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force, was not completed in time to inform fully the 
budget of the President for national defense for fiscal 
year 2019; 
(4) many Department of Defense programs of 
record are upgraded replacements of legacy systems 
that were not premised on the assumption that future 
conflict could occur in highly-contested environments 
against militarily advanced near-peer rivals; 
(5) considerable growth in the size of the mili-
tary will not be possible without growth in the budget, 
because the current future-years defense program as-
sumes that defense spending after fiscal year 2019 
will only increase at the rate of inflation, while costs 
for two of the largest drivers of costs for the Depart-
ment, namely military personnel and operation and 
maintenance, continue to grow faster than the rate of 
inflation; 
(6) the Senate strongly supports the pursuit by 
the Department of budgetary savings through internal 
reform and efficiencies, but notes that previous at-
tempts to generate additional resources through such 
mechanisms did not generate resources as planned; 
(7) increased force modernization investments 
must be based on a rigorous reassessment of whether 
current programs will meet present and future
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warfighting requirements against near-peer rivals 
that are making rapid military technological ad-
vancements; 
(8) the Department must conduct further analyt-
ical work in order— 
(A) to facilitate the implementation of the 
National Defense Strategy, as recommended by 
the Commission on the National Defense Strat-
egy; and 
(B) to provide Congress with a more rig-
orous understanding of, and justification for, fu-
ture requests for resources to organize, train and 
equip, and employ the Armed Forces; and 
(9) the Senate encourages the Secretary of De-
fense to refine the National Defense Strategy into 
more specific operational tasks and force planning 
scenarios that the joint force must be ready and able 
to perform in order to facilitate a better under-
standing of joint force development priorities and the 
roles and missions of each Armed Force. 
(b) REPORT ON ROLES AND MISSIONS.— 
(1) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than Feb-
ruary 1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report set-
ting forth a re-evaluation of the highest priority mis-
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sions of the Department of Defense, and of the roles 
of the Armed Forces in the performance of such mis-
sions. 
(2) GOALS.—The goals of the re-evaluation re-
quired for purposes of the report shall be as follows: 
(A) To support implementation of the Na-
tional Defense Strategy. 
(B) To optimize the effectiveness of the joint 
force. 
(C) To inform the preparation of future de-
fense program and budget requests by the Sec-
retary, and the consideration of such requests by 
Congress. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (b) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A detailed description of the pacing threats 
for each Armed Force, and for special operations 
forces, and an assessment of the manner in which 
such pacing threats determine the primary role of 
each Armed Force, and special operations forces, in-
cluding the connection between key operational tasks 
required by contingency plans. 
(2) A specific requirement for the size and com-
position of each Armed Force, including the following:
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(A) The required total end strength and 
force structure by type for the Army. 
(B) The required fleet size of the Navy, 
identified by class of ships and the corresponding 
total end strength requirement once that fleet size 
is achieved. 
(C) The required number of operational Air 
Force squadrons, identified by function and the 
corresponding total end strength requirement 
once that number of squadrons is achieved. 
(D) The required total end strength and 
force structure by type for the Marine Corps. 
(E) The force sizing construct used to deter-
mine the end strength requirements covered by 
subparagraphs (A) through (D), the year-by-year 
plan for achieving such requirements, relevant 
force posture assumptions, and the associated 
military personnel costs of such plan. 
(3) A re-evaluation of the roles of the Armed 
Forces in performing low-intensity missions, such as 
counterterrorism and security force assistance, includ-
ing the following: 
(A) An assessment whether the joint force 
would benefit from having one Armed Force 
dedicated primarily to low-intensity missions,
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thereby enabling the other Armed Forces to focus 
more exclusively on advanced peer competitors. 
(B) A detailed description of, and accom-
panying justification for, the total amount of 
forces required to perform the security force as-
sistance mission and the planned geographic em-
ployment of such forces. 
(C) A revalidation of the Army plan to con-
struct six Security Force Assistant Brigades, and 
an assessment of the impact, if any, of such plan 
on the capability of the Army to perform its pri-
mary roles under the National Defense Strategy. 
(D) An assessment whether the security 
force assistance mission would be better per-
formed by the Marine Corps, and an assessment 
of the end strength and force composition 
changes, if any, required for the Marine Corps to 
assume such mission. 
(4) A reassessment of the roles and missions of 
the total ground forces, both Army and Marine Corps, 
to execute the National Defense Strategy, including 
the following: 
(A) A detailed description of the allocation 
of roles for the Army and Marine Corps in deter-
ring and waging war against advanced peer
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competitors that can complement the activities 
and investments of each such Armed Force and 
optimize the capabilities of each such Armed 
Force. 
(B) A detailed description of the appro-
priate balance and mix of Army force structure, 
including light infantry, mechanized infantry, 
armor, air defense, fires, engineers, aviation, sig-
nals, and logistics, that is required to perform 
the roles and missions of the Army against its 
pacing threats. 
(C) A detailed description of the modernized 
capabilities and concepts to be developed by the 
Army to contribute to joint force operations 
against advanced peer competitors, including the 
manner in which Army aviation will evolve in 
light of unmanned aerial vehicle technology. 
(D) A revalidation of the requirement for 
ground force modernization efforts, including the 
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Future Vertical 
Lift, and Mobile Protected Fires, that are not op-
timized for conflict between the United States 
and advanced peer competitors.
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(E) A detailed description of requirements 
for Army forces needed to support theater oper-
ations. 
(5) An assessment, based on operational plans, of 
the ability of power projection platforms to survive 
and effectively perform the highest priority oper-
ational missions described in the National Defense 
Strategy, including the following: 
(A) An assessment of the feasibility of the 
current plans and investments by the Navy and 
Marine Corps to operate and defend their sea 
bases in contested environments. 
(B) An assessment whether amphibious 
forced entry operations against advanced peer 
competitors should remain an enduring mission 
for the joint force considering the stressing oper-
ational nature and significant resource require-
ments of such mission. 
(C) An assessment whether a transition 
from large-deck amphibious ships to small air-
craft carriers would result in a more lethal and 
survivable Marine Corps sea base that could ac-
commodate larger numbers of more diverse strike 
aircraft.
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(D) An assessment of the manner in which 
an acceleration of development and fielding of 
longer-range, unmanned, carrier-suitable strike 
aircraft could better meet operational require-
ments and alter the requirement for shorter- 
range, manned tactical fighter aircraft. 
(E) An assessment of the manner in which 
the emerging technology to operate large numbers 
of low-cost, autonomous, attributable systems in 
the air, on and under the sea, on land, and in 
space could change the manner in which the 
joint force projects power globally. 
(6) An assessment, based on operational plans, of 
the ability of manned, stealthy, penetrating strike 
platforms to survive and perform effectively the high-
est priority operational missions described in the Na-
tional Defense Strategy, including the following: 
(A) An assessment whether anticipated ad-
vances in stealth technology and the employment 
of such technology on existing or developmental 
systems, such as the F–35 and B–21 aircraft, 
can be expected to outpace and overmatch adver-
sary capabilities to detect and target such sys-
tems.
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(B) An assessment of the ability of fourth 
generation aircraft with advanced sensors and 
weapons to perform certain missions equally or 
more effectively than the missions assigned to, or 
envisioned for, fifth-generation penetrating strike 
platforms. 
(C) An assessment of the manner in which 
the emerging technology to operate large numbers 
of low-cost, autonomous, attributable systems in 
the air, on and under the sea, on land, and in 
space could obviate or reduce the requirement for 
penetrating strike platforms. 
(7) A re-evaluation of the most effective and effi-
cient means for the joint force to perform the air su-
periority mission in both contested and uncontested 
environments, including the following: 
(A) An assessment of the ability to achieve 
air superiority from other domains, including 
with land-based systems, naval systems, undersea 
systems, space-based systems, electronic warfare 
systems, or cyber capabilities. 
(B) A validation of the envisioned oper-
ational and cost effectiveness of the Penetrating 
Counter-Air platform, and of the requirement for
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developing this system as part of the Air Force 
Next Generation Air Dominance program. 
(C) A detailed description of the optimal 
mix across the joint force of fourth-generation 
and fifth-generation fighter aircraft, bomber air-
craft, and Next Generation Air Dominance sys-
tems to fulfill operational demands for air supe-
riority. 
(D) A detailed description of the manner in 
which the joint force will perform the mission of 
light aerial attack in uncontested environments 
to support counterterrorism and security force 
assistance missions, and the mission of coun-
tering violent extremism operations, at the lowest 
cost to the readiness of advanced, multirole com-
bat aircraft. 
(E) A determination of what Armed Force, 
in addition to the Air Force, should have a role 
in the mission of light air attack in uncontested 
environments. 
(8) A reevaluation of the roles and missions of 
the joint special operations enterprise, including the 
following: 
(A) A detailed assessment whether the joint 
special operations enterprise is currently per-
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forming too many missions worldwide, and 
whether any such missions could be performed 
adequately and more economically by conven-
tional units. 
(B) A detailed assessment whether the global 
allocation of special operations forces, and espe-
cially the most capable units, is aligned to the 
pacing threats and priority missions of the Na-
tional Defense Strategy. 
(C) A detailed description of the changes re-
quired to align the joint special operations enter-
prise more effectively with the National Defense 
Strategy. 
(9) An assessment of the manner in which in-
creased use of the space domain should revise or re-
allocate the requirements of the joint force, including 
the following: 
(A) A detailed description of the missions, 
including joint moving target indication, air 
battle management, and missile and aircraft 
tracking and targeting, that could be performed 
more effectively from space-based platforms due 
to emerging technology and operational require-
ments.
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(B) An assessment of the manner in which 
the joint force can take advantage of the develop-
ment and deployment of disaggregated commer-
cial satellite Internet constellations to replace 
legacy tactical communications networks and de-
vices and achieve multi-domain command and 
control more effectively and at lower cost. 
(C) An assessment of the manner in which 
to ensure that the joint force has access to tech-
nologies that deliver superior offensive space ca-
pabilities and a maneuver advantage to and 
within the space domain, including reusable 
launch systems and spacecraft, on-orbit refueling 
and manufacturing, on-orbit power generation, 
and exploitation of space minerals and propel-
lants. 
(D) A detailed description of the actions to 
be taken by components of the Department to 
promote and protect the development of a licit 
space economy, including the following: 
(i) Defense of commercial activities, fa-
cilities, and claims. 
