To make improvements to the AUKUS partnership)

At the appropriate place in title XII, insert the
following:

Subtitle __--AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025

SEC. __. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the ``AUKUS Improvement Act
of 2025''.

SEC. __. FLEXIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ARMS EXPORT
CONTROL ACT AND OTHER ARMS TRANSFER
REQUIREMENTS.

Section 38(l) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2778(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(8) Exemption from certain requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Defense articles sold by the United
States under this Act, whether pursuant to the exemption
authorized under this section or identical to defense
articles eligible for export under that exemption, may be
reexported, retransferred or temporarily imported exclusively
between the Government of Australia, the Government of the
United Kingdom, or entities eligible under section
126.7(b)(2) of title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
or successor regulations, notwithstanding the requirement for
the consent of the President under section

[[Page S7079]]

3(a)(2) of this Act, or under section 505(a)(1) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2314(a)(1)(B).
``(B) Intra-company, intra-organizational, and intra-
governmental transfers.--Intra-company, intra-organization,
and intra-governmental transfers related to defense articles
and defense services described under subparagraph (A) are
authorized between officers, employees, and agents who
satisfy section 120.64 of title 22 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, or successor regulations, including dual or
third country nationals who satisfy section 126.18 of title
22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or successor
regulations.''.

SEC. __. ELIMINATION OF CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR
COMMERCIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR
MANUFACTURING LICENSE AGREEMENTS INVOLVING
AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Manufacturing Licensing Agreements and Technical Licensing
Agreements for Australia and the United Kingdom that do not
involve defense articles that are not subject to the
licensing exemption under section 38(l) of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(l)) are not subject to the
requirements for congressional notification pursuant to
section 36(d) of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(d)).

AMENDMENT NO. 3570

(Purpose: To establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory
Committee)

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

SEC. 1067. COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a
Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (in this section
referred to as the ``Committee'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 15
members appointed by the Secretary.
(2) Qualifications.--
(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of
representatives from a variety of space policy, engineering,
technical, science, legal, academic, and finance fields who
have significant experience in the commercial space industry,
which may include previous Government experience.
(B) Limitation.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the
Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any
employee or official of the Federal Government.
(ii) Exception.--The Secretary may appoint as a member of
the Committee a special government employee (as defined in
section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) who serves on
1 or more other Federal advisory committees.
(3) Term.--Each individual appointed as a member of the
Committee--
(A) shall be appointed for a term of not more than 4 years;
and
(B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which
such term ends, may not serve as a member of the Committee.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be--
(1) to advise on the status and recent developments of
nongovernmental space activities;
(2) to provide to the Secretary and Congress
recommendations on the manner in which the United States may
facilitate and promote a safe, sustainable, robust,
competitive, and innovative commercial sector that is
investing in, developing, and conducting space activities
within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce,
including through the development and implementation of any
regulatory framework applicable to the commercial space
industry.
(3) to identify, and provide recommendations in response
to, any challenge faced by the United States commercial
sector relating to--
(A) the application of international obligations of the
United States relevant to commercial space sector activities
in outer space;
(B) export controls that affect the commercial space
sector;
(C) harmful interference with commercial space sector
activities in outer space; and
(D) access to adequate, predictable, and reliable radio
frequency spectrum;
(4) to review existing best practices for United States
entities to avoid--
(A) the harmful contamination of the Moon and other
celestial bodies; and
(B) adverse changes in the environment of the Earth
resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter;
and
(5) to provide information, advice, and recommendations on
matters relating to--
(A) United States commercial space sector activities in
outer space; and
(B) other commercial space sector activities, as the
Committee considers necessary.
(d) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date
that is 10 years after the date on which the Committee is
established.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Office of Space Commerce.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States.
(3) United states entity.--The term ``United States
entity'' means--
(A) an individual who is a national of the United States
(as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and
(B) a nongovernmental entity organized or existing under,
and subject to, the laws of the United States or a State.

AMENDMENT NO. 3799

(Purpose: To establish requirements and prohibitions relating to the
provision of health care services at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri)

At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

SEC. 718. PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AT FORT LEONARD
WOOD, MISSOURI.

(a) Assessment.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Army, shall conduct an assessment
of the adequacy of health care services available to covered
beneficiaries under the TRICARE program located at Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri.
(b) Elements.--The assessment required by subsection (a)
shall include the following elements:
(1) An evaluation of the ability of the local area to
provide adequate access to care for the covered beneficiary
population surrounding Fort Leonard Wood.
(2) An evaluation of potential impacts to access and
quality of care for such beneficiaries if the General Leonard
Wood Army Community Hospital were to be realigned,
downgraded, or have its scope of services reduced.
(3) An evaluation of the ability to establish additional
partnerships with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the
provision of health care service at the General Leonard Wood
Army Community Hospital.
(4) Such other matters as the Secretary considers relevant
for determining the continued viability of the General
Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.
(c) Prohibition.--The Secretary of Defense may not close,
downgrade, or reduce the scope of care offered by the General
Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital unless--
(1) the Secretary--
(A) completes the assessment required by subsection (a) and
delivers such assessment to the Committees on Armed Services
of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and
(B) certifies to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives that any such changes
would not reduce or degrade the health care services
available to covered beneficiaries and the local community;
and
(2) the Chief of Staff of the Army certifies to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives that there will be no degradation of medical
readiness of units assigned to Fort Leonard Wood as a result
of any changes to the status of the General Leonard Wood Army
Community Hospital.

amendment no. 3601

(Purpose: To clarify limitations applicable to the authority to
transfer functions of the Air National Guard to the Space Force)

At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following:

SEC. 515. LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER
SPACE FUNCTIONS OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD TO
THE SPACE FORCE.

Section 514 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 20001 note)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new
subsection:
``(k) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed as--
``(1) authorizing the transfer of a member of the Air
National Guard of the United States other than on a one-time
basis as specified in subsection (c); or
``(2) setting future precedent with respect to waiving the
applicability of any provision of title 32.''.

amendment no. 3810

(Purpose: To require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States to review and prohibit certain transactions relating to
agriculture)

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

SEC. 1067. REVIEW AND PROHIBITIONS BY COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN
INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

(a) In General.--Section 721 of the Defense Production Act
of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4565) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
``(14) Agriculture.--The term `agriculture' has the meaning
given that term in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act
of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the
following:
``(I) Consideration of certain agricultural land
transactions.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 30 days after receiving
notification from the Secretary of Agriculture of a
reportable agricultural land transaction, the Committee shall
determine--

[[Page S7080]]

``(I) whether the transaction is a covered transaction; and
``(II) if the Committee determines that the transaction is
a covered transaction, whether to--

``(aa) request the submission of a notice under clause (i)
of subparagraph (C) or a declaration under clause (v) of such
subparagraph pursuant to the process established under
subparagraph (H); or
``(bb) initiate a review pursuant to subparagraph (D).
``(ii) Reportable agricultural land transaction defined.--
In this subparagraph, the term `reportable agricultural land
transaction' means a transaction--

``(I) that the Secretary of Agriculture has reason to
believe is a covered transaction;
``(II) that involves the acquisition of an interest in
agricultural land by a foreign person, other than an excepted
investor or an excepted real estate investor, as such terms
are defined in regulations prescribed by the Committee; and
``(III) with respect to which a person is required to
submit a report to the Secretary of Agriculture under section
2(a) of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of
1978 (7 U.S.C. 3501(a)).

