H. R. 2670—207 
have the meanings given, respectively, in section 4324 of title 
10, United States Code. 
(5) PRODUCT SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘product support arrange-
ment’’ means a contract, task order, or any other type 
of agreement or arrangement, between the United States 
and a covered product support provider, for the perform-
ance of the functions described in subparagraph (B) with 
respect to— 
(i) a platform or information system operated by 
the United States and the covered nation of such cov-
ered product support provider; or 
(ii) a subsystem or components of such a platform 
or information system. 
(B) FUNCTIONS
DESCRIBED.—The functions described 
in this subparagraph, with respect to a platform, informa-
tion system, subsystem, or component described in subpara-
graph (A), are the following: 
(i) Performance-based logistics. 
(ii) Sustainment support. 
(iii) Contractor logistics support. 
(iv) Life-cycle product support. 
(v) Weapon system product support. 
(6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means the demonstra-
tion and prototyping program established under subsection (a). 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Defense. 
SEC. 843. SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR RAPID CONTRACTING FOR COM-
MANDERS OF COMBATANT COMMANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The commander of a combatant command, 
upon providing a written determination to a senior contracting 
official (as defined in section 1737 of title 10, United States Code), 
may request use of the special authorities described in subsection 
(b)— 
(1) in support of a contingency operation (as defined in 
section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code); 
(2) to facilitate the defense against or recovery from a 
cyber attack, nuclear attack, biological attack, chemical attack, 
or radiological attack against the United States; 
(3) in support of a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation 
(as the term is defined in section 3015(2) of title 10, United 
States Code); and 
(4) for purposes of protecting the national security interests 
of the United States during directed operations that are below 
the threshold of traditional armed conflict. 
(b) SPECIAL AUTHORITIES DESCRIBED.—The special authorities 
for contracting that may be used by the senior contracting official 
to rapidly respond to time-sensitive or unplanned emergency situa-
tions are as follows: 
(1) Procedures applicable to purchases below micro-pur-
chase threshold (described in section 1902 of title 41, United 
States Code), with respect to a single contracting action taken 
under subsection (a) for a contract to be awarded and per-
formed, or purchase to be made— 
(A) in the United States, with a value less than 
$15,000; or
H. R. 2670—208 
(B) outside the United States, with a value less than 
$25,000. 
(2) Simplified acquisition procedures (described in section 
1901 of title 41, United States Code), with respect to a single 
contracting action taken under subsection (a) for a contract 
to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made— 
(A) in the United States, with a value less than 
$750,000; or 
(B) outside the United States, with a value less than 
$1,500,000. 
(3) For simplified procedures for purchases under section 
3205 of title 10, United States Code, subsection (a)(2) of such 
section shall be applied by substituting ‘‘$10,000,000’’ for 
‘‘$5,000,000’’. 
(4) The property or service being procured may be treated 
as a commercial product or a commercial service for the purpose 
of carrying out the procurement. 
(c) DETERMINATION.—A written determination required under 
subsection (a)— 
(1) may include more than one requested action; 
(2) may be directed to more than one senior contracting 
official; and 
(3) shall include— 
(A) the rationale for the request in accordance with 
paragraphs (1) through (4) of such subsection; 
(B) a description of any special authority requested; 
and 
(C) an attestation that funds are available for such 
special authority. 
(d) SUNSET.—The authority under subsection (a) shall terminate 
on September 30, 2028. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than January 15, 2025, and 
annually thereafter for four years, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the use of the authority under 
this section for the fiscal year preceding the date of submission 
of the report. The report shall include a summary of each instance 
of the authority being used, including— 
(1) an identification of each commander submitting a 
request under subsection (a); 
(2) an identification of each senior contracting official 
responding to such request; and 
(3) the specific special authority requested, including an 
identification of the contractor that performed the contract 
and the value of the contract. 
Subtitle E—Industrial Base Matters 
SEC. 851. ADDITIONAL NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES FOR THE 
NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
Section 4811(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘services, supplies, and’’ before ‘‘materials’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘, including by reducing reliance on potential adversaries for
H. R. 2670—209 
such services, supplies, and materials to the maximum extent 
practicable’’. 
SEC. 852. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAM. 
Section 4902(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subpara-
graphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(3) by striking ‘‘Before providing assistance’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1) Before providing assistance’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) An agreement under this subsection may be a contract, 
cooperative agreement, or a partnership intermediary agreement.’’. 
SEC. 853. MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 4951 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘private, nonprofit 
organization’’ and inserting ‘‘nonprofit organization’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘business entity’ means a corporation, associa-
tion, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability 
partnership, consortia, not-for-profit, or other legal entity.’’. 
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Section 4954 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subpara-
graphs (A) and (B); 
(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Under’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall have the ability to waive or modify 
the percentages specified in paragraph (1), on a case-by-case basis, 
if the Secretary determines that it would be in the best interest 
of the program.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsections 
(d), (e), and (f) as subsections (c), (d), and (e); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (e), as redesignated by 
paragraph (2), the following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) WAIVER
OF GOVERNMENT COST SHARE RESTRICTION.—If 
the Secretary of Defense determines it to be in the best interests 
of the Federal Government, the Secretary may waive the restrictions 
on the percentage of eligible costs covered by the program under 
section (b). The Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a written justification for such determination.’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY
TO PROVIDE CERTAIN TYPES
OF TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE.—Section 4958(c) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) under clause 252.204–7012 of the Defense Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement, or any successor regulation, and on 
compliance with those requirements (and any successor require-
ments); and
H. R. 2670—210 
‘‘(4) under section 847 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 
1505), and on compliance with those requirements (and any 
such successor requirements).’’. 
SEC. 854. MODIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR EXPANSION ON 
THE PROHIBITION ON ACQUIRING CERTAIN METAL PROD-
UCTS. 
Section 844(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 
283; 134 Stat. 3766) is amended by striking ‘‘5 years’’ and inserting 
‘‘6 years’’. 
SEC. 855. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUP-
PORT AND SERVICES FOR WEAPONS SYSTEMS CONTRAC-
TORS. 
Section 883 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 4292 note prec.) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘seven-year pilot program’’ 
and inserting ‘‘eight-year pilot program’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘seven years’’ and inserting 
‘‘eight years’’. 
SEC. 856. PILOT PROGRAM TO ANALYZE AND MONITOR CERTAIN 
SUPPLY CHAINS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment shall establish and carry out a pilot 
program to analyze, map, and monitor supply chains for up to 
five covered weapons platforms, under which the Under Secretary 
shall— 
(1) identify impediments to production and opportunities 
to expand the production of components of such a covered 
weapons platform; 
(2) identify potential risks to and vulnerabilities of sup-
pliers for such covered weapons platforms and ways to mitigate 
such risks; and 
(3) identify critical suppliers for such covered weapons plat-
forms. 
(b) USE OF TOOLS.—The Under Secretary may use a combina-
tion of commercial tools and tools available to the Department 
of Defense to carry out the program established under this section, 
including artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to 
improve data analysis capabilities for such supply chains. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the 
date specified in subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report containing— 
(1) a list of the vulnerabilities of the supply chains for 
each covered weapons platform selected under subsection (a), 
categorized by severity of threat or risk to deployment of such 
a platform; 
(2) for each vulnerability, a description of such vulner-
ability, whether such vulnerability has been resolved, and, if 
resolved, the time from identification to resolution; and 
(3) an assessment of any efficiencies achieved by addressing 
impediments to the supply chain.
H. R. 2670—211 
(d) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out the pilot program 
under this section shall terminate on January 1, 2028. 
(e) COVERED WEAPONS PLATFORM DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered weapons platform’’ means any weapons platform 
identified in the reports submitted under section 1251(d)(1) of the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note). 
SEC. 857. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN 
TRANSACTIONS. 
The parties to a proposed merger or acquisition that will require 
a review by the Department of Defense who are required to file 
the notification and provide supplementary information to the 
Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission under 
section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a) shall concurrently 
provide such information to the Department of Defense during 
the waiting period under section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 
18a). 
Subtitle F—Small Business Matters 
SEC. 860. AMENDMENTS TO DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
RAPID INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
Section 4061 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘to enable and assist small 
businesses’’ after ‘‘merit-based program’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘fielding of technologies’’ and 
inserting ‘‘commercialization of various technologies, 
including critical technologies’’; and 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘capabilities developed through 
competitively awarded prototype agreements’’ after 
‘‘defense laboratories,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘support the integra-
tion of such products,’’ after ‘‘evaluation outcomes,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘primarily major 
defense acquisition programs, but also other’’ after ‘‘can-
didate proposals in support of’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘by each military 
department’’ and inserting ‘‘by each Office of Small Busi-
ness Programs of each military department’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ‘‘$3,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$6,000,000’’. 
SEC. 861. ANNUAL REPORTS REGARDING THE SBIR PROGRAM OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 279(a) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 
283; 134 Stat. 3507) is amended by striking ‘‘each fiscal years 
2021, 2022, and 2023’’ and replacing with ‘‘each fiscal year through 
fiscal year 2028’’. 
SEC. 862. PAYMENT OF SUBCONTRACTORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8(d)(13) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(13)) is amended—
H. R. 2670—212 
(1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ‘‘90 days’’ and 
inserting ‘‘30 days’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘contract shall’’ and inserting ‘‘con-
tract— 
‘‘(i) shall’’; 
(B) in clause (i), as so designated, by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) may enter or modify past performance 
information of the prime contractor in connection with 
the unjustified failure to make a full or timely payment 
to a subcontractor subject to this paragraph before 
or after close-out of the covered contract.’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (E)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (F)’’; 
(4) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph 
(F); and 
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: 
‘‘(E) COOPERATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Once a contracting officer deter-
mines, with respect to the past performance of a prime 
contractor, that there was an unjustified failure by 
the prime contractor on a covered contract to make 
a full or timely payment to a subcontractor covered 
by subparagraph (B) or (C), the prime contractor is 
required to cooperate with the contracting officer, who 
shall consult with the Director of Small Business Pro-
grams or the Director of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization acting pursuant to section 15(k)(6) 
and 
other 
representatives 
of 
the 
Government, 
regarding correcting and mitigating the unjustified 
failure to make a full or timely payment to a subcon-
tractor. 
‘‘(ii) DURATION.—The duty of cooperation under 
this subparagraph for a prime contractor described 
in clause (i) continues until the subcontractor is made 
whole or the determination of the contracting officer 
determination is no longer effective, and regardless 
of performance or close-out status of the covered con-
tract.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council proposed revisions to regula-
tions that the Administrator determines necessary to carry out 
the amendments made by this section. 
SEC. 863. INCREASE IN GOVERNMENTWIDE GOAL FOR PARTICIPATION 
IN FEDERAL CONTRACTS BY SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 
OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-DISABLED VET-
ERANS. 
Section 15(g)(1)(A)(ii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
644(g)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘3 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘5 percent’’. 
SEC. 864. ELIMINATING SELF-CERTIFICATION FOR SERVICE-DISABLED 
VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
H. R. 2670—213 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration. 
(2) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN; SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 
OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS.—The 
terms ‘‘small business concern’’ and ‘‘small business concerns 
owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans’’ have the 
meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 
(b) ELIMINATING SELF-CERTIFICATION IN PRIME CONTRACTING 
AND SUBCONTRACTING FOR SDVOSBS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each prime contract award and sub-
contract award that is counted for the purpose of meeting 
the goals for participation by small business concerns owned 
and controlled by service-disabled veterans in procurement con-
tracts for Federal agencies, as established in section 15(g)(2) 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(2)), shall be entered 
into with small business concerns certified by the Administrator 
as small business concerns owned and controlled by service- 
disabled veterans under section 36 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
657f). 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Paragraph (1) shall take effect on 
October 1 of the fiscal year beginning after the Administrator 
promulgates the regulations required under subsection (d). 
(c) PHASED APPROACH TO ELIMINATING SELF-CERTIFICATION FOR 
SDVOSBS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any small 
business concern that self-certified as a small business concern 
owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans may— 
(1) if the small business concern files a certification applica-
tion with the Administrator before the end of the 1-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, maintain 
such self-certification until the Administrator makes a deter-
mination with respect to such certification; and 
(2) if the small business concern does not file a certification 
application before the end of the 1-year period beginning on 
the date of enactment of this Act, lose, at the end of such 
1-year period, any self-certification of the small business con-
cern as a small business concern owned and controlled by 
service-disabled veterans. 
(d) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate regu-
lations to carry out this section. 
SEC. 865. CONSIDERATION OF THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF AFFILIATE 
COMPANIES OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. 
Not later than July 1, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall 
amend section 215.305 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Supple-
ment (or any successor regulation) to require that when small 
business concerns bid on Department of Defense contracts, the 
past performance evaluation and source selection processes shall 
consider, if relevant, the past performance information of affiliate 
companies of the small business concerns.
H. R. 2670—214 
Subtitle G—Other Matters 
SEC. 871. EXTENSION OF MISSION MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 871 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 191 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) 
by 
striking 
‘‘IN
GENERAL.—Except’’ 
and 
inserting the following: ‘‘IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) SELECTION.—Except’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) DELEGATION OF OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT.— 
The Deputy Secretary of Defense may delegate to one or 
more mission managers the responsibility to oversee the 
selected missions and provide mission management.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) IDENTIFICATION
OF
FUNDING.—For each mission 
selected under paragraph (1), the Deputy Secretary of Defense 
shall identify funding sources in detail in defense budget mate-
rials submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, United States Code, for the first year for which the selected 
mission is intended to be carried out. Such materials shall 
also include a description of each such selected mission and 
the proposed solution to achieve the goals of such mission.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph 
(G); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) assist the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the 
identification of funding that could contribute to the mis-
sion through existing authorized methods to realign, 
reprogram, or transfer funds; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘every six months 
thereafter until the date that is five years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘annually thereafter 
until September 30, 2028’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘terminate on the date 
that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act’’ 
and inserting ‘‘terminate on September 30, 2028’’. 
SEC. 872. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE CON-
TRACTING WITH EMPLOYEE-OWNED BUSINESSES. 
Section 874 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 3204 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and prescribe regu-
lations’’ after ‘‘establish a pilot program’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or for’’ after ‘‘services procured 
by’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or for’’ after ‘‘may be procured 
by’’; and
H. R. 2670—215 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘A qualified’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Each contract held by a qualified’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘expended on sub-
contracts, subject to such necessary and reasonable waivers’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘expended on subcontracts, 
except— 
‘‘(A) to the extent subcontracted amounts exceeding 
50 percent are subcontracted to other qualified businesses 
wholly-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; 
‘‘(B) in the case of contracts for products, to the extent 
subcontracted amounts exceeding 50 percent are for mate-
rials not available from another qualified business wholly- 
owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; or 
‘‘(C) pursuant to such necessary and reasonable 
waivers’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘five years after’’ and 
inserting ‘‘eight years after’’. 
SEC. 873. PROGRAM AND PROCESSES RELATING TO FOREIGN ACQUISI-
TION. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM FOR COMBATANT COMMAND USE OF DEFENSE 
ACQUISITION
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
ACCOUNT.—Each com-
mander of a geographic combatant command may use amounts 
from the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account 
established under section 1705 of title 10, United States Code, 
to hire not more than two members of the acquisition workforce 
(as defined in section 101 of such title) or contracting officers 
to advise the combatant command on the processes for foreign 
military sales authorized under chapter 2 of the Arms Export 
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761 et seq.) and the Department of Defense 
security cooperation processes under chapter 16 of title 10, United 
States Code, for the purpose of facilitating the effective implementa-
tion of such processes. 
(b) INDUSTRY DAY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2024, and not 
less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Defense shall conduct an event to be known as the ‘‘industry 
day’’— 
(A) to raise awareness and understanding among offi-
cials of foreign governments, covered embassy personnel, 
and representatives of the defense industrial base with 
respect to the role of the Department of Defense in imple-
menting the foreign military sales process and the Depart-
ment of Defense security cooperation process; and 
(B) to raise awareness— 
(i) within the private sector of the United States 
with respect to— 
(I) foreign demand for United States weapon 
systems; and 
(II) potential foreign industry partnering 
opportunities; and 
(ii) among officials of foreign governments and cov-
ered embassy personnel with respect to potential 
United States materiel solutions for capability needs. 
(2) FORMAT.—In conducting each industry day under para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Defense, to the extent practicable, 
shall seek to maximize participation by representatives of the
H. R. 2670—216 
defense industrial base and government officials while mini-
mizing cost, by— 
(A) ensuring that information provided at the industry 
day is unclassified; 
(B) making the industry day publicly accessible 
through teleconference or other virtual means; and 
(C) posting any supporting materials on a publicly 
accessible internet website. 
(3) COVERED EMBASSY PERSONNEL.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘‘covered embassy personnel’’ means personnel at United 
States diplomatic and consular posts and personnel of foreign 
missions located in the United States. 
(c) SENIOR-LEVEL INDUSTRY ADVISORY GROUP.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in coordination with representatives of the defense 
industrial base, shall establish or designate senior-level individuals 
working in the defense industrial base to serve on an advisory 
group for the purpose of focusing on the role of the Department 
of Defense in the foreign military sales process and the Department 
of Defense security cooperation process. Such advisory group shall 
terminate on the date specified in subsection (f). 
(d) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POINTS OF CONTACT FOR FOREIGN 
MILITARY SALES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Secretary of each 
military department shall each designate an individual to serve 
as a single point of contact— 
(A) to coordinate information and outreach on Depart-
ment of Defense implementation of the foreign military 
sales process; and 
(B) to respond to inquiries from representatives of the 
defense industrial base and partner countries. 
(2) POINTS OF CONTACT.—The Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Secretary of each 
military department shall each ensure that the contact informa-
tion for each individual designated under paragraph (1) is 
publicized at each industry day conducted under subsection 
(b) and disseminated among the members of the advisory group 
established under subsection (c). 
