H. R. 7776—467 
(1) The Russian Federation’s further invasion of Ukraine 
poses a grave threat to United States security and interests 
around the globe and to the rules-based international order, 
including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 
(2) The Russian Federation has demonstrated a complete 
disregard for the safety of civilians during its unlawful and 
unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which has involved indiscrimi-
nate bombing of civilian areas and executions of noncombatants. 
(3) The United States stands with the people of Ukraine 
and condemns the heinous acts committed by the Russian Fed-
eration against them, and Congress strongly supports continued 
assistance to Ukraine to sustain its ability to repel Russian 
invasion forces and continue to retake its sovereign territory. 
(4) NATO remains the strongest and most successful mili-
tary alliance in the world, founded on a commitment by its 
members to uphold the principles of democracy, individual lib-
erty, and the rule of law. The NATO alliance has grown more 
robust and more united in response to Russia’s 2022 further 
invasion of Ukraine, as allies have enhanced their deterrence 
and defense posture, and continued to send military aid to 
bolster Ukraine’s defenses. 
(5) The United States— 
(A) strongly supports the path of Sweden and Finland 
toward NATO membership, as evidenced by the over-
whelming bipartisan Senate vote providing advice and con-
sent to the ratification of the Protocols of the North Atlantic 
Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Finland 
and the Kingdom of Sweden; 
(B) urges all NATO allies who have not ratified their 
accession to do so as soon as possible; 
(C) reaffirms its ironclad commitment to NATO as 
the foundation of transatlantic security and to upholding 
its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty, including 
Article 5; and 
(D) encourages NATO members to move swiftly to meet 
their commitments made at the June 2022 NATO Summit 
to expand NATO’s multinational battle groups and enhance 
military posture on NATO’s eastern flank, and to urgently 
continue progress on meeting their Wales Pledge commit-
ments, capability targets, contributions to NATO missions 
and operations, and resilience commitments. 
(6) America’s European allies and partners have— 
(A) made significant contributions to Ukraine’s defense 
against the Russian invasion, including critical military, 
economic, and humanitarian aid, sanctions, and export con-
trols, to erode Russia’s ability to sustain its aggression; 
and 
(B) welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees forced 
to flee their homeland. 
(7) The United States must continue to work with these 
allies and partners to sustain this support, to collectively recon-
stitute weapons stocks, and to maintain unified resolve to 
reduce threats to critical infrastructure ranging from Russia’s 
weaponization of energy to China’s predatory investments in 
transportation and telecommunications infrastructure. 
(8) The United States should develop and implement a 
long-term plan to adapt United States posture in Europe to
H. R. 7776—468 
the altered threat environment. The elevated United States 
posture currently in Europe is crucial in the current threat 
environment, and the United States posture changes announced 
during the June 2022 NATO Summit are important steps, 
including the establishment of the first permanently stationed 
headquarters in Poland, the commitment to maintain a rota-
tional brigade combat team and headquarters in Romania, 
enhanced rotations to the Baltic countries, and the forward- 
stationing of two additional destroyers in Rota, Spain. 
(9) European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) investments have 
proven crucial to United States and NATO abilities to rapidly 
reinforce the European theater leading up to and during Rus-
sia’s further invasion of Ukraine. The United States should 
continue robust investments through EDI, including further 
enhancing United States posture in Europe and maintaining 
a committed schedule of exercises with allies. 
(10) The Black Sea is critical to United States interests 
and to the security of NATO in the region, given Russia’s 
unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine and Russia’s 
attempts to directly intimidate, coerce, and otherwise influence 
countries in this region. These allies’ and partners’ security 
will have major consequences for broader European security 
and collective efforts to enhance Black Sea countries’ defense 
and resilience capabilities are essential. In addition, the United 
States and NATO should consider adopting robust intergovern-
mental and interagency strategies for the Black Sea, to facili-
tate further collaboration among all countries in the region. 
(11) Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania play a critical role 
in strategic efforts to continue to deter Russia. 
(12) The United States should continue to pursue efforts 
consistent with the comprehensive, multilateral Baltic Defense 
Assessment conducted by the Department of Defense. Robust 
support to accomplish United States strategic objectives, 
including by providing continued assistance to the Baltic coun-
tries through security cooperation, including cooperation 
referred to as the Baltic Security Initiative pursuant to sections 
332 and 333 of title 10, United States Code, should continue 
to be prioritized in the years to come. Specifically, such assist-
ance should include the continuation of— 
(A) enhancements to critical capabilities that will 
strengthen Baltic security as well as strengthen NATO’s 
deterrence and defense posture, including integrated air 
and missile defense, maritime domain awareness, long- 
range precision fires, and command and control; 
(B) efforts to enhance interoperability among Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania and with NATO; 
(C) infrastructure and other host-country support 
improvements that will enhance United States and allied 
military mobility across the region; 
(D) efforts to improve resilience to hybrid and cyber 
threats in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; and 
(E) support for planning and budgeting efforts of 
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that are regionally syn-
chronized. 
(13) It is in the United States interest to support efforts 
to enhance security and stability in the Western Balkans. The 
United States should continue its efforts to work with Western
H. R. 7776—469 
Balkans allies and partners to build interoperability and sup-
port institutional reforms. The United States should also sup-
port those countries’ efforts to resist disinformation campaigns, 
predatory investments, and other means by which Russia and 
China may seek to influence this region. 
(14) The United States should continue to work closely 
with European allies and partners to counter growing malign 
activities by the People’s Republic of China across Europe, 
in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond. 
SEC. 1273. REPORT ON FIFTH FLEET CAPABILITIES UPGRADES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on— 
(1) capabilities upgrades necessary to enable the Fifth Fleet 
to address emerging threats in its area of responsibility; and 
(2) any costs associated with such upgrades. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) An assessment of seaborne threats posed by Iran, and 
groups linked to Iran, to the military forces of United States 
allies and partners operating in the waters in and around 
the broader Middle East. 
(2) A description of any capabilities upgrades necessary 
to enable the Fifth Fleet to address such threats. 
(3) An estimate of the costs associated with any such 
upgrades. 
(4) A description of any United States plan to deepen 
cooperation with other member countries of the Combined Mari-
time Forces at the strategic, policy, and functional levels for 
the purpose of addressing such threats, including by— 
(A) enhancing coordination on defense planning; 
(B) improving intelligence sharing; and 
(C) deepening maritime interoperability. 
(c) BROADER MIDDLE EAST DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘broader Middle East’’ means— 
(1) the land around the southern and eastern shores of 
the Mediterranean Sea; 
(2) the Arabian Peninsula; 
(3) Iran; and 
(4) North Africa. 
SEC. 1274. REPORT ON USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY FOREIGN TERRORIST 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in 
coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report on— 
(1) the use of online social media platforms by entities 
designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Secretary 
of State for recruitment, fundraising, and the dissemination 
of information; and 
(2) the threat posed to the national security of the United 
States by the online radicalization of terrorists and violent 
extremists with ties to foreign governments or elements thereof, 
foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international ter-
rorist activities.
H. R. 7776—470 
(b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intel-
ligence of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence 
of the Senate. 
SEC. 1275. REPORT AND FEASIBILITY STUDY ON COLLABORATION TO 
MEET SHARED NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS IN EAST 
AFRICA. 
(a) REPORT ON FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES 
IN SOMALILAND.— 
(1) DEFINED TERM.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 2023, 
and annually thereafter until the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report that, with respect to the most recently concluded 
12-month period— 
(i) describes assistance provided by the Depart-
ment of State and the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development to Somaliland, including— 
(I) the value of such assistance (in United 
States dollars); 
(II) the source from which such assistance was 
funded; 
(III) the names of the programs through which 
such assistance was administered; 
(IV) the implementing partners through which 
such assistance was provided; 
(V) the sponsoring bureau of the Department 
of State or the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development; and 
(VI) if the assistance broadly targeted the Fed-
eral Republic of Somalia, the portion of such assist-
ance that was— 
(aa) 
explicitly 
intended 
to 
support 
Somaliland; and 
(bb) ultimately employed in Somaliland; 
(ii) details the staffing and responsibilities of the 
Department of State and the United States Agency 
for International Development supporting foreign 
assistance, diplomatic engagement, and security initia-
tives in Somaliland, including the location of such per-
sonnel (duty station) and their corresponding bureau; 
(iii) provides—
H. R. 7776—471 
(I) a detailed account of travel to Somaliland 
by employees of the Department of State and the 
United States Agency for International Develop-
ment, if any, including the position, duty station, 
and trip purpose for each such trip; or 
(II) the justification for not traveling to 
Somaliland if no such personnel traveled during 
the reporting period; and 
(iv) if the Department of State has provided 
training to security forces of the Federal Member 
States (FMS), and Somaliland, including— 
(I) where such training has occurred; 
(II) the extent to which FMS and Somaliland 
security forces have demonstrated the ability to 
absorb previous training; and 
(III) the ability of FMS and Somaliland secu-
rity forces to maintain and appropriately utilize 
such training, as applicable. 
(B) FORM.—The report required under subparagraph 
(A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain 
a classified annex. 
(b) FEASIBILITY STUDY.— 
(1) DEFINED TERM.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. 
(2) FEASIBILITY STUDY.—The Secretary of State, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a feasibility 
study that— 
(A) determines whether opportunities exist for greater 
collaboration in the pursuit of United States national secu-
rity interests in the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, 
and the Indo-Pacific region with the Federal Government 
of Somalia and Somaliland; and 
(B) identifies the practicability and advisability of 
improving the professionalization and capacity of security 
sector actors within the Federal Member States (FMS) 
and Somaliland. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than June 15, 2023, 
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense and the heads of other relevant Federal departments 
and agencies, shall submit a classified report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that contains the results of the feasi-
bility study required under paragraph (2). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act, including 
the reporting requirement under subsection (a) and the conduct 
of the feasibility study under subsection (b), may be construed 
to convey United States recognition of Somalia’s FMS or Somaliland 
as an independent entity.
H. R. 7776—472 
SEC. 1276. ASSESSMENT OF CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION OF 
THE PARTNERSHIP AMONG AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED 
KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter 
into an agreement with a federally funded research and develop-
ment center for the conduct of an independent assessment of 
resourcing, policy, and process challenges to implementing the part-
nership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States 
(commonly known as the ‘‘AUKUS partnership’’) announced on Sep-
tember 21, 2021. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED.—In conducting the assessment 
required by subsection (a), the federally funded research and 
development center shall consider the following with respect to 
each of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States: 
(1) Potential resourcing and personnel shortfalls. 