``(iii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subparagraph
shall be construed to apply to the acquisition of an interest
in agricultural land by a United States citizen or an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United
States.'';
(3) in subsection (k)(2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (H), (I), and (J) as
subparagraphs (I), (J), and (K), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:
``(H) The Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to any
covered transaction related to the purchase of agricultural
land or agricultural biotechnology or otherwise related to
the agriculture industry in the United States.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(r) Prohibitions Relating to Purchases of Agricultural
Land and Agricultural Businesses.--
``(1) In general.--If the Committee, in conducting a review
under this section, determines that a transaction described
in clause (i), (ii), or (iv) of subsection (a)(4)(B) would
result in the purchase or lease by a covered foreign person
of real estate described in paragraph (2) or would result in
control by a covered foreign person of a United States
business engaged in agriculture, the President shall prohibit
the transaction unless a party to the transaction voluntarily
chooses to abandon the transaction.
``(2) Real estate described.--Subject to regulations
prescribed by the Committee, real estate described in this
paragraph is agricultural land (as defined in section 9 of
the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7
U.S.C. 3508)) in the United States that is in close proximity
(subject to subsection (a)(4)(C)(ii)) to a United States
military installation or another facility or property of the
United States Government that is--
``(A) sensitive for reasons relating to national security
for purposes of subsection (a)(4)(B)(ii)(II)(bb); and
``(B) identified in regulations prescribed by the
Committee.
``(3) Waiver.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case
basis, the requirement to prohibit a transaction under
paragraph (1) after the President determines and reports to
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House
of Representatives that the waiver is in the national
interest of the United States.
``(4) Covered foreign person defined.--
``(A) In general.--In this subsection, subject to
regulations prescribed by the Committee, the term `covered
foreign person'--
``(i) means any foreign person (including a foreign entity)
that acts as an agent, representative, or employee of, or
acts at the direction or control of, the government of a
covered country; and
``(ii) does not include a United States citizen or an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United
States.
``(B) Covered country defined.--For purposes of
subparagraph (A), the term `covered country' means any of the
following countries, if the country is determined to be a
foreign adversary pursuant to section 791.4 of title 15, Code
of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation):
``(i) The People's Republic of China.
``(ii) The Russian Federation.
``(iii) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
``(iv) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.''.
(b) Spending Plans.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, each department or agency
represented on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the
United States shall submit to the chairperson of the
Committee a copy of the most recent spending plan required
under section 1721(b) of the Foreign Investment Risk Review
Modernization Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4565 note).
(c) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--The President shall direct, subject to
section 553 of title 5, United States Code, the issuance of
regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section.
(2) Effective date.--The regulations prescribed under
paragraph (1) shall take effect not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Effective Date; Applicability.--The amendments made by
this section shall--
(1) take effect on the date that is 30 days after the
effective date of the regulations under subsection (c)(2);
and
(2) apply with respect to a covered transaction (as defined
in section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50
U.S.C. 4565)) that is proposed, pending, or completed on or
after the date described in paragraph (1).

amendment no. 3712

(Purpose: To allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
memoranda of understanding for the purpose of scientific and technical
cooperation in the mapping of critical minerals and rare earth
elements)

At the appropriate place in subtitle F of title X, insert
the following:

SEC. 10___. FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOURCE EXPLORATION.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States should prioritize, to the greatest extent
practicable, the onshoring of critical mineral processing.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Allied foreign country.--The term ``allied foreign
country'' means a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization or a country that has been designated as a major
non-NATO ally under section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321k).
(2) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' has
the meaning given the term in section 7002(a) of the Energy
Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)).
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Partner foreign country.--The term ``partner foreign
country'' means a country that is a source of a critical
mineral or rare earth element.
(5) Rare earth element.--The term ``rare earth element''
means cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium,
holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium,
promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium,
or yttrium.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Geological Survey.
(c) Memorandum of Understanding With Respect to the Mapping
of Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements.--
(1) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary may enter
into a memorandum of understanding with 1 or more heads of
agencies of partner foreign countries with respect to
scientific and technical cooperation in the mapping of
critical minerals and rare earth elements.
(2) Objectives.--In negotiating a memorandum of
understanding under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek
to increase the security and resilience of international
supply chains, to the maximum extent practicable, for
critical minerals and rare earth elements by--
(A) committing to assisting the partner foreign country
through cooperative activities described in paragraph (3)
that help the partner foreign country map reserves of
critical minerals and rare earth elements; and
(B) ensuring that mapping data created through the
cooperative activities described in paragraph (3) is
protected against unauthorized access by, or disclosure to,
governmental or private entities based in countries that are
not--
(i) a party to the memorandum of understanding; or
(ii) an allied foreign country.
(3) Cooperative activities.--The cooperative activities
referred to in paragraphs (2) and (5)(A)(ii) include--
(A) acquisition, compilation, analysis, and interpretation
of geologic, geophysical, geochemical, and spectroscopic
remote sensing data;
(B) prospectivity mapping and mineral resource assessment;
(C) analysis of geoscience data, including developing
derivative map products that can help more effectively
evaluate the mineral resources of the partner foreign
country;
(D) scientific collaboration to enhance the understanding
and management of the natural resources of the partner
foreign country to contribute to the sustainable development
of the mineral resources sector of that partner foreign
country;
(E) training and capacity building in each area described
in subparagraphs (A) through (D);
(F) facilitation of education and specialized training in
geoscience and mineral resource management at institutions of
higher education;
(G) training in relevant international standards for
relevant officials of the government and private companies of
the partner foreign country; and
(H) cooperation among entities of the partner foreign
country that are a party to the memorandum of understanding
and entities in the United States, including Federal
departments and agencies, institutions of higher education,
research centers, and private companies.
(4) Notification and report to congress.--
(A) Definition of appropriate committees of congress.--In
this paragraph, the term ``appropriate committees of
Congress'' means--

[[Page S7081]]