(3) TERMINATION.—The responsibilities of each individual 
designated under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date 
specified in subsection (f). 
(e) REGIONAL THEATER NEEDS FOR EXPORTABILITY.—Not later 
than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until the date specified 
in (f), the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment, in consultation with the commander of each 
geographic combatant command, the Director of Strategy, Plans, 
and Policy on the Joint Staff, each Secretary of a military depart-
ment, and the Secretary of State, shall provide to the Secretary 
of Defense a list of systems relating to research and development, 
procurement, or sustainment that would benefit from investment 
for exportability features in support of the security cooperation 
objectives of the regional theaters. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The requirements of and the authority under 
this section shall cease to have effect on December 31, 2028.
H. R. 2670—217 
SEC. 874. PILOT PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE PROGRESS PAYMENTS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment shall establish and implement a pilot 
program to incentivize contractor performance by paying covered 
contractors a progress payment rate that is up to 10 percent higher 
than the customary progress payment rate on a contract-by-contract 
basis. 
(b) INCENTIVE CRITERIA.—The Under Secretary shall develop 
and establish clear and measurable criteria for the payment to 
contractors of higher progress payments as described in subsection 
(a), including criteria for qualifying for such payments and the 
amount of such payments. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The Under Secretary shall apply the cri-
teria established under subsection (b) and any associated incentive 
on a contract-by-contract basis when determining whether to pay 
a contractor a higher progress payment under the pilot program 
established under subsection (a) and the amount of such payment. 
(d) PARTICIPATION VOLUNTARY.—Participation in the pilot pro-
gram established under subsection (a) shall be on a voluntary 
basis. 
(e) NOTICE AND COMMENT.—The Under Secretary shall issue 
the regulations implementing the pilot program established under 
subsection (a) and establishing the criteria required by subsection 
(b) after notice and an opportunity for public comment of not more 
than 30 days. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2024, and annually 
thereafter, the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report on the implementation and 
activities of the pilot program established under subsection (a), 
including a comprehensive list of contractors that received increased 
progress payments under the pilot program and the contracts with 
respect to which such increased progress payments were made. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED CONTRACTOR.—The term ‘‘covered contractor’’ 
means a contractor of the Department of Defense that is eligible 
for progress payments under section 3804 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(2) CUSTOMARY PROGRESS PAYMENT RATE.—The term ‘‘cus-
tomary progress payment rate’’ refers to the rate of progress 
payments provided for under section 3804 of title 10, United 
States Code, and payable in accordance with the applicable 
provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the 
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. 
(3) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means 
the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment. 
(h) SUNSET.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided by paragraph (2), 
the authority to carry out the pilot program established under 
subsection (a) shall terminate on January 1, 2029. 
(2) EXISTING CONTRACTS.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
a contractor that the Under Secretary determines under the 
pilot program established under subsection (a) shall be paid 
a higher progress payment under such pilot program with 
respect to a contract in effect as of the date described in 
paragraph (1) shall receive such higher progress payments until 
the earlier of—
H. R. 2670—218 
(A) the termination or expiration of the contract; or 
(B) the date on which the contractor becomes ineligible 
for progress payments or higher progress payments under 
such pilot program. 
SEC. 875. STUDY ON REDUCING BARRIERS TO ACQUISITION OF 
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, 
shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of— 
(1) establishing a default determination that products and 
services acquired by the Department of Defense are commercial 
and do not require commercial determination as provided under 
section 3456 of title 10, United States Code; 
(2) establishing a requirement for a product or service 
to be determined not to be a commercial product or service 
prior to the use of procedures other than procedures under 
part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and 
(3) mandating the use of commercial procedures under 
part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation unless a justifica-
tion for a determination that a product or service is not a 
commercial product or service is determined. 
(b) REPORT.—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 the findings of 
the study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include 
specific findings with relevant data and proposed recommendations, 
including any necessary and desirable modifications to applicable 
statute for any changes the Department seeks to make regarding 
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a). 
TITLE IX—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT 
Subtitle A—Office of the Secretary of Defense and Related Matters 
Sec. 901. Conforming amendments to carry out elimination of position of Chief 
Management Officer. 
Sec. 902. Modification of responsibilities of Director of Cost Assessment and Pro-
gram Evaluation. 
Sec. 903. Establishment of Office of Strategic Capital. 
Sec. 904. Establishment and assignment of roles and responsibilities for combined 
joint all-domain command and control in support of integrated joint 
warfighting. 
Sec. 905. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries to support Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. 
Subtitle B—Other Department of Defense Organization and Management Matters 
Sec. 911. Additional requirements under general policy for total force management. 
Sec. 912. Addition of College of International Security Affairs to National Defense 
University. 
Sec. 913. Codification of the Defense Innovation Unit. 
Sec. 914. Repeal of authority to appoint a Naval Research Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 915. Eligibility of members of Space Force for instruction at the Naval Post-
graduate School. 
Sec. 916. Membership of the Air Force Reserve Forces Policy Committee. 
Sec. 917. Modification of cross-functional team to address emerging threat relating 
to anomalous health incidents. 
Sec. 918. Technology release and foreign disclosure reform initiative. 
Sec. 919. Software-based capability to facilitate scheduling between the Depart-
ment of Defense and Congress. 
Sec. 920. Metrics to operationalize audit readiness.
H. R. 2670—219 
Sec. 921. Next generation business health metrics. 
Sec. 922. Independent assessment of defense business enterprise architecture. 
Sec. 923. Future force design of the Department of the Air Force. 
Sec. 924. Feasibility study on the consolidation or transfer of space functions of the 
National Guard to the Space Force. 
Subtitle A—Office of the Secretary of 
Defense and Related Matters 
SEC. 901. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO CARRY OUT ELIMINATION 
OF POSITION OF CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER. 
(a) REMOVAL OF REFERENCES TO CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER 
IN PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO PRECEDENCE.—Chapter 4 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 133a(c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, the Deputy Sec-
retary of Defense, and the Chief Management Officer of 
the Department of Defense’’ and inserting ‘‘and the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the Chief Manage-
ment Officer,’’; 
(2) in section 133b(c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the Chief Manage-
ment Officer of the Department of Defense,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the Chief Manage-
ment Officer,’’; 
(3) in section 137a(d), by striking ‘‘the Chief Management 
Officer of the Department of Defense,’’; and 
(4) in section 138(d), by striking ‘‘the Chief Management 
Officer of the Department of Defense,’’. 
(b) ASSIGNMENT OF PERIODIC REVIEW OF DEFENSE AGENCIES 
AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Section 
192(c) of such title is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the Chief 
Management Officer of the Department of Defense’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Secretary of Defense’’; and 
(B) in subparagraphs (B) and (C), by striking ‘‘the 
Chief Management Officer’’ and inserting ‘‘the Secretary’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the Chief Management 
Officer’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the Secretary’’. 
(c) ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL IMPROVE-
MENT AND AUDIT REMEDIATION TO UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
(COMPTROLLER).—Section 240b of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘The Chief Management 
Officer of the Department of Defense shall, in consultation 
with the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller),’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall, 
in consultation with the Performance Improvement Officer of 
the Department of Defense,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii), by striking ‘‘the Chief Manage-
ment Officer’’ and inserting ‘‘the Performance Improvement 
Officer’’. 
(d) REMOVAL OF CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER AS RECIPIENT 
OF
REPORTS
OF
AUDITS
BY
EXTERNAL
AUDITORS.—Section
H. R. 2670—220 
240d(d)(1)(A) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘and the Chief 
Management Officer of the Department of Defense’’. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATED 
TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT EXEMPTIONS.—Such title is fur-
ther amended— 
(1) in section 130e— 
(A) by striking subsection (d); 
(B) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as sub-
sections (d) and (e), respectively; and 
(C) in subsection (d), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, or the Secretary’s designee,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, through the Office of the Director 
of Administration and Management’’; and 
(2) in section 2254a— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); 
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c); 
and 
(C) in subsection (c), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, or the Secretary’s designee,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, through the Office of the Director 
of Administration and Management’’. 
(f) ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANNUAL REVIEW OF 
AGENCY
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
PORTFOLIO
TO
THE
CHIEF 
INFORMATION OFFICER.—Section 11319(d)(4) of title 40, United 
States Code, is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘the 
Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense (or any 
successor to such Officer), in consultation with the Chief Informa-
tion Officer, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment, and’’ and inserting ‘‘the Chief Information Officer 
of the Department of Defense, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and’’. 
(g) REMOVAL OF CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER AS REQUIRED 
COORDINATOR ON DEFENSE RESALE MATTERS.—Section 631(a) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public 
Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 2481 note) is amended by striking ‘‘, in 
coordination with the Chief Management Officer of the Department 
of Defense,’’. 
SEC. 902. MODIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTOR OF COST 
ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 139a of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, ensuring’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
ensuring’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, and assessing’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘economy’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (8), by inserting after ‘‘defense 
resources’’ the following: ‘‘, including the standardization 
of analytical methodologies and the establishment and 
maintenance of a centralized knowledge repository of phys-
ical attributes or other data for modeling and simulation 
purposes’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: 
‘‘(e) PROGRAM EVALUATION COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS CELL.—
H. R. 2670—221 
‘‘(1) Not later than June 1, 2024, the Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a team, to be known as the ‘Program Evaluation 
Competitive Analysis Cell’ (referred to in this subsection as 
the ‘Cell’), to critically assess the analytical methodologies, 
assumptions, and data used in key strategic and operational 
analyses conducted by the Director of Cost Assessment and 
Program Evaluation. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Defense shall— 
‘‘(A) designate an individual to serve as the head of 
the Cell; and 
‘‘(B) ensure that the Cell has a sufficient number of 
personnel to carry out the duties described in this sub-
section. 
‘‘(3) The Cell shall be independent of the Director of Cost 
Assessment and Program Evaluation. The head of the Cell 
shall report directly to the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(4)(A) Not less frequently than once every two years, the 
Cell shall conduct an alternative operational or strategic anal-
ysis of an analytical question identified by the Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff under subparagraph (B). In conducting 
such alternative analysis, the Cell shall use assumptions dif-
ferent from the assumptions used by the Director of Cost 
Assessment and Program Evaluation for the original analysis 
of such question. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of each alternative analysis required 
under subparagraph (A), at an appropriate time before the 
commencement of such analysis— 
‘‘(i) the Director of the Joint Staff shall submit to 
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a list of not 
fewer than three operational or strategic questions pre-
viously studied by the Director of Cost Assessment and 
Program Evaluation that could potentially serve as the 
basis of for such alternative analysis; and 
‘‘(ii) from such list, the Chairman shall select one ques-
tion to serve as the basis for such analysis. 
‘‘(f) INCLUSION OF RISK ESTIMATES IN CERTAIN SUBMISSIONS.— 
In any case in which the Director of Cost Assessment and Program 
Evaluation submits to the Secretary of Defense an analytical 
product that recommends not meeting or changing a requirement 
established by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, the 
Director shall include with such submission— 
‘‘(1) a risk assessment that assesses any risks of the rec-
ommended course of action with respect to the execution of 
operational plans and the long-term ability of the armed forces 
to meet the needs of combatant commanders (as determined 
by the Secretary of Defense); and 
‘‘(2) a risk estimate from the military service in question 
that assesses the risks described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1, 2024, and 
annually thereafter, the Director of Cost Assessment and Pro-
gram Evaluation shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on any strategic and operational analyses 
conducted under paragraphs (2), (3), (6), (7), or (8) of subsection 
(d). Each report shall include—
H. R. 2670—223 
(A) REGULAR MEMBERS.—The Analysis Working Group 
shall be composed of at least one representative from each 
of the following components of the Department of Defense: 
(i) The Office of the Director of Cost Assessment 
and Program Evaluation. 
(ii) The Directorate for Joint Force Development 
(J7) of the Joint Staff. 
(iii) The Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, 
and Assessment (J8) of the Joint Staff. 
(iv) The Office of the Secretary of Defense for 
Policy. 
(v) The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence 
Office. 
(B) OBSERVERS.—At least one representative from each 
of the following commands shall serve as observers of the 
Analysis Working Group: 
(i) The United States Indo-Pacific Command. 
(ii) The United States European Command. 
(iii) The United States Central Command. 
(4) DUTIES.—The Analysis Working Group shall— 
(A) establish clear priorities and standards to focus 
analysts on decision support; 
(B) improve transparency of methodologies, tools, and 
tradecraft across the analytic community, including testing 
and validation for new or emerging methodologies, tools, 
and tradecraft; 
(C) improve quality of and expand access to data, 
including evaluation of new data sets, or application of 
existing data sets in new or novel ways; 
(D) evolve the methodologies, tools, and tradecraft 
methods and tools used in strategic analysis; 
(E) resolve classified access and infrastructure chal-
lenges; 
(F) foster a workforce and organizations that are 
innovative, creative, and provide high-quality strategic 
decision support; and 
(G) carry out such other activities as the Secretary 
of Defense determines appropriate. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in subsection (b) or (c) 
shall be construed to interfere with the authority of the Chiefs 
of Staff of the Armed Forces to establish military requirements, 
performance requirements, and joint performance requirements, or 
the authority of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to vali-
date such requirements under section 181 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 903. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF STRATEGIC CAPITAL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Chapter 4 of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by section 241, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 149. Office of Strategic Capital 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Office of the Secretary 
of Defense an office to be known as the Office of Strategic Capital 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Office’). 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The Office shall be headed by a Director (in 
this section referred to as the ‘Director’), who shall be appointed
H. R. 2670—224 
by the Secretary from among employees in Senior Executive Service 
positions (as defined in section 3132 of title 5), or from outside 
the civil service who have successfully held equivalent positions. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Office shall— 
‘‘(1) develop, integrate, and implement capital investment 
strategies proven in the commercial sector to shape and scale 
investment in critical technologies and assets; 
‘‘(2) identify and prioritize promising critical technologies 
and assets that require capital assistance and have the poten-
tial to benefit the Department of Defense; and 
‘‘(3) make eligible investments in such technologies and 
assets, such as supply chain technologies not always supported 
through direct investment. 
‘‘(d) NON-FEDERAL
FUNDING
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CERTAIN 
INVESTMENTS.—In the case of an eligible investment made through 
a direct loan, not less than 80 percent of the total capital provided 
for the specific technology to be funded by the investment shall 
be derived from non-Federal sources as of the time of the invest-
ment. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘capital assistance’ means a loan, loan guar-
antee, or technical assistance. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘covered technology category’ means the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Advanced bulk materials. 
‘‘(B) Advanced manufacturing. 
‘‘(C) Autonomous mobile robots. 
‘‘(D) Battery storage. 
‘‘(E) Biochemicals. 
‘‘(F) Bioenergetics. 
‘‘(G) Biomass. 
‘‘(H) Cybersecurity. 
‘‘(I) Data fabric. 
‘‘(J) Decision science. 
‘‘(K) Edge computing. 
‘‘(L) External communication. 
‘‘(M) Hydrogen generation and storage. 
‘‘(N) Mesh networks. 
‘‘(O) Microelectronics assembly, testing, or packaging. 
‘‘(P) Microelectronics design and development. 
‘‘(Q) Microelectronics fabrication. 
‘‘(R) Microelectronics manufacturing equipment. 
‘‘(S) Microelectronics materials. 
‘‘(T) Nanomaterials and metamaterials. 
‘‘(U) Open RAN. 
‘‘(V) Optical communications. 
‘‘(W) Sensor hardware. 
‘‘(X) Solar. 
‘‘(Y) Space launch. 
‘‘(Z) Spacecraft. 
‘‘(AA) Space-enabled services and equipment. 
‘‘(BB) Synthetic biology. 
‘‘(CC) Quantum computing. 
‘‘(DD) Quantum security. 
‘‘(EE) Quantum sensing. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an individual;
H. R. 2670—225 
‘‘(B) a corporation; 
‘‘(C) a partnership, which may include a public-private 
partnership, limited partnership, or general partnership; 
‘‘(D) a joint venture; 
‘‘(E) a trust; 
‘‘(F) a State, including a political subdivision or any 
other instrumentality of a State; 
‘‘(G) a Tribal government or consortium of Tribal 
governments; 
‘‘(H) any other governmental entity or public agency 
in the United States, including a special purpose district 
or public authority, including a port authority; 
‘‘(I) a multi-State or multi-jurisdictional group of public 
entities; or 
‘‘(J) a strategic alliance among two or more entities 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (I). 
‘‘(4) The term ‘eligible investment’ means an investment, 
in the form of capital assistance provided to an eligible entity, 
for a technology that— 
‘‘(A) is in a covered technology category; and 
‘‘(B) is not a technology that solely has defense applica-
tions.’’. 
(b) PILOT
PROGRAM
ON
CAPITAL
ASSISTANCE
TO
SUPPORT 
DEFENSE INVESTMENT IN THE INDUSTRIAL BASE.— 
(1) CAPITAL
ASSISTANCE.—To the extent and in such 
amounts as specifically provided in advance in appropriations 
Acts for the purposes detailed in this subsection, the Secretary 
of Defense, acting through the Director of the Office of Strategic 
Capital (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’), may 
carry out a pilot program under this subsection to provide 
capital assistance to eligible entities for eligible investments 
to develop technologies that support the duties and elements 
of the Office and meet the needs of the Department of Defense. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCESS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking capital 
assistance for an eligible investment under this subsection 
shall submit to the Director an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Director may require. 
(B) SELECTION OF INVESTMENTS.—The Director shall 
establish criteria for selecting among eligible investments 
for which applications are submitted under subparagraph 
(A). The criteria shall include— 
(i) the extent to which an investment supports 
the national security or economic interests of the 
United States; 
(ii) the likelihood that capital assistance provided 
for an investment would enable the investment to pro-
ceed sooner than the investment would otherwise be 
able to proceed; and 
(iii) the creditworthiness of an investment. 