(2) Information sharing, including foreign disclosure policy 
and processes. 
(3) Statutory, regulatory, and other policies and processes. 
(4) Intellectual property, including patents. 
(5) Export controls, including technology transfer and 
protection. 
(6) Security protocols and practices, including personnel, 
operational, physical, facility, cybersecurity, counterintelligence, 
marking and classifying information, and handling and trans-
mission of classified material. 
(7) Industrial base implications specifically including 
options to expand the United States submarine and nuclear 
power industrial base to meet United States and Australia 
requirements. 
(8) Alternatives that would significantly accelerate Aus-
tralia’s national security, including— 
(A) interim submarine options to include leasing or 
conveyance of legacy United States submarines for Aus-
tralia’s use; or 
(B) the conveyance of B-21 bombers. 
(9) Any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The federally funded research and 
development center selected to conduct the assessment under this 
section shall include, as part of such assessment, recommendations 
for improvements to resourcing, policy, and process challenges to 
implementing the AUKUS partnership. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense committees, 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
a report that includes an unaltered copy of such assessment, 
together with the views of the Secretary on the assessment 
and on the recommendations included in the assessment pursu-
ant to subsection (c). 
(2) FORM OF REPORT.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 
a classified annex.
H. R. 7776—473 
SEC. 1277. MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF UNITED STATES-ISRAEL 
COOPERATION TO COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYS-
TEMS. 
(a) AUTHORITY
TO
ESTABLISH
CAPABILITIES
TO
COUNTER 
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.—Subsection (a)(1) of section 1278 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public 
Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1702; 22 U.S.C. 8606 note) is amended 
in the first sentence by inserting after ‘‘to establish capabilities 
for countering unmanned aerial systems’’ the following ‘‘, including 
directed energy capabilities,’’. 
(b) SUPPORT IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM.—Subsection 
(b) of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting at the end before 
the period the following: ‘‘, including directed energy capabili-
ties’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘$25,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$40,000,000’’. 
(c) SUNSET.—Subsection (f) of such section is amended by 
striking ‘‘December 31, 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 1278. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND BRIEFING ON MULTINATIONAL 
FORCE AND OBSERVERS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Multinational Force and Observers has helped 
strengthen stability and kept the peace in Sinai Peninsula; 
and 
(2) the United States should continue to maintain its strong 
support for the Multinational Force and Observers. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days before the implementa-
tion of any plan to move a Multinational Force and Observer 
site, the Secretary of Defense shall brief the Committee on Armed 
Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the resulting 
impacts of such plan on existing security arrangements between 
Israel and Egypt. 
SEC. 1279. BRIEFING ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAM TO 
PROTECT UNITED STATES STUDENTS AGAINST FOREIGN 
AGENTS. 
Not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on the program 
described in section 1277 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), including an assess-
ment on whether the program is beneficial to students interning, 
working part time, or in a program that will result in employment 
post-graduation with Department of Defense components and con-
tractors. 
TITLE XIV—OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS 
Subtitle A—Military Programs 
Sec. 1401. Working capital funds. 
Sec. 1402. Chemical agents and munitions destruction, defense. 
Sec. 1403. Drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, defense-wide.
H. R. 7776—474 
Sec. 1404. Defense Inspector General. 
Sec. 1405. Defense health program. 
Subtitle B—National Defense Stockpile 
Sec. 1411. Reform of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. 
Sec. 1412. Modification of acquisition authority under Strategic and Critical Mate-
rials Stock Piling Act. 
Sec. 1413. Briefings on shortfalls in National Defense Stockpile. 
Sec. 1414. Authority to acquire materials for the National Defense Stockpile. 
Sec. 1415. Department of Defense readiness to support prolonged conflict. 
Subtitle C—Other Matters 
Sec. 1421. Authority for transfer of funds to joint Department of Defense-Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund for Cap-
tain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois. 
Sec. 1422. Authorization of appropriations for Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
Subtitle A—Military Programs 
SEC. 1401. WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2023 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and 
agencies of the Department of Defense for providing capital for 
working capital and revolving funds, as specified in the funding 
table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1402. CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS DESTRUCTION, 
DEFENSE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds are hereby 
authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for 
fiscal year 2023 for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for Chem-
ical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense, as specified in 
the funding table in section 4501. 
(b) USE.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated under sub-
section (a) are authorized for— 
(1) the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions 
in accordance with section 1412 of the Department of Defense 
Authorization Act, 1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521); and 
(2) the destruction of chemical warfare materiel of the 
United States that is not covered by section 1412 of such 
Act. 
SEC. 1403. DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTER-DRUG ACTIVITIES, 
DEFENSE-WIDE. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Depart-
ment of Defense for fiscal year 2023 for expenses, not otherwise 
provided for, for Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, 
Defense-wide, as specified in the funding table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1404. DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Depart-
ment of Defense for fiscal year 2023 for expenses, not otherwise 
provided for, for the Office of the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Defense, as specified in the funding table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1405. DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2023 for the Defense Health Program for use of the Armed Forces 
and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense 
for providing for the health of eligible beneficiaries, as specified 
in the funding table in section 4501.
H. R. 7776—475 
Subtitle B—National Defense Stockpile 
SEC. 1411. REFORM OF THE STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS 
STOCK PILING ACT. 
(a) REPEAL OF STRATEGIC MATERIALS PROTECTION BOARD.— 
Section 187 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed. 
(b) STRATEGIC
AND CRITICAL MATERIALS BOARD
OF DIREC-
TORS.—Section 10 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-1) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 10. STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS BOARD OF DIREC-
TORS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Strategic and Crit-
ical Materials Board of Directors (in this Act referred to as the 
‘Board’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERS.—The Board shall be composed, at a minimum, 
of the following: 
‘‘(1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base 
Policy, who shall serve as chairman of the Board. 
‘‘(2) One designee of each of the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
‘‘(3) One designee of each of the Chairman and Ranking 
Member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Com-
mittee on Armed Services. 
‘‘(4) One designee of each of the Chairman and Ranking 
Member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the Senate Com-
mittee on Armed Services. 
‘‘(5) Four designees of the chairman of the Board, who 
shall have expertise relating to military affairs, defense procure-
ment, production of strategic and critical materials, finance, 
or any other disciplines deemed necessary by the chairman 
to conduct the business of the Board. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES
OF
THE BOARD.—In addition to other matters 
assigned to it by the chairman, the Board shall conduct the fol-
lowing, without power of delegation: 
‘‘(1) Adopt by-laws that ensure sufficient oversight, govern-
ance, and effectiveness of the National Defense Stockpile pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) Elect or remove Board members. 
‘‘(3) Advise the National Defense Stockpile Manager. 
‘‘(4) Establish performance metrics and conduct an annual 
performance review of the National Defense Stockpile Manager. 
‘‘(5) Set compensation for the National Defense Stockpile 
Manager. 
‘‘(6) Review and approve the annual budget of the National 
Defense Stockpile program and conduct appropriate reviews 
of annual financial statements. 
‘‘(7) Re-allocate budget resources within the annual budget 
of the National Defense Stockpile program. 
‘‘(8) Review and approve the Annual Materials and Oper-
ations Plan required by section 11(a)(2) of this Act, including 
a review of the projected domestic and foreign economic effects 
of proposed actions to be taken under the Annual Materials 
and Operations Plan.
H. R. 7776—476 
‘‘(9) Complete and submit the annual Board Report, in 
accordance with section 11(b)(2) of this Act. 
‘‘(10) Recommend to the Secretary of Defense— 
‘‘(A) a strategy to ensure a secure supply of materials 
designated as critical to national security; and 
‘‘(B) such other strategies as the Board considers appro-
priate to strengthen the industrial base with respect to 
materials critical to national security. 
‘‘(d) BOARD MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet as determined 
necessary by the chairman but not less frequently than once every 
year to fulfill the duties described in subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—Sec-
tion 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Board. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) MATERIALS CRITICAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY.—The term 
‘materials critical to national security’ means materials— 
‘‘(A) upon which the production or sustainment of mili-
tary equipment is dependent; and 
‘‘(B) the supply of which could be restricted by actions 
or events outside the control of the Government of the 
United States. 
‘‘(2) MILITARY EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘military equipment’ 
means equipment used directly by the Armed Forces to carry 
out military operations. 
‘‘(3) SECURE
SUPPLY.—The term ‘secure supply’, with 
respect to a material, means the availability of a source or 
sources for the material, including the full supply chain for 
the material and components containing the material.’’. 
(c) REPORTS.—Section 11 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-2) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 11. REPORTS. 
‘‘(a) REPORTS TO THE BOARD.—The National Defense Stockpile 
Manager shall submit to the Board the following: 
‘‘(1) Not later than 40 calendar days after the last day 
of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, 
unaudited financial statements and a Manager’s Discussion 
and Analysis for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 60 calendar days after the conclusion 
of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) audited financial statements and a Manager’s 
Discussion and Analysis for the immediately preceding 
fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) an Annual Materials and Operations Plan for the 
forthcoming year. 
‘‘(b) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) REPORTS BY NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE MANAGE.— 
Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the fourth quarter 
of each fiscal year, the National Defense Stockpile Manager 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees (as 
defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) a 
report that shall include— 
‘‘(A) information with respect to foreign and domestic 
purchases of materials for the stockpile during the pre-
ceding fiscal year;
H. R. 7776—478 
(B) in section 4872(c)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘ Strategic 
Materials Protection Board pursuant to section 187 of this 
title’’ and inserting ‘‘Strategic and Critical Materials Board 
of Directors pursuant to section 10 of the Strategic and 
Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-1)’’. 