(i) the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign
Relations, and Appropriations of the Senate; and
(ii) the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs,
and Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(B) Notification and report.--Not later than 30 days before
the Secretary intends to enter into a memorandum of
understanding under paragraph (1), the Secretary and the
Secretary of State shall jointly--
(i) notify the appropriate committees of Congress; and
(ii) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report detailing the implementing partners, scope of the
memorandum of understanding, activities to be undertaken,
estimated costs, and source of funding.
(5) Secretary of state.--
(A) Authority.--For purposes of negotiating and
implementing the memorandum of understanding under paragraph
(1), the Secretary of State shall be responsible for matters
relating to--
(i) ensuring that private companies headquartered in the
United States or an allied foreign country are offered the
right of first refusal in the further development of critical
minerals and rare earth elements in the partner foreign
country; and
(ii) facilitating private-sector investment in the
exploration and development of critical minerals and rare
earth elements.
(B) Concurrence.--The Secretary shall obtain the
concurrence of the Secretary of State in--
(i) prioritizing and selecting partner foreign countries
with which to enter into a memorandum of understanding under
paragraph (1);
(ii) negotiating a memorandum of understanding under
paragraph (1);
(iii) implementing a memorandum of understanding entered
into under paragraph (1); and
(iv) carrying out paragraphs (4) and (6).
(6) Consultation with private sector.--The Secretary shall
consult with relevant private sector actors, as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate, in--
(A) prioritizing and selecting partner foreign countries
with which to enter into a memorandum of understanding under
paragraph (1); and
(B) assessing how a memorandum of understanding can best
facilitate private sector interest in pursuing the further
development of critical minerals and rare earth elements in
accordance with the objectives described in paragraph (2).
(d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section impedes or
otherwise alters any authority of the Director of the United
States Geological Survey provided by--
(1) the matter under the heading ``GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'' of
the first section of the Act of March 3, 1879 (43 U.S.C.
31(a)); or
(2) the first section of Public Law 87-626 (43 U.S.C.
31(b)).

Amendment No. 3811

(Purpose: To strengthen relations between the United States and the
countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 8, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

amendment no. 3724

(Purpose: To require that additional factors be included in the design
of counseling pathways under the Transition Assistance Program of the
Department of Defense)

At the appropriate place in subtitle E of title V, insert
the following:

SEC. __. FACTORS FOR COUNSELING PATHWAYS UNDER TRANSITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Section 1142(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (M) as subparagraph (R);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (L) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(M) Child care requirements of the member (including
whether a dependent of the member is enrolled in the
Exceptional Family Member Program).
``(N) The employment status of other adults in the
household of the member.
``(O) The location of the duty station of the member
(including whether the member was separated from family while
on duty).
``(P) The effects of operating tempo and personnel tempo on
the member and the household of the member.''.

amendment no. 3813

(Purpose: To require the provision of certain services to veterans in
the Freely Associated States)

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

SEC. 1067. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES TO
VETERANS IN THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.

(a) Telehealth and Mail Order Pharmacy Benefits.--Section
1724(f)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(C) Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2026, the Secretary shall furnish to veterans
described in subparagraph (A), subject to agreements
described in such subparagraph, telehealth benefits and mail
order pharmacy benefits.''.
(b) Beneficiary Travel.--Section 111(h)(1) of such title is
amended by striking ``the Secretary may make payments'' and
inserting ``beginning not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2026, the Secretary shall make payments''.
(c) Quarterly Report.--
(1) In general.--Not less frequently than quarterly, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the status of
implementation of the amendments made by this section and the
cost of such implementation.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(d) Extension of Certain Limits on Payments of Pension.--
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting
``April 30, 2032''.

Amendment No. 3751

(Purpose: To improve the safety and security of Members of Congress,
immediate family members of Members of Congress, and congressional
staff.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 3, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

amendment no. 3823

(Purpose: To modify the requirements for transfers of United States
defense articles and defense services among the Baltic states)

At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1230B. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFERS OF
UNITED STATES DEFENSE ARTICLES AND DEFENSE
SERVICES AMONG BALTIC STATES.

(a) Exemptions From Requirement for Consent To Transfer.--
(1) Retransfers among baltic states.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the requirements of
section 3(a)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 USC
2753(a)(2)) and Section 505(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 USAC 2314(a)(1)), retransfers of defense
articles related to United States-origin mobile rocket
artillery systems among Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia shall
not require prior Presidential consent.
(B) Expiration.--The authority provided in subparagraph (A)
shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Agreements.--
(A) Consent to transfer not required.--An agreement between
the United States and a Baltic State under section 3 of the
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753(a)) with respect to
defense articles or defense services related to mobile rocket
artillery systems provided by the United States shall not
require the Baltic state to seek approval from the United
States to transfer the defense article or defense service to
any other Baltic state.
(B) Modification.--With respect to any agreement under
section 3(a)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2753(a)(2)) in effect as of the date of the enactment of this
Act that requires the consent of the President before a
Baltic state may transfer a defense article or defense
service related to mobile rocket artillery systems provided
by the United States, at the request of any Baltic state, the
United States shall modify such agreement so as to remove
such requirement with respect to such a transfer to any other
Baltic state.
(b) Common Coalition Key.--The Secretary of Defense may
establish among the Baltic states a common coalition key or
other technological solution within the Baltic states for the
purpose of sharing ammunition for High Mobility Artillery
Rocket Systems (HIMARS) among the Baltic states for training
and operational purposes.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Baltic state.--The term ``Baltic state'' means the
following:
(A) Estonia.
(B) Lithuania.
(C) Latvia.
(2) Defense article; defense service.--The terms ``defense
article'' and ``defense service'' have the meanings given
such terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2794).

amendment no. 3818

(Purpose: To enhance United States support for identifying and
recovering Ukranian children who were abducted by the Russian
Federation, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for such
abductions)

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1265. SUPPORTING THE IDENTIFICATION AND RECOVERY OF
ABDUCTED UKRAINIAN CHILDREN.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability
Act''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a White House press release, dated March
25, 2025, ``The United States and Ukraine agreed that the
United States remains committed to helping achieve the
exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian
detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian
children.''.

[[Page S7082]]