(3) CAPITAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES.—
H. R. 2670—226 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—To the extent and in such 
amounts as specifically provided in advance in appro-
priations Acts for the purposes detailed in this sub-
section, the Director may provide loans or loan guaran-
tees to finance or refinance the costs of an eligible 
investment selected pursuant to paragraph (2)(B). 
(ii) ADMINISTRATION OF LOANS.— 
(I) INTEREST RATE.— 
(aa) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided 
under item (bb), the interest rate on a loan 
provided under clause (i) shall be not less 
than the yield on marketable United States 
Treasury securities of a similar maturity to 
the maturity of the loan on the date of execu-
tion of the loan agreement. 
(bb) EXCEPTION.—The Director may waive 
the requirement under item (aa) with respect 
to an investment if the investment is deter-
mined by the Secretary of Defense to be vital 
to the national security of the United States. 
(cc) CRITERIA.—The Director shall estab-
lish separate and distinct criteria for interest 
rates for loan guarantees with private sector 
lending institutions. 
(II) FINAL MATURITY DATE.—The final maturity 
date of a loan provided under clause (i) shall be 
not later than 50 years after the date on which 
the loan was provided. 
(III) PREPAYMENT.—A loan provided under 
clause (i) may be paid earlier than is provided 
for under the loan agreement without a penalty. 
(IV) NONSUBORDINATION.— 
(aa) IN GENERAL.—A loan provided under 
clause (i) shall not be subordinated to the 
claims of any holder of investment obligations 
in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency, or liq-
uidation of the obligor. 
(bb) EXCEPTION.—The Director may waive 
the requirement under item (aa) with respect 
to the investment in order to mitigate risks 
to loan repayment. 
(V) SALE OF LOANS.—The Director may sell 
to another entity or reoffer into the capital markets 
a loan provided under clause (i) if the Director 
determines that the sale or reoffering can be made 
on favorable terms. 
(VI) LOAN GUARANTEES.—Any loan guarantee 
provided under clause (i) shall specify the percent-
age of the principal amount guaranteed. If the 
Secretary determines that the holder of a loan 
guaranteed by the Department of Defense defaults 
on the loan, the Director shall pay the holder 
as specified in the loan guarantee agreement. 
(VII) 
INVESTMENT-GRADE
RATING.—The 
Director shall establish a credit rating system to 
ensure a reasonable reassurance of repayment.
H. R. 2670—227 
The system may include use of existing credit 
rating agencies where appropriate. 
(VIII) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—Loans and 
loan guarantees provided under clause (i) shall 
be subject to such other terms and conditions and 
contain such other covenants, representations, 
warranties, and requirements (including require-
ments for audits) as the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
(IX) 
APPLICABILITY
OF
FEDERAL
CREDIT 
REFORM ACT OF 1990.—Loans and loan guarantees 
provided under clause (i) shall be subject to the 
requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act 
of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.). 
(B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Subject to appropriations 
Acts, the Director may provide technical assistance with 
respect to developing and financing investments to eligible 
entities seeking capital assistance for eligible investments 
and eligible entities receiving capital assistance under this 
subsection. 
(C) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
(i) AMOUNT OF CAPITAL ASSISTANCE.—To the extent 
and in such amounts as specifically provided in 
advance in appropriations Acts for the purposes 
detailed in this subsection, the Director shall provide 
to an eligible investment selected pursuant to para-
graph (2)(B) the amount of capital assistance necessary 
to carry out the investment. 
(ii) USE OF UNITED STATES DOLLARS.—All financial 
transactions conducted under this section shall be con-
ducted in United States dollars. 
(4) NON-FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.—The require-
ments of section 149(d) of title 10, United States Code (as 
added by subsection (a)) shall apply to eligible investments 
under this subsection. 
(5) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.— 
(A) CREDIT PROGRAM ACCOUNT.— 
(i) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States a Department of Defense 
Credit Program Account to make and guarantee loans 
under this subsection in accordance with section 502 
of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 
661a). 
(ii) FUNDING.—The Credit Program Account shall 
consist of amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations. 
(B) USE OF FUNDS.—To the extent and in such amounts 
as specifically provided in advance in appropriations Acts 
for the purposes detailed in this subsection, the Director 
is authorized to pay, from amounts in the Department 
of Defense Credit Program Account— 
(i) the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Federal 
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a), of loans 
and loan guarantees and other capital assistance; 
(ii) administrative expenses associated with activi-
ties under this section; 
(iii) project-specific transaction costs; and
H. R. 2670—228 
(iv) the cost of providing support authorized by 
this subsection. 
(6) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense may prescribe 
such regulations as the Secretary determines to be appropriate 
to carry out this subsection. 
(7) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than the first Monday in 
February of a fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees an annual report 
describing activities carried out pursuant to this subsection 
in the preceding fiscal year and the goals of the Department 
of Defense in accordance with this subsection for the next 
fiscal year. 
(8) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall notify the congressional defense committees not later than 
30 days after a use of loans, loan guarantees, or technical 
assistance under this subsection. 
(9) SUNSET.—The authorities provided under this sub-
section shall expire on October 1, 2028. 
(10) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘capital assistance’’ means loans, loan 
guarantees, or technical assistance provided under para-
graph (3). 
(B) The terms ‘‘eligible entity’’ and ‘‘eligible investment’’ 
have the meanings given those terms in section 149(e) 
of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection 
(a)). 
(C) The term ‘‘obligor’’ means a party that is primarily 
liable for payment of the principal of or interest on a 
loan. 
SEC. 904. ESTABLISHMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF ROLES AND RESPON-
SIBILITIES FOR COMBINED JOINT ALL-DOMAIN COMMAND 
AND CONTROL IN SUPPORT OF INTEGRATED JOINT 
WARFIGHTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish, 
and assign to appropriate components of the Office of the Secretary, 
roles and responsibilities relating to— 
(1) the development of combined joint all-domain command 
and control (commonly known as ‘‘CJADC2’’) capabilities in 
support of integrated joint warfighting; and 
(2) the delivery of such capabilities to the combatant com-
mands. 
(b) ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The roles and responsibil-
ities established and assigned under subsection (a) shall include, 
at a minimum, the following: 
(1) Identifying new technology and operational concepts 
for experimentation and prototyping for delivery to the Joint 
Force to address key operational challenges. 
(2) Providing technical support for the Joint Force in 
exploring and analyzing new combined joint all-domain com-
mand and control capabilities and operational concepts, 
including through advanced modeling and simulation. 
(3) Executing experimentation associated with such 
capabilities through the Rapid Defense Experimentation 
Reserve or another mechanism.
H. R. 2670—229 
(4) Enabling the acquisition of cross-domain, joint, and 
cross-system mission capabilities, including resourcing of modi-
fications necessary for integration and interoperability among 
mission components. 
(5) Ensuring the effectiveness of cross-domain, joint, and 
cross-system mission capabilities through analysis and testing. 
(6) Creating and operating a complete capability for soft-
ware development that allows for iterative, secure, and contin-
uous deployment of developmental, prototype, and operational 
tools and capabilities from multiple vendors to test networks 
and operational networks for combatant commanders to— 
(A) gain operational awareness, make decisions, and 
take actions; 
(B) integrate relevant data sources to support target 
selection, target prioritization, and weapon-target pairing; 
and 
(C) assign targets through networks, tools, and systems 
of the Armed Forces and combat support agencies. 
(c) INITIAL PRIORITIZATION.—In establishing an initial set of 
roles and responsibilities under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Defense shall prioritize the development and delivery of capabilities 
that meet the requirements of the United States Indo-Pacific Com-
mand. 
(d) BRIEFINGS REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
once every 180 days thereafter through December 31, 2026, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on— 
(1) any activities carried out in accordance with the roles 
and responsibilities under subsection (a); and 
(2) any plans associated with such roles and responsibil-
ities. 
SEC. 905. PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES TO SUPPORT 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR SPECIAL OPER-
ATIONS AND LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT. 
The Secretary of Defense may appoint two Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretaries to report to the Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict— 
(1) one of whom may be assigned to support the Assistant 
Secretary in the discharge of responsibilities specified in clause 
(i) of section 138(b)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code; and 
(2) one of whom may be assigned to support the Assistant 
Secretary in the discharge of responsibilities specified in clause 
(ii) of that section. 
Subtitle B—Other Department of Defense 
Organization and Management Matters 
SEC. 911. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER GENERAL POLICY FOR 
TOTAL FORCE MANAGEMENT. 
Section 129a(c)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure that the requirements determination, planning, 
programming, and budgeting conducted under this paragraph con-
siders all components of the total force (including active and reserve
H. R. 2670—230 
military, the civilian workforce, and contract support) in a holistic 
manner— 
‘‘(A) to avoid duplication of efforts and waste of 
resources attributable to a component working outside the 
scope of its responsibilities; and 
‘‘(B) to ensure that risk, cost, and mission validation 
and prioritization considerations are consistent with the 
national defense strategy.’’. 
SEC. 912. ADDITION OF COLLEGE OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 
AFFAIRS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY. 
Section 2165(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new para-
graph (6): 
‘‘(6) The College of International Security Affairs.’’. 
SEC. 913. CODIFICATION OF THE DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT. 
(a) CODIFICATION OF DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 303 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 4127. Defense innovation unit 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Department 
of Defense a Defense Innovation Unit (referred to in this section 
as the ‘Unit’). 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR
AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—There is a Director 
of the Unit who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense 
from among persons with substantial experience in innovation and 
commercial technology, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY
OF DIRECTOR.—The Director is the head of 
the Unit. The Director— 
‘‘(1) shall serve as a principal staff assistant to the Sec-
retary of Defense on matters within the responsibility of the 
Unit; 
‘‘(2) shall report directly to the Secretary without inter-
vening authority; and 
‘‘(3) may communicate views on matters within the respon-
sibility of the Unit directly to the Secretary without obtaining 
the approval or concurrence of any other official within the 
Department of Defense. 
‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Unit shall have the following 
responsibilities: 
‘‘(1) Seek out, identify, and support development of and 
experimentation with commercial technologies that have the 
potential to be implemented within the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(2) Accelerate the adoption or integration of commercial 
technologies within the Department of Defense to transform 
military capacity and capabilities. 
‘‘(3) Serve as the principal liaison between the Department 
of Defense and individuals and entities in the national security 
innovation base, including entrepreneurs, startups, commercial 
technology companies, and venture capital sources. 
‘‘(4) Carry out programs, projects, and other activities to 
strengthen the national security innovation base. 
‘‘(5) Coordinate and harmonize the activities of other 
organizations and elements of the Department of Defense on
H. R. 2670—231 
matters relating to commercial technologies, dual use tech-
nologies, and the innovation of such technologies. 
‘‘(6) Coordinate and advise efforts among elements of the 
Department of Defense on matters relating to the development, 
procurement, and fielding of nontraditional capabilities. 
‘‘(7) Coordinate with the Joint Staff and the commanders 
of the combatant commands to identify operational challenges 
that have the potential to be addressed through the use of 
nontraditional capabilities, including dual-use technologies, 
that are being developed and financed in the commercial sector. 
‘‘(8) Using funds made available to the Unit— 
‘‘(A) select projects to be carried out by one or more 
of the service-level innovation organizations; 
‘‘(B) allocate funds to service-level innovation organiza-
tions to carry out such projects; and 
‘‘(C) monitor the execution of such projects by the 
service-level innovation organizations. 
‘‘(9) Serve as the principal liaison between the Department 
of Defense, nontraditional defense contractors, investors in non-
traditional defense companies, and departments and agencies 
of the Federal Government pursing nontraditional capabilities 
similar to those pursued by the Department. 
‘‘(10) Lead engagement with industry, academia, and other 
nongovernment entities to develop— 
‘‘(A) domestic capacity with respect to innovative, 
commercial, and dual-use technologies and the use of non-
traditional defense contractors; and 
‘‘(B) the capacity of international allies and partners 
of the United States with respect to such technologies 
and the use of such contractors. 
‘‘(11) Carry out such other activities as the Secretary of 
Defense determines appropriate. 
‘‘(e) SUPPORT FOR MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) The Director shall identify and support multi-stake-
holder research and innovation partnerships that— 
‘‘(A) have the potential to generate technologies, proc-
esses, products, or other solutions that address national 
defense or security needs; and 
‘‘(B) have as an objective the technology transfer or 
commercialization of the work product generated by the 
partnership, which may include work product that incor-
porates 
Government-developed 
intellectual 
property 
licensed to the partnership in accordance with paragraph 
(3). 
‘‘(2) Support provided by the Director to a multi-stakeholder 
research and innovation partnership under this subsection may 
include— 
‘‘(A) providing funding or other resources to the part-
nership; 
‘‘(B) participating in the partnership; 
‘‘(C) providing technical and technological advice and 
guidance to the partnership; 
‘‘(D) suggesting and introducing other participants for 
inclusion in the partnership; 
‘‘(E) providing the partnership with insight into desired 
solutions for defense and security needs; and
H. R. 2670—232 
‘‘(F) such other forms of support as the Director deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) To the extent the Director determines appropriate, 
the Director shall seek to actively inform potential participants 
in multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships of 
the availability of Government-developed intellectual property 
that may be licensed to the partnership. 
‘‘(4) On an annual basis, the Director shall submit to the 
Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees 
a report on the activities, advances, outcomes, and work product 
of the multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships 
supported under this subsection. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘multi-stakeholder research and innovation 
partnership’ means a partnership composed of any combination 
of two or more of the following: 
‘‘(A) Universities, colleges, or other institutions of 
higher education with research and innovation capability. 
‘‘(B) Non-profit organizations that provide policy, 
research, outreach, operations, organizational, manage-
ment, testing, evaluation, technology transfer, legal, finan-
cial, or advocacy expertise. 
‘‘(C) For-profit commercial enterprises that may be pub-
licly or privately owned, early stage or mature, and incor-
porated or operating by another ownership structure. 
‘‘(D) Departments or agencies of the Federal Govern-
ment with expertise, operations, or resources related to 
the objectives of the multi-stakeholder research and innova-
tion partnership. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘nontraditional capability’ means a solution 
to an operational challenge that can significantly leverage 
commercial innovation or external capital with minimal depend-
encies on fielded systems. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘nontraditional defense contractor’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3014 of this title.’’. 
(2) MODIFICATION OF OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY.—Sec-
tion 4021 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘, the Defense 
Innovation Unit,’’ after ‘‘Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘and the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency’’ and inserting ‘‘, the 
Defense Innovation Unit, and the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency’’. 
(3) MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT CERTAIN 
PROTOTYPE PROJECTS.—Section 4022 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘the Director 
of the Defense Innovation Unit,’’ after ‘‘Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency,’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, the Defense 
Innovation Unit,’’ after ‘‘Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, Defense 
Innovation Unit,’’ after ‘‘Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency’’; and
H. R. 2670—233 
(B) in subsection (e)(1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (E) 
as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit;’’. 
(4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1766 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘as determined by 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and 
Engineering’’ and inserting ‘‘as determined by the Secretary 
of Defense’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(3), by striking ‘‘as directed by 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and 
Engineering’’ and inserting ‘‘as directed by the Secretary 
of Defense’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than the effective date 
specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall issue 
or modify any rules, regulations, policies, or other guidance 
necessary to implement the amendments made by subsection 
(a). 
(c) MANPOWER SUFFICIENCY EVALUATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall evaluate 
the staffing levels of the Defense Innovation Unit as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act to determine if the Unit 
is sufficiently staffed to achieve the responsibilities of the Unit 
under section 4127 of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a) of this section. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than the effective date specified 
in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report on the results of the evalua-
tion under paragraph (1). The report shall include a plan— 
(A) to address any staffing shortfalls identified as a 
part of the assessment; and 
(B) for funding any activities necessary to address such 
shortfalls. 
SEC. 914. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO APPOINT A NAVAL RESEARCH 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 8024 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed. 
SEC. 915. ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF SPACE FORCE FOR INSTRUC-
TION AT THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL. 
Section 8545 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘and Coast Guard’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Space Force, and Coast Guard’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘and Coast Guard’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Space Force, and Coast Guard’’. 
SEC. 916. MEMBERSHIP OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE FORCES POLICY 
COMMITTEE. 
Section 10305(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
H. R. 2670—234 
(1) by striking ‘‘consists of’’ and inserting ‘‘shall have voting 
members, who shall be’’ before ‘‘officers’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subpara-
graphs (A) through (C), respectively; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The committee’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) The committee shall have four nonvoting members, who 
shall be the Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force, the Air 
Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, and the Space Force. 
‘‘(B) A nonvoting member who cannot attend a meeting of 
the committee may designate a member in the grade of E–8 or 
E–9 to attend in their stead.’’. 
SEC. 917. MODIFICATION OF CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM TO ADDRESS 
EMERGING THREAT RELATING TO ANOMALOUS HEALTH 
INCIDENTS. 
Section 910 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 111 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘, including capabilities 
that plausibly could result in such incidents,’’ after ‘‘(as defined 
by the Secretary)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (1) through 
(3) and inserting the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) to investigate and carry out such other activities as 
may be necessary— 
‘‘(A) to identify anomalous health incidents; 
‘‘(B) to determine the causes and sources of such 
incidents, including identification of any individuals, enti-
ties, capabilities, or phenomena to which such incidents 
may plausibly be attributed; and 
‘‘(C) to understand how such incidents may be miti-
gated and treated; 
‘‘(2) to address the challenges posed by anomalous health 
incidents, including by coordinating research into— 
‘‘(A) non-kinetic capabilities that plausibly might result 
in such incidents, such as anti-personnel capabilities and 
directed energy capabilities; 
‘‘(B) the detection and mitigation of such capabilities; 
and 
‘‘(C) the development of countermeasures for such 
capabilities; 
‘‘(3) to integrate and deconflict the efforts of the Depart-
ment of Defense regarding anomalous health incidents with 
the efforts of other departments or agencies of the Federal 
Government regarding such incidents; and 
‘‘(4) to undertake any other efforts regarding non-kinetic 
threats to personnel and anomalous health incidents that the 
Secretary considers appropriate.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘in consultation with the 
Director of National Intelligence and’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘March 1, 2026’’ and inserting ‘‘March 
1, 2028’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘with respect to the efforts of the 
Department regarding anomalous health incidents’’ an 
inserting ‘‘on any activities carried out to fulfill the duties
H. R. 2670—235 
specified in subsection (b) since the date of the preceding 
briefing under this section’’. 