SEC. 1412. MODIFICATION OF ACQUISITION AUTHORITY UNDER STRA-
TEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS STOCK PILING ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5 of the Strategic and Critical Mate-
rials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘under the 
authority of paragraph (3) of this section or’’ after 
‘‘Except for acquisitions made’’; and 
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘for such 
acquisition’’ and inserting ‘‘for any acquisition of mate-
rials under this Act’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) Using funds appropriated for acquisition of materials under 
this Act, the National Defense Stockpile Manager may acquire 
materials determined to be strategic and critical under section 
3(a) without regard to the requirement of the first sentence of 
paragraph (1) if the Stockpile Manager determines there is a short-
fall of such materials in the stockpile.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘to carry out the purposes 
for which appropriated for a period of two fiscal years, if so 
provided in appropriation Acts’’ and inserting ‘‘until expended, 
unless otherwise provided in appropriations Acts’’. 
(b) INCREASE
IN QUANTITIES
OF MATERIALS
TO BE STOCK-
PILED.—Section 3(c)(2) of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by amending the first sentence to read as follows: ‘‘The 
President shall notify Congress in writing of any increase pro-
posed to be made in the quantity of any material to be stock-
piled that involves the acquisition of additional materials for 
the stockpile.’’; 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘the change after 
the end of the 45-day period’’ and inserting ‘‘the increase after 
the end of the 30-day period’’; and 
(3) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘change’’ and inserting 
‘‘increase’’. 
SEC. 1413. BRIEFINGS ON SHORTFALLS IN NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCK-
PILE. 
Section 14 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling 
Act (50 U.S.C. 98h–5) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(f)(1) Not later than March 1 each year, the National Defense 
Stockpile Manager shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on strategic and critical materials that— 
‘‘(A) are determined to be in shortfall in the most recent 
report on stockpile requirements submitted under subsection 
(a); and 
‘‘(B) the acquisition or disposal of which is included in 
the Annual Materials and Operations Plan for the operation 
of the stockpile during the next fiscal year submitted under 
section 11(b).
H. R. 7776—479 
‘‘(2) Each briefing required by paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) a description of each material described in that para-
graph, including the objective to be achieved if funding is 
provided, in whole or in part, for the acquisition of the material 
to remedy the shortfall; 
‘‘(B) an estimate of additional amounts required to provide 
such funding, if any; and 
‘‘(C) an assessment of the supply chain for each such mate-
rial, including any assessment of any relevant risk in any 
such supply chain.’’. 
SEC. 1414. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE MATERIALS FOR THE NATIONAL 
DEFENSE STOCKPILE. 
(a) ACQUISITION AUTHORITY.—Of the funds appropriated into 
the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (c), the National 
Defense Stockpile Manager may use up to $1,003,500,000 for 
acquisition of the following materials determined to be strategic 
and critical materials required to meet the defense, industrial, 
and essential civilian needs of the United States: 
(1) 
Neodymium 
oxide, 
praseodymium 
oxide, 
and 
neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnet block. 
(2) Titanium. 
(3) Energetic materials. 
(4) Iso-molded graphite. 
(5) Grain-oriented electric steel. 
(6) Tire cord steel. 
(7) Cadmium zinc telluride. 
(8) Any additional materials identified as stockpile require-
ments in the most recent report submitted to Congress under 
section 14 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling 
Act (50 U.S.C. 98h–5). 
(b) FISCAL YEAR LIMITATION.—The authority under subsection 
(a) is available for purchases during fiscal years 2023 through 
2032. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the National Defense Stockpile Transaction 
Fund $1,003,500,000 for the acquisition of strategic and critical 
materials under section 6(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials 
Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98e(a)). 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH STRATEGIC
AND CRITICAL MATERIALS 
STOCK PILING ACT.—Any acquisition using funds appropriated 
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection 
(c) shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the 
Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 
et seq.). 
SEC. 1415. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READINESS TO SUPPORT PRO-
LONGED CONFLICT. 
(a) STUDIES REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For each report required by section 14(a) 
of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 
U.S.C. 98h-5(a)), the National Defense Stockpile Manager 
shall— 
(A) conduct a study on the strategic materials required 
by the Department of Defense to sustain combat operations 
for not less than one year against the pacing threat identi-
fied in the National Defense Strategy; and
H. R. 7776—480 
(B) not later than January 15, 2024, submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report on such study 
in a classified form with an unclassified summary. 
(2) ENERGY STORAGE AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment shall conduct a study of the 
energy storage and electronic components necessary to sus-
tain combat operations for not less than one year against 
the pacing threat identified in the National Defense 
Strategy. 
(B) REPORT.—— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 15, 2024, 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on the study required under 
subparagraph (A). 
(ii) FORM.—The report required by clause (i) shall 
be submitted in an unclassified form but may contain 
a classified annex. 
(iii) ELEMENTS.—The report required by clause (i) 
shall include the following: 
(I) A description of the specific number and 
type of energy storage and electronic components 
that the Department of Defense requires for the 
manufacture of munitions, combat support items, 
and weapon systems to sustain combat operations. 
(II) A description of the specific number and 
type of energy storage and electronic components 
that the Department of Defense requires to 
replenish or replace munitions, combat support 
items, and weapon systems that are lost or 
expended during the execution and sustainment 
of the relevant operational plan. 
(III) 
A 
description 
of 
supply 
chain 
vulnerabilities during the sustainment and execu-
tion period, such as sole sources of supply, war 
damage, and shipping interdiction. 
(IV) 
A 
description 
of 
supply 
chain 
vulnerabilities prior to the sustainment and execu-
tion period and the replenishment and replacement 
period, such as reliance on sole sources of supply, 
geographic proximity to strategic competitors, and 
diminishing manufacturing sources. 
(V) An identification of alternative sources of 
supply for energy and electronics components that 
are domestic or are from allies or partners of the 
United States. 
(VI) An assessment of the technical and eco-
nomic feasibility of the preparedness and response 
programs of the Department of Defense, such as 
the National Defense Stockpile, the Warstopper 
program, war reserves and pre-positioned stocks, 
contract options, or other methods to mitigate 
postulated shortfalls to Department of Defense 
requirements.
H. R. 7776—481 
(VII) Any other such elements deemed appro-
priate by the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment. 
(C) ENERGY
STORAGE
AND
ELECTRONIC
COMPONENT 
DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the term ‘‘energy storage and 
electronic component’’ includes— 
(i) an item that operates by controlling the flow 
of electrons or other electrically charged particles in 
circuits, using interconnections of electrical devices 
such 
as 
resistors, 
inductors, 
capacitors, 
diodes, 
switches, transistors, or integrated circuits; and 
(ii) battery cells, battery modules, battery packs, 
and other related components related to batteries. 
(b) ACQUISITION PRIORITY.—Consistent with the authority in 
section 5 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act 
(50 U.S.C. 98d) and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the National Defense Stockpile Manager shall acquire the highest 
priority strategic and critical materials identified in the report 
submitted under subsection (a)(1). 
(c) STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘strategic and critical materials’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 12 of the Strategic and Critical Materials 
Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-3). 
Subtitle C—Other Matters 
SEC. 1421. AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO JOINT DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
MEDICAL FACILITY DEMONSTRATION FUND FOR CAPTAIN 
JAMES A. LOVELL HEALTH CARE CENTER, ILLINOIS. 
(a) AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Of the funds author-
ized to be appropriated for section 1405 and available for the 
Defense 
Health 
Program 
for 
operation 
and 
maintenance, 
$168,000,000 may be transferred by the Secretary of Defense to 
the Joint Department of Defense–Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Facility Demonstration Fund established by subsection 
(a)(1) of section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571). For 
purposes of subsection (a)(2) of such section 1704, any funds so 
transferred shall be treated as amounts authorized and appro-
priated specifically for the purpose of such a transfer. 
(b) USE OF TRANSFERRED FUNDS.—For the purposes of sub-
section (b) of such section 1704, facility operations for which funds 
transferred under subsection (a) may be used are operations of 
the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, consisting 
of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Navy 
Ambulatory Care Center, and supporting facilities designated as 
a combined Federal medical facility under an operational agreement 
covered by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 
Stat. 4500).
H. R. 7776—482 
SEC. 1422. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ARMED FORCES 
RETIREMENT HOME. 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2023 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund the 
sum of $152,360,000 of which— 
(1) $75,360,000 is for operation, maintenance, construction 
and renovation; and 
(2) $77,000,000 is for major construction. 
TITLE XV—CYBER AND INFORMATION 
OPERATIONS MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Cyber Matters 
Sec. 1501. Improvements to Principal Cyber Advisors. 
Sec. 1502. Annual reports on support by military departments for United States 
Cyber Command. 
Sec. 1503. Modification of office of primary responsibility for strategic cybersecurity 
program. 
Sec. 1504. Tailored cyberspace operations organizations. 
Sec. 1505. Establishment of support center for consortium of universities that ad-
vise Secretary of Defense on cybersecurity matters. 
Sec. 1506. Alignment of Department of Defense cyber international strategy with 
National Defense Strategy and Department of Defense Cyber Strategy. 
Sec. 1507. Enhancement of cyberspace training and security cooperation. 
Sec. 1508. Military Cybersecurity Cooperation with Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 
Sec. 1509. Management and oversight of Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture. 
Sec. 1510. Integrated non-kinetic force development. 
Sec. 1511. Protection of critical infrastructure. 
Sec. 1512. Budget display for cryptographic modernization activities for certain sys-
tems of the Department of Defense. 
Sec. 1513. Establishing projects for data management, artificial intelligence, and 
digital solutions. 
Sec. 1514. Operational testing for commercial cybersecurity capabilities. 
Subtitle B—Information Operations 
Sec. 1521. Requirement to notify Chief of Mission of military operation in the infor-
mation environment. 
Sec. 1522. Assessment and optimization of Department of Defense information and 
influence operations conducted through cyberspace. 
Sec. 1523. Joint information operations course. 
Sec. 1524. Limitation on availability of certain funds until submission of joint lexi-
con for terms related to information operations. 
Sec. 1525. Limitation on availability of funds pending submittal of information op-
erations strategy and posture review. 
Sec. 1526. Limitation on availability of certain funds until submission of assess-
ments relating to cybersecurity of the defense industrial base. 
Subtitle C—Personnel 
Sec. 1531. Cyber operations-peculiar awards. 
Sec. 1532. Establishment of Cyber Operations Designator and rating for the Navy. 
Sec. 1533. Total force generation for the Cyberspace Operations Forces. 
Sec. 1534. Correcting cyber mission force readiness shortfalls. 
Sec. 1535. Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy. 
Sec. 1536. Report on recommendations from Navy Civilian Career Path study. 