(2) To implement the commitment referred to in paragraph
(1), the United States Government requires an organized and
resourced policy approach to assist Ukraine with--
(A) investigations of Russia's abduction of Ukrainian
children;
(B) the rehabilitation and reintegration of children
returned to Ukraine; and
(C) justice and accountability for perpetrators of the
abductions.
(c) Authorization of Technical Assistance and Advisory
Support.--
(1) In general.--The Department of Justice and the
Department of State are authorized--
(A) to provide law enforcement and intelligence technical
assistance, training, capacity building, and advisory support
to the Government of Ukraine in support of the commitment
described in subsection (b)(1); and
(B) to advance the objectives described in subsection
(b)(2).
(2) Type of assistance.--The law enforcement and
intelligence technical assistance authorized under paragraph
(1)(A) may include--
(A) training regarding the utilization of biometric
identification technologies in abduction and trafficking in
persons investigations;
(B) assistance with respect to collecting and analyzing
open source intelligence information;
(C) assistance in the development and use of secure
communications technologies; and
(D) assistance with respect to managing and securing
relevant databases.
(3) Reports.--Not later than 30 days after the
determination to provide assistance in any category
identified in this subsection, the Secretary of State shall
brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives on--
(A) the amount of assistance determined to be obligated;
(B) the type of assistance to be utilized; and
(C) any information on the technology operationalized to
support the means identified in this subsection.
(d) Coordination.--
(1) Nongovernmental organizations.--The Department of
Justice and the Department of State may coordinate with, and
provide grants to, nongovernmental organizations to carry out
the assistance authorized under subsection (c).
(2) Federal agencies.--The National Security Council may
coordinate with appropriate representatives from the
Department of Justice, the Department of State, the
intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), and other
Federal agencies, as needed, to carry out the assistance
authorized under subsection (c).
(e) Rehabilitation and Reintegration.--
(1) Authorization of assistance.--The Secretary of State is
authorized to provide support to the Government of Ukraine
and nongovernmental organizations and local civil society
groups in Ukraine for the purpose of providing Ukrainian
children (including teenagers) who have been abducted,
forcibly transferred, or held against their will by the
Russian Federation with--
(A) medical and psychological rehabilitation services;
(B) family reunification and support services; and
(C) services in support of the reintegration of such
children into Ukrainian society, including case management,
legal aid, and educational screening and placement.
(2) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives that describes all current or planned foreign
assistance programs that will provide the assistance
authorized under paragraph (1).
(f) Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine.--The
Department of State is authorized to support the Atrocity
Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine by providing technical
assistance, capacity building, and advisory support to the
Government of Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General, and
other relevant components of the Government of Ukraine, for
the purpose of investigating and prosecuting cases involving
abducted children, and other atrocity crimes.
(g) Department of Justice.--The Department of Justice is
authorized to provide technical assistance, capacity
building, and advisory support to the Government of Ukraine
through its Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development,
Assistance, and Training, which shall be coordinated by the
Resident Legal Adviser at the United States Embassy in Kyiv,
for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting cases
involving abducted children, and other atrocity crimes.
(h) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act--
(1) the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Attorney General, shall submit a report to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives that describes
current and planned United States Government support for the
Government of Ukraine's work to investigate and prosecute
atrocity crimes; and
(2) the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a report to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives that outlines--
(A) any discrepancies between the sanctions regimes of the
United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union
with respect to those responsible for the abduction of
Ukrainian children; and
(B) efforts made by the United States Government to better
align such sanction regimes.

amendment no. 3702

(Purpose: To improve coordination between Federal and State agencies
and the Do Not Pay working system)

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

SEC. ____. IMPROVING COORDINATION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE
AGENCIES AND THE DO NOT PAY WORKING SYSTEM.

(a) In General.--Section 205(r) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 405(r)), as amended by section 801(a)(7) of title
VIII of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021 (Public Law 116-260), is amended by striking paragraph
(11) and inserting the following:
``(11) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, to the
extent feasible, provide information furnished to the
Commissioner under paragraph (1) to the agency operating the
Do Not Pay working system described in section 3354(c) of
title 31, United States Code, for the authorized uses of the
Do Not Pay working system to help prevent improper payments
of, and support the recovery of improperly paid, benefits or
other payments through a cooperative arrangement with such
agency, provided that the requirements of subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of paragraph (3) are met with respect to such
arrangement with such agency. The Commissioner of Social
Security and the agency operating the Do Not Pay working
system shall, while the data described in the preceding
sentence is being provided to the agency operating the Do Not
Pay working system, enter into an agreement based upon an
agreed upon methodology, which covers the proportional share
of State death data costs, which the Commissioner of Social
Security and the agency operating the Do Not Pay working
system may periodically review.
``(12) The Commissioner of Social Security may not record a
death to a record that may be provided under this section for
any individual unless the Commissioner of Social Security has
found it has clear and convincing evidence to support that
the individual should be presumed to be deceased.''.
(b) Improving Coordination Regarding Individuals
Incorrectly Identified as Deceased.--Section 205(r)(7) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(7)), as added by
section 801(a)(4) of title VIII of division FF of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260),
is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B)
and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(C) notify any agency that has a cooperative arrangement
with the Commissioner of Social Security under paragraph (3)
or (11) of the error.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on December 27, 2026.

amendment no. 3825

(Purpose: To authorize the establishment of a Baltic Security
Initiative for the purpose of strengthening the defensive capabilities
of the Baltic countries)

At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1230B. BALTIC SECURITY INITIATIVE.

(a) Establishment.--Pursuant to the authority provided in
chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of
Defense may establish and carry out an initiative, to be
known as the ``Baltic Security Initiative'', for the purpose
of deepening security cooperation with the military forces of
the Baltic countries.
(b) Relationship to Existing Authorities.--An initiative
established under subsection (a) shall be carried out
pursuant to the authorities provided in title 10, United
States Code.
(c) Objectives.--The objectives of an initiative
established under subsection (a) should include--
(1) to achieve United States national security objectives
by--
(A) deterring aggression by the Russian Federation; and
(B) implementing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's
new Strategic Concept, which seeks to strengthen the
alliance's deterrence and defense posture by denying
potential adversaries any possible opportunities for
aggression;
(2) to enhance regional planning and cooperation among the
military forces of the Baltic countries, particularly with
respect to long-term regional capability projects,
including--
(A) long-range precision fire systems and capabilities;
(B) integrated air and missile defense;
(C) maritime domain awareness;
(D) land forces development, including stockpiling large
caliber ammunition;

[[Page S7083]]

(E) command, control, communications, computers,
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance;
(F) special operations forces development;
(G) coordination with and security enhancements for Poland,
which is a neighboring North Atlantic Treaty Organization
ally; and
(H) other military capabilities, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(3) with respect to the military forces of the Baltic
countries, to improve cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid
threats.
(d) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report setting forth a strategy for the
Department of Defense to achieve the objectives described in
subsection (c).
(2) Considerations.--The strategy required by this
subsection shall include a consideration of--
(A) security assistance programs for the Baltic countries
authorized as of the date on which the strategy is submitted;
(B) the ongoing security threats to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization's eastern flank posed by Russian
aggression, including as a result of the Russian Federation's
2022 invasion of Ukraine with support from Belarus; and
(C) the ongoing security threats to the Baltic countries
posed by the presence, coercive economic policies, and other
malign activities of the People's Republic of China.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary $350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026,
2027, and 2028 to carry out an initiative established under
subsection (a).
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary should seek to require matching funds from each
of the Baltic countries that participate in such an
initiative in amounts commensurate with amounts provided by
the Department for the initiative.
(f) Baltic Countries Defined.--In this section, the term
``Baltic countries'' means--
(1) Estonia;
(2) Latvia; and
(3) Lithuania.

amendment no. 3842

(Purpose: To establish a military-civilian medical surge program)

At the end of subtitle C of title VII, insert the
following:

SEC. 724. MILITARY-CIVILIAN MEDICAL SURGE PROGRAM.

