← Back to Bills
H.R. 8820House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Prohibit Deactivation of the ECABs Act of 2026

Sponsored by Morgan LuttrellRep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
Introduced May 14, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 26, 2026 at 4:21 AM UTC

The Prohibit Deactivation of the ECABs Act of 2026 bars the use of Army funding for fiscal years 2027‑2031 to retire or shrink Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades (ECABs) unless the Army Secretary certifies a plan to restore and modernize those units. It forces any ECAB that was deactivated before the law took effect to be re‑activated within a year and sets reporting and planning requirements. The bill also earmarks $35 million for ECAB aircraft operation and training in FY 2027.

Key Provisions

  • No Army funds for FY 2027‑2031 may be spent on deactivating or reducing ECABs unless the Secretary of the Army provides a certification and a recapitalization plan to congressional defense committees.
  • Any ECAB that was retired or reduced before the law’s enactment must be reinstated or restored to its previous level within one year, with a report to Congress on the action.
  • Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must submit a plan to sustain and modernize ECAB aircraft.
  • Appropriates $35 million for FY 2027 for ECAB aircraft operation and training.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 14, 2026

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 14, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 14, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued May 14, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8820

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 14, 2026

Mr. Luttrell (for himself, Mr. Tran, and Mr. Crank) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To limit the use of certain funds for the deactivation of Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Prohibit Deactivation of the ECABs Act of 2026.

2.

Limitation on use of funds for deactivation of Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades

(a)

Limitation

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for any of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for the Army may be obligated or expended to retire, deactivate, schedule to deactivate, or proceed with any other action that would reduce the capabilities, resources, aircraft, or personnel available, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, for the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades unless the Secretary of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees—

(1)

a certification that the Secretary of the Army plans to recapitalize any such aircraft for the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades and to otherwise restore any such capabilities, resources, or personnel levels reduced; and

(2)

the plan of the Secretary of the Army for the actions specified in paragraph (1).

(b)

Requirement To restore

(1)

Requirement

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, for any Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade that, prior to such date of enactment, the Secretary of the Army retired or deactivated (or carried out any other activity to reduce the capabilities, resources, aircraft, or personnel thereof), the Secretary of the Army shall reinstate or reactivate such brigade, or otherwise restore such brigade to the levels preceding such reduction, as the case may be.

(2)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation of this subsection.

(c)

Plan required

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to sustain and modernize the aircraft used by the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Army for the operation of aircraft, and training for such operation, by the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(e)

Congressional defense committees defined

In this section, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.