(ii) Safety of navigation. 
(iii) Rescue and recovery.
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(iv) Construction and maintenance of 
public works in Cis-Lunar Space. 
(v) Active debris remediation. 
(vi) Establishment of an on-orbit na-
tional strategic reserve of space minerals 
and propellants. 
(10) A reassessment of the manner in which the 
joint force will perform the mission of logistics in 
contested environments, including the following: 
(A) A revalidation of the requirement for 
the KC–46 tanker aircraft, including an assess-
ment of the aerial refueling requirements in con-
tested environments and a greater reliance on 
distributed systems of systems. 
(B) A detailed assessment whether the mis-
sion of logistics in contested environments could 
be better performed by larger numbers of lower- 
cost, autonomous systems capable of dispersed 
operations on land, at sea, and in the air. 
(C) A detailed assessment whether greater 
forward stationing of joint force capabilities and 
personnel would be more operationally effective 
in performing the contact and blunt missions of 
the National Defense Strategy.
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(d) FORM.—The report required in subsection (b) shall 
be submitted in classified form, and shall include an unclas-
sified summary. 
SEC. 1042. ANNUAL REPORTS BY THE ARMED FORCES ON 
OUT-YEAR UNCONSTRAINED TOTAL MUNI-
TIONS REQUIREMENTS AND OUT-YEAR IN-
VENTORY NUMBERS. 
(a) REPORTS REQUIRED.—Chapter 9 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
222a the following new section: 
‘‘§ 222b. Armed forces: Out-Year Unconstrained Total 
Munitions Requirements; Out-Year inven-
tory numbers 
‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—At the same time each year 
that the budget for the fiscal year beginning in such year 
is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 
31, the chief of staff of each armed force (other than the 
Coast Guard) shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report setting forth for such armed force each of 
the following for such fiscal year, broken out as specified 
in subsection (b): 
‘‘(1) The Out-Year Unconstrained Total Muni-
tions Requirement. 
‘‘(2) The Out-Year inventory numbers.
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‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘chief of staff’, with respect to the 
Marine Corps, means the Commandant of the Marine 
Corps. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Out-Year Unconstrained Total 
Munitions Requirement’ has the meaning given that 
term in and for purposes of Department of Defense 
Instruction 3000.04, or any successor instruction.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 9 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 222a the following 
new item: 
‘‘222b. Armed forces: Out-Year Unconstrained Total Munitions Requirements; 
Out-Year inventory numbers.’’. 
SEC. 1043. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OPERATIONAL AND 
ADMINISTRATIVE CHAINS-OF-COMMAND AND 
FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 
NAVY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Navy shall 
conduct a comprehensive review of the operational and ad-
ministrative chains-of-command and functions of the De-
partment of the Navy. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the review required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider options to do 
each of the following:
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(1) Increase visibility of unit-level readiness at 
senior levels. 
(2) Reduce so-called ‘‘double-hatting’’ and ‘‘tri-
ple-hatting’’ commanders. 
(3) Clarify organizations responsible and ac-
countable for training and certification at the unit, 
group, and fleet level. 
(4) Simplify reporting requirements applicable 
to commanding officers. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
report on the results of the review required by sub-
section (a). The report shall include the following: 
(A) The results of the review, including any 
findings of the Secretary as a result of the re-
view. 
(B) Any organizational changes in oper-
ational or administrative chains-of-command or 
functions of the Department undertaken or to be 
undertaken by the Secretary in light of the re-
view. 
(C) Any recommendations for legislative or 
administration action with respect to the oper-
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ational or administrative chains-of-command or 
functions of the Department as the Secretary 
considers appropriate in light of the review. 
(2) FORM.—The report under this subsection 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in-
clude a classified annex. 
SEC. 1044. MILITARY AVIATION READINESS REVIEW IN SUP-
PORT OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE STRAT-
EGY. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
on military aviation readiness in support of the National 
Defense Strategy (NDS). 
(b) REVIEW FOR REPORT PURPOSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The report under subsection 
(a) shall be based on a review conducted for purposes 
of the report in accordance with this section. 
(2) PANEL.—The review shall be conducted by a 
panel consisting of the following: 
(A) The Commander of the Air Combat 
Command, who shall head the panel. 
(B) The Commander of the Army Aviation 
Branch.
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(C) The Chief of Naval Air Forces. 
(D) The Deputy Commandant of the Ma-
rine Corps for Aviation. 
(E) Such other personnel of the Department 
of Defense as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(c) REVIEW ELEMENTS.—The review required by sub-
section (b) shall address the following: 
(1) An analysis of the career progression of mili-
tary pilots and non-pilot aviators, including a com-
parison between military pilot and non-pilot avi-
ators, on the one hand, and other military speciali-
ties, on the other hand, with respect to each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Tours of duty. 
(B) Assignment lengths. 
(C) Minimum service commitments. 
(D) Professional performance evaluation 
systems. 
(E) Statutory and administrative pro-
motion processes. 
(2) An analysis of aircrew aviation training for 
various aircraft platforms, including— 
(A) an historical analysis, covering the past 
15 years, of first and second assignment total
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flight hours and model-specific flight hours for 
military pilots and non-pilot aviators; and 
(B) an analysis of the flight hour program 
in order to determine the appropriate level of re-
quired monthly flight hours and sorties to main-
tain currency (minimum safe level) and pro-
ficiency (minimum level to be tactically com-
petent). 
(3) An analysis of the effect of recent operational 
deployments on the ability of military pilots and 
non-pilot aviators to build and maintain readiness 
for potential threats from a near-peer adversary, in-
cluding— 
(A) a comparison of rates of simulator 
usage for military pilots and non-pilot aviators 
within and not within the pre-deployment train-
ing window; and 
(B) an assessment of the suitability of 
training curriculum to address high-end combat 
operations against a near-peer adversary. 
(4) An analysis of aviation squadron size and 
composition, including— 
(A) individual unit-level aircraft allocation; 
(B) aviation platform-specific force struc-
ture; and
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(C) quantity of squadrons within each avia-
tion platform. 
(5) An analysis of aviation squadron manning 
documents on appropriate levels and composition of 
military pilots, non-pilot aviators, and non-aircrew 
for each squadron in support of the most current Na-
tional Defense Strategy, including a consideration 
of— 
(A) appropriate levels and composition of 
military pilots, non-pilot aviators, and non-air-
crew for each squadron in support of such Na-
tional Defense Strategy; 
(B) flight-related workload compared with 
non-flight related workload for military pilots 
and non-pilot aviators; 
(C) the number of different aircraft plat-
forms to which enlisted maintenance personnel 
are expected to be assigned throughout a typical 
career; and 
(D) career training milestones for enlisted 
maintenance personnel, and the effects of such 
milestones on military aviation readiness. 
(6) An analysis of logistics programs in support 
of military aviation readiness, including—
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(A) an evaluation of any shortfalls in logis-
tics programs that serve as contributing factors 
to both military pilot retention and overall read-
iness of military aviation units; 
(B) an analysis of aircraft parts cannibal-
ization rates; 
(C) a determination of average mission ca-
pable ratings for aircraft throughout the various 
stages of the deployment cycle; 
(D) an analysis of rates of reassignment of 
aircraft from non-deploying units to deploying 
units; and 
(E) an identification of individual aircraft 
communities, if any, with strained supply 
chains with single-source suppliers. 
SEC. 1045. REPORT ON CAPABILITIES AND CAPACITIES OF 
ARMORED BRIGADE COMBAT TEAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the capabilities and capacities of Armored Brigade 
Combat Teams (ABCTs). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
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(7) A description of deficiencies in repair parts 
and number of qualified mechanics, and a plan to 
correct such deficiencies. 
(8) A plan for the modernization of the Armored 
Brigade Combat Teams. 
SEC. 1046. IMPROVEMENT OF ANNUAL REPORT ON CIVILIAN 
CASUALTIES IN CONNECTION WITH UNITED 
STATES MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
(a) MODIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF ELEMENTS.— 
Subsection (b) of section 1057 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including 
each specific mission, strike, engagement, raid, or in-
cident,’’ after ‘‘military operations’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(E), by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ‘‘, including a dif-
ferentiation between those killed and those injured’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting before the pe-
riod at the end the following: ‘‘, and, when appro-
priate, makes ex gratia payments to the victims or 
their families’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (6); and
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† HR 5515 PAP
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (5): 
‘‘(5) Any update or modification to any report 
under this section during a previous year.’’. 
(b) SCOPE OF UNCLASSIFIED FORM OF REPORT.— 
Subsection (d) of such section is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘The unclassified form of 
each report shall, at a minimum, be responsive to each ele-
ment under subsection (b) of a report under subsection (a), 
and shall be made available to the public at the same time 
it is submitted to Congress (unless the Secretary certifies 
in writing that the publication of such information poses 
a threat to the national security interests of the United 
States).’’. 
SEC. 1047. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTICI-
PATION IN EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGU-
LATIONS 
LICENSE 
APPLICATION 
REVIEW 
PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until 
the date that is three years after such date of enactment, 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report on the partici-
pation by the Department of Defense in the process for re-
viewing applications for export licenses under the Export
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Administration Regulations as a reviewing agency under 
Executive Order 12981 (50 U.S.C. 4603 note; relating to 
administration of export controls). 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) The number of applications for export li-
censes under the Export Administration Regulations 
reviewed by the Department of Defense in the 180-day 
period preceding the submission of the report. 
(2) The number of instances during that 180-day 
period in which the Department disagreed with a 
final determination made with respect to such an ap-
plication under the review procedures set forth in Ex-
ecutive Order 12981. 
(3) A summary of such instances, including— 
(A) a summary of the applicants for such 
licenses and the recipients of items pursuant to 
such licenses in such instances; 
(B) a description of sensitive technologies 
involved in such instances; and 
(C) a description of the rationale of the De-
partment for disagreeing with such determina-
tions. 
(4) The number of such applications under re-
view by the Department or undergoing interagency
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dispute resolution as of the date of the submission of 
the report. 
(c) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classi-
fied annex. 