SEC. 918. TECHNOLOGY RELEASE AND FOREIGN DISCLOSURE REFORM 
INITIATIVE. 
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry out 
an initiative to reform and improve the policies, processes, 
and procedures applicable to technology release and foreign 
disclosure decisions by the Department of Defense. 
(2) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of such initiative shall be— 
(A) to develop recommendations for the continuous 
improvement of such policies, processes, and procedures 
within the Department and across other departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government involved in technology 
release and foreign disclosure decisions; 
(B) to increase efficiency and reduce timelines for the 
processing of such decisions; 
(C) to standardize, to the extent practicable, processes 
and information sharing systems applicable to such 
decisions; and 
(D) to provide for the continuous exchange of timely 
and relevant information among— 
(i) the principal organizations involved in tech-
nology release and foreign disclosure decisions; 
(ii) the broader acquisition and program executive 
officer communities; and 
(iii) interagency partners of the Department. 
(3) METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION.—For purposes of the ini-
tiative required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense 
may— 
(A) establish a new initiative; 
(B) modify an existing initiative of the Department 
of Defense; or 
(C) carry out the initiative through a combination of 
the approaches described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
(b) METRICS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In conjunction with the initiative required 
under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy 
shall develop metrics for the management of the technology 
release and foreign disclosure process to provide objective and 
subjective measures of performance and improve senior leader 
decision-making in the Department of Defense. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The metrics developed under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
(A) methods for tracking individual technology release 
and foreign disclosure decisions made by the Defense Tech-
nology Security Administration; 
(B) objectives and deadlines related to the completion 
of such decisions; and 
(C) a method of prioritizing among technology release 
and foreign disclosure requests that takes into account— 
(i) the importance of the request to the national 
security of the United States; and 
(ii) the risks associated with the release or disclo-
sure.
H. R. 2670—236 
(3) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than June 1, 2024, the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on the metrics 
developed under paragraph (1). 
(c) DESIGNATION OF POINTS OF CONTACT.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall establish 
or designate— 
(A) one position within the Office of the Under Sec-
retary 
to 
lead 
the 
development 
and 
oversee 
the 
implementation of technology release and foreign disclosure 
policies for the Department of Defense; and 
(B) one position within the Office to coordinate informa-
tion and outreach to relevant stakeholders on relevant 
Department of Defense technology release and foreign 
disclosure policies and to respond to inquiries from rep-
resentatives of the commercial defense industry and 
partner countries; and 
(2) each Secretary of a military department shall establish 
or designate— 
(A) one position within the department under the juris-
diction of such Secretary to lead the development and over-
see the implementation of technology release and foreign 
disclosure policies for that department; and 
(B) one position within such department to coordinate 
information and outreach to relevant stakeholders on rel-
evant Department of Defense technology release and for-
eign disclosure policies and to respond to inquiries from 
representatives of the commercial defense industry and 
partner countries. 
(d) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report that includes the following: 
(A) An assessment of the staffing levels of the organiza-
tions specified in paragraph (2). 
(B) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability 
of consolidating the functions and organizations of the 
Department of Defense involved in technology release and 
foreign disclosure decisions, including the organizations 
specified in paragraph (2). 
(C) A review of any statutes and regulations applicable 
to technology release and foreign disclosure, together with 
recommendations for any changes to such statutes and 
regulations. 
(D) A survey and description of the data and method-
ology used to assess operational risk, technology risk, and 
the effects of technology release and foreign disclosure 
decisions on the defense industrial base. 
(E) An assessment of the benefits of developing and 
implementing anticipatory policies for technology release 
and foreign disclosure that include standardized capability 
thresholds for countries and geopolitical regions, especially 
for emerging capabilities for partners and allies of the 
United States. 
(F) An assessment of the extent to which the lessons 
learned from technology release and foreign disclosure
H. R. 2670—237 
decisions made in support of the Ukraine conflict have 
been applied to broader processes. 
(2) ORGANIZATIONS SPECIFIED.—The organizations specified 
in this paragraph are— 
(A) the Defense Technology Security Administration; 
(B) the Low Observable/Counter Low Observable Tri- 
Service Committee; 
(C) the Executive Agent for Anti-Tamper; 
(D) the Communications Security Review and Advisory 
Board; and 
(E) the organizations responsible for technology release 
and foreign disclosure in each of the military departments. 
SEC. 919. SOFTWARE-BASED CAPABILITY TO FACILITATE SCHEDULING 
BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND CON-
GRESS. 
Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense 
shall seek to develop and implement a software-based capability 
to facilitate the mutual scheduling of engagements between the 
Department of Defense and the congressional defense committees. 
Such capability shall— 
(1) enable the automated transmission of scheduling data 
to and from the congressional defense committees; and 
(2) be compatible and interoperable with the information 
technology systems of such committees. 
SEC. 920. METRICS TO OPERATIONALIZE AUDIT READINESS. 
(a) METRICS REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop 
a set of metrics that reflect the Secretary’s audit remediation 
goals and metrics to measure progress made by the military 
departments with respect to such goals. 
(2) FFRDC SUPPORT.—The Secretary of Defense may enter 
into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded 
research and development center or university-affiliated 
research center to support the development of the metrics 
required under paragraph (1). 
(3) DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop and 
implement an initial set of metrics under paragraph (1) by 
not later than April 30, 2025. 
(b) LEADER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall 
evaluate means by which the metrics developed under sub-
section (a) can be used in the performance evaluation of general 
officers, flag officers, and employees of the military departments 
who are members of the Senior Executive Service. 
(2) BRIEFING
REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a briefing on the evaluation conducted under paragraph 
(1). The briefing shall include the following: 
(A) Identification of the general officer, flag officer, 
and Senior Executive Service positions in the military 
departments for which it would be appropriate to use the
H. R. 2670—238 
metrics developed under subsection (a) in support of the 
performance evaluation process. 
(B) Evaluations of available measures to reward or 
recognize superior or above-average performance with 
respect to such metrics. 
(C) Assessment of the potential value, and challenges, 
to integrating such measures into the annual performance 
evaluations for positions identified under subparagraph (A). 
(D) Any other issues the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
SEC. 921. NEXT GENERATION BUSINESS HEALTH METRICS. 
(a) METRICS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop 
an updated set of business health metrics to inform decision-making 
by senior leaders of the Department of Defense. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In developing the metrics required by sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) using the latest literature on performance measurement, 
determine what additional new metrics should be implemented, 
or current metrics should be adapted, to reduce output-based 
measures and emphasize objective, measurable indicators 
aligned to enduring strategic goals of the Department of 
Defense; 
(2) assess the current business processes of the Department 
and provide recommendations to align the metrics with avail-
able data sources to determine what gaps might exist in such 
processes; 
(3) ensure that data can be collected automatically and, 
on a long-term basis, in a manner that provides for longitudinal 
analysis; 
(4) link the metrics with the Strategic Management Plan 
and other performance documents guiding the Department; 
(5) identify any shortfalls in resources, data, training, 
policy, or law that could be an impediment to implementing 
the metrics; 
(6) revise leading and lagging indicators associated with 
each such metric to provide a benchmark against which to 
assess progress; 
(7) improve visualization of and comprehension for the 
use of the metrics in data-driven decision-making, including 
adoption of new policies and training as needed; 
(8) incorporate the ability to aggregate and disaggregate 
data to provide the ability to focus on functional, component- 
level metrics; and 
(9) increase standardization of the use and collection of 
business health metrics across the Department. 
(c) ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.—The Secretary of Defense may enter 
into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded research 
and development center or university-affiliated research center to 
support the development of the metrics required under subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 922. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF DEFENSE BUSINESS ENTER-
PRISE ARCHITECTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter 
into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded research 
and development center or a university affiliated research center
H. R. 2670—239 
to conduct an independent assessment of the defense business enter-
prise architecture developed under section 2222(e) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) An assessment of the effectiveness of the defense busi-
ness enterprise architecture as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act in providing an adequate and useful framework 
for planning, managing, and integrating the business systems 
of the Department of Defense. 
(2) A comparison of the defense business enterprise 
architecture with similar models in use by other government 
agencies in the United States, foreign governments, and major 
commercial entities, including an assessment of any lessons 
from such models that might be applied to the defense business 
enterprise architecture. 
(3) An assessment of the adequacy of the defense business 
enterprise architecture in informing business process re-
engineering and being sufficiently responsive to changes in 
business processes over time. 
(4) An identification of any shortfalls or implementation 
challenges in the utility of the defense business enterprise 
architecture. 
(5) Recommendations for replacement of the existing 
defense business enterprise architecture or for modifications 
to the existing architecture to make that architecture and the 
process for updating that architecture more effective and 
responsive to the business process needs of the Department. 
(c) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing 
on the status of the assessment required by subsection (a). 
(d) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than January 30, 2025, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the 
results of the assessment required by subsection (a). 
SEC. 923. FUTURE FORCE DESIGN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR 
FORCE. 
(a) FORCE DESIGN REQUIRED.—Not later than August 31, 2024, 
the Secretary of the Air Force shall develop a force design for 
the Air Force and Space Force projected through 2050. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The force design under subsection (a) shall 
address— 
(1) the concepts, capabilities, and structural elements 
(including size and form) of the Air Force and Space Force 
that are necessary to ensure those forces effectively execute 
their core functions through 2050 in support of the National 
Defense Strategy and the National Military Strategy; 
(2) force structure, including the development of capabilities 
(including platforms and systems) at the correct level of capacity 
to address the challenges outlined by the National Defense 
Strategy and the National Military Strategy; 
(3) force composition, including recruitment and develop-
ment of human capital, effective distribution of forces in the 
total force, and policies to increase career flexibility across 
the various components of the force;
H. R. 2670—240 
(4) organizational design, including development of poten-
tial models to increase agility and operational effectiveness 
across the Air Force and Space Force; and 
(5) such other matters as the Secretary of the Air Force 
determines to be relevant. 
(c) INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days after 
completion of the force design required under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall— 
(1) submit a summary of the force design to the congres-
sional defense committees; and 
(2) provide to the congressional defense committees a 
briefing on the force design. 
SEC. 924. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CONSOLIDATION OR TRANSFER 
OF SPACE FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO THE 
SPACE FORCE. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct 
a study to assess the feasibility and advisability of transferring 
all covered space functions of the National Guard to the Space 
Force. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) shall include 
the following: 
(1) An analysis and recommendations addressing, at a min-
imum, each of the following courses of action with respect 
to the covered space functions of the National Guard: 
(A) Maintaining the current model under which the 
Air National Guard has units and personnel performing 
such functions. 
(B) Transferring such functions, including units and 
personnel, to the Space Force. 
(C) The establishment of a new National Guard compo-
nent of the Space Force to perform such functions. 
(2) A cost-benefit analysis for each course of action 
addressed under paragraph (1). 
(3) An assessment any risks or benefits to the mission 
or readiness of the Space Force, including the ability of the 
Space Force to meet applicable objectives of the National 
Defense Strategy, that may be presented by transferring or 
consolidating units of the Air National Guard as described 
in paragraph (1). 
(c) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than February 1, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an interim 
briefing on the preliminary results of the study conducted under 
subsection (a). 
(d) FINAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2024, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on the final results of the study conducted under subsection 
(a), including the results of the study with respect to each 
element specified in subsection (b). 
(2) FORM OF REPORT.—The report required under paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
(e) COVERED SPACE FUNCTIONS
OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered space functions of
H. R. 2670—241 
the National Guard’’ means all units, personnel billets, equipment, 
and resources of the Air National Guard associated with the 
performance a space related function that is (as determined by 
the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Chief 
of Space Operations)— 
(1) a core space-related function of the Space Force; or 
(2) otherwise integral to the mission of the Space Force. 
TITLE X—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Financial Matters 
Sec. 1001. General transfer authority. 
Sec. 1002. Annual report on budget prioritization by Secretary of Defense and mili-
tary departments. 
Sec. 1003. Additional reporting requirements related to unfunded priorities of 
armed forces and combatant commands. 
Sec. 1004. Audit requirement for Department of Defense components. 
Sec. 1005. Requirement for unqualified opinion on Department of Defense financial 
statements. 
Subtitle B—Counterdrug Activities 
Sec. 1010. Enhanced support for counterdrug activities and activities to counter 
transnational organized crime. 
Sec. 1011. Modification of support for counterdrug activities and activities to 
counter transnational organized crime: increase in cap for small scale 
construction projects. 
Sec. 1012. Drug interdiction and counter-drug activities. 
Sec. 1013. Disruption of fentanyl trafficking. 
Subtitle C—Naval Vessels and Shipyards 
Sec. 1015. Modifications to annual naval vessel construction plan. 
Sec. 1016. Critical components of national sea-based deterrence vessels. 
Sec. 1017. Grants for improvement of Navy ship repair or alterations capability. 
Sec. 1018. Repeal of obsolete provision of law regarding vessel nomenclature. 
Sec. 1019. Responsibility of Commandant of the Marine Corps with respect to naval 
battle force ship assessment and requirement reporting. 
Sec. 1020. Policy of the United States on shipbuilding defense industrial base. 
Sec. 1021. Prohibition on retirement of certain naval vessels. 
Sec. 1022. Authority to use incremental funding to enter into a contract for the ad-
vance procurement and construction of a San Antonio-class amphibious 
ship. 
Sec. 1023. Authority to use incremental funding to enter into a contract for the ad-
vance procurement and construction of a submarine tender. 
Sec. 1024. Biannual briefings on submarine readiness. 
Subtitle D—Counterterrorism 
Sec. 1031. Extension of prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release of indi-
viduals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, 
Cuba, to the United States. 
Sec. 1032. Extension of prohibition on use of funds to construct or modify facilities 
in the United States to house detainees transferred from United States 
Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
Sec. 1033. Extension of prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release of indi-
viduals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, 
Cuba, to certain countries. 
Sec. 1034. Extension of prohibition on use of funds to close or relinquish control of 
United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations 
Sec. 1041. Limitation on availability of certain funds until submission of Chair-
man’s Risk Assessment; briefing requirement. 
Sec. 1042. Assistance in support of Department of Defense accounting for missing 
United States Government personnel. 
Sec. 1043. Implementation of arrangements to build transparency, confidence, and 
security. 
Sec. 1044. Modification to definitions of Confucius Institute. 
Sec. 1045. Termination of authority to issue waiver of limitation on use of funds 
to institutions of higher education hosting Confucius Institutes.
H. R. 2670—242 
Sec. 1046. Vetting procedures and monitoring requirements for allies and partners 
participating in education or training activities in the United States. 
Sec. 1047. Authority to include funding requests for the chemical and biological de-
fense program in budget accounts of military departments. 
Sec. 1048. Limitation on availability of funds until delivery of report on next gen-
eration tactical communications. 
Sec. 1049. Establishment of procedure of the Department of Defense to determine 
certain complaints or requests regarding public displays or public ex-
pressions of religion on property of the Department. 
Sec. 1050. Limitation on availability of funds for destruction of landmines. 
Sec. 1051. Limitation on availability of funds for travel expenses of Office of the 
Secretary of Defense until submission of certain plans. 
Sec. 1052. Prohibition on display of unapproved flags. 
Sec. 1053. Collaboration with partner countries to develop and maintain military- 
wide transformational strategies for operational energy. 
Sec. 1054. Student loan deferment for dislocated military spouses. 
Subtitle F—Studies and Reports 
Sec. 1061. Modifications of reporting requirements. 
Sec. 1062. Extension of requirement to submit a report on Department of Defense 
support for Department of Homeland Security at the international bor-
ders of the United States. 
Sec. 1063. Briefing on Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency capabilities required 
to expand accounting for persons missing from designated past conflicts. 
Sec. 1064. Air Force plan for maintaining proficient aircrews in certain mission 
areas. 
Sec. 1065. Independent study on naval mine warfare. 
Sec. 1066. Annual report and briefing on implementation of Force Design 2030. 
Sec. 1067. Study and report on potential inclusion of black box data recorders in 
tactical vehicles. 
Sec. 1068. Plan on countering human trafficking. 
Sec. 1069. Update to strategic plan on Department of Defense combating trafficking 
in persons program. 
Sec. 1070. Report on use of tactical fighter aircraft for deployments and homeland 
defense missions. 
Sec. 1071. Report on equipping certain ground combat units with small unmanned 
aerial systems. 
Sec. 1072. Biannual briefings on homeland defense planning. 
Sec. 1073. Report on effectiveness of current use of United States Naval Station, 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 
Sec. 1074. Holistic training range assessment. 
Sec. 1075. Special operations force structure. 
Sec. 1076. Comprehensive assessment of Marine Corps Force Design 2030. 
Sec. 1077.
Assessment and recommendations relating to infrastructure, capacity, 
resources, and personnel on Guam. 
Sec. 1078. Feasibility study on conversion of Joint Task Force North into Joint 
Interagency Task Force North. 
Subtitle G—Other Matters 
Sec. 1080. Modification of definition of domestic source for title III of the Defense 
Production Act of 1950. 
Sec. 1081. Integrated and authenticated access to Department of Defense systems 
for certain congressional staff for oversight purposes. 
Sec. 1082. Modification of compensation for members of the Afghanistan War Com-
mission. 
Sec. 1083. Senate National Security Working Group. 
Sec. 1084. Tribal liaisons at military installations. 
Sec. 1085. Commercial integration cell plan within certain combatant commands. 