Sec. 1537. Study to determine optimal strategy for structuring and manning ele-
ments of Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber Organizations, Joint Mission 
Operations Centers, and Cyber Operations-Integrated Planning Ele-
ments. 
Sec. 1538. Manning review of Space Force cyber squadrons. 
Sec. 1539. Independent review of posture and staffing levels of Office of the Chief 
Information Officer. 
Sec. 1540. Independent assessment of Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve for Depart-
ment of Defense. 
Sec. 1541. Comprehensive review of Cyber Excepted Service. 
Subtitle D—Reports and Other Matters 
Sec. 1551. Pilot program for sharing cyber capabilities and related information with 
foreign operational partners.
H. R. 7776—483 
Sec. 1552. Demonstration program for cyber and information technology budget 
data analytics. 
Sec. 1553. Plan for commercial cloud test and evaluation. 
Sec. 1554. Roadmap and implementation plan for cyber adoption of artificial intel-
ligence. 
Sec. 1555. Review of Department of Defense implementation of recommendations 
from Defense Science Board cyber report. 
Sec. 1556. Annual briefing on relationship between National Security Agency and 
United States Cyber Command. 
Sec. 1557. Review of definitions associated with Cyberspace Operations Forces. 
Sec. 1558. Annual assessments and reports on assignment of certain budget control 
responsibility to Commander of United States Cyber Command. 
Sec. 1559. Assessments of weapons systems vulnerabilities to radio-frequency en-
abled cyber attacks. 
Sec. 1560. Briefing on Department of Defense plan to deter and counter adversaries 
in the information environment. 
Subtitle A—Cyber Matters 
SEC. 1501. IMPROVEMENTS TO PRINCIPAL CYBER ADVISORS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY FOR CYBERSPACE OPERATIONS.— 
Subsection (c) of section 932 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 10 U.S.C. 2224 
note) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) BUDGET REVIEW.—(A) The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), shall 
require the Secretaries of the military departments and the 
heads of the Defense agencies with responsibilities associated 
with any activity specified in paragraph (2) to transmit the 
proposed budget for such activities for a fiscal year and for 
the period covered by the future-years defense program sub-
mitted to Congress under section 221 of this title for that 
fiscal year to the Principal Cyber Advisor for review under 
subparagraph (B) before submitting the proposed budget to 
the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). 
‘‘(B) The Principal Cyber Advisor shall review each pro-
posed budget transmitted under subparagraph (A) and, not 
later than January 31 of the year preceding the fiscal year 
for which the budget is proposed, shall submit to the Secretary 
of Defense a report containing the comments of the Principal 
Cyber Advisor with respect to all such proposed budgets, 
together with the certification of the Principal Cyber Advisor 
regarding whether each proposed budget is adequate. 
‘‘(C) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to Congress a report specifying each 
proposed budget that the Principal Cyber Advisor did not certify 
to be adequate. The report of the Secretary shall include the 
following matters: 
‘‘(i) A discussion of the actions that the Secretary pro-
poses to take, together with any recommended legislation 
that the Secretary considers appropriate, to address the 
inadequacy of the proposed budgets specified in the report. 
‘‘(ii) Any additional comments that the Secretary con-
siders appropriate regarding the inadequacy of the pro-
posed budgets.’’. 
(b) CODIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL CYBER ADVISORS.— 
(1) TITLE 10.—Chapter 19 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 392 the following new 
section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning 
of such chapter accordingly):
H. R. 7776—484 
‘‘§ 392a. Principal Cyber Advisors’’. 
(2) PRINCIPAL CYBER ADVISOR TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.— 
Subsection (c) of section 932 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 10 U.S.C. 
2224 note), as amended by subsection (a), is— 
(A) transferred to section 392a of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by paragraph (1); 
(B) redesignated as subsection (a); 
(C) amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is a Principal Cyber Advisor 
in the Department of Defense.’’; and 
(D) amended in the subsection heading by inserting 
‘‘TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE’’ after ‘‘ADVISOR’’. 
(3) DEPUTY CYBER ADVISOR.—Section 905 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 
116–92; 10 U.S.C. 391 note) is— 
(A) transferred to chapter 19 of title 10, United States 
Code, designated as subsection (b) of section 392a, as added 
by paragraph (1), and amended by redesignating each 
subordinate provision and the margins thereof accordingly; 
and 
(B) amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘this paragraph’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’. 
(4) PRINCIPAL CYBER ADVISORS TO SECRETARIES OF MILITARY 
DEPARTMENTS.—Section 
1657 
of 
the 
National 
Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 
10 U.S.C. 391 note) is— 
(A) transferred to chapter 19 of title 10, United States 
Code, designated as subsection (c) of section 392a, as added 
by paragraph (1), and amended by redesignating each 
subordinate provision and the margins thereof accordingly; 
and 
(B) amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting 
‘‘clause (ii)’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (1)(A)’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(vi) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’; and 
(vii) by striking paragraph (6) (as redesignated 
pursuant to subparagraph (A)). 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE
10.—Section 167b(d)(2)(A) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘to the Secretary of 
Defense under section 392a(a) of this title’’ after ‘‘Principal 
Cyber Advisor’’.
H. R. 7776—485 
(2) FY22 NDAA.—Section 1528(e)(2) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 
10 U.S.C. 2224 note) is amended by striking ‘‘section 1657(d) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 
(Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 391 note)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
392a(c)(4) of title 10, United States Code’’. 
(3) FY17 NDAA.—Section 1643(b) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 
10 U.S.C. 2224 note) is amended by striking ‘‘The Principal 
Cyber Advisor, acting through the cross-functional team estab-
lished by section 932(c)(3) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 10 U.S.C. 2224 
note)’’ and inserting ‘‘The Principal Cyber Advisor to the Sec-
retary of Defense, acting through the cross-functional team 
under section 392a(a)(3) of title 10, United States Code,’’. 
SEC. 1502. ANNUAL REPORTS ON SUPPORT BY MILITARY DEPART-
MENTS FOR UNITED STATES CYBER COMMAND. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Chapter 19 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 391 the following new 
section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter accordingly): 
‘‘§ 391a. Annual reports on support by military departments 
for United States Cyber Command 
‘‘(a) REPORTS.—Not later than 15 days after the date on which 
the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress the defense budget 
materials (as defined in section 239 of this title) for a fiscal year, 
the Commander of the United States Cyber Command shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report containing the 
following: 
‘‘(1) An evaluation of whether each military department 
is meeting the requirements established by the Commander 
and validated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and 
is effectively implementing the plan required by section 1534 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, 
and the requirements established pursuant to section 1533 
of such Act. 
‘‘(2) For each military department evaluated under para-
graph (1)— 
‘‘(A) a certification that the military department is 
meeting such requirements; or 
‘‘(B) a detailed explanation regarding how the military 
department is not meeting such requirements. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS OF EVALUATION.—Each evaluation under sub-
section (a)(1) shall include, with respect to the military department 
being evaluated, the following: 
‘‘(1) The adequacy of the policies, procedures, and execution 
of manning, training, and equipping personnel for employment 
within the Cyber Mission Force. 
‘‘(2) The sufficiency and robustness of training curricula 
for personnel to be assigned to either the Cyber Mission Force 
or units within the cyberspace operations forces, and the compli-
ance by the military department with training standards. 
‘‘(3) The adequacy of the policies and procedures relating 
to the assignment and assignment length of members of the
H. R. 7776—486 
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force to the 
Cyber Mission Force. 
‘‘(4) The efficacy of the military department in filling key 
work roles within the Cyber Mission Force, including the proper 
force mix of civilian, military, and contractor personnel, and 
the means necessary to meet requirements established by the 
Commander and validated by the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(5) The adequacy of the investment to advance cyber- 
peculiar science and technology, particularly with respect to 
capability development for the Cyber Mission Force. 
‘‘(6) The sufficiency of the policies, procedures, and invest-
ments relating to the establishment and management of mili-
tary occupational specialty, designator, rating, or Air Force 
specialty code for personnel responsible for cyberspace oper-
ations, including an assessment of the effectiveness of the com-
bination of policies determining availability and retention of 
sufficient numbers of proficient personnel in key work roles, 
including length of service commitment, the use of bonuses 
and special pays, alternative compensation mechanisms, and 
consecutive tours in preferred assignments. 
‘‘(7) In coordination with the Principal Cyber Advisor of 
the Department of Defense, an evaluation of the use by the 
military department of the shared lexicon of the Department 
of Defense specific to cyberspace activities. 
‘‘(8) The readiness of personnel serving in the Cyber Mis-
sion Force and the cyberspace operations forces to accomplish 
assigned missions. 
‘‘(9) The adequacy of actions taken during the period of 
evaluation by the military department to respond to findings 
from any previous years’ evaluations. 
‘‘(10) Any other element determined relevant by the Com-
mander.’’. 
(b) FIRST REPORT.—The Commander of the United States Cyber 
Command shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
the first report under section 391a of title 10, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), as soon as practicable after the date 
of the submission of the defense budget materials for fiscal year 
2024. 
SEC. 1503. MODIFICATION OF OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY 
FOR STRATEGIC CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM. 
Paragraph (2) of section 1640(c) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 
U.S.C. 2224 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.—Not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, the Secretary of Defense 
shall designate a principal staff assistant from within the Office 
of the Secretary of Defense whose office shall serve as the 
office of primary responsibility for the Program, providing 
policy, direction, and oversight regarding the execution of the 
responsibilities of the program manager described in paragraph 
(5).’’. 
SEC. 1504. TAILORED CYBERSPACE OPERATIONS ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 1723 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–
H. R. 7776—487 
283; 10 U.S.C. 394 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections: 
‘‘(e) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than May 1, 2023, the Com-
manding Officer of Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees an independent 
review of the study under subsection (a). The review shall include, 
at a minimum, evaluations of— 
‘‘(1) the value of the study to the Navy Cyber Warfare 
Development Group and to the Navy; 
‘‘(2) any recommendations not considered or included as 
part of the study; 
‘‘(3) the implementation of subsection (b); and 
‘‘(4) other matters as determined by the Commanding 
Officer. 
‘‘(f) UPDATE TO CONGRESS.—Not later than July 1, 2023, the 
Secretaries of the military departments and the Assistant Secretary 
of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on activi-
ties taken during the period following the date of the briefing 
provided under subsection (d), including an examination of estab-
lishing Tailored Cyberspace Operations Organizations and use of 
the authority provided pursuant to subsection (c). 