(d) EXPORT
ADMINISTRATION
REGULATIONS
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Export Administration 
Regulations’’ means subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 1048. AUTOMATIC SUNSET FOR FUTURE STATUTORY 
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 23 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 480 the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 480a. Reports to Congress: termination of indefi-
nite-duration reports after three years 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Any provision of law enacted on 
or after the date of enactment of this section that includes 
an indefinite-duration report requirement shall cease to be 
effective, with respect to that requirement, three years after 
the date of the enactment of that provision of law unless 
that provision of law expressly states that this section is 
inapplicable to that requirement or that provision of law. 
‘‘(b) INDEFINITE-DURATION REPORT REQUIREMENT 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘indefinite-duration re-
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quirement’ means a requirement in any provision of law 
for the Secretary of Defense (or any other officer or em-
ployee of the Department of Defense) to submit to Congress 
(or any committee of Congress) a periodic report for which 
the law does not— 
‘‘(1) state a specific period of time as the period 
during which that report is required to be submitted 
or that provision of law is in effect; or 
‘‘(2) state a specific termination date for the re-
quirement to submit the report or for that provision 
of law. 
‘‘(c) PERIODIC REPORT DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘periodic report’ means a report required to be sub-
mitted on an annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic 
basis.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 23 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 480 the following 
new item: 
‘‘480a. Reports to Congress: termination of indefinite-duration reports after three 
years.’’. 
SEC. 1049. REPEAL OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT OTHER-
WISE TERMINATE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021. 
(a) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE.—Title 10, 
United States Code, is amended as follows:
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(1)(A) Section 229, relating to the display of 
budget information for programs for combating ter-
rorism, is repealed. 
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 9 is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 229. 
(2)(A) Section 231a, relating to budgeting for 
life-cycle costs of aircraft for the Navy, Army, and 
Air Force, is repealed. 
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 9 is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 231a. 
(3) Section 2276, relating to commercial space 
launch cooperation, is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (e); and 
(B) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) 
as subsections (e) and (f), respectively. 
(4) Section 7310, relating to report on repair of 
certain vessels in foreign shipyards, is amended by 
striking subsection (c). 
(b) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2007.—Section 1017 of the John Warner Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2379), relating to obtaining 
carriage by vessel, is amended—
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† HR 5515 PAP
(1) by striking subsection (e); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection 
(e). 
(c) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2008.—Section 1034(d) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (10 U.S.C. 
272 note), relating to distribution of chemical and biologi-
cal agents to non-Federal entities, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (d); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(d). 
(d) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2009.—Section 1047(d) of the Duncan Hun-
ter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(10 U.S.C. 2366b note), relating to reports on bandwidth 
requirements for major defense acquisition programs, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) by striking ‘‘(d) FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS 
FOR BANDWIDTH REQUIREMENTS .—’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS FOR BANDWIDTH RE-
QUIREMENTS.—The Secretary’’; and
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(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately. 
(e) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2011.—Section 1217 of the Ike Skelton Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (22 
U.S.C. 7513 note), relating to authority to establish a pro-
gram to develop and carry out infrastructure projects in 
Afghanistan, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (i); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection 
(i). 
(f) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2015.—Section 1026 of the Carl Levin and 
Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 127 
Stat. 3490), relating to availability of funds for retirement 
of inactivation of Ticonderoga class cruisers or dock land-
ing ships, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (d); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(d). 
(g) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1061 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(10 U.S.C. 111 note) is amended—
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(1) in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs 
(14), (16), (41), and (59); 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (3); 
(3) in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (3); 
and 
(4) in subsection (i), by striking paragraphs 
(15), (18), and (24). 
SEC. 1050. REPORT ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO CER-
TAIN MILITARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 1, 
2019, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report setting forth the re-
sults of a review and assessment, obtained by the Sec-
retary for purposes of the report, of the potential ef-
fects on the military education provided by the edu-
cational institutions of the Department of Defense 
specified in subsection (b) of the actions described in 
subsection (c). 
(2) CONDUCTING
ORGANIZATION.—The review 
and assessment required for purposes of the report 
shall be performed by an organization selected by the 
Secretary from among organizations independent of
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the Department that have expertise in the analysis of 
matters in connection with higher education. 
(b) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
OF
THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE.—The educational institutions of the 
Department of Defense specified in this subsection are the 
following: 
(1) The senior level service schools and inter-
mediate level service schools (as such terms are de-
fined in section 2151(b) of title 10, United States 
Code). 
(2) The Air Force Institute of Technology. 
(3) The National Defense University. 
(4) The Joint Special Operations University. 
(5) The Army Armament Graduate School. 
(6) Any other military educational institution of 
the Department specified by the Secretary for pur-
poses of this section. 
(c) ACTIONS.—The actions described in this subsection 
with respect to the educational institutions of the Depart-
ment of Defense specified in subsection (b) are the following: 
(1) Modification of admission and graduation 
requirements. 
(2) Reduction or expansion of degree-granting 
authority.
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(3) Reduction or expansion of the acceptance of 
research grants. 
(4) Reduction of the number of attending stu-
dents generally. 
(5) Reduction of the number of attending stu-
dents through the sponsoring of education of an in-
creased number of students at non-Department of De-
fense education institutions of higher education. 
(6) Increase in the frequency of curriculum 
changes to account for emerging subject matters of 
importance to national defense. 
(7) Modification of civilian faculty management 
practices, including employment practices. 
(d) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—In addition to the mat-
ters described in subsection (a), the review and report under 
this section shall also include the following: 
(1) A comparison of admission standards and 
graduation requirements of the educational institu-
tions of the Department of Defense specified in sub-
section (b) with admission standards and graduation 
requirements of public and private institutions of 
higher education that are comparable to the edu-
cational institutions of the Department of Defense. 
(2) A comparison of the goals and missions of 
the educational institutions of the Department of De-
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fense specified in subsection (b) with the goals and 
missions of such public and private institutions of 
higher education. 
(3) Any other matters the Secretary considers 
appropriate for purposes of this section. 
SEC. 1051. RECRUITING COSTS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives on the results 
of a study, conducted by the Secretary for purposes of the 
briefing, on the costs of the Armed Forces in recruiting for 
members of the Armed Forces. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The briefing required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the recruiting costs of each 
Armed Force in each of fiscal years 2010 through 
2019. 
(2) An estimate of the recruiting costs of each 
Armed Force in each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2024. 
(3) A description of the factors that contributed 
significantly to the recruiting costs of the Armed 
Forces during fiscal years 2010 through 2019.
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(4) Any other matters in connection with the re-
cruiting costs of the Armed Forces that the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 1061. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER FUNDS FOR BIEN HOA 
DIOXIN CLEANUP. 
(a) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding section 
2215 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of De-
fense may transfer to the Secretary of State, for use by the 
United States Agency for International Development, 
amounts to be used for the Bien Hoa dioxin cleanup in 
Vietnam. 
(b) LIMITATION
ON
AMOUNTS.—Not more than 
$15,000,000 may be transferred in each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2027 under the authority in subsection (a). 
(c) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary of Defense 
may transfer funds appropriated to the Department of De-
fense for ‘‘Operation and Maintenance, Defense-wide’’ 
under the authority in subsection (a) . 
(d) ADDITIONAL TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—The trans-
fer authority provided under subsection (a) is in addition 
to any other transfer authority available to the Department 
of Defense.
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SEC. 1062. IMPROVEMENT OF DATABASE ON EMERGENCY 
RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1406 of the John Warner 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 
(Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2436; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) 
is amended— 
(1) by inserting before ‘‘The Secretary’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘(a) DATABASE REQUIRED.—’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), as designated by para-
graph (1)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘each States’s National 
Guard, as reported by the States’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the National Guard of each State 
and Territory, as reported by the States 
and Territories’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and Territories’’ 
after ‘‘their home States’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) Cyber capabilities of the National Guard 
identified by the Department as critical for response 
to domestic natural or manmade disasters. 
‘‘(4) Cyber capabilities of the other reserve com-
ponents of the Armed Forces identified by the Depart-
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ment as critical for response to domestic natural or 
manmade disasters.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION REQUIRED TO KEEP DATABASE 
CURRENT.—In maintaining the database required by sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall identify and revise the infor-
mation required to be included in the database at least once 
every two years for purposes of keeping the database cur-
rent.’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE.— 
(1) DEADLINE FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall establish the database required 
by section 1406 of the John Warner National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, as amended 
by subsection (a), by not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) USE OF EXISTING DATABASE OR SYSTEM FOR 
CERTAIN CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary may meet the 
requirement with respect to the capabilities described 
in subsection (a)(1) of section 1406 of the John War-
ner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2007, as so amended, in connection with the 
database required by that section through use or 
modification of a current database or tracking system
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of the Department of Defense if the Secretary deter-
mines that such action will— 
(A) expedite compliance with the require-
ment; and 
(B) achieve such compliance at a cost not 
greater than the cost of establishing anew the 
database otherwise covered by the requirement. 
SEC. 1063. ACCEPTANCE AND DISTRIBUTION BY DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE OF ASSISTANCE FROM 
CERTAIN NONPROFIT ENTITIES IN SUPPORT 
OF MISSIONS OF DEPLOYED UNITED STATES 
PERSONNEL AROUND THE WORLD. 
(a) FINDING.—The Senate finds that Spirit of Amer-
ica, a privately-funded, nonpartisan, nonprofit organiza-
tion, acting in partnership with the Department of Defense, 
has made an important contribution in supporting the mis-
sions of deployed United States personnel around the world. 
(b) SENSE OF SENATE.—It is the sense of the Senate 
that United States military commanders should, consistent 
with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance developed 
consistent with section 1088 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), col-
laborate with and provide transportation and other 
logistical support to covered non-Federal entities, including
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Spirit of America, to advance the military missions of the 
Armed Forces. 
(c) DISTRIBUTION OF COVERED NON-FEDERAL ENTITY 
ASSISTANCE ABROAD THROUGH DEPARTMENT
OF DE-
FENSE.— 
(1) ACCEPTANCE AND COORDINATION OF ASSIST-
ANCE.—The Department of Defense (including mem-
bers of the Armed Forces) may, at the discretion of 
the Secretary of Defense and in accordance with guid-
ance issued by the Secretary and developed in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of State and the Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International 
Development— 
(A) accept from any covered non-Federal 
entity humanitarian, economic, and other non-
lethal assistance funded by private funds in the 
carrying out of the purposes of such entity; and 
(B) respond to requests from covered non- 
Federal entities for the identification of the needs 
of local populations abroad for assistance, and 
coordinate with such entitites in the provision 
and distribution of such assistance, in the car-
rying out of such purposes. 