Sec. 1086. Guidance for use of unmanned aircraft systems by National Guard. 
Sec. 1087. Public disclosure of Afghanistan war records. 
Sec. 1088. Implementation plan for Joint Concept for Competing. 
Sec. 1089. Notification of safety and security concerns at certain Department of De-
fense laboratories. 
Sec. 1090. Conduct of weather reconnaissance in the United States. 
Sec. 1091. Sense of Congress regarding authority of Secretary of Defense with re-
spect to irregular warfare. 
Sec. 1092. Red Hill health impacts. 
Subtitle A—Financial Matters 
SEC. 1001. GENERAL TRANSFER AUTHORITY. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER AUTHORIZATIONS.—
H. R. 2670—243 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Upon determination by the Secretary of 
Defense that such action is necessary in the national interest, 
the Secretary may transfer amounts of authorizations made 
available to the Department of Defense in this division for 
fiscal year 2024 between any such authorizations for that fiscal 
year (or any subdivisions thereof). Amounts of authorizations 
so transferred shall be merged with and be available for the 
same purposes as the authorization to which transferred. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), the 
total amount of authorizations that the Secretary may transfer 
under 
the 
authority 
of 
this 
section 
may 
not 
exceed 
$6,000,000,000. 
(3) EXCEPTION
FOR
TRANSFERS
BETWEEN
MILITARY
PER-
SONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS.—A transfer of funds between military 
personnel authorizations under title IV shall not be counted 
toward the dollar limitation in paragraph (2). 
(b) LIMITATIONS.—The authority provided by subsection (a) to 
transfer authorizations— 
(1) may only be used to provide authority for items that 
have a higher priority than the items from which authority 
is transferred; and 
(2) may not be used to provide authority for an item that 
has been denied authorization by Congress. 
(c) EFFECT
ON AUTHORIZATION AMOUNTS.—A transfer made 
from one account to another under the authority of this section 
shall be deemed to increase the amount authorized for the account 
to which the amount is transferred by an amount equal to the 
amount transferred. 
(d) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall promptly notify 
Congress of each transfer made under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1002. ANNUAL REPORT ON BUDGET PRIORITIZATION BY SEC-
RETARY OF DEFENSE AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. 
Chapter 9 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 222d the following new section: 
‘‘§ 222e. 
Programs, 
projects, 
and 
activities 
that 
were 
internally changed in the submission of the Presi-
dent’s budget: annual report 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through 
the Secretaries of the military departments and the officers of 
Department of Defense agencies and offices not under the control 
of a Secretary of a military department, shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees each year, not later than 30 days after 
the submission of the budget of the President for the fiscal year 
beginning in such year under section 1105(a) of title 31, a report 
that includes organized tabulations of programs, projects, and activi-
ties in research, development, test, and evaluation, procurement, 
and military construction the total obligational authority for which 
was changed in the current budget year proposal compared to 
the prior-year projection for the current year. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The tabulations required under subsection (a) 
shall include, for each program, project, or activity that was 
internally changed, the following elements: 
‘‘(1) Whether the program, project, or activity was added, 
eliminated, or reduced and in which fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) The appropriations sub-account.
H. R. 2670—244 
‘‘(3) The appropriate program element, line item number, 
or sub-activity group. 
‘‘(4) The program, project, or activity name. 
‘‘(5) The prior year enacted appropriation. 
‘‘(6) The prior year projected current year budget. 
‘‘(7) The current year budget request. 
‘‘(8) If applicable, the amount reduced or saved by the 
current year elimination or reduction over the future years 
defense plan. 
‘‘(9) A characterization of the change as a fact-of-life change, 
a prioritization change, a programmatic change, or a change 
due to congressional action. 
‘‘(c) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in machine readable, electronic form.’’. 
SEC. 1003. ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO 
UNFUNDED PRIORITIES OF ARMED FORCES AND COMBAT-
ANT COMMANDS. 
Section 222a(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(E) The requirement to be addressed by the unfunded 
priority. 
‘‘(F) The reason why funding for the priority was not 
included in the budget of the President. 
‘‘(G) A description of any funding provided for the 
requirement for the current and preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(H) An assessment of the effect that providing funding 
for the priority would have on the future-years defense 
plan.’’. 
SEC. 1004. AUDIT REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
COMPONENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2024, and during each 
of the nine fiscal years thereafter, each component of the Depart-
ment of Defense shall be subject to an independent audit. Any 
such component that fails to be subject to such an audit during 
any fiscal year shall have 1.5 percent of unobligated amounts avail-
able for the component be cancelled and returned to the general 
fund of the Treasury for deficit reduction, except as provided in 
subsection (b). 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The following accounts are excluded from any 
reductions: 
(1) Military personnel, reserve personnel, and National 
Guard personnel accounts of the Department of Defense. 
(2) The Defense Health Program account of the Department 
of Defense. 
SEC. 1005. REQUIREMENT FOR UNQUALIFIED OPINION ON DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Department 
of Defense has received an unqualified opinion on the financial 
statements of the Department by not later than December 31, 
2028.
H. R. 2670—245 
Subtitle B—Counterdrug Activities 
SEC. 1010. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR COUNTERDRUG ACTIVITIES AND 
ACTIVITIES TO COUNTER TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED 
CRIME. 
Section 284(b)(9) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘linguist and intelligence analysis’’ and inserting ‘‘lin-
guist, intelligence analysis, and planning’’. 
SEC. 1011. MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT FOR COUNTERDRUG ACTIVI-
TIES AND ACTIVITIES TO COUNTER TRANSNATIONAL 
ORGANIZED CRIME: INCREASE IN CAP FOR SMALL SCALE 
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. 
Section 284(i)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘$750,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,000,000’’. 
SEC. 1012. DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTER-DRUG ACTIVITIES. 
Section 112(a)(3) of title 32, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$15,000’’. 
SEC. 1013. DISRUPTION OF FENTANYL TRAFFICKING. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGY TO COUNTER FENTANYL TRAF-
FICKING.— 
(1) STRATEGY.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General 
and in coordination with appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, 
and local law enforcement agencies, shall develop and submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to 
address threats to the national security of the United States 
caused or exacerbated by fentanyl trafficking. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The strategy required by paragraph (1) 
shall outline how the Secretary of Defense will— 
(A) leverage existing authorities regarding counterdrug 
and counter-transnational organized crime activities with 
a counter-fentanyl nexus to detect and monitor activities 
related to fentanyl trafficking; 
(B) leverage existing authorities, as appropriate, to 
support operations to counter fentanyl trafficking carried 
out by Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement 
agencies, or foreign security forces; 
(C) coordinate efforts of the Department of Defense 
for the detection and monitoring of aerial, maritime, and 
surface traffic suspected of carrying fentanyl bound for 
the United States, including efforts to unify the use of 
technology, surveillance, and related resources across air 
and maritime domains to counter fentanyl trafficking, 
including with respect to data collection, data processing, 
and integrating sensors across such domains, consistent 
with paragraphs (6) and (10) of section 284(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, and section 124 of title 10, United 
States Code; 
(D) provide Department of Defense-specific capabilities 
to support activities by the United States Government and 
foreign security forces to detect and monitor the trafficking 
of fentanyl and precursor chemicals used in fentanyl 
production, consistent with relevant existing law;
H. R. 2670—246 
(E) 
leverage 
existing 
counterdrug 
and 
counter- 
transnational organized crime programs of the Department 
to counter fentanyl trafficking; 
(F) assess existing training programs of the Depart-
ment and assess whether opportunities exist for the provi-
sion of training for Federal, State, Tribal, and local law 
enforcement agencies to counter fentanyl trafficking, con-
sistent with section 284(b)(5) of title 10, United States 
Code; 
(G) engage with foreign security forces to ensure the 
counterdrug and counter-transnational organized crime 
programs of the Department— 
(i) support efforts to counter fentanyl trafficking; 
and 
(ii) build capacity to interdict fentanyl in foreign 
countries, including programs to train security forces 
in partner countries to counter fentanyl trafficking, 
including countering illicit flows of fentanyl precursors, 
consistent with sections 284(c) and 333 of title 10, 
United States Code; 
(H) increase domain awareness to detect and monitor 
fentanyl trafficking through the North American Defense 
Ministerial and the bilateral defense working groups and 
bilateral military cooperation roundtables with Canada and 
Mexico; 
(I) evaluate existing policies, procedures, processes, 
resources, and existing joint interagency task forces focused 
on supporting the countering of fentanyl trafficking by 
Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, 
consistent 
with 
existing 
counterdrug 
and 
counter- 
transnational organized crime authorities; 
(J) describe any previous actions taken by the Depart-
ment of Defense in cyberspace to counter illegal activities 
by 
transnational 
criminal 
organizations 
that 
traffic 
fentanyl; and 
(K) assess the resources that the Secretary can deploy 
to counter transnational criminal organizations’ cyber 
activities. 
(3) FORM.—The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex. 
(4) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the submission 
of the strategy required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing 
on the strategy and plans for its implementation. 
(b) COOPERATION WITH MEXICO.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall seek to enhance cooperation with defense officials of the 
Government of Mexico to target, disrupt, and degrade transnational 
criminal organizations within Mexico that traffic fentanyl. 
(c) DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ 
means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives; 
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives;
H. R. 2670—247 
(4) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
(5) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and 
(6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
Subtitle C—Naval Vessels and Shipyards 
SEC. 1015. MODIFICATIONS TO ANNUAL NAVAL VESSEL CONSTRUC-
TION PLAN. 
Section 231 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘, together with the views of 
the Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the 
Marine Corps on the budget’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) The unaltered assessment of the Chief of Naval Oper-
ations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps of the plan 
required under paragraph (1).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) In developing annual naval vessel construction plans for 
purposes of subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of the Navy shall take 
into consideration the most recent biennial report on shipbuilder 
training and the defense industrial base required by section 8693 
of this title.’’. 
SEC. 1016. CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL SEA-BASED DETER-
RENCE VESSELS. 
Section 2218a(k)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(P) Major bulkheads and tanks. 
‘‘(Q) All major pumps and motors. 
‘‘(R) Large vertical array. 
‘‘(S) Atmosphere control equipment. 
‘‘(T) Diesel systems and components. 
‘‘(U) Hydraulic valves and components. 
‘‘(V) Bearings. 
‘‘(W) Major air and blow valves and components. 
‘‘(X) Decks and superstructure. 
‘‘(Y) Castings, forgings, and tank structure. 
‘‘(Z) Hatches and hull penetrators.’’. 
SEC. 1017. GRANTS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF NAVY SHIP REPAIR OR 
ALTERATIONS CAPABILITY. 
Chapter 131 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 2218a the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2219. Grants for improvement of Navy ship repair or alter-
ations capability 
‘‘(a) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—(1) Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Secretary of the Navy may make grants 
to an eligible entity for the purpose of carrying out— 
‘‘(A) a capital improvement project; or 
‘‘(B) a maritime training program designed to foster tech-
nical skills and operational productivity.
H. R. 2670—248 
‘‘(2) The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed 
75 percent of the total cost of the project or program funded by 
the grant. 
‘‘(3) A grant provided under this section may not be used 
to construct buildings or other physical facilities, except for piers, 
dry docks, and structures in support of piers and dry docks, or 
to acquire land. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary may not award a grant to an eligible entity 
under this section unless the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(A) the entity has access to sufficient non-Federal funding 
to meet the requirement under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) the entity has authority to carry out the proposed 
project; and 
‘‘(C) the project or program would improve— 
‘‘(i) efficiency, competitive operations, capability, or 
quality of United States Navy ship repair or alterations; 
or 
‘‘(ii) employee, or potential employee, skills and 
enhanced productivity related to United States Navy ship 
repair or alterations. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
an entity shall— 
‘‘(1) be a shipyard or other entity that provides ship repair 
or alteration for non-nuclear ships; 
‘‘(2) submit an application, at such time, in such form, 
and containing such information and assurances as the Sec-
retary may require, including a comprehensive description of— 
‘‘(A) the need for the project or program proposed to 
be funded under the grant; 
‘‘(B) the methodology to be used to implement the 
project or program; and 
‘‘(C) any existing programs or arrangements that could 
be used to supplement or leverage a grant provided under 
this section; and 
‘‘(3) enter into an agreement with the Secretary under 
which the entity agrees— 
‘‘(A) to complete the project or program funded by 
the grant within a certain timeframe and without 
unreasonable delay and the Secretary determines such 
project or program is likely to be completed within the 
timeframe provided in such agreement; 
‘‘(B) to return to the Secretary any amount of the 
grant that is— 
‘‘(i) not used by the grant recipient for the purpose 
for which the grant was awarded; or 
‘‘(ii) not obligated or expended within the time-
frame provided in the agreement; 
‘‘(C) to maintain such records as the Secretary may 
require and make such records available for review and 
audit by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(D) not to purchase any product or material for the 
project or program using grant funds, including any 
commercially available off-the-shelf item, unless such 
product or material is— 
‘‘(i) an unmanufactured article, material, or supply 
that has been mined or produced in the United States; 
or
H. R. 2670—249 
‘‘(ii) a manufactured article, material, or supply 
that has been manufactured in the United States 
substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies 
mined, produced, or manufactured in the United 
States. 
‘‘(c) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall issue guidelines to estab-
lish appropriate accounting, reporting, and review procedures to 
ensure that— 
‘‘(1) amounts awarded as grants under this section are 
used for the purposes for which such amounts were made 
available; and 
‘‘(2) an entity that receives a grant under this section 
complies with the terms of the agreement such entity enters 
into with the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(3). 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘commercially available off-the-shelf item’— 
‘‘(A) means any item of supply (including construction 
material) that is— 
‘‘(i) a commercial item, as defined by section 2.101 
of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024); and 
‘‘(ii) sold in substantial quantities in the commer-
cial marketplace; and 
‘‘(B) does not include bulk cargo, as defined in section 
40102(4) of title 46, such as agricultural products and 
petroleum products. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘product or material’, with respect to a project 
or program— 
‘‘(A) means an article, material, or supply brought to 
the site where the project or program is being carried 
out for incorporation into the project or program; and 
‘‘(B) includes an item brought to the site preassembled 
from articles, materials, or supplies. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘United States’ includes the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern 
Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin 
Islands.’’. 
SEC. 1018. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION OF LAW REGARDING 
VESSEL NOMENCLATURE. 
Section 8662 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b). 
SEC. 1019. RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS 
WITH RESPECT TO NAVAL BATTLE FORCE SHIP ASSESS-
MENT AND REQUIREMENT REPORTING. 
Section 8695(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AMPHIBIOUS 
WARFARE SHIPS’’ and inserting ‘‘RESPONSIBILITIES
OF COM-
MANDANT OF MARINE CORPS’’; and 
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘and for naval vessels with the primary mission of transporting 
Marines’’.
H. R. 2670—250 
SEC. 1020. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES ON SHIPBUILDING 
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
Section 1025(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 7291 note) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘United States’’ and all that follows and 
inserting ‘‘United States—’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) to have available, as soon as practicable, not fewer 
than 355 battle force ships, comprised of the optimal mix of 
platforms, with funding subject to the availability of appropria-
tions or other funds; and 
‘‘(2) that the United States shipbuilding defense industrial 
base is fundamental to achieving the shipbuilding requirements 
of the Navy and constitutes a unique national security impera-
tive that requires sustainment and support by the Navy and 
Congress.’’. 
SEC. 1021. PROHIBITION ON RETIREMENT OF CERTAIN NAVAL VES-
SELS. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
for fiscal year 2024 may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare 
to retire, or place in storage any of the following naval vessels: 
(1) USS Germantown (LSD 42). 
(2) USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). 
(3) USS Tortuga (LSD 46). 
(4) USS Shiloh (CG 67). 
SEC. 1022. AUTHORITY TO USE INCREMENTAL FUNDING TO ENTER 
INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE ADVANCE PROCUREMENT 
AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SAN ANTONIO-CLASS AMPHIB-
IOUS SHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available for the Navy for Shipbuilding 
and Conversion for any of fiscal years 2023 through 2025 may 
be used by the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an incrementally 
funded contract for the advance procurement and construction of 
a San Antonio-class amphibious ship. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—A contract entered into under 
subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States 
to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability 
of appropriations for that purpose, and that total liability to the 
Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited 
to the total amount of funding obligated at time of termination. 
SEC. 1023. AUTHORITY TO USE INCREMENTAL FUNDING TO ENTER 
INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE ADVANCE PROCUREMENT 
AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SUBMARINE TENDER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available for the Navy for Shipbuilding 
and Conversion for fiscal year 2024 may be used by the Secretary 
of the Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for 
the advance procurement and construction of a submarine tender. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—A contract entered into under 
subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States 
to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability 
of appropriations for that purpose, and that total liability to the
H. R. 2670—251 
Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited 
to the total amount of funding obligated at time of termination. 
SEC. 1024. BIANNUAL BRIEFINGS ON SUBMARINE READINESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and once every 180 days thereafter 
until September 30, 2026, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing on submarine 
maintenance and readiness. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing required under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An overview of submarine maintenance activities, 
including— 
(A) the original estimated schedule for completion of 
attack, ballistic, and guided missile submarine depot-level 
maintenance activities; 
(B) any adjustments made to such schedule; 
(C) in the case of any such adjustment— 
(i) the reason why the adjustment was necessary; 
and 
(ii) an identification of the new timeframe for 
completion and any additional costs, broken out by 
shipyard or private entity (by site), by name, and by 
type of submarine; 
(iii) a discussion of the reasons for the scheduling 
delays (manpower, parts, or other), including projec-
tions with respect to the availability of parts; 
(iv) a discussion of how the cannibalization of sub-
marines for parts affects the overall maintenance 
capacity and scheduling, as well as a discussion on 
how moving money from program to program during 
the year of execution affects the scheduling of mainte-
nance; and 
(v) a discussion of the efforts the Navy has taken 
to address the ongoing delays. 