Section 1096 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by adding at the end the
following ``; medical surge program''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Medical Surge Program.--(1) The Secretary of Defense,
in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall carry out a program of record known as the
Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program to--
``(A) support locations that the Secretary of Defense
selects under paragraph (3)(B); and
``(B) enhance the interoperability and medical surge
capability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical
System in response to a declaration or other action described
in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (4).
``(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense, acting through the
National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health at
the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (or
such successor center), shall oversee the operation,
staffing, and deployment of the Program.
``(B) In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall
maintain requirements for staffing, specialized training,
research, and education regarding patient regulation,
movement, definitive care, and other matters the Secretary
determines critical to sustaining the health of members of
the armed forces.
``(3)(A) In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall
establish partnerships at locations selected under
subparagraph (B) with public, private, and nonprofit health
care organizations, health care institutions, health care
entities, academic medical centers of institutions of higher
education, and hospitals that the Secretary determines--
``(i) are critical in mobilizing a civilian medical
response in support of a wartime contingency or other
catastrophic event in the United States; and
``(ii) have demonstrated technical proficiency in critical
national security domains, including high-consequence
infectious disease and special pathogen preparedness, and
matters relating to defense, containment, management, care,
and transportation.
``(B)(i) The Secretary shall select not fewer than eight
locations that are operationally relevant to the missions of
the Department of Defense under the National Disaster Medical
System and are aeromedical or other transport hubs or
logistics centers in the United States for partnerships under
subparagraph (A).
``(ii) The Secretary may select more than eight locations
under clause (i), including locations outside of the
continental United States, if the Secretary determines such
additional locations cover areas of strategic and operational
relevance to the Department of Defense.
``(4) The Secretary shall ensure that the partnerships
under paragraph (3)(A) allow for civilian medical personnel
to quickly and effectively mobilize direct support to
military medical treatment facilities and provide support to
other requirements of the military health system pursuant to
the following:
``(A) A declaration of a national emergency under the
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.).
``(B) A public health emergency declared under section 319
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
``(C) A declaration of war by Congress.
``(D) The exercise for the President of executive powers
under the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
``(E) Any other emergency or major disaster as declared by
the President.
``(5)(A) Not later than July 1, 2026, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Armed Services and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Armed
Services and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives a report on the status, readiness,
and operational capabilities of the Program.
``(B) Each report required under subparagraph (A) shall
include an assessment of personnel readiness, resource
availability, interagency coordination efforts, and
recommendations for continued improvements to the Program.
``(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
authorize the Department of Defense to control, direct,
limit, or otherwise affect the authorities of the Secretary
of Health and Human Services with respect to leadership and
administration of the National Disaster Medical System,
public health and medical preparedness and response, staffing
levels, or resource allocation.
``(7) In this subsection:
``(A) The term `institution of higher education' means a
four-year institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a))).
``(B) The term `National Disaster Medical System' means the
system established under section 2812 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-11).
``(C) The term `Program' means the Military-Civilian
Medical Surge Program established under paragraph (1).''.

AMENDMENT NO. 3834

(Purpose: To amend the Federal Credit Union Act to provide for certain
ways in which credit unions may be Agent members of the National Credit
Union Administration Central Liquidity Facility)

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

SEC. 1067. AGENT MEMBERSHIP.

Section 304(b)(2) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12
U.S.C. 1795c(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``all those credit
unions'' and inserting ``any such credit unions''.

AMENDMENT NO. 3890

(Purpose: To establish the SkyFoundry Program)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. SKYFOUNDRY PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) Program required.--The Secretary of Defense shall
establish a program to encourage the rapid development,
testing, and scalable manufacturing of small unmanned
aircraft systems and components, with potential expansion to
associated energetics and other autonomous systems as
determined by the Secretary, leveraging existing competencies
within the commercial sector and the Department of Defense
organic industrial base.
(2) Designation.--The program established pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``SkyFoundry Program''
(in this section the ``Program'').
(3) Administration.--The Secretary of Defense shall--
(A) administer the Program through the Secretary of the
Army; and
(B) establish the Program as part of the Defense Industrial
Resilience Consortium.
(b) Alternative Acquisition Mechanism.--In carrying out the
Program, the Secretary of Defense shall prioritize
alternative acquisition mechanisms to accelerate development
and production, including--
(1) other transaction authority under section 4022 of title
10, United States Code;
(2) middle tier of acquisition pathway for rapid
prototyping and rapid fielding as authorized by section 3602
of such title; and
(3) software acquisition pathway as authorized by section
3603 of such title.
(c) Components.--The Program shall have two components as
follows:
(1) Innovation facility.--An innovation facility for the
development of small unmanned aircraft systems. The facility
may be operated by United States Special Operations Command
in collaboration with United States Army Materiel Command,
serving as the research, development, and testing hub,
integrating lessons learned from global conflicts to rapidly
evolve United States small unmanned aircraft systems designs
in partnership with contractor entities.
(2) Production facility.--The Commander of United States
Army Materiel Command shall identify a production facility
with the competencies for producing various forms of

[[Page S7084]]

small unmanned aircraft systems and components of small
unmanned aircraft systems. The facility shall be operated by
United States Army Materiel Command in collaboration with
industry partners to enable scalable production as needed.
(d) Public-private Partnership Model.--To support the
Program, the Secretary may leverage authorities, including
section 2474 of title 10, United States Code, to foster
voluntary public-private partnerships. Such partnerships may
include--
(1) agreements with private industry, academic
institutions, and nonprofit organizations in support of the
Program; and
(2) innovative arrangements that allow industry partners to
utilize government facilities and equipment, such as co-
located hybrid teams of military, civilian, and contractor
personnel, to promote technology transfer, workforce
development, and surge capacity.
(e) Facilities and Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary
shall prioritize utilizing or modifying existing Army Depot
facilities and select at least two separate sites for the
Program, one to house the innovation facility required by
paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and one to house the
production facility required by paragraph (2) of such
subsection.
(2) Authority to renovate, expand, and construct.--The
Secretary may renovate, expand, or construct facilities for
the Program using available funds, notwithstanding chapter
169 of title 10, United States Code.
(3) Selection of sites.--When selecting sites for the
Program, the Secretary shall consider that the production
facility required by subsection (c)(2) shall be housed at an
existing Army Depot.
(f) Intellectual Property Rights.--The Secretary shall
ensure that any public-private partnership established under
this section provides the United States delivery of technical
data and rights in technical data for any systems or
technologies developed under the Program using Federal
Government funding in accordance with sections 3771 through
3775 of title 10, United States Code.
(g) Defense Production Act Designation.--The President (or
the Secretary of Defense under delegated authority) may use
authorities under title III of the Defense Production Act of
1950 (50 U.S.C. 4531 et seq.) to support domestic industrial
base capacity for small unmanned aircraft systems and
associated energetics and autonomous systems.

AMENDMENT NO. 2979

(Purpose: To exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans
from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas)

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

SEC. 1067. EXEMPTION FROM IMMIGRANT VISA LIMIT.

Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(F) Aliens who--
``(i) are eligible for a visa under paragraph (1) or (3) of
section 203(a); and
``(ii) have a parent (regardless of whether the parent is
living or dead) who was naturalized pursuant to--
``(I) section 405 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Public
Law 101-649; 8 U.S.C. 1440 note); or
``(II) title III of the Act of October 14, 1940 (54 Stat.
1137, chapter 876), as added by section 1001 of the Second
War Powers Act, 1942 (56 Stat. 182, chapter 199).''.