(2) DISTRIBUTION
OF
ASSISTANCE
TO
LOCAL 
POPULATIONS.—In accordance with guidance issued
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by the Secretary of Defense, and developed in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of State and the Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, members of the Armed Forces abroad 
may provide to local populations abroad humani-
tarian, economic, and other nonlethal assistance pro-
vided to the Department by a covered non-Federal en-
tity pursuant to this subsection. 
(3) SCOPE OF GUIDANCE.—The guidance issued 
pursuant to this subsection shall ensure that any as-
sistance distributed pursuant to this subsection shall 
be for purposes of supporting the mission or missions 
of the Department and the Armed Forces for which 
such assistance is provided by a covered non-Federal 
entity. 
(4) DOD SUPPORT FOR ENTITY ACTIVITIES.—In 
accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary of 
Defense, the Department, and the Armed Forces 
may— 
(A) provide transportation, lodging, storage, 
and other logistical support— 
(i) to personnel of a covered non-Fed-
eral entity (whether in the United States or 
abroad) who are carrying out the purposes 
of such entity; and
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(ii) in connection with the acceptance 
and distribution of assistance provided by a 
covered non-Federal entity; and 
(B) use assets of the Department and the 
Armed Forces in the provision of support de-
scribed in subparagraph (A). 
(d) COVERED NON-FEDERAL ENTITY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘covered non-Federal entity’’ means 
the following: 
(1) Spirit of America, a privately-funded, non-
partisan, nonprofit organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that 
is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such 
Code. 
(2) Any other organization that— 
(A) is based in the United States; 
(B) has an independent board of directors 
and is subject to independent financial audits; 
(C) is substantially privately-funded; 
(D) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt 
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; 
and 
(E) provides international assistance.
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SEC. 1064. UNITED STATES POLICY WITH RESPECT TO 
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION AND OVERFLIGHT. 
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States to fly, sail, and operate throughout the 
oceans, seas, and airspace of the world wherever inter-
national law allows. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY.—In furtherance of 
the policy set forth in subsection (a), the Secretary of De-
fense should— 
(1) plan and execute a robust series of routine 
and regular air and naval presence missions through-
out the world and throughout the year, including for 
critical transportation corridors and key routes for 
global commerce; 
(2) in addition to the missions executed pursu-
ant to paragraph (1), execute routine and regular air 
and maritime freedom of navigation operations 
throughout the year, in accordance with international 
law, including the use of expanded military options 
and maneuvers beyond innocent passage; and 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, execute 
the missions pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) with 
regional partner countries and allies of the United 
States.
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SEC. 1065. PROHIBITION OF FUNDS FOR CHINESE LAN-
GUAGE INSTRUCTION PROVIDED BY A CON-
FUCIUS INSTITUTE. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—None of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2019 under this Act may be obligated or ex-
pended for Chinese language instruction provided by a Con-
fucius Institute. 
(b) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2019 under this Act may be obligated or ex-
pended to support a Chinese language program at an insti-
tution of higher education that hosts a Confucius Institute. 
(c) WAIVER.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness may waive the limitation in sub-
section (b) with respect to a Chinese language program at 
a specific institution of higher education if the Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness— 
(1) certifies to the congressional defense commit-
tees that— 
(A) Confucius Institute employees and in-
structors will have no affiliation with the pro-
gram; 
(B) Confucius Institute employees and in-
structors will provide no instruction or support 
to the program;
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(C) Confucius Institute employees and in-
structors will have no authority or influence 
with regard to the curriculum and activities of 
the program; and 
(D) the institution has made publicly avail-
able all memoranda of understanding, contracts, 
and other agreements between the institution and 
the Confucius Institute, or between the institu-
tion and any agency of or organization affiliated 
with the government of the People’s Republic of 
China; or 
(2) certifies to the congressional defense commit-
tees that— 
(A) the requirements described in subpara-
graphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1) have 
been met; and 
(B) the waiver of the limitation in sub-
section (b) is necessary for national security, and 
there is no reasonable alternative to issuing the 
waiver. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) CHINESE
LANGUAGE
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Chinese language program’’ means any Department 
of Defense program designed to provide or support 
Chinese language instruction, including the National
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Security Education Program, the Language Flagship 
program, Project Global Officer, and the Language 
Training Centers program. 
(2) CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Confu-
cius Institute’’ means a Confucius Institute that is 
operated by the Office of Chinese Languages Council 
International, also known as Hanban, which is affili-
ated with the Ministry of Education of the People’s 
Republic of China. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). 
TITLE XI—CIVILIAN PERSONNEL 
MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Department of Defense 
Matters 
SEC. 1101. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTIFICATION OF EXECU-
TIVE QUALIFICATIONS BY QUALIFICATION 
REVIEW BOARDS OF OFFICE OF PERSONNEL 
MANAGEMENT FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENTS 
TO SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE POSITIONS 
IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) TEMPORARY INAPPLICABILITY.—Notwithstanding 
section 3393(c) of title 5, United States Code, or any regula-
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tions implementing that section, and subject to the provi-
sions of this section, the Secretary of Defense may appoint 
individuals for service in the Senior Executive Service of 
the Department of Defense without such individuals being 
subject to the certification of executive qualifications by a 
qualification review board of the Office of Personnel Man-
agement in connection with such appointment otherwise re-
quired by that section. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that individuals appointed 
under this section possess the necessary qualifications and 
experience for the position to which appointed. 
(c) LIMITATION.—The total number of appointments 
made under this section in any year may not exceed 50 
appointments. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the committees of Congress and 
official specified in paragraph (3) a report on the 
number and type of appointments made under this 
section as of the date of the report, including— 
(A) a description of the qualifications of the 
individuals appointed; and
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(B) data on the time required to appoint 
the individuals. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the committees of Congress and 
official specified in paragraph (3) a report on the use 
of the authority in this section. The report shall in-
clude the following: 
(A) The number and type of appointments 
made under this section during the one-year pe-
riod ending on the date of the report. 
(B) Data on and an assessment whether ap-
pointments under the authority in this section 
reduced the time to hire when compared with the 
time to hire under the current review system of 
the Office of Personnel Management. 
(C) An assessment of the utility of the ap-
pointment authority and process under this sec-
tion. 
(D) An assessment whether the appoint-
ments made under this section resulted in higher 
quality new executives for the Senior Executive 
Service of the Department when compared with 
the executives produced under the current review 
system of the Office of Personnel Management.
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(E) Any recommendation for the improve-
ment of the selection and qualification process 
for the Senior Executive Service of the Depart-
ment that the Secretary considers necessary in 
order to attract and hire highly qualified can-
didates for service in that Senior Executive Serv-
ice. 
(3) COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS AND OFFICIAL.— 
The committees of Congress and official specified in 
this paragraph are— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Re-
form of the House of Representatives; and 
(C) the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management. 
(e) SUNSET.—Subsection (a) shall cease to be effective 
on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
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SEC. 1102. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY REINVENTION LABORATORIES 
AND MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITIES 
BASE 
FACILITIES 
FOR 
RECENT 
SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHE-
MATICS GRADUATES OF MINORITY-SERVING 
INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE DIRECT APPOINTMENTS.— 
The director of any facility specified in subsection (b) may 
appoint any qualified recent graduate of a covered edu-
cational institution with a degree in science, technology, en-
gineering, or mathematics to a position at such facility de-
scribed in subsection (d) without regard to the provisions 
of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) FACILITIES.—A facility specified in this subsection 
is any facility as follows: 
(1) A science and technology reinvention labora-
tory of the Department of Defense, as designated pur-
suant to section 1105(a) of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 2358 
note). 
(2) A facility of the Major Range and Test Fa-
cilities Base of the Department. 
(c) RECENT GRADUATES.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a person is a recent graduate of a covered educational 
institution if—
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(1) the person was awarded a degree by the in-
stitution not more than two years before the date of 
the appointment of the person pursuant to this sec-
tion; or 
(2) in the case of any person who has completed 
a period of obligated service in a uniformed service of 
more than four years as of the date the appointment 
of the person pursuant to this section, the person was 
awarded a degree by the institution not more than 
four years before such date of appointment. 
(d) COVERED POSITIONS.—The positions to which per-
sons may be appointed pursuant to this section at a facility 
specified in subsection (b) are scientific and engineering po-
sitions at the facility. 
(e) DURATION OF APPOINTMENT.—Any appointment 
pursuant to this section may be made on a temporary, 
term, or permanent basis, at the election of the director of 
the facility making such appointment. 
(f) COVERED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘covered educational institution’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 2362(e) of title 
10, United States Code. 
(g) SUNSET.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The authority to make ap-
pointments under this section shall expire on the date
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that is five years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in paragraph (1) 
shall be construed to terminate an appointment made 
under this section before the expiration date provided 
in that paragraph in accordance with the terms of 
such appointment. 
SEC. 1103. INCLUSION OF STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES OFFICE 
AND DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT EXPERI-
MENTAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
IN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY TO 
ATTRACT EXPERTS IN SCIENCE AND ENGI-
NEERING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 1599h of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES OFFICE.—The Di-
rector of the Strategic Capabilities Office may carry 
out a program of personnel management authority 
provided in subsection (b) in order to facilitate re-
cruitment of eminent experts in science or engineering 
for the Office. 
‘‘(5) DIUx.—The Director of the Defense Innova-
tion Unit Experimental may carry out a program of 
personnel management authority provided in sub-
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section (b) in order to facilitate recruitment of emi-
nent experts in science or engineering for the Unit.’’. 
(b) SCOPE OF APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.—Subsection 
(b)(1) of such section is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(D) in the case of the Strategic Capabili-
ties Office, appoint scientists and engineers to a 
total of not more than 5 scientific and engineer-
ing positions in the Office; and 
‘‘(E) in the case of the Defense Innovation 
Unit Experimental, appoint scientists and engi-
neers to a total of not more than 5 scientific and 
engineering positions in the Unit;’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF TERMS OF APPOINTMENT.—Sub-
section (c)(2) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘or 
the Office of Operational Test and Evaluation’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the Office of Operational Test and Evaluation, the 
Strategic Capabilities Office, or the Defense Innovation 
Unit Experimental’’.