(2) A discussion of ongoing Shipyard Infrastructure 
Optimization Program efforts and how such efforts affect depot- 
level maintenance activities for attack, ballistic, and guided 
missile submarines. 
(3) A discussion of how the Department of the Navy is 
applying lessons learned from other Navy programs to the 
submarine maintenance enterprise. 
(4) Recommendations for legislative changes required with 
respect to policies or resources to ensure efficient and effective 
maintenance and operational readiness for the submarine 
enterprise. 
Subtitle D—Counterterrorism 
SEC. 1031. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR 
TRANSFER OR RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AT 
UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, 
CUBA, TO THE UNITED STATES. 
Section 1033 of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 
Stat. 1953), as most recently amended by section 1031 of the James
H. R. 2670—252 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263), is further amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 
SEC. 1032. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO CON-
STRUCT OR MODIFY FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES 
TO HOUSE DETAINEES TRANSFERRED FROM UNITED 
STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. 
Section 1034(a) of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 
Stat. 1954), as most recently amended by section 1032 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263), is further amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 
SEC. 1033. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR 
TRANSFER OR RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AT 
UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, 
CUBA, TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES. 
Section 1035 of the John S. McCain National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 
Stat. 1954), as most recently amended by section 1033 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263), is further amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 
SEC. 1034. EXTENSION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO CLOSE 
OR RELINQUISH CONTROL OF UNITED STATES NAVAL 
STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. 
Section 1036 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 1551), as most 
recently amended by section 1034 of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117– 
263), is further amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2024’’. 
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous Authorities and 
Limitations 
SEC. 1041. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN FUNDS UNTIL 
SUBMISSION 
OF 
CHAIRMAN’S 
RISK 
ASSESSMENT; 
BRIEFING REQUIREMENT. 
(a) OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.— 
Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act for 
fiscal year 2024 for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and 
available for the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff for travel expenses, not more than 80 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 Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives the 
risk assessment mandated by paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of 
section 153 of title 10, United States Code, and required to be 
submitted pursuant to paragraph (3) of such subsection by not 
later than February 15, 2024. 
(b) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Of the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 2024 
for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and available for
H. R. 2670—253 
the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel expenses, not 
more than 80 percent may be obligated or expended until the 
date that is 15 days after the date on which the Secretary submits 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives the risk mitigation plan required to be submitted 
as part of the assessment referred to in subsection (a), if applicable. 
(c) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Section 153 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(d) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—(1) Not later than 15 days after 
the submission of the risk assessment required under subsection 
(b)(2) or March 1 of each even-numbered year, whichever is earlier, 
the Chairman shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on 
the activities of the Chairman under this section. 
‘‘(2) The briefing required under paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) a detailed review of the risk assessment required 
under paragraph (2) of subsection (b), including how such risk 
assessment addresses the elements required in subparagraph 
(B) of such paragraph; 
‘‘(B) an analysis of how the risk assessment informs and 
supports other Joint Staff assessments, including joint capa-
bility development assessments, joint force development assess-
ments, comprehensive joint readiness assessments, and global 
military integration assessments; and 
‘‘(C) if the risk assessment is not delivered at or before 
the time of the briefing, a timeline for when the risk assessment 
will be submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives.’’. 
SEC. 1042. ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
ACCOUNTING FOR MISSING UNITED STATES GOVERN-
MENT PERSONNEL. 
(a) MODIFICATION
OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 408 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Equipment and 
training of foreign personnel to assist in’’ and inserting 
‘‘Assistance in support of’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) Funds.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘LIMITATION’’ 
and inserting ‘‘LIMITATIONS’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), the’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘$1,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$5,000,000’’; 
and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may waive the limitation under paragraph 
(1) if the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees 
notice of the waiver together with the reasons why the waiver 
is necessary. 
‘‘(3) No assistance may be provided under this section to a 
foreign nation the government of which the Secretary of State 
determines has repeatedly provided support for international ter-
rorism pursuant to—
H. R. 2670—254 
‘‘(A) section 1754(c)(1)(A) of the Export Control Reform 
Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A)); 
‘‘(B) section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2371); or 
‘‘(C) section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
2780).’’; 
(4) by striking subsection (f); and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection 
(f): 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than December 31 of each 
year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the assistance provided under this 
section during the preceding fiscal year.’’. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than July 1, 2024, the Secretary of 
Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the provision 
of funds under section 408 of title 10, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a), and the anticipated demand for such 
funds. 
SEC. 1043. IMPLEMENTATION OF ARRANGEMENTS TO BUILD TRANS-
PARENCY, CONFIDENCE, AND SECURITY. 
Section 2241 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) IMPLEMENTATION OF VIENNA DOCUMENT 2011.—Amounts 
appropriated for operation and maintenance may be used by the 
Secretary of Defense for travel, transportation, and subsistence 
expenses for meetings and demonstrations hosted by the Depart-
ment of Defense for the implementation of the Vienna Document 
2011 on Confidence and Security-Building Measures.’’. 
SEC. 1044. MODIFICATION TO DEFINITIONS OF CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE. 
(a) LIMITATION ON PROVISION OF FUNDS TO INSTITUTIONS OF 
HIGHER EDUCATION.—Paragraph (1) of section 1062(d) of the Wil-
liam M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 2241) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE.—The term ‘Confucius Institute’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any program that receives funding or support 
from— 
‘‘(i) the Chinese International Education Founda-
tion; or 
‘‘(ii) the Center for Language Exchange Coopera-
tion of the Ministry of Education of the People’s 
Republic of China; or 
‘‘(B) any cultural institute funded by the Government 
of the People’s Republic of China.’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION OF FUNDS FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE INSTRUC-
TION.—Paragraph (2) of section 1091(d) of the of the John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1998) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE.—The term ‘Confucius Institute’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any program that receives funding or support 
from— 
‘‘(i) the Chinese International Education Founda-
tion; or
H. R. 2670—255 
‘‘(ii) the Center for Language Exchange Coopera-
tion of the Ministry of Education of the People’s 
Republic of China; or 
‘‘(B) any cultural institute funded by the Government 
of the People’s Republic of China.’’. 
SEC. 1045. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE WAIVER OF LIMITA-
TION ON USE OF FUNDS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION HOSTING CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES. 
Section 1062(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 
283; 10 U.S.C. 2241 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority to issue 
a waiver under paragraph (1) shall terminate on October 1, 
2026, and any waiver issued under such paragraph shall not 
apply on or after such date.’’. 
SEC. 1046. VETTING PROCEDURES AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 
FOR ALLIES AND PARTNERS PARTICIPATING IN EDU-
CATION OR TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) WAIVER BY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Subsection (a) of sec-
tion 1090 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 
U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) WAIVER.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, with the 
concurrence of the Secretary of State, and without delega-
tion, may waive the requirement to vet covered individuals 
under this section— 
‘‘(i) on a person-by-person basis, if the Secretary 
of Defense determines that the waiver is in the national 
security interests of the United States; or 
‘‘(ii) on a country-by-country basis, with respect 
to foreign nationals or other appropriate persons who 
hold a security clearance issued by that country, if 
the Secretary of Defense determines that the vetting 
procedures of the country are functionally equivalent 
to the vetting procedures of the United States for 
United States military personnel. 
‘‘(B) FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENCE.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence 
and Security and in consultation, as appropriate, with 
the Secretary of State, shall establish and submit to 
the congressional defense committees a definition of 
functional equivalence for purposes of making a deter-
mination under subparagraph (A)(ii). The Secretary 
of Defense shall notify the congressional defense 
committees of any subsequent modification the Sec-
retary makes to the definition. 
‘‘(ii) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct an assessment of the vetting procedures of 
a country prior to making a determination of functional 
equivalence under subparagraph (A)(ii). Such assess-
ment shall take into consideration any information
H. R. 2670—256 
about such procedures provided to the Secretary of 
Defense by the Secretary of State. 
‘‘(C) NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall submit a written notification to the congres-
sional defense committees not later than 48 hours after 
exercising the waiver authority under subparagraph (A), 
including a justification for the waiver and an assessment 
of the vetting procedures of a country, if appropriate.’’. 
(b) TYPE
OF ACCESS COVERED.—Subsections (a) through (c) 
of such section 1090 are further amended by striking ‘‘physical 
access’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘unescorted physical 
access’’. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—Subsection (e)(2) of such section 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) The term ‘covered individual’— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means 
a foreign national or other appropriate person who is— 
‘‘(i) seeking unescorted physical access to a Depart-
ment of Defense installation or facility within the 
United States; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) selected, nominated, or accepted for training 
or education for a period of more than 14 days occur-
ring on a Department of Defense installation or facility 
within the United States; or 
‘‘(II) an immediate family member accompanying 
a foreign national or other appropriate person who 
has been so selected, nominated, or accepted for such 
training or education; and 
‘‘(B) does not include a foreign national or other appro-
priate person of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the 
United Kingdom who holds a security clearance issued 
by the country of the foreign national and has provided 
the Department of Defense a certification of such clear-
ance.’’. 
(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.—Subsection (e)(4) of such 
section is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘means the parent’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘means a person who— 
‘‘(A) is the parent’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), as designated by subpara-
graph (A) of this paragraph, by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(B) has attained the age of 16 years old at the time 
that unescorted physical access is to begin.’’. 
(3) FOREIGN NATIONAL; OTHER APPROPRIATE PERSON.—Sec-
tion 1090(e) of such Act is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘foreign national’ means a person who is 
not a citizen or national of the United States or an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States 
under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
et seq.). 
‘‘(6) The term ‘other appropriate person’ means a person 
who is a citizen of both the United States and another country
H. R. 2670—257 
or who is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
in the United States, if such person intends to attend training 
or education on behalf of a foreign country.’’. 
(d) CLARIFYING AMENDMENT.—Such section is further amended 
by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Defense’’ in the following provisions: 
(1) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a). 
(2) Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 1047. AUTHORITY TO INCLUDE FUNDING REQUESTS FOR THE 
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE PROGRAM IN 
BUDGET ACCOUNTS OF MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. 
Section 1701(d)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103–160; 50 U.S.C. 1522(d)(2)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘may not be included in the budget accounts’’ 
and inserting ‘‘may be included in the budget accounts’’. 
SEC. 1048. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS UNTIL DELIVERY 
OF REPORT ON NEXT GENERATION TACTICAL COMMU-
NICATIONS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States 
Special Operations Command and the Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict shall 
jointly submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
on special operations forces tactical communications requirements 
and plans for addressing such requirements. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include each of the following: 
(1) A description of special operations forces tactical 
communications requirements. 
(2) An explanation of how funding provided in prior fiscal 
years, and the proposed funding for fiscal year 2024, has 
enhanced, and will continue to enhance, the fielding of tactical 
communications capabilities to special operations forces compo-
nents. 
(3) A description of deficiencies identified with the AN/ 
PRC-163 radio and a plan for addressing such deficiencies. 
(4) An update on the status of fielding of two-channel 
manpack and two-channel handheld radios to special operations 
forces, including an explanation for any special operations forces 
components or units that have requested, but not yet received, 
such radios. 
(5) An articulation of lessons learned from the prior testing 
and fielding of tactical communications capabilities to meet 
unique mission requirements of special operations forces compo-
nents. 
(6) An explanation of the approach of the United States 
Special Operations Command to ensuring that communications 
capabilities under the tactical communications program meet 
security and resiliency requirements mandated by section 168 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 
(Public Law 116–92). 
(7) Any other matter the Commander of United States 
Special Operations Command and the Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict 
determine relevant.
H. R. 2670—258 
(c) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2024 for the United States Special Operations Command 
for procurement of next generation tactical communications, not 
more than 90 percent may be obligated or expended until the 
Commander of United States Special Operations Command and 
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low 
Intensity Conflict submit to the congressional defense committees 
the report required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1049. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURE OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE TO DETERMINE CERTAIN COMPLAINTS OR 
REQUESTS REGARDING PUBLIC DISPLAYS OR PUBLIC 
EXPRESSIONS OF RELIGION ON PROPERTY OF THE 
DEPARTMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
regulations that establish the procedure for the timely determina-
tion of a covered complaint or request regarding a public display 
or public expression of religion on property of the Department 
of Defense. Such regulations shall ensure that— 
(1) the officer or official of the Department who receives 
such complaint or request forwards the covered complaint or 
request— 
(A) to the individual authorized to make a determina-
tion under subsection (b); and 
(B) not later than 10 days after such receipt; and 
(2) such individual— 
(A) makes such determination not later than 30 days 
after such individual receives such forwarded covered com-
plaint or request; and 
(B) timely notifies the individual or entity who made 
such covered complaint or request, and the officer or official 
of the Department who received such covered complaint 
or request, of such determination. 
(b) DETERMINATIONS.—A determination under regulations pre-
scribed under subsection (a) shall be made— 
(1) by— 
(A) the Secretary of the military department concerned; 
or 
(B) the head of the Defense Agency or Department 
of Defense Field Activity concerned; and 
(2) after consultation with— 
(A)(i) in the case of a determination made by the Sec-
retary of the military department concerned, the Chief 
of Chaplains of the military department concerned; or 
(ii) in the case of a determination made by the head 
of the Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field 
Activity concerned, the Armed Forces Chaplains Board; 
and 
(B)(i) a civilian attorney under the jurisdiction the 
Secretary of the military department concerned or the head 
of the Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field 
Activity concerned; or 
(ii) an officer of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
H. R. 2670—259 
(c) COVERED COMPLAINT OR REQUEST DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered complaint or request’’ means a complaint or 
request— 
(1) regarding a public display or public expression of reli-
gion on property of the Department of Defense; and 
(2) made by an individual or entity other than— 
(A) a member of the Armed Forces; 
(B) a civilian employee of the Department of Defense; 
or 
(C) a contractor of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 1050. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR DESTRUC-
TION OF LANDMINES. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in subsection (b), of the 
funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made 
available for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Defense for 
the destruction of anti-personnel landmine munitions, not more 
than 30 percent may be obligated or expended before the date 
on which the Secretary of Defense submits the report required 
by subsection (c). 
(b) EXCEPTION FOR SAFETY.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), 
the Secretary may obligate or expend funds referred to in such 
subsection in excess of the limitation under such subsection as 
necessary for the destruction of any anti-personnel landmine muni-
tion that the Secretary determines is unsafe or could pose a safety 
risk to the United States Armed Forces if not demilitarized or 
destroyed. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
includes each of the following: 
(A) A description of the policy of the Department of 
Defense regarding the use of anti-personnel landmines, 
including any available methods for commanders to seek 
waivers to use such munitions. 
(B) Projections covering the period of 10 years following 
the date of the report of— 
(i) the inventory levels for all anti-personnel land-
mine munitions, taking into account future production 
of anti-personnel landmine munitions, any plans for 
demilitarization of such munitions, the age of the muni-
tions, storage and safety considerations, and any other 
factors that are expected to affect the size of the inven-
tory; 
(ii) the cost to achieve the inventory levels pro-
jected in clause (i), including the cost for potential 
demilitarization or disposal of such munitions; and 
(iii) the cost to develop and produce new anti- 
personnel landmine munitions if the Secretary deter-
mines such munitions are necessary to meet the 
demands of operational plans. 
(C) An assessment by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff of the adequacy of the inventory levels projected 
under subparagraph (B)(i) to meet operational require-
ments.
H. R. 2670—260 
(D) Any other matters that the Secretary determines 
appropriate for inclusion in the report. 
(2) FORM OF REPORT.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
(d) BRIEFING REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 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, as of the date of the briefing, of research and 
development into operational alternatives to anti-personnel 
landmine munitions. 
(2) FORM OF BRIEFING.—The briefing required by paragraph 
(1) may contain classified information. 
(e) ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINE MUNITIONS DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘anti-personnel landmine munitions’’ includes anti- 
personnel landmines and submunitions, as defined by the Conven-
tion on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and 
Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, con-
cluded at Oslo September 18, 1997, as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 1051. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR TRAVEL 
EXPENSES OF OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 
UNTIL SUBMISSION OF CERTAIN PLANS. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for 
fiscal year 2024 for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and 
available for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel 
expenses, not more than 80 percent may be obligated or expended 
until the Secretary of Defense submits— 
(1) the implementation plan required by section 1087(b) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2802; 10 U.S.C. 161 note) 
relating to the requirement of such section to establish a joint 
force headquarters in the area of operations of United States 
Indo-Pacific Command to serve as an operational command; 
and 
(2) the plan required by section 1332(g) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 
117–81; 135 Stat. 2008) relating to strategic competition in 
the areas of responsibility of United States Southern Command 
and United States Africa Command. 
SEC. 1052. PROHIBITION ON DISPLAY OF UNAPPROVED FLAGS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—No flag other than an approved flag shall 
be displayed in any work place, common access area, or public 
area of the Department of Defense. 
(b) EXCLUSIONS.—The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
not apply to— 
(1) the public display or depiction of a flag other than 
an approved flag in a museum exhibit, State-issued license 
plate, grave site, memorial marker, monument, educational 
display, historical display, or work of art, if the nature of 
the display or depiction cannot reasonably be viewed as 
endorsement of the flag by the Department of Defense; or 
(2) a building or area that primarily serves as a place 
of residence, including a barracks, dormitory, bachelor quarters, 
government-operated 
housing, 
or 
public-private 
venture 
housing area.
H. R. 2670—261 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect the authority of a military commander to enforce 
good order and discipline on a military installation. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘approved flag’’ means any of the following: 
(A) The American flag. 
(B) The flag of a State or of the District of Columbia. 
(C) A military service flag. 
(D) A flag or general officer flag. 
(E) 
A 
Presidentially-appointed, 
Senate-confirmed 
civilian flag. 
(F) A Senior Executive Service or military department- 
specific flag. 
(G) The National League of Families POW/MIA flag. 