‘‘(g) AIR FORCE ACTIONS.—Not later than July 1, 2023, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a review of the activities of the Navy Cyber Warfare 
Development Group, including with respect to the authorities of 
the Group. The review shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) An assessment of whether such authorities shall be 
conferred on the 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron of the 
Air Force. 
‘‘(2) A consideration of whether the 90th Cyberspace Oper-
ations Squadron should be designated a controlled tour, as 
defined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 1505. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT CENTER FOR CONSORTIUM 
OF UNIVERSITIES THAT ADVISE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
ON CYBERSECURITY MATTERS. 
Section 1659 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 391 note) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) SUPPORT CENTER.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a 
center to provide support to the consortium established under 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT.—The center established under 
paragraph (1) shall be composed of one or two universities, 
as the Secretary considers appropriate, that— 
‘‘(i) have been designated as centers of academic 
excellence by the Director of the National Security 
Agency or the Secretary of Homeland Security; and 
‘‘(ii) are eligible for access to classified information. 
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish in the 
Federal Register the process for selection of universities 
to serve as the center established under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the center established 
under paragraph (1) are as follows:
H. R. 7776—488 
‘‘(A) To promote the consortium established under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(B) To distribute on behalf of the Department requests 
for information or assistance to members of the consortium. 
‘‘(C) To collect and assemble responses from requests 
distributed under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) To provide additional administrative support for 
the consortium.’’. 
SEC. 1506. ALIGNMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CYBER INTER-
NATIONAL 
STRATEGY 
WITH 
NATIONAL 
DEFENSE 
STRATEGY 
AND 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
DEFENSE 
CYBER 
STRATEGY. 
(a) ALIGNMENT REQUIRED.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and in coordina-
tion with the commanders of the combatant commands and the 
Director of the Joint Staff, shall undertake efforts to align the 
cybersecurity cooperation enterprise of the Department of Defense 
and the cyberspace operational partnerships of the Department 
with— 
(1) the national defense strategy published in 2022 pursu-
ant to section 113(g) of title 10, United States Code; 
(2) the Cyber Strategy of the Department published during 
fiscal year 2023; and 
(3) the current International Cyberspace Security Coopera-
tion Guidance of the Department, as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The alignment efforts under subsection (a) 
shall include the following efforts within the Department of Defense: 
(1) Efforts to build the internal capacity of the Department 
to support international strategy policy engagements with allies 
and partners of the United States. 
(2) Efforts to coordinate and align cyberspace operations 
with foreign partners of the United States, including alignment 
between hunt-forward missions and other cyber international 
strategy activities conducted by the Department, including 
identification of processes, working groups, and methods to 
facilitate coordination between geographic combatant com-
mands and the United States Cyber Command. 
(3) Efforts to deliberately cultivate operational and intel-
ligence-sharing partnerships with key allies and partners of 
the United States to advance the cyberspace operations objec-
tives of the Department. 
(4) Efforts to identify key allied and partner networks, 
infrastructure, and systems that the Joint Force will rely upon 
for warfighting and to— 
(A) support the cybersecurity and cyber defense of 
those networks, infrastructure, and systems; 
(B) build partner capacity to actively defend those net-
works, infrastructure, and systems; 
(C) eradicate malicious cyber activity that has com-
promised those networks, infrastructure, and systems, such 
as when identified through hunt-forward operations; and 
(D) leverage the commercial and military cybersecurity 
technology and services of the United States to harden 
and defend those networks, infrastructure, and systems.
H. R. 7776—489 
(5) Efforts to secure the environments and networks of 
mission partners of the United States used to hold intelligence 
and information originated by the United States. 
(6) Prioritization schemas, funding requirements, and effi-
cacy metrics to drive cyberspace security investments in the 
tools, technologies, and capacity-building efforts that will have 
the greatest positive impact on the resilience and ability of 
the Department to execute its operational plans and achieve 
integrated deterrence. 
(c) ORGANIZATION.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy 
shall lead efforts to implement this section. In doing so, the Under 
Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State, the National 
Cyber Director, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation, to align plans and programs as appropriate. 
(d) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
once each fiscal year until September 30, 2025, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy shall provide to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a briefing on the implementation of this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) An overview of efforts undertaken pursuant to this 
section. 
(B) An accounting of all the security cooperation activi-
ties of the Department germane to cyberspace and changes 
made pursuant to implementation of this section. 
(C) A detailed schedule with target milestones and 
required expenditures for all planned activities related to 
the efforts described in subsection (b). 
(D) Interim and final metrics for building the cyber-
space security cooperation enterprise of the Department. 
(E) Identification of such additional funding, authori-
ties, and policies, as the Under Secretary determines may 
be required. 
(F) Such recommendations as the Under Secretary may 
have for legislative action to improve the effectiveness of 
cyberspace security cooperation of the Department with 
foreign partners and allies. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once 
each year thereafter until January 1, 2025, the Under Secretary 
of Defense for Policy shall submit to the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives a report summarizing the cyber inter-
national strategy activities of the Department, including within 
the cybersecurity cooperation enterprise of the Department and 
the cyber operational partnerships of the Department. 
SEC. 1507. ENHANCEMENT OF CYBERSPACE TRAINING AND SECURITY 
COOPERATION. 
(a) ENHANCED TRAINING.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Intelligence and Security and the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Policy, in coordination with the Commander of United States
H. R. 7776—490 
Cyber Command, the Director of the Defense Security Coopera-
tion Agency, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence 
Agency, shall develop enhanced guidance for and implement 
training on cyberspace security cooperation at the Defense Secu-
rity Cooperation University and the Joint Military Attache´ 
School. 
(2) TIMING.—The Under Secretaries shall develop the 
enhanced guidance and implement the training under para-
graph (1)— 
(A) by not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act with respect to the Joint Military 
Attache´ School; and 
(B) by not later than September 30, 2025, with respect 
to the Defense Security Cooperation University. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—The Under Secretaries shall ensure that 
the training on cyberspace security cooperation under para-
graph (1)— 
(A) is tailored to the trainees’ anticipated embassy 
role and functions; and 
(B) provides familiarity with— 
(i) the different purposes of cyberspace engage-
ments with partners and allies of the United States, 
including threat awareness, cybersecurity, mission 
assurance, and operations; 
(ii) the types of cyberspace security cooperation 
programs and activities available for partners and 
allies of the United States, including bilateral and 
multilateral cyberspace engagements, information and 
intelligence sharing, training, and exercises; 
(iii) the United States Cyber Command cyberspace 
operations with partners, including an overview of the 
Hunt Forward mission and process; 
(iv) the roles and responsibilities of the United 
States Cyber Command, the geographic combatant 
commands, and the Defense Security Cooperation 
Agency for cybersecurity cooperation within the 
Department of Defense; and 
(v) such other matters as the Under Secretaries, 
in coordination with the Commander of United States 
Cyber Command, consider appropriate. 
(4) REQUIREMENTS.—The baseline familiarization training 
developed under subsection (a) shall be a required element 
for all participants in the Defense Security Cooperation Univer-
sity, the Attache´ Training Program, and the Attache´ Staff 
Training Program of the Joint Military Attache´ School. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intel-
ligence and Security and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, 
in coordination with the Commander of the United States Cyber 
Command, the Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 
and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report on the requirements and considerations 
to implement enhanced training and coordination to advance cyber-
space security cooperation with foreign partners. The study may 
consider such areas as the following:
H. R. 7776—491 
(1) Sufficiency of the training provided in the Defense 
Security Cooperation University and the Joint Military Attache´ 
School. 
(2) 
Additional 
training 
requirements, 
familiarization 
requirements, or both such requirements necessary for officers 
assigned to particular locations or positions. 
(3) Areas for increased cooperation. 
(4) A plan for completing the activities required by sub-
section (a). 
(5) Additional resources required to complete such activi-
ties. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy submit the report under 
subsection (b), the Under Secretaries, in coordination with the 
Commander of the United States Cyber Command, the Director 
of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Director of 
the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall provide to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a briefing on the findings from the report on enhancing training 
and coordination to advance cyberspace security cooperation 
described in such subsection. Such briefing shall include a discus-
sion on the enhanced training meeting the elements under sub-
section (a)(3) and a plan for future updates and sustainment of 
such training. 
SEC. 
1508. 
MILITARY 
CYBERSECURITY 
COOPERATION 
WITH 
HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in concurrence 
with the Secretary of State and in coordination with the Commander 
of the United States Cyber Command and the Commander of the 
United States Central Command, shall seek to engage the Ministry 
of Defense of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the purpose 
of expanding cooperation of military cybersecurity activities. 
(b) COOPERATION EFFORTS.—In expanding the cooperation of 
military cybersecurity activities between the Department of Defense 
and the Ministry of Defense of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may carry out the 
following efforts: 
(1) Bilateral cybersecurity training activities and exercises. 
(2) Efforts to— 
(A) actively defend military networks, infrastructure, 
and systems; 
(B) eradicate malicious cyber activity that has com-
promised those networks, infrastructure, and systems; and 
(C) leverage United States commercial and military 
cybersecurity technology and services to harden and defend 
those networks, infrastructure, and systems. 
(3) Establishment of a regional cybersecurity center. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Secretary of State, shall provide to the 
appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the 
implementation of this section.
H. R. 7776—492 
(2) CONTENTS.—The briefing under paragraph (1) shall 
include the following: 
(A) An overview of efforts undertaken pursuant to this 
section. 
(B) A description of the feasibility and advisability 
of expanding the cooperation of military cybersecurity 
activities between the Department of Defense and the Min-
istry of Defense of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 
(C) Identification of any challenges and resources that 
need to be addressed so as to expand such cooperation. 
(D) Any other matter the Secretary determines rel-
evant. 
(d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 
1509. 