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SEC. 1104. ENHANCEMENT OF FLEXIBLE MANAGEMENT AU-
THORITIES FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
REINVENTION LABORATORIES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) ENHANCEMENT
OF NONCOMPETITIVE CONVER-
SIONS OF APPOINTMENTS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SCI-
ENTIFIC
AND
ENGINEERING
PROGRAMS.—Section 
2358a(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘TO 
PERMANENT
APPOINTMENT’’ and inserting ‘‘OF
AP-
POINTMENTS’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘to a permanent appointment’’ 
and inserting ‘‘to another temporary appointment or 
to a term or permanent appointment’’. 
(b) ENHANCEMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM ON DYNAMIC 
SHAPING OF WORKFORCE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPER-
TISE.—Section 1109(b)(1)(A) of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 
129 Stat. 1028; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘to appoint’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘to 
make appointments as follows: 
‘‘(i) Appointment of qualified scientific 
and technical personnel who are not current 
Department of Defense civilian employees 
into any scientific or technical position in
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the laboratory for a period of more than one 
year but not more than six years. 
‘‘(ii) Appointment of qualified sci-
entific and technical personnel who are De-
partment civilian employees in term ap-
pointments into any scientific or technical 
position in the laboratory for a period of 
more than one year but not more than six 
years.’’. 
SEC. 1105. INCLUSION OF OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF DE-
FENSE AMONG COMPONENTS OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE COVERED BY DIRECT 
HIRE AUTHORITY FOR FINANCIAL MANAGE-
MENT EXPERTS. 
Section 1110(f) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. 1580 note prec.) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) 
as paragraphs (2) through (10), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (1): 
‘‘(1) The Office of the Secretary of Defense.’’.
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SEC. 1106. AUTHORITY TO EMPLOY CIVILIAN FACULTY MEM-
BERS AT THE JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS 
UNIVERSITY. 
Section 1595(c) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The Joint Special Operations University.’’. 
Subtitle B—Government-Wide 
Matters 
SEC. 1121. ALCOHOL TESTING OF CIVIL SERVICE MARINERS 
OF THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND AS-
SIGNED TO VESSELS. 
(a) ALCOHOL TESTING.—Chapter 643 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
7479 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7479a. Civil service mariners of Military Sealift 
Command: alcohol testing 
‘‘The Secretary of the Navy may prescribe regulations 
establishing a program to conduct on-duty reasonable sus-
picion alcohol testing and post-accident alcohol testing of 
civil service mariners of the Military Sealift Command who 
are assigned to vessels.’’. 
(b) RELEASE OF ALCOHOL TEST RESULTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 7479 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in the heading of subsection (a), by in-
serting ‘‘OR ALCOHOL’’ after ‘‘DRUG’’; and
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(B) by inserting ‘‘or alcohol’’ after ‘‘drug’’ 
each place it appears. 
(2) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 7479. Civil service mariners of Military Sealift 
Command: release of drug and alcohol 
test results to Coast Guard’’. 
(c) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 643 of such title is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 7479 and 
inserting the following new items: 
‘‘7479. Civil service mariners of Military Sealift Command: release of drug and 
alcohol test results to Coast Guard. 
‘‘7479a. Civil service mariners of Military Sealift Command: alcohol testing.’’. 
SEC. 1122. EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY FOR COLLEGE 
GRADUATES AND POST SECONDARY STU-
DENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 
5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 3115. Expedited hiring authority for college grad-
uates; competitive service 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Management. 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning
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given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of an agency may 
appoint, without regard to any provision of sections 
3309 through 3319 and 3330, a qualified individual 
to a position in the competitive service classified in 
a professional or administrative occupational cat-
egory at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or 
below. 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS.—An appointment under 
paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with regu-
lations prescribed by the Director. 
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT.—The head 
of an agency may make an appointment under subsection 
(b) only if the individual being appointed— 
‘‘(1) has received a baccalaureate or graduate de-
gree from an institution of higher education; 
‘‘(2) applies for the position— 
‘‘(A) not later than 2 years after the date 
on which the individual being appointed received 
the degree described in paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who has 
completed a period of not less than 4 years of ob-
ligated service in a uniformed service, not later
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than 2 years after the date of the discharge or re-
lease of the individual from that service; and 
‘‘(3) meets each minimum qualification standard 
prescribed by the Director for the position to which 
the individual is being appointed. 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC NOTICE AND ADVERTISING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of an agency mak-
ing an appointment under subsection (b) shall pub-
licly advertise positions under this section. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the head of an agency shall— 
‘‘(A) adhere to merit system principles; 
‘‘(B) advertise positions in a manner that 
provides for diverse and qualified applicants; 
and 
‘‘(C) ensure potential applicants have ap-
propriate information relevant to the positions 
available. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON APPOINTMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the total number of employees that the 
head of an agency may appoint under this section 
during a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal 
to 15 percent of the number of individuals that the 
agency head appointed during the previous fiscal year
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† HR 5515 PAP
to a position in the competitive service classified in 
a professional or administrative occupational cat-
egory, at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or 
below, under a competitive examining procedure. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Under a regulation pre-
scribed under subsection (f), the Director may estab-
lish a lower limit on the number of individuals that 
may be appointed under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section during a fiscal year based on any factor the 
Director considers appropriate. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Director shall issue 
interim regulations, with an opportunity for comment, for 
the administration of this section. 
‘‘(g) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30 
of each of the first 3 fiscal years beginning after the 
date of enactment of this section, the head of an agen-
cy that makes an appointment under this section 
shall submit a report to— 
‘‘(A) Congress that assesses the impact of 
the use of the authority provided under this sec-
tion during the fiscal year in which the report 
is submitted; and
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‘‘(B) the Director that contains data that 
the Director considers necessary for the Director 
to assess the impact and effectiveness of the au-
thority described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) CONTENT.—The head of an agency shall in-
clude in each report under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) the total number of individuals ap-
pointed by the agency under this section, as well 
as the number of such individuals who are— 
‘‘(i) minorities or members of other 
underrepresented groups; or 
‘‘(ii) veterans; 
‘‘(B) recruitment sources; 
‘‘(C) the total number of individuals ap-
pointed by the agency during the applicable fis-
cal year to a position in the competitive service 
classified in a professional or administrative oc-
cupational category at the GS–11 level, or an 
equivalent level, or below; and 
‘‘(D) any additional data specified by the 
Director. 
‘‘(h) SPECIAL PROVISION REGARDING THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the Secretary of Defense from exercising any
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authority to appoint a recent graduate under section 
1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or any 
applicable successor statute. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.—Any regulations prescribed 
by the Director for the administration of this section 
shall not apply to the Department of Defense during 
the period ending on the date on which the appoint-
ment authority of the Secretary of Defense under sec-
tion 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or 
any applicable successor statute, terminates. 
‘‘§ 3116. Expedited hiring authority for post-secondary 
students; competitive service 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Management. 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(3) STUDENT.—The term ‘student’ means an 
individual enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an 
institution of higher education who is pursuing a bac-
calaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time
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† HR 5515 PAP
basis as determined by the institution of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of an agency may 
make a time-limited appointment of a student, with-
out regard to any provision of sections 3309 through 
3319 and 3330, to a position in the competitive serv-
ice at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below 
for which the student is qualified. 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS.—An appointment under 
paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with regu-
lations prescribed by the Director. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC NOTICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of an agency mak-
ing an appointment under subsection (b) shall pub-
licly advertise positions available under this section. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the head of an agency shall— 
‘‘(A) adhere to merit system principles; 
‘‘(B) advertise positions in a manner that 
provides for diverse and qualified applicants; 
and 
‘‘(C) ensure potential applicants have ap-
propriate information relevant to the positions 
available.
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‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON APPOINTMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the total number of students that the head 
of an agency may appoint under this section during 
a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal to 15 
percent of the number of students that the agency 
head appointed during the previous fiscal year to a 
position in the competitive service at the GS–11 level, 
or an equivalent level, or below. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Under a regulation pre-
scribed under subsection (g), the Director may estab-
lish a lower limit on the number of students that may 
be appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection 
during a fiscal year based on any factor the Director 
considers appropriate. 
‘‘(e) CONVERSION.—The head of an agency may, with-
out regard to any provision of chapter 33 or any other pro-
vision of law relating to the examination, certification, and 
appointment of individuals in the competitive service, con-
vert a student serving in an appointment under subsection 
(b) to a permanent appointment in the competitive service 
within the agency without further competition if the stu-
dent— 
‘‘(1) has completed the course of study leading to 
the baccalaureate or graduate degree;
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(2) has completed not less than 640 hours of 
current continuous employment in an appointment 
under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(3) meets the qualification standards for the po-
sition to which the student will be converted. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The head of an agency shall, 
without regard to any provision of chapter 35 or 75, termi-
nate the appointment of a student appointed under sub-
section (b) upon completion of the designated academic 
course of study unless the student is selected for conversion 
under subsection (e). 
‘‘(g) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Director shall issue 
interim regulations, with an opportunity for comment, for 
the administration of this section. 
‘‘(h) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30 
of each of the first 3 fiscal years beginning after the 
date of enactment of this section, the head of an agen-
cy that makes an appointment under this section 
shall submit a report to— 
‘‘(A) Congress that assesses the impact of 
the use of the authority provided under this sec-
tion during the fiscal year in which the report 
is submitted; and
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(B) the Director that contains data that 
the Director considers necessary for the Director 
to assess the impact and effectiveness of the au-
thority described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) CONTENT.—The head of an agency shall in-
clude in each report under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) the total number of individuals ap-
pointed by the agency under this section, as well 
as the number of such individuals who are— 
‘‘(i) minorities or members of other 
underrepresented groups; or 
‘‘(ii) veterans; 
‘‘(B) recruitment sources; 
‘‘(C) the total number of individuals ap-
pointed by the agency during the applicable fis-
cal year to a position in the competitive service 
at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or 
below; and 
‘‘(D) any additional data specified by the 
Director. 