(H) The flag of another country that is an ally or 
partner of the United States or for official protocol pur-
poses. 
(I) The flag of an organization of which the United 
States is a member. 
(J) A ceremonial, command, unit, or branch flag or 
guidon. 
(K) The flag of an athletic team, club, cadet-led 
organization, academic department, unit subdivision, or 
other entity approved to operate at a Service Academy 
(as such term is defined in section 347 of title 10, United 
States Code) or in conjunction with a Reserve Officer 
Training Corps activity. 
(L) A flag or banner displayed by a retail tenant or 
non-government entity operating in a building owned or 
controlled by the Department of Defense, for the purposes 
of advertising business products and services, if authorized 
by contract. 
(M) A religious flag or banner, including a holiday 
flag, if otherwise authorized. 
(N) A flag approved at the discretion of the military 
chain of command or senior civilian leadership, as appro-
priate. 
(2) The term ‘‘work place, common access area, or public 
area of the Department of Defense’’ includes the following: 
(A) An office building, facility, naval vessel, aircraft, 
governmental vehicle, hangar, garage, ready room, storage 
room, tool and equipment room, or workshop. 
(B) A sensitive compartmented information facility of 
other secure facility. 
(C) A schoolhouse or training facility. 
(D) The area in plain view of such a building that 
is not residential in nature, including the areas outside 
of buildings of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 1053. COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP 
AND 
MAINTAIN 
MILITARY-WIDE 
TRANSFORMATIONAL 
STRATEGIES FOR OPERATIONAL ENERGY. 
Section 2926(e)(2)(E) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘An assessment’’ and inserting ‘‘A biennial 
assessment’’;
H. R. 2670—262 
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘, which 
shall include—’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new clauses: 
‘‘(i) an identification of efforts by the United States 
and allied and partner countries to mitigate mutual con-
tested logistics challenges and to develop complementary 
energy security and energy reliance measures; 
‘‘(ii) an analysis of investments made by allied and 
partner countries in any technology, including electric, 
hydrogen, nuclear, biofuels, and any other sustainable fuel 
technology or renewable energy technology, that may 
reduce demand for operational energy in the near-term 
or long-term; 
‘‘(iii) an identification of any limitations or barriers 
to closing or mitigating gaps in operational energy invest-
ment with allied and partner countries, including any addi-
tional authorities or appropriations that may be required; 
and 
‘‘(iv) an analysis of the feasibility and advisability of 
establishing a partnership program using existing authori-
ties to collaborate with the national security forces of allied 
and partner countries for the purpose of developing and 
maintaining transformational strategies for operational 
energy with the objectives of enhancing the readiness of 
such countries and employing diverse energy sources that 
reduce demand and logistical vulnerabilities.’’. 
SEC. 1054. STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY 
SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 455(f) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
(5) and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 
‘‘(4) DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY SPOUSES.— 
‘‘(A) DURATION
AND
EFFECT
ON
PRINCIPAL
AND 
INTEREST.—A borrower of a loan made under this part 
who meets the requirements of subparagraph (B) shall 
be eligible for a deferment for an aggregate period of 180 
days, during which periodic installments of principal need 
not be paid, and interest— 
‘‘(i) shall not accrue, in the case of a— 
‘‘(I) Federal Direct Stafford Loan; or 
‘‘(II) a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that 
consolidated only Federal Direct Stafford Loans, 
or a combination of such loans and Federal Staf-
ford Loans for which the student borrower received 
an interest subsidy under section 428; or 
‘‘(ii) shall accrue and be capitalized or paid by 
the borrower, in the case of a Federal Direct PLUS 
Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, 
or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan not described 
in clause (i)(II). 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—A borrower of a loan made under 
this part shall be eligible for a deferment under subpara-
graph (A) if the borrower—
H. R. 2670—263 
‘‘(i) is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty; and 
‘‘(ii) has experienced a loss of employment as a 
result of relocation to accommodate a permanent 
change in duty station of such member. 
‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A borrower may establish eligi-
bility for a deferment under subparagraph (A) by pro-
viding to the Secretary— 
‘‘(I) the documentation described in clause (ii); 
or 
‘‘(II) such other documentation as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(ii) 
DOCUMENTATION.—The 
documentation 
described in this clause is— 
‘‘(I) evidence that the borrower is the spouse 
of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active 
duty; 
‘‘(II) evidence that a military permanent 
change of station order was issued to such member; 
and 
‘‘(III)(aa) evidence that the borrower is eligible 
for unemployment benefits due to a loss of employ-
ment resulting from relocation to accommodate 
such permanent change in duty station; or 
‘‘(bb) a written certification, or an equivalent 
as approved by the Secretary, that the borrower 
is registered with a public or private employment 
agency due to a loss of employment resulting from 
relocation to accommodate such permanent change 
in duty station.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
Subtitle F—Studies and Reports 
SEC. 1061. MODIFICATIONS OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) CONSOLIDATED BUDGET QUARTERLY REPORT
ON USE
OF 
FUNDS.—Section 381(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘QUARTERLY 
REPORT’’ and inserting ‘‘SEMIANNUAL REPORT’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Not later than 60 days after the end of 
each calendar quarter, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘Defense during such calendar quarter’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Defense—’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) by not later than August 31 of each year, for the 
first six-month period of that year; and 
‘‘(2) by not later than February 28 of each year, for the 
second six-month period of the preceding year.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR THE NATIONAL TECH-
NOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE.—Section 4811(a) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall submit 
such strategy to Congress not later than 180 days after the date
H. R. 2670—264 
of submission of the national security strategy report required under 
section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043).’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The Secretary shall submit such strategy to Congress 
as an integrated part of the report submitted under section 4814 
of this title.’’. 
(c) NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE REPORT AND 
QUARTERLY BRIEFING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 4814 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 4814. National technology and industrial base: biennial 
report’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘March 1 of each year’’ and inserting 
‘‘March 1 of each odd-numbered year’’; and 
(D) by striking subsection (b). 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 382 of such title is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 4814 and inserting the following: 
‘‘4814. National technology and industrial base: biennial report.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 858(b)(2) of the 
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is amended— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (H) 
as subparagraphs (A) through (G), respectively. 
(d) ANNUAL MILITARY CYBERSPACE OPERATIONS REPORT.—Sec-
tion 1644 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2020 (10 U.S.C. 394 note; Public Law 116–92) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1) in the first sentence— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘effects’’ after ‘‘all named military 
cyberspace’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, operations, cyber effects enabling 
operations, and cyber operations conducted as defensive 
operations’’ and inserting ‘‘conducted for either offensive 
or defensive purposes’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or cyber effects operations 
for which Congress has otherwise been provided notice’’ before 
the period. 
(e) EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 
ASSISTANCE TO THE VETTED SYRIAN OPPOSITION.—Section 1231(d) 
of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘QUARTERLY’’ 
and inserting ‘‘SEMIANNUAL’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘quarterly’’ and inserting ‘‘semiannual’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘90-day’’ and 
inserting ‘‘180-day’’. 
(f) THEFT, LOSS, OR RELEASE OF BIOLOGICAL SELECT AGENTS 
OR TOXINS INVOLVING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Section 1067(a) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114–328; 50 U.S.C. 1528(a)) is amended to read as 
follows:
H. R. 2670—265 
‘‘(a) NOTIFICATION.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 
45 days after a covered report of any theft, loss, or release of 
a biological select agent or toxin involving the Department of 
Defense is filed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
or the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Secretary 
of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees notice of such theft, loss, 
or release. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees notice of a release under paragraph (1) only if the 
Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, determines that 
the release is outside the barriers of secondary containment into 
the ambient air or environment or is causing occupational exposure 
that presents a threat to public safety. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘covered report’ means a report 
filed under any of the following (or any successor regulations): 
‘‘(A) Section 331.19 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(B) Section 121.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(C) Section 73.19 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 
(g) AUDIT
OF DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL STATE-
MENTS.—Section 240a of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(A) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIRED.—’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b). 
(h) FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND AUDIT REMEDIATION PLAN.— 
Section 240b(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘June 30, 2019, 
and annually thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘July 31 each year’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking clauses (vii) through (x); and 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (xi), (xii), and (xiii) 
as clauses (vii), (viii), and (ix), respectively; and 
(C) by striking subparagraph (C); and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘June 30’’ and inserting ‘‘July 31’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking the second sentence; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘June 30’’ and inserting ‘‘July 31’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking the second sentence. 
(i) ANNUAL REPORTS
ON FUNDING.—Section 1009(c) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public 
Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 240b note) is amended by striking ‘‘five 
days’’ and inserting ‘‘10 days’’. 
SEC. 1062. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPORT FOR DEPARTMENT 
OF HOMELAND SECURITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOR-
DERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
Section 1014(d)(3) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 271 note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2024’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2025’’.
H. R. 2670—266 
SEC. 1063. BRIEFING ON DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY 
CAPABILITIES REQUIRED TO EXPAND ACCOUNTING FOR 
PERSONS MISSING FROM DESIGNATED PAST CONFLICTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1, 2024, and annually 
thereafter for each of the next five years, the Director of the Defense 
POW/MIA Accounting Agency shall provide to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
briefing on the capabilities required to expand accounting for per-
sons missing from designated past conflicts. 
(b) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS.—The Director of 
the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency may enter into agree-
ments with universities or research organizations under which such 
universities or research organizations agree to provide additional 
capabilities for specialized missions or research requirements 
relating to expanding accounting for persons missing from des-
ignated past conflicts. 
SEC. 1064. AIR FORCE PLAN FOR MAINTAINING PROFICIENT AIRCREWS 
IN CERTAIN MISSION AREAS. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.— The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
develop a plan, and the associated actions and milestones for imple-
menting the plan, to designate, equip, and train the number of 
combat air forces aviation units (in this section referred to as 
‘‘CAF units’’), equipped with fixed-wing or rotorcraft assets, that 
are required in order to maintain proficient aircrew skills in accord-
ance with the Core Mission Essential Task List and Designed 
Operational Capability Statement of each such unit in the following 
mission areas: 
(1) Close air support. 
(2) Forward air controller–airborne. 
(3) Combat search and rescue. 
(4) Airborne battle management. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report on the plan required 
under subsection (a). Such report shall include the following 
information: 
(1) The number of CAF units required to meet steady- 
state, contingency, and wartime mission requirements for each 
mission area referred to in subsection (a). 
(2) The number of proficient aircrews each unit must main-
tain in order to be qualified and current in each such mission 
area. 
(3) The number of CAF units and aircrew personnel that, 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are trained and 
equipped to meet steady-state, contingency, and wartime mis-
sion requirements for each such mission area. 
(4) The location of any CAF unit and associated aircraft 
that have been designated to be proficient in such mission 
areas. 
(5) The minimum quantity of initial training and continu-
ation training sorties and events aircrews will be required 
to achieve monthly and yearly to be qualified as proficient, 
current, and experienced in such mission areas. 
(6) Any other information, data, or analyses the Secretary 
determines relevant. 
(c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Air Force may not reduce 
the total inventory of the Air Force of A-10 aircraft below 218
H. R. 2670—267 
until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary 
submits the report required under subsection (b). 
(d) DEFINITION OF PROFICIENT.—In this section, the term ‘‘pro-
ficient’’, with respect to an aircrew, means that such aircrew— 
(1) has thorough knowledge but occasionally may make 
an error of omission or commission; 
(2) is able to operate in a complex, fluid environment and 
is able to handle most contingencies and unusual circumstances; 
and 
(3) is prepared for mission tasking on the first sortie in 
a theater of operations. 
SEC. 1065. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON NAVAL MINE WARFARE. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research 
and development center to conduct an independent study of the 
mine warfare capabilities of the Navy. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) shall include 
an assessment and comprehensive review of— 
(1) the offensive and defensive mine warfare capabilities 
of the Navy; and 
(2) the offensive mine inventories of Navy as of the date 
of study. 
(c) RESULTS.—Following the completion of the study under sub-
section (a), the federally funded research and development center 
that conducts the study shall submit to the Secretary of Defense 
a report on the results of the study. The report shall include— 
(1) a summary of the research and other activities carried 
out as part of the study; and 
(2) considerations and recommendations to improve the 
mine warfare capabilities of the Navy, including recommenda-
tions for any legislation that may be needed for such purpose. 
(d) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives— 
(A) an unaltered copy of the results of the study, as 
submitted to the Secretary under subsection (c); and 
(B) the written responses of the Secretary and the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to such results. 
(2) FORM.—The submission under paragraph (1) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex. 
SEC. 1066. ANNUAL REPORT AND BRIEFING ON IMPLEMENTATION OF 
FORCE DESIGN 2030. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 15, 2024, and 
annually thereafter through February 15, 2030, the Commandant 
of the Marine Corps shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report detailing the programmatic choices made to 
implement Force Design 2030, including both new developmental 
and fielded capabilities, as well as capabilities and capacity divested 
to accelerate the implementation of Force Design 2030. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than March 15, 2024, 
and annually thereafter through March 15, 2030, the Commandant 
of the Marine Corps shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on the elements described in subsection (c).
H. R. 2670—268 
(c) ELEMENTS.—Each report required under subsection (a) and 
briefing required under subsection (b) shall include the following 
elements: 
(1) An assessment of changes in the national defense 
strategy, Defense Planning Guidance, Joint Warfighting Con-
cept (and associated concept required capabilities), and other 
planning processes that informed Force Design 2030. 
(2) An inventory and assessment of the exercises and 
experimentation related to the Force Design, starting in fiscal 
year 2020, including an identification of the capabilities that 
were involved and the extent to which such exercises and 
experimentation validated or militated against proposed capa-
bility investments. 
(3) An inventory of divestments of capability or capacity, 
whether force structure or equipment, starting in fiscal year 
2020, including— 
(A) a timeline of the progress of each divestment; 
(B) the type of force structure or equipment divested 
or reduced; 
(C) the percentage of force structure or equipment 
divested or reduced, including any equipment entered into 
inventory management or another form of storage; 
(D) the rationale and context behind such divestment; 
(E) an identification of whether such divestment affects 
the ability of the Marine Corps to meet the requirements 
of the Global Force Management process and operational 
plans, including an explanation of how the Marine Corps 
plans to mitigate the loss of such capability or capacity 
if the divestment affects the ability of the Marine Corps 
to meet the requirements of the Global Force Management 
process and operational plans, including through new 
investments, additional joint planning and training, or 
other methods; and 
(F) an assessment of the actual and projected recruit-
ment and retention percentages for the Marine Corps, 
starting in fiscal year 2020. 
(4) An inventory of extant or planned investments as a 
part of Force Design 2030, disaggregated by integrated air 
and missile defense, littoral mobility and maneuver, sea denial, 
and 
reconnaissance 
and 
counter-reconnaissance 
forces, 
including— 
(A) capability name; 
(B) capability purpose and context; 
(C) capability being replaced (or not applicable); 
(D) date of initial operational capability; 
(E) date of full operational capability; 
(F) deliveries of units by year; and 
(G) approved acquisition objective or similar inventory 
objective. 
(5) A description of the amphibious warfare ship and mari-
time mobility requirements the Marine Corps submitted to 
the Department of the Navy in support of the Marine Corps 
organization and concepts under Force Design 2030 and its 
statutory requirements, including— 
(A) an explicit statement of the planning assumptions 
about readiness of amphibious warfare ships and maritime
H. R. 2670—269 
mobility platforms that were used in developing the 
requirements; and 
(B) an assessment of whether the 30-year shipbuilding 
plan of the Navy and the budget for the fiscal year covered 
by the briefing meet the amphibious ship requirements 
of the Navy. 
(6) An assessment of how the capability investments 
described in paragraph (4) contribute to joint force efficacy 
in new ways, including through support of other Armed Forces. 
(7) An assessment of the ability of the Marine Corps to 
generate required force elements for the Immediate Ready Force 
and the Contingency Ready Force over the two fiscal years 
preceding the fiscal year during which the report and briefing 
are provided and the expected ability to generate forces for 
the subsequent two fiscal years. 
(8) An assessment of Marine Corps force structure and 
the readiness of Marine Expeditionary Units compared to avail-
ability of amphibious ships comprising an Amphibious Ready 
Group over the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year during 
which the report and briefing are provided and the expected 
availability for the subsequent two fiscal years. 
(9) An assessment by the Marine Corps of the compliance 
of the Marine Corps with the statutory organization prescribed 
in section 8063 of title 10, United States Code, that ‘‘[t]he 
Marine Corps, within the Department of the Navy, shall be 
so organized as to include not less than three combat divisions 
and three air wings, and such other land combat, aviation, 
and other services as may be organic therein’’. 
(10) An assessment by the Marine Corps of the compliance 
of the Marine Corps with the statutory functions prescribed 
in section 8063 of title 10, United States Code, that ‘‘[t]he 
Marine Corps shall be organized, trained, and equipped to 
provide fleet marine forces of combined arms, together with 
supporting air components, for service with the fleet in the 
seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct 
of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution 
of a naval campaign’’. 
(d) EFFECT ON OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—Effective on the date 
of the submission of the first report required under subsection 
(a), the requirement to provide a briefing pursuant to section 1023 
of the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the James M. 
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263) shall cease to have force or effect. 
SEC. 1067. STUDY AND REPORT ON POTENTIAL INCLUSION OF BLACK 
BOX DATA RECORDERS IN TACTICAL VEHICLES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
carry out a study to determine the extent to which the Department 
of Defense has evaluated feasability and advisability of equipping 
all tactical vehicles of the Armed Forces with black box data 
recorders. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall— 
(1) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on the preliminary 
findings of the study conducted under subsection (a); and
H. R. 2670—270 
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a final 
report on such study. 