Amendment No. 3272

(Purpose: To support law enforcement agencies and crime victims.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of July 31, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

Amendment No. 3742

(Purpose: To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 2, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

Amendment No. 3901

(Purpose: To increase the supply of affordable housing in America.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 18, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

Amendment No. 3819

(Purpose: To provide for certain authorities of the Department of
State, and for other purposes.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 8, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

AMENDMENT NO. 3899

(Purpose: To require the President or his designee to certify whether
the Government of Syria is meeting certain conditions following repeal
of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019)

At the end of section 6211 of division E, insert the
following:
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for the
following 4 years, the President or his designee shall submit
to Congress an unclassified report, with a classified annex
if necessary, that certifies whether the Government of
Syria--
(1) has committed itself to the goal of eliminating the
threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups and has
worked in partnership with the United States to join as a
member of the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS;
(2) is making progress in providing security for religious
and ethnic minorities in Syria and includes representation
from religious and ethnic minorities in the government;
(3) is not taking unilateral, unprovoked military action
against its neighbors, including the State of Israel, and
continues to make progress towards international security
agreements, as appropriate;
(4) is not knowingly financing, assisting (monetarily or
through weapons transfers), or harboring individuals or
groups (including foreign terrorist organizations and
specially designated global terrorists) that are harmful to
the national security of the United States or allies and
partners of the United States in the region;
(5) has removed, or has taken steps to remove, foreign
fighters from senior roles in the Government of Syria,
including those in the state and security institutions of
Syria; and
(6) is in the process of investigating and has committed to
prosecuting those that have committed serious abuses of
internationally recognized human rights since December 8,
2024, including those responsible for the massacre of
religious minorities.
(c) Notification to the Government of Syria.--The President
or his designee shall inform the Government of Syria of the
findings of the report required under subsection (b).
(d) Sense of Congress on Reimposition of Sanctions.--If the
President or his designee is unable to make an affirmative
certification under subsection (b) for two consecutive
reporting periods, it is the sense of Congress that sanctions
under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (title
LXXIV of division F of Public Law 116-92; 22 U.S.C. 8791
note) should be reimposed and remain in effect until the
President or his designee makes an affirmative certification
under subsection (b).

Amendment No. 3888

(Purpose: To combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing at
its sources globally.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 15, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

AMENDMENT NO. 3880

(Purpose: To require a report on the United States boot industrial base
and Berry Amendment compliance)

At the end of subtitle C of title VIII, add the following:

SEC. 849B. REPORT ON UNITED STATES BOOT INDUSTRIAL BASE AND
BERRY AMENDMENT COMPLIANCE.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on
the United States boot industrial base, including a
comprehensive plan for the Department of Defense to fully
comply with the requirements under section 4862 of title 10,
United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Berry
Amendment'') by not later than fiscal year 2028.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include the following elements:
(1) A detailed description of current and surge
manufacturing capacity for Berry-compliant, government-issued
boots, including suppliers of leather, textiles, soles, and
components, as well as risks to supply chain resilience and
small business participation. Surge manufacturing capacity
includes all major domestic manufacturers of boots including
those not currently supplying Berry-compliant boots.
(2) A market survey of domestic boot manufacturers
regarding interest in producing Berry-compliant boots if
there were to be a requirement that all members of the Armed
Forces are required to only wear Berry-compliant boots.
(3) A time-phased schedule of actions, milestones, and
resources required to achieve full Berry Amendment compliance
for combat footwear across all military services by fiscal
year 2028.
(4) An assessment of how current policies allowing the wear
of ``optional combat boots'' that are not Berry-compliant
undermine the intent of the Berry Amendment and weaken the
United States industrial base, and recommendations for coming
into compliance.
(5) A plan to implement and enforce narrowly tailored
availability and medical exemptions, as authorized under
section 4862(c) of title 10, United States Code, with
controls to prevent overuse.
(6) Steps to expand industrial capacity for Berry-compliant
government-issued boots through multiyear contracting, demand
forecasting, inventory planning, and attracting new Berry-
compliant suppliers by requiring that optional boots must be
Berry-compliant.

AMENDMENT NO. 3015

(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a feasibility
study on the removal of oil from sunken World War II vessels in waters
near the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau)

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

[[Page S7085]]

SEC. 1067. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON REMOVAL OF OIL FROM SUNKEN
WORLD WAR II VESSELS IN WATERS NEAR THE
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA AND THE REPUBLIC
OF PALAU.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) there is a significant environmental threat posed by
World War II-era sunken Japanese warships, including three
oil tankers, located in the waters near the Federated States
of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau;
(2) such sunken vessels contain an estimated 3,000,000 to
4,000,000 gallons of oil, or approximately the equivalent of
\1/3\ of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill in 1989; and
(3) as such sunken vessels continue to deteriorate, small
amounts of oil are already leaking, threatening to cause an
ecological disaster that could negatively impact United
States military activities, the marine ecosystem, and
surrounding communities.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination
with the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
and the head of any other relevant Federal department or
agency, as appropriate, shall conduct a comprehensive study
on the feasibility and advisability of removing oil from the
World War II-era sunken tankers, including an analysis of the
cost, logistical requirements, environmental risks, and
potential methods for removing the oil from the tankers.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than March 1, 2026, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the findings of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
(B) Elements.--The report required by subparagraph (A)
shall include the following:
(i) An assessment of the operational and environmental
risks posed by the oil remaining in the sunken tankers and
warships, including current leakage and the potential impacts
of a major spill.
(ii) An evaluation of the cost, logistical challenges, and
technical approaches for safely extracting or containing oil
from the shipwrecks.
(iii) A review of ongoing and planned efforts by the United
States and international partners addressing such matter.
(iv) Recommendations on next steps, including resource
needs, interagency and international cooperation, and
timelines for potential remediation efforts.