‘‘(i) SPECIAL PROVISION REGARDING THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this section shall 
preclude the Secretary of Defense from exercising any 
authority to appoint a post-secondary student under
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† HR 5515 PAP
section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), 
or any applicable successor statute. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.—Any regulations prescribed 
by the Director for the administration of this section 
shall not apply to the Department of Defense during 
the period ending on the date on which the appoint-
ment authority of the Secretary of Defense under sec-
tion 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or 
any applicable successor statute, terminates.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘3115. Expedited hiring authority for college graduates; competitive service. 
‘‘3116. Expedited hiring authority for post-secondary students; competitive serv-
ice.’’. 
SEC. 1123. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF VOLUNTARY 
SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAY AUTHORIZED 
FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3523 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) 
in 
subsection 
(b)(3)(B), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$25,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$40,000 (as adjusted in ac-
cordance with subsection (c))’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(c)(1) On March 1 each year, the dollar amount spec-
ified in subsection (b)(3)(B) shall be adjusted by the amount 
determined by the Secretary of Labor to represent the per-
centage increase, if any, between the Consumer Price Index 
(all items; United States city average) published for Decem-
ber of the preceding year and that price index published 
for the December of the year before the preceding year. 
‘‘(2) A percentage increase under paragraph (1) shall 
be adjusted to the nearest one-tenth of one percent, and an 
amount determined under paragraph (1) shall be rounded 
to the nearest multiple of $1,000 (or, if midway between 
multiples of $1,000, to the next higher multiple of $1,000).’’. 
(b) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES.—Section 
9902(f)(5) of such title is amended— 
(1) 
in 
subparagraph 
(A)(ii), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$25,000’’ and inserting ‘‘an amount determined by 
the Secretary, not to exceed $40,000 (as adjusted 
under subparagraph (D)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D)(i) On March 1 each year, the dollar amount spec-
ified in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be adjusted by the 
amount determined by the Secretary of Labor to represent 
the percentage increase, if any, between the Consumer Price 
Index (all items; United States city average) published for
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† HR 5515 PAP
December of the preceding year and that price index pub-
lished for the December of the year before the preceding year. 
‘‘(ii) A percentage increase under clause (i) shall be 
adjusted to the nearest one-tenth of one percent, and an 
amount determined under clause (i) shall be rounded to the 
nearest multiple of $1,000 (or, if midway between multiples 
of $1,000, to the next higher multiple of $1,000).’’. 
SEC. 1124. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY AUTHOR-
ITY TO GRANT ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS, AND 
GRATUITIES TO CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ON OF-
FICIAL DUTY IN A COMBAT ZONE. 
Paragraph (2) of section 1603(a) of the Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global 
War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 
109–234; 120 Stat. 443), as added by section 1102 of the 
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4616) 
and most recently amended by section 1108 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public 
Law 115–91), is further amended by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2020’’.
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† HR 5515 PAP
SEC. 1125. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO WAIVE 
ANNUAL LIMITATION ON PREMIUM PAY AND 
AGGREGATE LIMITATION ON PAY FOR FED-
ERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WORKING OVER-
SEAS. 
Subsection (a) of section 1101 of the Duncan Hunter 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4615), as most recently 
amended by section 1105 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), is fur-
ther amended by striking ‘‘through 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘through 2019’’. 
TITLE XII—MATTERS RELATING 
TO FOREIGN NATIONS 
Subtitle A—Assistance and 
Training 
SEC. 1201. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR USE OF AD-
VISORS AND TRAINERS FOR TRAINING OF 
PERSONNEL OF FOREIGN MINISTRIES WITH 
SECURITY MISSIONS UNDER DEFENSE INSTI-
TUTION CAPACITY BUILDING AUTHORITIES. 
Section 332(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘assign civil-
ian employees of the Department of Defense and 
members of the armed forces as advisors and train-
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† HR 5515 PAP
ers’’ and inserting ‘‘provide advisors or trainers’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘assigned’’ each place it ap-
pears (other than the last place) and inserting 
‘‘provided’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘assigned advisor or train-
er’’ and inserting ‘‘advisor or trainer so pro-
vided’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘each assignment’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each provision of such an advisor or 
trainer’’. 
SEC. 1202. MODIFICATION TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 341(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘assistance’’ after ‘‘any’’. 
SEC. 1203. EXPANSION OF REGIONAL DEFENSE COMBATING 
TERRORISM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO IN-
CLUDE IRREGULAR WARFARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 345 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; 
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following new subsections (a) and (b):
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
may carry out a program under which the Secretary 
may pay any costs associated with the education and 
training of foreign military officers, ministry of de-
fense officials, or security officials at military or ci-
vilian educational institutions, regional centers, con-
ferences, seminars, or other training programs con-
ducted for purposes of regional defense in connection 
with either of the following: 
‘‘(A) Combating terrorism. 
‘‘(B) Irregular warfare. 
‘‘(2) COVERED COSTS.—Costs for which payment 
may be made under this section include the costs of 
transportation and travel and subsistence costs. 
‘‘(3) DESIGNATION.—The program authorized by 
this section shall be known as the ‘Regional Defense 
Combating Terrorism and Irregular Warfare Fellow-
ship Program’. 
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The program authorized by 
subsection (a) shall be carried out under regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The regulations shall ensure 
that—
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Defense and the Sec-
retary of State— 
‘‘(i) jointly develop and plan activities 
under the program that— 
‘‘(I) advance United States secu-
rity cooperation objectives; and 
‘‘(II) support theater security co-
operation planning of the combatant 
commands; and 
‘‘(ii) coordinate on the implementation 
of activities under the program; 
‘‘(B) each of the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of State designates an individual 
at the lowest appropriate level of the Department 
of Defense or the Department of State, as appli-
cable, who shall be responsible for program co-
ordination; and 
‘‘(C) to the extent practicable, activities 
under the program are appropriately coordi-
nated with, and do not duplicate or conflict 
with, activities under International Military 
Education and Training (IMET) authorities. 
‘‘(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Upon any up-
date of the regulations, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
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† HR 5515 PAP
Senate and the House of Representatives a copy of the 
regulations as so updated, together with a description 
of the update.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (3) of subsection (d), as redes-
ignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by strik-
ing ‘‘in the global war on terrorism’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 345. Regional Defense Combating Terrorism and Ir-
regular Warfare Fellowship Program’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table 
of sections at the beginning of subchapter V of chapter 
16 of such title is amended by striking the item relat-
ing to section 345 and inserting the following new 
item: 
‘‘345. Regional Defense Combating Terrorism and Irregular Warfare Fellowship 
Program.’’. 
SEC. 1204. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO 
SUPPORT 
BORDER 
SECURITY 
OPER-
ATIONS OF CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
(a) EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY.—Paragraph (1) of 
subsection (a) of section 1226 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) 
is amended to read as follows:
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, 
with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is au-
thorized to provide support on a reimbursement basis 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) To the Government of Jordan for pur-
poses of supporting and enhancing efforts of the 
armed forces of Jordan to increase security and 
sustain increased security along the border of 
Jordan with Syria and Iraq. 
‘‘(B) To the Government of Lebanon for 
purposes of supporting and enhancing efforts of 
the armed forces of Lebanon to increase security 
and sustain increased security along the border 
of Lebanon with Syria. 
‘‘(C) To the Government of Egypt for pur-
poses of supporting and enhancing efforts of the 
armed forces of Egypt to increase security and 
sustain increased security along the border of 
Egypt with Libya. 
‘‘(D) To the Government of Tunisia for pur-
poses of supporting and enhancing efforts of the 
armed forces of Tunisia to increase security and 
sustain increased security along the border of 
Tunisia with Libya.
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(E) To the Government of Oman for pur-
poses of supporting and enhancing efforts of the 
armed forces of Oman to increase security and 
sustain increased security along the border of 
Oman with Yemen. 
‘‘(F) To the Government of Pakistan for 
purposes of supporting and enhancing efforts of 
the armed forces of Pakistan to increase security 
and sustain increased security along the border 
of Pakistan with Afghanistan.’’. 
(b) CERTIFICATION.—Subsection (d) of such section is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) NOTICE
AND CERTIFICATION BEFORE EXER-
CISE.—Not later than 15 days before providing support 
under the authority of subsection (a) to a country that has 
not previously received such support, the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall sub-
mit to the specified congressional committees a report 
that— 
‘‘(1) sets forth a full description of the support 
to be provided, including— 
‘‘(A) the purpose of such support; 
‘‘(B) the amount of support to be provided; 
and
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(C) the anticipated duration of the provi-
sion of such support; and 
‘‘(2) includes a certification that— 
‘‘(A) the recipient country has taken demon-
strable steps to increase security along the border 
specified for such country in subsection (a); and 
‘‘(B) the provision of such support is in the 
interest of United States national security.’’. 
(c) LIMITATION ON REIMBURSEMENT OF PAKISTAN.— 
Such section is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 
new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON REIMBURSEMENT OF PAKISTAN 
PENDING CERTIFICATION.—No amount of reimbursement 
support under subsection (a)(1)(F) is authorized to be dis-
bursed to the Government of Pakistan unless the Secretary 
of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees 
that the following conditions are met: 
‘‘(1) The military and security operations of 
Pakistan pertaining to border security and ancillary 
activities for which reimbursement is sought have 
been coordinated with United States military rep-
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† HR 5515 PAP
resentatives in advance of the execution of such oper-
ations and activities. 
‘‘(2) The goals and desired outcomes of each such 
operation or activity have been established and agreed 
upon in advance by the United States and Pakistan. 
‘‘(3) A process exists to verify the achievement of 
the goals and desired outcomes established in accord-
ance with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) The Government of Pakistan is making an 
effort to actively coordinate with the Government of 
Afghanistan on issues relating to border security on 
the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.’’. 
(d) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Such section is further 
amended by inserting after subsection (e), as so designated 
by subsection (c) of this section, the following new sub-
section (f): 
‘‘(f) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not later than 30 days 
after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the specified congressional committees a re-
port on reimbursements pursuant to subsection (a) during 
the preceding fiscal quarter that includes— 
‘‘(1) an identification of each country reim-
bursed; 
‘‘(2) the date of each reimbursement;
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘(3) a description of any partner nation border 
security efforts for which reimbursement was pro-
vided; 
‘‘(4) an assessment of the value of partner nation 
border security efforts for which reimbursement was 
provided; 
‘‘(5) the total amounts of reimbursement pro-
vided to each partner nation in the preceding four fis-
cal quarters; and 
‘‘(6) such other matters as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate.’’. 