MANAGEMENT 
AND 
OVERSIGHT 
OF 
JOINT 
CYBER 
WARFIGHTING ARCHITECTURE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Commander of the United States Cyber Command, 
shall establish within the United States Cyber Command— 
(A) a program executive office; and 
(B) one or more subordinate program management 
offices under the program executive office. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The offices established pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) oversee, manage, and execute the Joint Cyber 
Warfighting Architecture; 
(B) oversee, manage, and execute the programs des-
ignated, or to be designated, as part of the Joint Cyber 
Warfighting Architecture; 
(C) conduct mission engineering, architecting, and 
design of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture system 
of systems, and any successor effort; 
(D) maintain a validated Joint Cyber Warfighting 
Architecture system of systems mission architecture, 
updated regularly to inform the current and future con-
stituent programs of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architec-
ture, and the continuous delivery pipelines of such pro-
grams; 
(E) ensure that the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architec-
ture component solution architectures align with and sup-
port the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture system of 
systems mission architecture; 
(F) support integration of mission-specific capabilities, 
including mission-specific data, analytics, defensive tools, 
offensive tools, and intelligence systems, acquired through 
non-Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture programs; and 
(G) carry out any other responsibilities determined 
appropriate by the Secretary of Defense, including the 
acquisition of cyber operations capabilities beyond the Joint 
Cyber Warfighting Architecture.
H. R. 7776—494 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Commander of the United States 
Cyber Command, shall ensure that the offices established 
pursuant to subsection (a)(1) are appropriately staffed with 
expert talent, including from the following organizations, 
as appropriate: 
(i) The headquarters staff of the United States 
Cyber Command, the Cyber National Mission Force, 
the Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber, and the Cyber 
Mission Force. 
(ii) The Capabilities Directorate of the National 
Security Agency. 
(iii) The military departments. 
(iv) The Cyber Capabilities Support Office of the 
Air Force. 
(v) The Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency. 
(vi) The Strategic Capabilities Office. 
(vii) Research laboratories of the military depart-
ments. 
(viii) The Defense Information Systems Agency. 
(B) TECHNICAL TALENT.—In addition to the require-
ment under subparagraph (A), to support the permanent 
staffing of the offices established pursuant to subsection 
(a)(1), the Commander of the United States Cyber Com-
mand shall ensure that the offices deliberately hire and 
use technical talent resident in the defense industrial base, 
commercial technology industry, federally funded research 
and development centers, university affiliated research cen-
ters, and the rest of the Federal Government. 
(e) BUDGET EXECUTION CONTROL.—The Secretary shall provide 
to the United States Cyber Command the resources necessary to 
support the program executive office established under subsection 
(a)(1)(A) and the Commander of the United States Cyber Command 
shall exercise budget execution control over component programs 
of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture that are subject to 
the responsibilities assigned to the Commander by section 1507 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 
(Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 167b note). 
(f) CONSTELLATION PROGRAM.—The Director of the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency and the head of the program 
executive office established under subsection (a)(1)(A) shall plan 
and carry out the Constellation program by entering into trans-
actions under section 4021 of title 10, United States Code. In 
carrying out the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall establish 
an effective framework and pipeline system for maturing cyber 
operations-relevant technologies developed by the Agency, inte-
grating the technologies into Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture 
capabilities, and transitioning the technologies into operational use 
by the United States Cyber Command. 
(g) TRANSITION.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
the Commander of the United States Cyber Command, shall transi-
tion responsibilities for the management and execution of Joint 
Cyber Warfighting Architecture programs from the military depart-
ments to the offices established pursuant to subsection (a)(1) by 
the earlier of the following: 
(1) The date on which—
H. R. 7776—495 
(A) the offices are appropriately staffed and resourced; 
and 
(B) the Commander determines that the transition is 
appropriate. 
(2) The date that is five years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(h) REVIEW.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisi-
tion and Sustainment and the Commander of the United States 
Cyber Command, in coordination with the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Research and Engineering, the Principal Cyber Advisor 
of the Department of Defense, the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments, the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency, and the Director of the National Security Agency, shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees an integrated 
review of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture and all other 
capabilities required for the execution of the missions of the United 
States Cyber Command to determine the following: 
(1) The extent to which capabilities of the United States 
Cyber Command and the National Security Agency should be 
joint, mutually available, integrated, or interoperable. 
(2) Whether each of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architec-
ture capabilities has been effectively designed and architected 
to enable each of the missions of the United States Cyber 
Command. 
(3) How the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture will sup-
port defense of the Department of Defense Information Network 
and its relation to existing datasets, sensors, tools, firewalls, 
and capabilities deployed at each echelon of the Department 
of Defense Information Network. 
(4) What data, capabilities, and technologies external to 
the current Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture programs, 
as of the date of the review, should be acquired as part of 
the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture and under the control 
of the offices established pursuant to subsection (a)(1). 
(5) What mission-specific data, capabilities, and tech-
nologies external to the current Joint Cyber Warfighting 
Architecture programs should integrate with or be interoperable 
with the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture system of sys-
tems. 
(6) The organization and staffing of such offices, including— 
(A) whether the program executive office should be 
responsible for overseeing the acquisition of the cyber oper-
ations capabilities of the United States Cyber Command 
generally or the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture 
specifically; 
(B) what subordinate program management offices 
should be established under the program executive office; 
(C) whether the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture 
programs should be consolidated within a single program 
management office; and 
(D) which personnel should be appointed to such offices 
pursuant to subsection (d)(1). 
(7) The timeline for the execution of the transition under 
subsection (g).
H. R. 7776—496 
(8) The acquisition strategy of the Department for procuring 
the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture and related capabili-
ties, including relevant enterprise strategic initiatives and con-
tracting strategies. 
(9) The responsibilities of the United States Cyber Com-
mand J2, J3, J5, J6, J8, and J9 in acquiring, authorizing, 
and managing cyber capabilities. 
(10) The physical locations of the offices established pursu-
ant to subsection (a)(1). 
(i) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 540 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Commander of the United 
States Cyber Command shall jointly provide to the congressional 
defense committees a briefing on the status of the implementation 
of this section. 
(j) REPEAL.—Section 1645 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 4571 
note prec.) is repealed. 
(k) JOINT CYBER WARFIGHTING ARCHITECTURE DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture’’ means 
the range of joint cyber warfighting systems and capabilities that 
support the full spectrum of military cyber operations, as designated 
by the Commander of the United States Cyber Command, and 
includes any such successor effort. 
SEC. 1510. INTEGRATED NON-KINETIC FORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) FORCE DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
forces, capabilities, and information support to enable the 
delivery of non-kinetic effects that provide increased surviv-
ability and effectiveness of military forces within a defense 
planning scenario. 
(2) FORCE PLANNING.—To support the development of the 
forces, capabilities, and information support under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall establish a force planning activity to 
identify and define the relevant forces, capabilities, and 
information support required to develop and deliver non-kinetic 
effects within a defense planning scenario. The Secretary shall 
ensure that the force planning activity identifies— 
(A) desired operational effects within such scenario; 
(B) the gaps that limit the ability to access important 
targets, the development of capabilities, the conduct of 
mission planning, and the execution of operations to deliver 
such effects; 
(C) the collection systems, analytic expertise and 
capacity, analytic tools and processes, foreign materiel, and 
product lines required to support development and delivery 
of such effects; 
(D) the forces required to deliver such effects, including 
associated 
doctrine, 
training, 
expertise, 
organization, 
authorities, and command and control arrangements; and 
(E) the cyber, electronic warfare, sensing, and commu-
nications capabilities, and delivery platforms and mecha-
nisms, required to achieve such effects and the extent 
to which such capabilities, platforms, and mechanisms 
should be integrated with each other.
H. R. 7776—497 
(3) INITIAL ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE.—During an initial 
period of not less than 24 months, the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Research and Engineering shall organize the force 
planning activity established under paragraph (2). The Under 
Secretary shall designate a planning official from the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering to lead 
development and execution of the force planning activity, in 
coordination with staff designated by the Director of the Joint 
Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The designated planning 
official shall select a lead technical director. After such initial 
period, the Secretary may re-assign the force planning activity 
to another organization under different leadership. 
(4) PLAN FOR FOLLOW-ON ACTIVITIES.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan 
for follow-on activities regarding the delivery of non-kinetic 
effects described in paragraph (1). The Secretary shall ensure 
the plan— 
(A) includes the identification of dedicated resources 
to be controlled by the designated planning official 
described in paragraph (3) and an approach under which 
the planning official apportions such resources across the 
Department of Defense to establish, augment, and accel-
erate new and ongoing activities described in paragraph 
(1) and subsections (b), (c), and (d); and 
(B) identifies— 
(i) a dedicated program element for non-kinetic 
force development; 
(ii) the suitability of the mission management 
authorities established through the pilot program 
under section 871 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 
10 U.S.C. 191 note); 
(iii) the utility of using joint capability technology 
demonstrations to drive prototyping, experimentation, 
and technical integration of non-kinetic capabilities; 
(iv) how the Rapid Defense Experimentation 
Reserve might drive prototyping, experimentation, and 
technical integration of non-kinetic capabilities; and 
(v) alignment with other experimentation activities 
with the appropriate combatant commands. 
(5) IMPLEMENTATION.—During the initial period specified 
in paragraph (3), the designated planning official described 
in such paragraph shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense, to whom the official shall provide updates and 
recommendations not less frequently than quarterly. The Sec-
retary shall ensure that the force planning activity established 
under paragraph (2) is supported by representatives from the 
military services, relevant combatant commands, the Strategic 
Capabilities Office, the Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency, and other elements within the Department of Defense, 
as appropriate. 
(b) FORCES.—In order to generate the forces identified in sub-
section (a)(2)(D), the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) through the Secretaries of the military departments 
and the heads of other Department of Defense components,
H. R. 7776—498 
as appropriate, establish appropriate forces and accompanying 
doctrine, training, and tradecraft; 
(2) acting through the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, serving as the Chairman of the Joint Requirements 
Oversight Council, ensure that appropriate requirements exist 
to guide the development and fielding of forces and means 
to deliver non-kinetic effects within a defense planning scenario; 
(3) through the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, 
in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
and the combatant commands, establish appropriate command 
and control structures and relationships governing such forces; 
and 
(4) determine the appropriate responsibilities of— 
(A) Cyber Mission Force of the United States Cyber 
Command; 
(B) cyber, electronic warfare, and space forces provided 
to other combatant commands; and 
(C) other operational entities within the Department 
of Defense in delivering non-kinetic effects. 