AMENDMENT NO. 3753

(Purpose: To improve coordination of Federal efforts to identify and
mitigate health and national security risks through a monitoring system
to map essential medicine supply chains using data analytics)

At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:

SEC. 1067. MAPPING AMERICA'S PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Mapping America's Pharmaceutical Supply Act'' or the ``MAPS
Act''.
(b) U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chains Mapping.--
(1) Pharmaceutical supply chain mapping.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall ensure coordination of
efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services,
including through public-private partnerships, as
appropriate, to--
(A) map, or otherwise visualize, the supply chains, from
manufacturing of key starting materials through manufacturing
of finished dosage forms and distribution, of drugs and
biological products, including the active ingredients of
those drugs and biological products, that are--
(i) directly related to responding to chemical, biological,
radiological, or nuclear threats and incidents covered by the
National Response Framework; or
(ii) of greatest priority for providing health care and
identified as being at high risk of shortage; and
(B) use data analytics to identify supply chain
vulnerabilities that pose a threat to national security, as
determined by the Secretary or the heads of other relevant
Federal departments and agencies.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
(A) describe the roles and responsibilities of agencies and
offices within the Department of Health and Human Services
related to monitoring such supply chains and assessing any
related vulnerabilities;
(B) facilitate the exchange of information between Federal
departments, agencies, and offices, as appropriate and
necessary to enable such agencies and offices to carry out
roles and responsibilities described in subparagraph (A)
related to drugs and biological products described in
paragraph (1)(A), which may include--
(i) the location of establishments registered under
subsection (b), (c), or (i) of section 510 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360) involved in the
production of drugs and biological products, including the
active ingredients of those drugs and biological products,
described in paragraph (1)(A), and to the extent available,
the amount of each such drug and biological product,
including the active ingredients of those drugs and
biological products, produced at each such establishment;
(ii) to the extent available and as appropriate, the
location of establishments so registered involved in the
production of the key starting materials and excipients
needed to produce each drug and biological product, including
the active ingredients of those drugs and biological
products, and the amount of such materials and excipients
produced at each such establishment; and
(iii) any applicable regulatory actions with respect to
each such drug and biological product, or the establishments
manufacturing such drugs and biological products, including
with respect to--

(I) inspections and related regulatory activities conducted
under section 704 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 374);
(II) seizures pursuant to section 304 of such Act (21
U.S.C. 334);
(III) any recalls issued;
(IV) drugs or biological products that are, at the time of
the determination, or that were at a previous time, included
on the drug shortage list consistent with section 506E of
such Act (21 U.S.C. 356e); and
(V) discontinuances or interruptions in the production of
such drugs or biological products under 506C of such Act (21
U.S.C. 355d).

(3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, in consultation with the heads of departments and
agencies with which the Secretary coordinates under paragraph
(1), shall submit a report to the relevant committees of
Congress on--
(A) the current status of efforts to map and analyze
pharmaceutical supply chains, as described in paragraph (1);
(B) activities of the Secretary carried out under this
subsection to coordinate efforts as described in paragraph
(1), including information sharing between relevant Federal
departments, agencies, and offices;
(C) the roles and responsibilities described in paragraph
(2)(A), including the identification of any gaps, data
limitations, or areas of unnecessary duplication between such
roles and responsibilities;
(D) the extent to which Federal agencies use data analytics
to conduct predictive modeling of anticipated drug shortages
or risks associated with supply chain vulnerabilities that
pose a threat to national security;
(E) the extent to which the Secretary has engaged relevant
industry in such mapping;
(F) the drugs and biological products, including the active
ingredients of those drugs and biological products, described
in paragraph (1)(A) that rely on, for more than 50 percent of
production, a high-risk foreign supplier or foreign entity of
concern (as defined in section 9901(8) of the William M.
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651(8)));
(G) the drugs and biological products, including the active
ingredients of those drugs and biological products, described
in paragraph (1)(A) that are sourced from foreign
establishments for more than 50 percent of production,
including drugs manufactured domestically from active
pharmaceutical ingredients sourced from foreign
establishments for more than 50 percent of production;
(H) the current domestic manufacturing capabilities for
drugs and biological products, including the active
ingredients of those drugs and biological products, described
in paragraph (1)(A), including the key starting materials and
excipients of such drugs, biological products, and
ingredients, and whether such capabilities utilize advanced
manufacturing technologies; and
(I) any public health or national security risks, including
cybersecurity threats and critical infrastructure
designations, with respect to the supply chains of drugs and
biological products, including the active ingredients of
those drugs and biological products, described in paragraph
(1)(A).
(c) Department of Defense Biannual Reports.--Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every
180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the relevant committees of Congress a report that lists all
drugs purchased by the Department of Defense during the 180-
day period preceding the date of the report--
(1) that contain key starting materials, excipients, or
active pharmaceutical ingredients sourced from the People's
Republic of China; or
(2) for which the finished drug product was manufactured in
the People's Republic of China.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advanced manufacturing.--The term ``advanced
manufacturing'' has the meaning given the term ``advanced and
continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing'' in section 3016(h)
of the 21st Century Cures Act (21 U.S.C. 399h(h)).
(2) Biological product.--The term ``biological product''
has the meaning given such term in section 351(i) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(i)).
(3) Cybersecurity threat.--The term ``cybersecurity
threat'' has the meaning given such term in section 2200 of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 650).
(4) Drug.--The term ``drug'' has the meaning given such
term in section 201(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)).
(5) Relevant committees of congress.--The term ``relevant
committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and

[[Page S7086]]

(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'', except as otherwise
specified, means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(e) Additional Provisions.--
(1) Confidential commercial information.--The exchange of
information among the Secretary and the heads of other
relevant Federal departments and agencies for purposes of
carrying out subsection (b) shall not be a violation of
section 1905 of title 18, United States Code. This section
shall not be construed to affect the status, if any, of such
information as trade secret or confidential commercial
information for purposes of section 301(j) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331(j)), section 552
of title 5, United States Code, or section 1905 of title 18,
United States Code.
(2) Cybersecurity measures.--The Secretary shall ensure
that robust cybersecurity measures are in place to prevent
inappropriate access to, or unauthorized disclosure of, the
information identified, exchanged, or disclosed under
subsection (b).

Amendment No. 3826

(Purpose: To modify and reauthorize the Better Utilization of
Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 8, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

Amendment No. 3728

(Purpose: To require the executive branch to develop a whole-of-
government strategy to disrupt growing cooperation among the People's
Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of
Iran, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which are the
foremost adversaries of the United States, and mitigate the risks posed
to the United States.)
(The amendment is printed in the Record of September 2, 2025, under
``Text of Amendments.'')

amendment no. 3928

(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot
program for deploying microreactors)

At the end of section 922, add the following:
(h) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Defense shall
establish a pilot program for deploying microreactors at
United States military installations to strengthen energy
resilience and reduce reliance on vulnerable civilian grids.