(e) EXTENSION.—Subsection (h) of such section, as so 
redesignated, is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ 
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. 
SEC. 1205. LEGAL AND POLICY REVIEW OF ADVISE, ASSIST, 
AND ACCOMPANY MISSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Policy shall, in coordination with the General 
Counsel of the Department of Defense and the commanders 
of appropriate combatant commands, submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report on a review, conducted 
for purposes of the report, of the legal and policy frame-
works associated with advise, assist, and accompany mis-
sions by United States military personnel.
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† HR 5515 PAP
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report and review required by 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An analysis of the risks and benefits of 
United States military personnel conducting advise, 
assist, and accompany missions with foreign partner 
forces, and an assessment of the relation of such risks 
and benefits to United States security objectives. 
(2) A review of execute orders in order to ensure 
that such orders comply with United States law for 
the employment of United States military personnel 
and capabilities to advise, assist, and accompany for-
eign partner forces. 
(3) An assessment whether the legal and policy 
frameworks applicable to advise, assist, and accom-
pany missions by United States military personnel 
are adequately communicated to and understood at 
all levels of operational command. 
(4) An assessment whether approvals related to 
advise, assist, and accompany missions are taken at 
the appropriate level of command. 
(5) A definition, and policy guidance, for the ap-
propriate use in execute orders of each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Advise 
(B) Assist.
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† HR 5515 PAP
(C) Accompany. 
(D) Collective self defense. 
(E) Last point of cover and conceal. 
(6) Any other matters the Under Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
(c) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classi-
fied annex. 
SEC. 1206. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS RELATING TO DE-
FENSE SECURITY COOPERATION STATUTORY 
REORGANIZATION. 
(a) CHAPTER REFERENCES.—The following provisions 
of law are amended by striking ‘‘chapter 15’’ and inserting 
‘‘chapter 13’’: 
(1) Section 886(a)(5) of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 466(a)(5)). 
(2) Section 332(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1982(a)(1)). 
(3) Section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(4) Section 115(i)(6) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(5) Section 12304(c)(1) of title 10, United States 
Code.
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(6) Section 484C(c)(3)(C)(v)) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091c(c)(3)(C)(v)). 
(b) SECTION REFERENCES.— 
(1) Title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in section 386(c)(1), by striking ‘‘Sec-
tions 311, 321, 331, 332, 333,’’ and inserting 
‘‘Sections 246, 251, 252, 253, 321,’’; and 
(B) in section 10541(b)(9), in the matter 
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sec-
tions 331, 332, 333,’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 
251, 252, 253,’’. 
(2) Section 484C(c)(3)(C)(i) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091c(c)(3)(C)(i)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘section 331, 332,’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 251, 252,’’. 
SEC. 1207. NAVAL SMALL CRAFT INSTRUCTION AND TECH-
NICAL TRAINING SCHOOL. 
(a) SCHOOL AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter V of chapter 16 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 351. Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical 
Training School 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may op-
erate an education and training facility known as the
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‘Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training 
School’ (in this section referred to as the ‘School’). 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION OF EXECUTIVE AGENT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall designate the Secretary of a military 
department as the Department of Defense executive agent 
for carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary of De-
fense under this section. 
‘‘(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the School shall be to 
provide to the military and other security forces of one or 
more friendly foreign countries education and training to 
increase professionalism, readiness, and respect for human 
rights through— 
‘‘(1) formal courses of instruction; and 
‘‘(2) mobile training teams for— 
‘‘(A) the operation, employment, mainte-
nance, and logistics of specialized equipment; 
‘‘(B) participation in— 
‘‘(i) joint exercises; or 
‘‘(ii) coalition or international mili-
tary operations; and 
‘‘(C) improved interoperability between— 
‘‘(i) the armed forces; and 
‘‘(ii) the military and other security 
forces of the one or more friendly foreign 
countries.
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‘‘(d) PERSONNEL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
may not provide education or training at the School 
to any personnel of a country that is prohibited from 
receiving such education or training under any other 
provision of law. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION
IN
SELECTION.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary of 
State in the selection of foreign personnel to be pro-
vided education and training at the School. 
‘‘(e) FIXED COSTS.—The fixed costs of operation and 
maintenance of the School in a fiscal year may be paid 
from amounts made available for such fiscal year for oper-
ation and maintenance of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 15 each 
year, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a detailed report on the activities and 
operating costs of the School during the preceding fiscal 
year.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of subchapter V of chapter 16 
of such title is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘351. Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School.’’.
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(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report that sets forth the following: 
(1) The budget requirements for the operation 
and sustainment of the Naval Small Craft Instruction 
and Technical Training School authorized by section 
351 of title 10, United States Code (as added by sub-
section (a)), during the period of the future-years de-
fense program submitted to Congress in fiscal year 
2019, including— 
(A) a description of the budget requirements 
relating to the School for— 
(i) Major Force Program–2; and 
(ii) Major Force Program–11; and 
(B) an identification of any other source of 
funding for the School. 
(2) The anticipated requirements for facilities for 
the School. 
(3) An identification of the Secretary of a mili-
tary department designated by the Secretary of De-
fense as executive agent for the School under sub-
section (b) of such section.
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(4) The anticipated military construction and 
facilities renovation requirements for the School dur-
ing such period. 
(5) Any other matter relating to the School that 
the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. 
(c) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in section 351 of title 
10, United States Code (as so added), may be con-
strued as authorizing the use of funds appropriated 
for the Department of Defense for any purpose de-
scribed in paragraph (2) unless specifically author-
ized by an Act of Congress other than that section or 
this Act. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes described in this 
paragraph are the following: 
(A) The operation of a facility other than 
the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical 
Training School that is in operation as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act for the provi-
sion of education and training authorized to be 
provided by the School. 
(B) The construction or expansion of any 
facility of the School.
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Subtitle B—Matters Relating to 
Afghanistan and Pakistan 
SEC. 1211. AFGHANISTAN SECURITY FORCES FUND. 
(a) CONTINUATION OF PRIOR AUTHORITIES AND NO-
TICE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Funds available 
to the Department of Defense for the Afghanistan Security 
Forces Fund for fiscal year 2019 shall be subject to the con-
ditions contained in— 
(1) subsections (b) through (f) of section 1513 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 428), as 
most recently amended by section 1521(d)(2)(A) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2577); and 
(2) section 1521(d)(1) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 1513(b)(1) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 is 
amended by striking ‘‘security forces of Afghanistan’’ and 
inserting ‘‘security forces of the Ministry of Defense and 
the Ministry of the Interior of the Government of the Is-
lamic Republic of Afghanistan’’. 
(c) EQUIPMENT DISPOSITION.— 
(1) ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.—Sub-
ject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense may
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accept equipment that is procured using amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated for the Afghanistan Secu-
rity Forces Fund by this Act and is intended for 
transfer to the security forces of Afghanistan, but is 
not accepted by such security forces. 
(2) CONDITIONS
ON
ACCEPTANCE
OF
EQUIP-
MENT.—Before accepting any equipment under the 
authority provided by paragraph (1), the Commander 
of United States forces in Afghanistan shall make a 
determination that such equipment was procured for 
the purpose of meeting requirements of the security 
forces of Afghanistan, as agreed to by both the Gov-
ernment of Afghanistan and the Government of the 
United States, but is no longer required by such secu-
rity forces or was damaged before transfer to such se-
curity forces. 
(3) ELEMENTS OF DETERMINATION.—In making 
a determination under paragraph (2) regarding 
equipment, the Commander of United States forces in 
Afghanistan shall consider alternatives to the accept-
ance of such equipment by the Secretary. An expla-
nation of each determination, including the basis for 
the determination and the alternatives considered, 
shall be included in the relevant quarterly report re-
quired under paragraph (5).
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(4) TREATMENT AS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
STOCKS.—Equipment accepted under the authority 
provided by paragraph (1) may be treated as stocks 
of the Department of Defense upon notification to the 
congressional defense committees of such treatment. 
(5) QUARTERLY REPORTS ON EQUIPMENT DIS-
POSITION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
every 90-day period thereafter during which the 
authority provided by paragraph (1) is exer-
cised, the Secretary shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report describing the 
equipment accepted during the period covered by 
such report under the following: 
(i) This subsection. 
(ii) Section 1521(b) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 
2575). 
(iii) Section 1531(b) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 1088). 
(iv) Section 1532(b) of the Carl Levin 
and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National
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Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 
3613). 
(v) Section 1531(d) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2014 (Public Law 113–66; 127 Stat. 938; 
10 U.S.C. 2302 note). 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include a list of all equip-
ment that was accepted during the period cov-
ered by such report and treated as stocks of the 
Department of Defense and copies of the deter-
minations made under paragraph (2), as re-
quired by paragraph (3). 
(d) SECURITY OF AFGHAN WOMEN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds available to the 
Department of Defense for the Afghan Security Forces 
Fund for fiscal year 2019, it is the goal that 
$25,000,000, but in no event less than $10,000,000, 
shall be used for— 
(A) the recruitment, integration, retention, 
training, and treatment of women in the Afghan 
National Defense and Security Forces; and
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(B) the recruitment, training, and con-
tracting of female security personnel for future 
elections. 
(2) TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.—Such 
programs and activities may include— 
(A) efforts to recruit women into the Afghan 
National Defense and Security Forces, including 
the special operations forces; 
(B) programs and activities of the Afghan 
Ministry of Defense Directorate of Human 
Rights and Gender Integration and the Afghan 
Ministry of Interior Office of Human Rights, 
Gender and Child Rights; 
(C) development and dissemination of gen-
der and human rights educational and training 
materials and programs within the Afghan Min-
istry of Defense and the Afghan Ministry of Inte-
rior; 
(D) efforts to address harassment and vio-
lence against women within the Afghan National 
Defense and Security Forces; 
(E) improvements to infrastructure that ad-
dress the requirements of women serving in the 
Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, 
including appropriate equipment for female se-
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curity and police forces, and transportation for 
policewomen to their station; 
(F) support for Afghanistan National Police 
Family Response Units; and 
(G) security provisions for high-profile fe-
male police and military officers. 