SEC. 1068. PLAN ON COUNTERING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 
(a) PLAN.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a plan for coordinating with 
defense partners in North America and South America and sup-
porting interagency departments and agencies, as appropriate, in 
countering human trafficking operations, including human traf-
ficking by transnational criminal organizations. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan under subsection (a) shall 
include— 
(1) a description of the threat to United States security 
from human trafficking operations; 
(2) a description of the authorities of the Department of 
Defense for the purposes specified in subsection (a); 
(3) a description of any current or proposed Department 
of Defense programs or activities to coordinate with defense 
partners or provide support to interagency departments and 
agencies as described in subsection (a); and 
(4) any recommendations of the Secretary of Defense for 
additional authorities for the purposes of countering human 
trafficking, including by transnational criminal organizations. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the submission 
of the plan required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 
shall brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding the 
authorities, programs, and activities of the Department of Defense 
to counter human trafficking operations. 
(d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the congressional defense committees; 
(2) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate; and 
(3) the Committee on Oversight and Administration and 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives. 
SEC. 1069. UPDATE TO STRATEGIC PLAN ON DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall update the 
strategic plan for the combating trafficking in persons program 
of the Department of Defense. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The updated strategic plan required 
under subsection (a) shall include each of the following: 
(1) An assessment of the efforts of the Department of 
Defense to combat trafficking in persons in areas with high 
populations of members of the United States Armed Forces, 
including in overseas locations. 
(2) A review of the coordination of efforts of the Department 
to combat trafficking in persons across the military departments 
in areas where multiple military departments operate bases. 
(3) Recommendations for improved cooperation with local 
communities and relevant Federal, State, and local law enforce-
ment agencies in addressing trafficking in persons.
H. R. 2670—271 
(4) A review of new methods and concepts for combating 
trafficking in persons that the Department has implemented 
since the previous strategic plan. 
(5) A description of plans of the Department to adapt 
innovative approaches, and integrate new technologies. 
(6) An analysis of Department capabilities to combat child 
sexual abuse and exploitation in areas with high populations 
of members of the United States Armed Forces, including over-
seas locations. 
(7) Recommendations for programs to educate members 
of the United States Armed Forces on how to identify and 
report instances of child sexual abuse and exploitation, both 
online and in-person, to the appropriate law enforcement 
agency. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than June 1, 2024, the Secretary of 
Defense shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees 
a briefing on the updated strategic plan required under subsection 
(a). 
(d) 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 Committee on Oversight and Account-
ability of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee Armed Services, the Committee on For-
eign Relations, and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
SEC. 1070. REPORT ON USE OF TACTICAL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR 
DEPLOYMENTS AND HOMELAND DEFENSE MISSIONS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy, 
shall conduct a study on the use of Department of Defense tactical 
fighter aircraft for deployments, including taskings supporting 
homeland defense missions. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the study required under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) review both deployment and exercise requirements for 
tactical fighter aircraft levied by each geographic combatant 
command; 
(2) assess the deployable forces currently available to fulfill 
each of the requirements identified under paragraph (1), 
including whether such forces are adequate to meet the global 
requirements; 
(3) review any relevant tactical fighter forces that are not 
considered deployable or available to meet the requirements 
of the combatant commanders and consider whether the status 
of such forces can or should change; 
(4) assess whether tactical fighter aircraft coverage of the 
United States during the deployment of tactical fighter aircraft 
to locations outside the United States has been adequately 
considered, in particular with respect to the areas in and around 
Alaska and Hawaii; 
(5) assess the land-based tactical fighter aircraft units of 
the active and reserve components of the Air Force, Navy, 
and Marine Corps that could be considered for inclusion in 
homeland defense mission requirements; and
H. R. 2670—272 
(6) identify and evaluate deployment metrics, for each of 
the 15 fiscal years preceding the fiscal year during which the 
study is conducted, for the tactical fighter squadrons of the 
active and reserve components of the Air Force, Navy, and 
Marine Corps, which shall include— 
(A) all contingency taskings supported, aggregated by 
active and reserve component taskings supporting Oper-
ation Noble Eagle and President of the United States sup-
port missions and overseas contingency taskings; 
(B) the average number of deployments per squadron, 
aggregated by active and reserve component squadrons; 
(C) the average deployment duration (in days), aggre-
gated by active and reserve components; and 
(D) the percentage of days deployed, aggregated by 
active and reserve components. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2024, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
report that includes the results of a study required under subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 1071. REPORT ON EQUIPPING CERTAIN GROUND COMBAT UNITS 
WITH SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on equipping pla-
toon-sized ground combat formations with group 1 or group 2 
unmanned aerial systems. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report submitted pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall address the following: 
(1) The use of group 1 or group 2 unmanned aerial systems 
in the Ukraine conflict and best practices learned. 
(2) The potential use of group 1 or group 2 unmanned 
aerial systems to augment small unit tactics and lethality in 
the ground combat forces. 
(3) Procurement challenges, legal restrictions, training 
shortfalls, operational limitations, or other impediments to 
fielding group 1 or group 2 unmanned aerial systems at the 
platoon level. 
(4) A plan to equip platoon-sized ground combat formations 
in the close combat force with group 1 or group 2 unmanned 
aerial systems at a basis of issue, as determined appropriate 
by the Secretary of the military department concerned, 
including a proposed timeline and fielding strategy. 
(5) A plan to equip such other ground combat units with 
group 1 or group 2 unmanned aerial systems, as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary of the military department con-
cerned. 
SEC. 1072. BIANNUAL BRIEFINGS ON HOMELAND DEFENSE PLANNING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter through 
February 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing on efforts to bolster 
homeland defense. 
(b) CONTENTS.— 
(1) FIRST BRIEFING.—The first briefing required by sub-
section (a) shall include each of the following:
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(A) A detailed description of the homeland defense 
policy guidance. 
(B) The assumptions used in the drafting of such guid-
ance. 
(C) If such guidance has not been completed, an expla-
nation of the reasons for the lack of completion and a 
timeline for completion. 
(2) ALL
BRIEFINGS.—Each briefing required under sub-
section (a) shall include each of the following: 
(A) A summary of any update made to the homeland 
defense policy guidance. 
(B) An update on threats to the United States ema-
nating from the Government of the People’s Republic of 
China, the Government of the Russian Federation, the 
Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 
the Government of Iran, and any other adversary country, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(C) A description of major actions taken by the Depart-
ment during the preceding fiscal year to respond to and 
mitigate military threats to the United States. 
(D) A description of the homeland defense policies of 
the Department in the event of a military conflict with 
the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, 
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Islamic 
Republic of Iran, or any other country as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(E) Any other matter the Secretary considers relevant. 
SEC. 1073. REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT USE OF UNITED 
STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 30, 2024, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the extent 
to which United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 
is being used effectively to defend the national security interests 
of the United States. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include each of the following: 
(1) An analysis of the intelligence collection, cyber, and 
information operation activities in Cuba of the militaries of 
foreign governments, including the Russian Federation and 
the People’s Republic of China, and an assessment of the effects 
of such activities. 
(2) An identification of the mitigation measures currently 
in place for addressing the activities referred to in paragraph 
(1) and a discussion of any measures that would be appropriate 
for further mitigation. 
(3) Such other matters as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(c) FORM OF REPORT.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex. 
SEC. 1074. HOLISTIC TRAINING RANGE ASSESSMENT. 
(a) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, after 
coordinating with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall 
carry out a comprehensive assessment of the capabilities, limita-
tions, and anticipated future training constraints on the use of
H. R. 2670—274 
military lands, marine areas, and airspace facilities that are avail-
able in the United States and overseas, for training of the covered 
Armed Forces. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The assessment required by subsection (a) shall 
include each of the following: 
(1) An assessment of the range capability of each facility. 
(2) An assessment of current and future training require-
ments, 
including 
any 
opportunities 
for 
regional 
interconnectivity of existing sites to increase capability. 
(3) An evaluation of the adequacy of current Department 
of Defense resources (including virtual and constructive training 
assets as well as military lands, marine areas, and airspace 
available in the United States and overseas) to meet current 
and future training range requirements— 
(A) identified under paragraph (2); 
(B) relating to testing and training of fifth generation 
weapons systems; and 
(C) relating to near-peer competition. 
(4) An evaluation of threats posed by adversarial intel-
ligence collection at each facility. 
(5) An assessment of current capacity for testing and 
training of electromagnetic warfare operations, including— 
(A) electromagnetic spectrum operations; 
(B) operations in the information environment; 
(C) Joint All Domain Command and Control; and 
(D) information warfare. 
(6) An assessment of current capacity for training and 
testing and future potential for Joint All Domain operations, 
including— 
(A) an assessment of current shortfalls at domestic 
military installations; and 
(B) an analysis of ranges capable of hosting large- 
scale, operationally relevant, live-fire campaign-level Joint 
All Domain operations training exercises based on near- 
peer competition. 
(7) An assessment of the capacity of the covered Armed 
Forces to routinely train, test, evaluate, and qualify theater- 
level operations in support of operations versus a pacing threat, 
as defined by the most recent national defense strategy sub-
mitted pursuant to section 113(g) of title 10, United States 
Code, for the purpose of increasing the capacity and rate of 
force readiness with respect to deterrence and defense at the-
ater-level distances. Such assessment shall include— 
(A) an identification of areas in which multiple ranges 
can be used simultaneously to simulate Pacific Deterrence 
Initiative theater operation plans, including areas for over 
water and coastline training; 
(B) an analysis of the combined capability of the total 
test or training areas to simulate various public, private, 
and academic initiatives in support of the Pacific Deter-
rence Initiative while advancing military readiness; and 
(C) a review of any test or training areas that may 
enhance efforts of the Department to train at scale and 
range when persistently networked into a live, virtual, 
and constructive Pacific environment. 
(8) Proposals to enhance training range capabilities and 
mitigate any shortfalls or encroachment, including Department
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assets within the range footprint, in current Department of 
Defense resources identified pursuant to the assessment 
required under this section, including timeline and budget esti-
mates for implementing any proposed mitigations. 
(9) Such other matters as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(c) INITIAL REPORT.—At the same time as the submission of 
the budget of the President to Congress pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal year 2026, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees an initial 
report on the assessment required by subsection (a). 
(d) SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL REPORTS.—At the same time as the 
submission of the President submits to Congress pursuant to such 
section for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the progress made 
in implementing the proposals referred to in subsection (b)(8) and 
any additional actions taken, or to be taken, to address training 
constraints caused by limitations on the use of military lands, 
marine areas, and airspace. 
(e) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine 
Corps, and Space Force. 
SEC. 1075. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCE STRUCTURE. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report containing an assess-
ment of the optimal force structure for special operations forces. 
Such report shall include— 
(1) a description of the role of special operations forces 
in implementing the most recent national defense strategy 
under section 113(g) of title 10, United States Code; 
(2) a detailed accounting of the demand for special oper-
ations forces by the geographic combatant commands; 
(3) an assessment of current and projected capabilities 
and capacities of the general purpose forces of the United 
States Armed Forces, including forces that enable special oper-
ations, that could affect force structure capability and capacity 
requirements of special operations forces; 
(4) an assessment of the size, composition, and organiza-
tional structure of the special operations command head-
quarters of each of the Armed Forces and subordinate head-
quarters elements; 
(5) an assessment of the adequacy of special operations 
force structure for meeting the goals of the National Military 
Strategy under section 153(b) of title 10, United States Code; 
(6) a description of the role of special operations forces 
in supporting the Joint Concept for Competing; and 
(7) any other matters the Secretary of Defense determines 
relevant. 
(b) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Except as provided in subsection 
(d), not later than 15 days before making any reduction in the 
number of special operations forces by more than 1,000 personnel 
and prior to implementing or announcing such reduction, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees written notification of the decision to make such reduction.
H. R. 2670—276 
(c) CONTENTS OF NOTIFICATION.—A notification required under 
subsection (b) shall include— 
(1) details of the planned changes to force structure and 
personnel requirements and a justification for the planned 
changes, including— 
(A) which units or occupational skills are planned to 
be reduced or reallocated; and 
(B) to which units or capabilities the force structure 
is planned to be transferred or reallocated; 
(2) an accounting of the personnel planned to be transferred 
under the force structure change, including which units such 
personnel are planned to be transferred to and from; 
(3) an analysis of the expected implications of the planned 
change on the ability of the Department of Defense to carry 
out operational and campaign plans of combatant commanders, 
support the Joint Concept for Competing, and meet the goals 
of the most recent national defense strategy under section 
113(g) of title 10, United States Code; and 
(4) any other matters the Secretary of Defense determines 
relevant. 
(d) EXCEPTION.—The notification requirement under subsection 
(b) shall not apply with respect to a reduction in the number 
of special operations forces if the Secretary of Defense submits 
to the congressional defense committees certification that such 
reduction needs to be implemented expeditiously for reasons of 
military urgency. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘special operations forces’’ means the forces 
described in section 167(j) of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘force structure’’, when used with respect 
to an organization, means— 
(A) the mission of the organization; 
(B) the personnel required to operate the organization; 
and 
(C) the equipment required to execute the mission 
of the organization. 
SEC. 1076. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF MARINE CORPS FORCE 
DESIGN 2030. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek 
to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and 
development center for the conduct of an independent review, 
assessment, and analysis of the modernization initiatives of the 
Marine Corps. The agreement shall provide that not later than 
one year after the date on which the Secretary and the center 
enter into the agreement, the center shall provide to the Secretary 
a report on the findings of the review, assessment, and analysis. 
Upon receipt of the report, the Secretary shall transmit the report 
to the congressional defense committees. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) An assessment of changes in the National Defense 
Strategy, Defense Planning Guidance, the Joint Warfighting 
Concept, and other strategic documents and concepts that 
informed Force Design modernization requirements.
H. R. 2670—277 
(2) An assessment of how the Marine Corps, consistent 
with authorized end strength, can be structured, organized, 
trained, equipped, and postured to meet the challenges of future 
competition, crisis, and conflict to include discussion of multiple 
structural options as relevant and the tradeoffs between dif-
ferent options. 
(3) An assessment of the ability of the defense innovation 
base and defense industrial base to develop and produce the 
technologies required to implement the Force Design mod-
ernization plan published by the Marine Corps on a timeline 
and at production rates sufficient to sustain military operations. 
(4) An assessment of forward infrastructure and the extent 
to which installations are operationalized to deter, compete, 
and prevail during conflict in support of the Marine Corps 
modernization. 
(5) An assessment of whether the Marine Corps is in 
compliance with the statutory organization and functions pre-
scribed in section 8063 of title 10, United States Code. 
(6) An assessment of the current retention and recruiting 
environment and the ability of the Marine Corps to sustain 
manpower requirements necessary for operational requirements 
levied by title 10, United States Code, in light of the published 
Force Design plan. 
(7) The extent to which the modernization initiatives within 
the Marine Corps are nested within applicable joint warfighting 
concepts. 
(8) An assessment of whether the modernization of the 
Marine Corps is consistent with the strategy of integrated 
deterrence. 
(9) An assessment of the ability of the Marine Corps to 
generate required force elements for the Immediate Ready Force 
and the Contingency Ready Force, based on current and 
planned end strength and structure. 
(10) The extent to which the plan for modernized capabili-
ties published by the Marine Corps can be integrated across 
the Joint Force, including warfighting concepts at the combat-
ant command level. 
(11) The extent to which the modernization efforts of the 
Marine Corps currently meet the requirements of the current 
plans of the combatant commanders and global force manage-
ment operations, including a description of any mechanisms 
that exist to ensure geographic combatant requirements inform 
Marine Corps modernization efforts. 
(12) The extent to which modeling and simulation, 
experimentation, wargaming, and other analytic methods sup-
port the changes incorporated into the modernization initiatives 
of the Marine Corps, including the underlying assumptions 
and outcomes of such analyses. 
(13) An inventory of extant or planned investments as 
part of the modernization efforts of the Marine Corps, 
disaggregated by the following capability areas and including 
actual or projected dates of Initial Operational Capability and 
Full Operational Capability: 
(A) Command and Control. 
(B) Information. 
(C) Intelligence. 
(D) Fires.
H. R. 2670—278 
(E) Movement and Maneuver. 
(F) Protection. 
(G) Sustainment. 
(14) An inventory of divestments of capability or capacity, 
whether force structure or equipment, starting in fiscal year 
2020, including— 
(A) a timeline of the progress of each divestment; 
(B) the type of force structure or equipment divested 
or reduced; 
(C) the percentage of force structure of equipment 
divested or reduced, including any equipment entered into 
inventory management or other form of storage; 
(D) the rationale and context behind such divestment; 
and 
(E) an identification of whether such divestment affects 
the ability of the Marine Corps to meet the requirements 
of Global Force Management process and the operational 
plans. 
(15) An assessment of how observations regarding the inva-
sion and defense of Ukraine affect the feasibility, advisability, 
and suitability of the modernization plans published by the 
Marine Corps. 
(c) CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified appendix to the extent required to ensure that the 
report is accurate and complete. 
SEC. 1077. ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO 
INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPACITY, RESOURCES, AND PER-
SONNEL ON GUAM. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall 
assess the infrastructure, capacity, resource, and personnel require-
ments for Guam during fiscal years 2024 through 2029 to meet 
United States strategic objectives. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) An appraisal of the potential role Guam could play 
as a key logistics and operational hub for the United States 
military in the Indo-Pacific region. 
(2) An assessment of whether current Department of 
Defense infrastructure, capacity, resources, and personnel in 
Guam are sufficient to meet the expected demands during 
relevant operations and contingency scenarios. 
(3) An assessment of the adequacy of civilian infrastructure 
in Guam for supporting the requirements of United States 
Indo-Pacific Command, including— 
(A) the resilience of such infrastructure in the event 
of a natural disaster; and 
(B) the vulnerability of such infrastructure to cyber 
threats. 
(4) A plan, including timelines and associated estimated 
costs, to improve Department of Defense infrastructure, 
capacity, resources, and personnel in Guam during fiscal years 
2024 through 2029 to meet United States Indo-Pacific Com-
mand strategic objectives, including the need for Department 
of Defense civilian recruiting and retention programs, such