Vote on Amendments En Bloc

Mr. WICKER. Madam President, on the en bloc, I suggest a voice vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question occurs on adoption of the
amendments en bloc.
The amendments (Nos. 3340, 2928, 3355, 2952, 3376, 2971, 3405, 3039,
3435, 3136, 3439, 3156, 3489, 3351, 3703, 3530, 3732, 3557, 3788, 3570,
3799, 3601, 3810, 3712, 3811, 3724, 3813, 3751, 3823, 3818, 3702, 3825,
3842, 3834, 3890, 2979, 3272, 3742, 3901, 3819, 3899, 3888, 3880, 3015,
3753, 3826, 3728, 3928) were agreed to en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Thune amendments
and motions are withdrawn; amendment No. 3427 is agreed to, and the
substitute amendment No. 3748, as modified, and as amended, is agreed
to.
The amendment (No. 3427) was agreed to.
The amendment (No. 3748), in the nature of a substitute, as modified,
and as amended, was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, we are considering the National
Defense Authorization Act at a time when our democracy and our
Constitution are under attack from a lawless President. We are also in
the middle of a 9-day-long government shutdown, and we should be
working to get the government open. Instead, Senate Republicans are
seeking to conduct business-as-usual instead of addressing the
impending spike in healthcare costs for American families and
responsibly funding the government.
The NDAA includes critical investments in our national defense.
Maryland has a key role to play in developing the technologies of the
future that will keep our Nation at the cutting-edge and is the proud
home of tens of thousands of military personnel and civilians working
in the defense sector, as well as critical military installations. I
have continually pressed for resources for our servicemembers and
veterans and their families and investments in the military
installations in our State that conduct groundbreaking research and
support our defense.
But these are not normal times. We are witnessing an authoritarian
power-grab by President Trump, and Congress has a responsibility to
stand up as a coequal, not subservient, branch of this government. We
need to call it what it is: President Trump is using the power of the
government, including the U.S. military, to coerce and silence voices
he disagrees with. This is a playbook that dictators have used around
the world, and now, it is the Trump playbook.
To date, Trump has deployed the National Guard to the District of
Columbia, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Chicago. He has also ordered the
deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, which has been
temporarily blocked by the courts, and earlier today, a judge issued a
temporary restraining order blocking the deployment of National Guard
troops in Chicago as well. He is manufacturing claims of emergency and
chaos to send the Guard to engage in domestic law enforcement rather
than using Federal resources to work with local partners to keep
communities safe and pulling members of the military away from other
critical missions. The National Guard has also been supporting ICE as
agents arrest and disappear people without due process. And as State
and local leaders and courts of law stand in the way of these
deployments, Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to
bypass them and the restrictions of the Posse Comitatus Act.
Trump's deployment of the military to assist in domestic law
enforcement is a clear violation of U.S. law, including the Posse
Comitatus Act. And a Federal judge agrees. On September 2, a Federal
judge in the Northern District of California found that the Trump
administration ``willfully'' violated the Posse Comitatus Act in its
deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and stated that the
Trump administration clearly intends to ``[create] a national police
force with the President as its chief.'' Trump clearly telegraphed this
intention in his speech to top military brass at Quantico, when he
called for using American cities as ``training grounds for our
military'' and asserted that ``we're under invasion from within. No
different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because
they don't wear uniforms.''
The deployment in Los Angeles marked the first time since 1965 that
the National Guard has been activated without the State Governor's
consent. And it has not stopped. Trump's power grab in DC and other
cities is part of his accelerating effort to militarize the streets of
our country. That is why I offered an amendment to block the President
from deploying the National Guard to a State, or the District of
Columbia, if that State's Governor, or the DC Mayor, objects. Sen.
Duckworth also put forward an amendment that would require the
President to provide notification to Congress before dedicating any
military or defense equipment for local law enforcement purposes.
Unfortunately, both efforts failed.
At its heart, Trump's politicization of the National Guard is sowing
fear and distrust and is a danger to our democracy. Enabling the
military to patrol American streets chills lawful protest, blurs the
line between military and civilian authority, and erodes public trust
in nonpartisan service.
Trump's illegal use of U.S. Armed Forces also includes his recent
missile strikes against boats in international waters, which have been
flagrant violations of both U.S. and international law and can only be
seen as extrajudicial killings. There is simply no evidence that these
vessels posed an imminent threat, nor is there an active armed conflict
between the United States and any cartel or South American country.
Trump has pursued these actions in gross violation of international law
and without congressional authorization.
Back in March, Trump also dredged up an old war-time law, the Alien
Enemies Act, to target immigrants and deport them without due process.
The administration also reached deep into the dustbin of Cold War
paranoia and pulled out the McCarran-Walter Act--a relic of the
McCarthy era--to brand student protestors as threats to the foreign
policy of the great United States of America, used a transnational
crime unit to secretly target campus protesters, and then disappeared
them into ICE detention facilities with the ultimate goal of deporting
them. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, but like the

[[Page S7087]]

McCarthy witch hunts of the 1950s, this campaign of fear and repression
is eroding the foundational values of our democracy. A Federal district
court judge found that the administration had targeted noncitizen
students and scholars ``for speaking out'' and ``the facts prove that
the President himself approves [of this] truly scandalous and
unconstitutional suppression of free speech.''
Taken together, these abuses of power show an increasingly brazen and
lawless administration that is misusing defense spending. These
concerns only further my existing reservations around the continued
uncontrolled growth in defense spending, especially when the Pentagon
continues to fail independent audits, most recently in November 2024.
In that audit, only 11 DOD components achieved clean audit opinions,
but 13, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force did not. On top of
that, from FY 2021 to FY 2025, authorization levels for defense
spending have gone up from $740 billion to $895 billion, a 21 percent
increase over the 5-year period. If this bill is enacted, we will be
authorizing $924 billion, almost a trillion dollars in spending. This
does not include the recent partisan budget reconciliation bill that
passed into law in July 2025, which included over $150 billion in
mandatory defense spending. I concur with the former Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen, that we need to put our defense
dollars to better strategic use and make the hard choices necessary to
right-size our overall defense spending. If we truly care about
government efficiency, we must apply the same standard to the
Department of Defense, which represents over half of total Federal
discretionary spending.
This is the first time during my service in the Senate that I am
voting against the NDAA. I do not make this decision lightly. Ensuring
that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to defend
the United States is critical, and I will never waver in protecting our
servicemembers. But what we are seeing in America today and over the
last few months should be a wakeup call for everyone in this Chamber.
We cannot and should not authorize almost a trillion dollars in defense
spending for an administration that is currently using the military to
conduct local law enforcement operations and to rip communities apart.
That is using the power of the Executive to silence the media,
undermine the judicial system, and chill speech.
We deploy a strong military to protect our democracy and freedom from
foreign threats and adversaries. Sadly, today, the threats to liberties
and the rule of law are coming from our own Commander in Chief, and I
will not vote to give him a blank check.

Vote on S. 2296

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
Mr. THUNE. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez
Masto) is necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 77, nays 20, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 570 Leg.]

YEAS--77

Alsobrooks
Banks
Barrasso
Bennet
Blackburn
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Coons
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fetterman
Fischer
Gallego
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hassan
Hawley
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kaine
Kelly
Kennedy
King
Klobuchar
Lankford
Lee
Lujan
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Ossoff
Peters
Reed
Ricketts
Risch
Rosen
Rounds
Schmitt
Schumer
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Shaheen
Sheehy
Slotkin
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Warner
Warnock
Whitehouse
Wicker
Young

NAYS--20

Baldwin
Booker
Cantwell
Duckworth
Durbin
Kim
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Padilla
Paul
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Smith
Van Hollen
Warren
Welch
Wyden

NOT VOTING--3

Cortez Masto
Cruz
Tillis
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. McCORMICK). On this vote, the yeas are 77,
and the nays are 20.
The 60-vote threshold having been achieved, the bill is passed.
The bill (S. 2296) was passed.
(The bill, as amended, will be printed in a future edition of the
Record.)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motion to
reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table.
The majority leader.

____________________