(c) CAPABILITIES.—In order to develop the capabilities identified 
in subsection (a)(2)(E), the Secretary of Defense, acting through 
the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 
the Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, the Secretaries 
of the military departments, and the heads of other elements of 
the Department of Defense, shall develop the capabilities required 
for the delivery of non-kinetic effects within a defense planning 
scenario. 
(d) POLICY.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and in coordination with 
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall develop policy 
governing the delivery of non-kinetic effects within a defense plan-
ning scenario. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to 
the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of 
the implementation of this section. 
(f) NON-KINETIC EFFECTS DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘non-kinetic effects’’ means effects achieved through radio-frequency 
transmission of integrated cyber and electronic warfare techniques 
and other related and supporting technical measures. 
SEC. 1511. PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the event that the President determines 
that there is an active, systematic, and ongoing campaign of attacks 
in cyberspace by a foreign power against the Government or the 
critical infrastructure of the United States, the President may 
authorize the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Commander 
of the United States Cyber Command, to conduct military cyber 
activities or operations pursuant to section 394 of title 10, United 
States Code, in foreign cyberspace to deter, safeguard, or defend 
against such attacks. 
(b) AFFIRMATION
OF SCOPE
OF CYBER ACTIVITIES
OR OPER-
ATIONS.—Congress affirms that the cyber activities or operations 
referred to in subsection (a), when appropriately authorized, shall 
be conducted consistent with section 394 of title 10, United States 
Code.
H. R. 7776—499 
(c) DEFINITION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning given that term 
in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 
2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). 
SEC. 1512. BUDGET DISPLAY FOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC MODERNIZATION 
ACTIVITIES FOR CERTAIN SYSTEMS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) DISPLAY REQUIRED.—Beginning with fiscal year 2024, and 
for each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall include 
with the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in 
support of the budget of the Department of Defense for that fiscal 
year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) a consolidated cryptographic 
modernization budget justification display for each Department of 
Defense system or asset that is protected by cryptography and 
subject to certification by the National Security Agency (in this 
section, referred to as ‘‘covered items’’). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each display included under subsection (a) for 
a fiscal year shall include the following: 
(1) 
CRYPTOGRAPHIC
MODERNIZATION
ACTIVITIES.—(A) 
Whether, in accordance with the schedule established under 
section 153(a) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 
116–283; 10 U.S.C. 142 note), the cryptographic modernization 
for each covered item is pending, in progress, complete, or, 
pursuant to paragraph (2) of such section, extended. 
(B) The funding required for the covered fiscal year and 
for each subsequent fiscal year of the Future Years Defense 
Program to complete the pending or in progress cryptographic 
modernization by the required replacement date of each covered 
item. 
(C)(i) A description of deviations between the funding 
annually required to complete the modernization prior to the 
required replacement date and the funding requested and 
planned within the Future Years Defense Program. 
(ii) An explanation— 
(I) justifying the deviations; and 
(II) of whether or how any delays resulting from a 
deviation shall be overcome to meet the required replace-
ment date. 
(D) A description of operational or security risks resulting 
from each deviation from the modernization schedule required 
to meet replacement dates, including a current intelligence 
assessment of adversary progress on exploiting the covered 
item. 
(E) For any covered item that remains in service past 
its required replacement date, a description of the number 
of times the covered item has been extended and the cir-
cumstances attending each such extension. 
(2) MITIGATION
ACTIVITIES
FOR
COVERED
ITEMS.—(A) 
Whether activities to mitigate the risks associated with pro-
jected failure to replace a covered item by the required replace-
ment date are planned, in progress, or complete. 
(B) The funding required for the covered fiscal year and 
for each subsequent fiscal year for required mitigation activities
H. R. 7776—500 
to complete any planned, pending, or in progress mitigation 
activities for a covered item. 
(C) A description of the activities planned in the covered 
fiscal year and each subsequent fiscal year to complete mitiga-
tion activities and an explanation of the efficacy of the mitiga-
tions. 
(c) FORM.—The display required by subsection (a) shall be 
included in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 
SEC. 1513. ESTABLISHING PROJECTS FOR DATA MANAGEMENT, ARTIFI-
CIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITY PROJECTS.—The Deputy Sec-
retary of Defense shall— 
(1) establish priority enterprise projects for data manage-
ment, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions for both busi-
ness efficiency and warfighting capabilities intended to accel-
erate decision advantage; and 
(2) assign responsibilities for execution and funding of the 
projects established under paragraph (1). 
(b) ACTIONS REQUIRED.—To ensure implementation of the pri-
ority projects of the Deputy Secretary of Defense under subsection 
(a), and to instill data science and technology as a core discipline 
in the Department of Defense, the Deputy Secretary shall— 
(1) hold the heads of components accountable for— 
(A) making their component’s data available for use 
pursuant to the memorandum of the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense dated May 5, 2021, and titled ‘‘Creating Data 
Advantage’’, in accordance with plans developed and 
approved by the head of the component and the Deputy 
Secretary; 
(B) developing, implementing, and reporting measur-
able actions to acquire, preserve, and grow the population 
of government and contractor personnel with expertise in 
data management, artificial intelligence, and digital solu-
tions; 
(C) making their components use data management 
practices, analytics processes, enterprise cloud computing 
environments, and operational test environments that are 
made available and specifically approved by the head of 
the component and the Deputy Secretary; 
(D) identifying and reporting on an annual basis for 
Deputy Secretary approval those ongoing programs and 
activities and new initiatives within their components to 
which the component head determines should be applied 
advanced analytics, digital technology, and artificial intel-
ligence; and 
(E) developing and implementing cybersecurity and 
artificial intelligence security solutions, including preventa-
tive and mitigative technical solutions, red team assess-
ments, to protect artificial intelligence systems, data, 
development processes, and applications from adversary 
actions; 
(2) require the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence 
Officer, in coordination with the heads of components, to 
develop and report on an actionable plan for the Deputy Sec-
retary to reform the technologies, policies, and processes used 
to support accreditation and authority to operate decisions to
H. R. 7776—501 
enable rapid deployment into operational environments of 
newly developed government, contractor, and commercial data 
management, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions soft-
ware; 
(3) require the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel 
and Readiness, in coordination with the Chief Digital and Artifi-
cial Intelligence Officer and heads of components to define 
and establish career paths, work roles, and occupational special-
ties for civilian and military personnel in the fields of data 
management, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions for 
the Deputy Secretary’s approval; and 
(4) establish a Departmental management reform goal for 
adoption and integration artificial intelligence or machine 
learning into business and warfighting processes, including the 
tracking of metrics, milestones, and initiatives to measure the 
progress of the Department in meeting that goal. 
(c) BRIEFINGS REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 
December 31, 2025, the Deputy Secretary shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on directives issued 
by the Deputy Secretary to implement the requirements of this 
section and the status of implementation actions. 
(d) COMPONENT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘compo-
nent’’ means a military department, a combatant command, or 
a Defense Agency of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 1514. OPERATIONAL TESTING FOR COMMERCIAL CYBERSECURITY 
CAPABILITIES. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION OF PLANS.—Not later than 
February 1, 2024, the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense and the Chief Information Officers of the military depart-
ments shall develop and submit plans described in subsection (b) 
to the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation who may approve 
the implementation of the plans pursuant to subsection (c). 
(b) PLANS DESCRIBED.—The plans described in this subsection 
are plans that— 
(1) ensure covered cybersecurity capabilities are appro-
priately tested, evaluated, and proven operationally effective, 
suitable, and survivable prior to operation on a Department 
of Defense network; and 
(2) specify how test results will be expeditiously provided 
to the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. 
(c) ASSESSMENT.—In reviewing the plans submitted under sub-
section (a), the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation shall 
conduct an assessment that includes consideration of the following: 
(1) Threat-realistic operational testing, including represent-
ative environments, variation of operational conditions, and 
inclusion of a realistic opposing force. 
(2) The use of Department of Defense cyber red teams, 
as well as any enabling contract language required to permit 
threat-representative red team assessments. 
(3) Collaboration with the personnel using the commercial 
cybersecurity capability regarding the results of the testing 
to improve operators’ ability to recognize and defend against 
cyberattacks.
H. R. 7776—502 
(4) The extent to which additional resources may be needed 
to remediate any shortfalls in capability to make the commer-
cial cybersecurity capability effective, suitable, and cyber 
survivable in an operational environment of the Department. 
(5) Identification of training requirements, and changes 
to training, sustainment practices, or concepts of operation 
or employment that may be needed to ensure the effectiveness, 
suitability, and cyber survivability of the commercial cybersecu-
rity capability. 
(d) POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.—Not later than February 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall issue such policies and guidance 
and prescribe such regulations as the Secretary determines nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than January 31, 2025, and not less 
frequently than annually thereafter until January 31, 2030, the 
Director shall include in each annual report required by section 
139(h) of title 10, United States Code, the following: 
(1) The status of the plans developed under subsection 
(a). 
(2) The number and type of test and evaluation events 
completed in the past year for such plans, disaggregated by 
component of the Department, and including resources devoted 
to each event. 
(3) The results from such test and evaluation events, 
including any resource shortfalls affecting the number of 
commercial cybersecurity capabilities that could be assessed. 
(4) A summary of identified categories of common gaps 
and shortfalls found during testing. 
(5) The extent to which entities responsible for developing 
and 
testing 
commercial 
cybersecurity 
capabilities 
have 
responded to recommendations made by the Director in an 
effort to gain favorable determinations. 
(6) Any identified lessons learned that would impact 
training, sustainment, or concepts of operation or employment 
decisions relating to the assessed commercial cybersecurity 
capabilities. 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered cybersecurity 
capabilities’’ means any of the following: 
(1) Commercial products (as defined in section 103 of title 
41, United States Code) acquired and deployed by the Depart-
ment of Defense to satisfy the cybersecurity requirements of 
one or more Department components. 
(2) Commercially available off-the-shelf items (as defined 
in section 104 of title 41, United States Code) acquired and 
deployed by the Department of Defense to satisfy the cybersecu-
rity requirements of one or more Department components. 
(3) Noncommercial items acquired through the Adaptive 
Acquisition Framework and deployed by the Department of 
Defense to satisfy the cybersecurity requirements of one or 
more Department components.
H. R. 7776—503 
Subtitle B—Information Operations 
SEC. 1521. REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY CHIEF OF MISSION OF MILITARY 
OPERATION IN THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT. 
Chapter 19 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
section 1551, is further amended by adding at the end the following 
new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning 
of such chapter accordingly): 
‘‘§ 399. Notifications relating to military operations in the 
information environment: requirement to notify 
Chief of Mission 
‘‘The Secretary may not authorize a military operation in the 
information environment under this title intended to cause an effect 
in a country unless the Secretary fully informs the chief of mission 
for that country under section 207 of the Foreign Service Act 
of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927) of the planned operation.’’. 
SEC. 1522. ASSESSMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE INFORMATION AND INFLUENCE OPERATIONS 
CONDUCTED THROUGH CYBERSPACE. 
(a) ASSESSMENT AND PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Principal Information Oper-
ations Advisor and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary 
of Defense shall complete both an assessment and an optimization 
plan for information and influence operations conducted through 
cyberspace. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) An inventory of the components of the Department 
of Defense conducting information and influence operations 
conducted through cyberspace. 
(2) An examination of sufficiency of resources allocated 
for information and influence operations conducted through 
cyberspace. 
(3) An evaluation of the command and control, oversight, 
and management of matters related to information and influ-
ence operations conducted through cyberspace across the Office 
of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff. 
(4) An evaluation of the existing execution, coordination, 
synchronization, deconfliction, and consultative procedures and 
mechanisms for information and influence operations conducted 
through cyberspace. 
(5) Any other matters determined relevant by the Principal 
Information Operations Advisor and the Principal Cyber 
Advisor to the Secretary of Defense. 
(c) OPTIMIZATION PLAN.—The optimization plan under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Actions that the Department will implement to improve 
the execution, coordination, synchronization, deconfliction, and 
consultative procedures and mechanisms for information and 
influence operations conducted through cyberspace. 
(2) An evaluation of potential organizational changes 
required to optimize information and influence operations con-
ducted through cyberspace.
H. R. 7776—504 
(3) Any other matters determined relevant by the Principal 
Information Operations Advisor and the Principal Cyber 
Advisor to the Secretary of Defense. 
(d) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 30 days after completing the 
assessment and optimization plan under subsection (a), the Prin-
cipal Information Operations Advisor and the Principal Cyber 
Advisor to the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congres-
sional defense committees a briefing on the assessment and plan. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the briefing is provided under subsection (d), the Secretary 
of Defense shall implement the optimization plan under subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 1523. JOINT INFORMATION OPERATIONS COURSE. 
(a) JOINT INFORMATION OPERATIONS COURSE.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall develop and provide to members of the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force a course to prepare 
the members to plan and conduct information operations in a joint 
environment pursuant to title 10, United States Code. Such course 
shall include— 
(1) standardized qualifications and procedures to enable 
the joint and synchronized employment of information-related 
capabilities in the information environment; 
(2) joint methods to implement information operations in 
a battlefield environment under any ground force chain of com-
mand; and 
(3) a curriculum covering applicable assets, core informa-
tion operations concepts, integration of effects with a specific 
focus on information-related effects, operational methodology, 
multi-dimensional targeting space, other information-related 
capabilities defined by governing policy, instruction, publica-
tions, and doctrine, and any other topics or areas determined 
necessary by the Secretary. 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF ONGOING EFFORTS.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the course under subsection (a) is developed in light 
of the information operations posture review, gap analysis, strategy 
update, and designation of a Joint Force Trainer, occurring as 
of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—Subsequent to the development of 
the course under subsection (a), on a semiannual basis through 
January 1, 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the course. Each report shall 
include, with respect to the period covered by the report— 
(1) the number of members described in subsection (a) 
who attended the course; and 
(2) an assessment of the value of the course in— 
(A) conducting joint operations in the information 
environment; and 
(B) the synchronized employment of information- 
related capabilities in the information environment. 
SEC. 1524. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN FUNDS UNTIL 
SUBMISSION OF JOINT LEXICON FOR TERMS RELATED 
TO INFORMATION OPERATIONS. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or 
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2023 for operation and 
maintenance, Defense-wide, and available for the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense for the travel of persons, not more than 75
H. R. 7776—505 
percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which 
the Secretary submits to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate the joint lexicon 
for terms related to information operations required by section 
1631(g)(1)(D) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 397 note). 
SEC. 1525. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS PENDING SUB-
MITTAL OF INFORMATION OPERATIONS STRATEGY AND 
POSTURE REVIEW. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or 
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2023 for operation and 
maintenance, Defense-wide, for the Office of the Secretary of 
Defense for the travel of persons, not more than 75 percent may 
be obligated or expended until the date that is 15 days after 
the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits to the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives the information operations strategy and posture review, 
including the designation of Information Operations Force Providers 
and Information Operations Joint Force Trainers for the Depart-
ment of Defense, as required by section 1631(g) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116– 
92; 10 U.S.C. 397 note). 
SEC. 1526. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN FUNDS UNTIL 
SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CYBERSE-
CURITY OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2023 for 
operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and available for the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, not more than 75 percent may 
be obligated or expended until the Deputy Secretary of Defense— 
(1) conducts the assessments under subsection (b); and 
(2) provides to the congressional defense committees the 
briefing under subsection (c). 
(b) ASSESSMENTS.—The Deputy Secretary shall conduct the fol-
lowing assessments: 
(1) An assessment of the framework for cybersecurity of 
the defense industrial base required by section 1648 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public 
Law 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 2224 note) to determine whether— 
(A) the current framework and plans for defense indus-
trial base cybersecurity are sufficient; and 
(B) alternative or additional courses of action should 
be considered or adopted, including— 
(i) establishing a secure software development 
environment in a cloud environment inside the cyberse-
curity perimeter of the Department for contractors to 
perform their development work; 
(ii) establishing a secure cloud environment 
through which contractors may access the data of the 
Department needed for their contract work; 
(iii) enabling contractors to access cybersecurity- 
as-a-service offerings, including cybersecurity services 
provided by the Department; 
(iv) limiting the amount of program information 
held at tiers of subcontractors to that which is nec-
essary for contract performance; and
H. R. 7776—506 
(v) mechanisms and processes to rationalize and 
integrate the many separately managed defense indus-
trial base cybersecurity programs and activities con-
ducted across the Department of Defense. 
(2) An assessment of past and future planned activities 
of the Department of Defense in furtherance of section 1724 
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 
10 U.S.C. 2224), including a detailed review of roles and respon-
sibilities, and supporting instructions and policy documents, 
for the Principal Cyber Advisor of the Department of Defense, 
the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, 
the 
Under 
Secretary 
of 
Defense 
for 
Acquisition 
and 
Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, 
and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). 
(c) BRIEFING.—The Deputy Secretary shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on the assessments 
conducted under subsection (b) and any decisions of and directions 
by the Deputy Secretary for improving the cybersecurity of the 
defense industrial base. 
Subtitle C—Personnel 
SEC. 1531. CYBER OPERATIONS-PECULIAR AWARDS. 
Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 1124 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1124a. Cyber operations-peculiar awards 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries 
of the military departments may authorize the payment of a cash 
award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition 
of, a member of the covered armed forces whose novel actions, 
invention, or technical achievement enables or ensures operational 
outcomes in or through cyberspace against threats to national secu-
rity. 
‘‘(b) ACTIONS DURING SERVICE.—An award under this section 
may be paid notwithstanding the member’s death, separation, or 
retirement from the covered armed forces. However, the novel 
action, invention, or technical achievement forming the basis for 
the award must have been made while the member was on active 
duty or in an active reserve status and not otherwise eligible 
for an award under chapter 45 of title 5. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENT.—Awards to, and expenses for the honorary rec-
ognition of, members of the covered armed forces under this section 
may be paid from— 
‘‘(1) the funds or appropriations available to the activity 
primarily benefiting from the novel action, invention, or tech-
nical achievement; or 
‘‘(2) the several funds or appropriations of the various 
activities benefiting from the novel action, invention, or tech-
nical achievement. 
‘‘(d) AMOUNTS.—The total amount of the award, or awards, 
made under this section for a novel action, invention, or technical 
achievement may not exceed $2,500, regardless of the number of 
persons who may be entitled to share therein.
H. R. 7776—507 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—Awards under this section shall be made 
under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense 
or by the Secretaries of the military departments. 
‘‘(f) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘covered armed forces’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, 
Marine Corps, and Space Force.’’. 
SEC. 1532. ESTABLISHMENT OF CYBER OPERATIONS DESIGNATOR AND 
RATING FOR THE NAVY. 
(a) MILITARY CAREER FIELD.— 
(1) OFFICERS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy, in 
coordination with the Chief of Naval Operations, shall establish 
a cyber warfare operations designator for officers (including 
an intended billet base, functions, and training pipeline), which 
shall be a separate designator from the cryptologic warfare 
officer designator. 
(2) ENLISTED.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with 
the Chief, shall establish a cyber warfare rating for enlisted 
personnel (including an intended billet base, functions, and 
training pipeline), which shall be a separate rating from the 
cryptologic technician enlisted rating. 
(3) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
Chief, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate an implementa-
tion plan to carry out paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(b) REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) DEADLINE.—Except as provided by paragraphs (2) and 
(3), the Secretary shall ensure that, beginning October 1, 2025, 
members of the Navy assigned to the cyber mission force shall 
be qualified with either the designator or rating established 
under subsection (a), as the case may be. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The requirement under paragraph (1) 
shall not apply to— 
(A) a member of the Navy who is assigned to the 
cyber mission force under orders issued before October 
1, 2025; or 
(B) a position whose primary function is the provision 
of intelligence, foreign language, or administrative support 
to the cyber mission force. 
(3) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive, on a case-by-case 
basis, the requirement under paragraph (1), except that the 
total number of such waivers made during a fiscal year may 
not exceed 10 percent of the total number of members of the 
Navy assigned to the cyber mission force (not counting members 
assigned to a position described in paragraph (2)(B)). 
(c) RESERVE MATTERS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with 
the Chief, shall direct the Chief of Navy Reserve to establish, 
and retain, a cadre of members of the Navy Reserve with the 
designator and rating established under subsection (a). 
(d) OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING.—The Secretary, 
in coordination with the Chief of Naval Operations and in consulta-
tion with the Commander of the United States Cyber Command, 
shall ensure that the designator established under subsection (a)(1)