(e) ASSESSMENT OF AFGHANISTAN PROGRESS ON SE-
CURITY OBJECTIVES.— 
(1) ASSESSMENT
REQUIRED.—Not later than 
May 1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, submit to the 
Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate an assessment de-
scribing the progress of the Government of the Islamic 
Republic of Afghanistan toward meeting shared secu-
rity objectives. In conducting such assessment, the 
Secretary of Defense shall consider each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The extent to which the Government of 
Afghanistan has taken steps toward increased ac-
countability and reducing corruption within the 
Ministries of Defense and Interior.
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(B) The extent to which the capability and 
capacity of the Afghan National Defense and Se-
curity Forces have improved as a result of Af-
ghanistan Security Forces Fund investment, in-
cluding through training. 
(C) The extent to which the Afghan Na-
tional Defense and Security Forces have been 
able to increase pressure on the Taliban, al- 
Qaeda, the Haqqani network, and other terrorist 
organizations, including by re-taking territory, 
defending territory, and disrupting attacks. 
(D) Whether or not the Government of Af-
ghanistan is ensuring that supplies, equipment, 
and weaponry supplied by the United States are 
appropriately distributed to security forces 
charged with fighting the Taliban and other ter-
rorist organizations. 
(E) The extent to which the Government of 
Afghanistan has designated the appropriate staff, 
prioritized the development of relevant processes, 
and provided or requested the allocation of re-
sources necessary to support a peace and rec-
onciliation process in Afghanistan. 
(F) Such other factors as the Secretaries 
consider appropriate.
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(2) WITHHOLDING OF ASSISTANCE FOR INSUFFI-
CIENT PROGRESS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of De-
fense determines, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of State, pursuant to the assessment under 
paragraph (1) that the Government of Afghani-
stan has made insufficient progress, the Sec-
retary of Defense may withhold assistance for the 
Afghan National Defense and Security Forces 
until such time as the Secretary determines suffi-
cient progress has been made. 
(B) NOTICE
TO
CONGRESS.—If the Sec-
retary of Defense withholds assistance under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of State, provide notice 
to Congress not later than 30 days after making 
the decision to withhold such assistance. 
SEC. 1212. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN COALI-
TION NATIONS FOR SUPPORT PROVIDED TO 
UNITED STATES MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (a) of section 1233 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 
(Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 393), as most recently 
amended by section 1212 of the National Defense Authoriza-
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† HR 5515 PAP
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), is fur-
ther amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘October 1, 2017, and ending on December 
31, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2018, and ending 
on December 31, 2019’’; and 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) Pakistan for certain activities meant to en-
hance the security situation in the Afghanistan-Paki-
stan border region pursuant to section 1226 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note), as amended by the John 
S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2019.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION TO LIMITATIONS.—Subsection (d) 
of such section is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the first sentence— 
(i) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2017, and 
ending on December 31, 2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘October 1, 2018, and ending on De-
cember 31, 2019’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘$900,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$350,000,000’’; and
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(B) by striking the second sentence; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3). 
(c) REPEAL OF PROVISION RELATING TO REIMBURSE-
MENT TO PAKISTAN FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACTIVI-
TIES.—Such section is further amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (e); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (f) through (h) 
as subsections (e) through (g), respectively. 
(d) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—Paragraph (1) of sub-
section (e) of such section, as redesignated by subsection (c) 
of this section, is amended by striking the second sentence. 
SEC. 1213. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER DE-
FENSE ARTICLES AND PROVIDE DEFENSE 
SERVICES TO THE MILITARY AND SECURITY 
FORCES OF AFGHANISTAN. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (h) of section 1222 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1992), as most recently 
amended by section 1211 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 115–91), is fur-
ther amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 
(b) EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES.—Subsection (i)(2) of 
such section, as so amended, is further amended by striking
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† HR 5515 PAP
‘‘December 31, 2018’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 
SEC. 1214. MODIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR AFGHAN 
ALLIES PROGRAM. 
Section 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 
(8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (10); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (11) 
through (16) as paragraphs (10) through (15), 
respectively; 
(C) in paragraph (11)(A), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘‘the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘the John S. McCain National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2019’’; 
(D) in paragraph (12), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘paragraph (12)(B)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (11)(B)’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (13), as so redesignated, 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘a report to the’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘House of Representatives’’ and insert-
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† HR 5515 PAP
ing ‘‘a report to the appropriate committees of 
Congress’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(c). 
Subtitle C—Matters Relating to 
Syria, Iraq, and Iran 
SEC. 1221. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSIST-
ANCE TO COUNTER THE ISLAMIC STATE OF 
IRAQ AND SYRIA. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (a) of section 1236 of the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 
113–291; 128 Stat. 3558), as most recently amended by sec-
tion 1222 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), is further amended 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘December 
31, 2020’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Subsection (g) of such section 1236, as 
most recently so amended, is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘for the Department of Defense 
for Overseas Contingency Operations for fiscal year 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘for the Department of Defense 
for Overseas Contingency Operations for fiscal year 
2019’’; and
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† HR 5515 PAP
(2) by striking ‘‘$1,269,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$850,000,000’’. 
(c) LIMITATION
OF USE
OF FISCAL YEAR 2019 
FUNDS.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2019 by this Act for activities under the author-
ity in section 1236 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015, as amended by this section, not more than 
$450,000,000 may be obligated or expended for such activi-
ties until the date on which the Secretary of Defense has 
submitted to the congressional defense committees each of 
the following: 
(1) The report on the United States strategy in 
Iraq required by the joint explanatory statement of 
the committee of the conference accompanying Con-
ference Report 115–404. 
(2) A report setting forth the following: 
(A) An explanation of the purpose of a con-
tinuing United States military presence in Iraq, 
including— 
(i) an explanation of the national secu-
rity objectives of the United States with re-
spect to Iraq; 
(ii) a detailed description of—
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† HR 5515 PAP
(I) the size of a continuing United 
States military presence in Iraq; and 
(II) the roles and missions associ-
ated with a continuing United States 
military presence in Iraq; and 
(iii) a delineation of the responsibil-
ities in connection with a continuing 
United States military presence in Iraq 
of— 
(I) the Combined Joint Task 
Force Operation Inherent Resolve (or a 
successor task force); 
(II) the Office of Security Co-
operation in Iraq; and 
(III) other United States embassy- 
based military personnel. 
(B) An identification of the specific units of 
the Iraqi Security Forces to receive training and 
equipment or other support in fiscal year 2019. 
(C) A plan for ensuring that any vehicles 
and equipment provided to the Iraqi Security 
Forces pursuant to that authority are main-
tained in subsequent fiscal years using funds of 
Iraq.
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† HR 5515 PAP
(D) An estimate, by fiscal year, of the fund-
ing anticipated to be required for support of the 
Iraqi Security Forces pursuant to that authority 
during the five fiscal years beginning with fiscal 
year 2020. 
(E) A detailed plan for the obligation and 
expenditure of the funds requested for fiscal year 
2019 for the Department of Defense for Oper-
ational Sustainment of the Iraqi Security 
Forces. 
(F) A plan for the transition to the Govern-
ment of Iraq of responsibility for funding for 
Operational Sustainment of the Iraqi Security 
Forces for fiscal years after fiscal year 2019. 
(G) A description of any actions carried out 
under this paragraph. 
SEC. 1222. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE VETTED 
SYRIAN OPPOSITION. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1209(a) of the Carl Levin 
and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 
Stat. 3559), as most recently amended by section 1221(a) 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2485), is further
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† HR 5515 PAP
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS IN GENERAL.— 
(1) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2019 for the De-
partment of Defense may be obligated or expended for 
activities under the authority in section 1209 of the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as 
amended by subsection (a), until the later of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The date on which the President sub-
mits the report on United States strategy in 
Syria required by section 1221 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 
(Public Law 115–91). 
(B) The date that is 30 days after the date 
on which the Secretary of Defense submits the re-
port described in paragraph (2). 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port setting forth the following: 
(A) A detailed description of the internal se-
curity forces of the vetted Syrian opposition to
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† HR 5515 PAP
be trained and equipped under such authority, 
including a description of their geographic loca-
tions, demographic profiles, political affiliations, 
current capabilities, and relation to the objec-
tives under the authority in section 1209 of the 
Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2015, as amended by subsection (a). 
(B) A detailed description of planned capa-
bilities, including categories of equipment, in-
tended to be provided to the elements of the vet-
ted Syrian opposition under such authority. 
(C) A description of the planned level of en-
gagement by United States forces with the ele-
ments of the vetted Syrian opposition after such 
elements of the vetted Syrian opposition have 
been trained and equipped under such authority, 
including the oversight of equipment provided 
under such authority and the activities con-
ducted by such vetted Syrian opposition forces. 
(D) An explanation of the processes and 
mechanisms for local commanders of the vetted 
Syrian opposition to exercise command and con-
trol of the elements of the vetted Syrian opposi-
tion after such elements of the vetted Syrian op-
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† HR 5515 PAP
position have been trained and equipped under 
such authority. 
(E) An explanation of complementary local 
governance and other stabilization activities in 
areas in which elements of the local internal se-
curity forces trained and equipped under such 
authority will be operating and the relation of 
such local governance and other stabilization ac-
tivities to the oversight of such security forces. 
(c) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON USE OF FUNDS DUR-
ING FISCAL YEAR 2019.— 
(1) CERTIFICATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH USE 
OF FUNDS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and every 120 days there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a written certification on the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Whether, during the 120-day period 
ending on the date of the certification, demon-
strable progress was made— 
(i) to retake control of territory in 
Syria from the Islamic State of Iraq and 
Syria (ISIS); or 
(ii) to stabilize areas in Syria formerly 
held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
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† HR 5515 PAP
(B) Whether, during such period, the vetted 
Syrian opposition tasked with conducting local 
security operations that United States forces are 
training and equipping under the authority in 
section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2015, as amended by sub-
section (a), were demographically representative 
of the local communities and serve local govern-
ance bodies that are similarly representative of 
the local communities. 
(C) Whether, during such period, the De-
partment of Defense took actions to mitigate any 
pause in offensive operations against the Islamic 
State of Iraq and Syria through the training, 
equipping, and assistance of the vetted Syrian 
opposition. 
(D) Whether, during such period, support 
provided under the authority referred to in sub-
paragraph (B) was consistent with United 
States standards regarding respect for human 
rights, rule of law, and support for stable and 
equitable governance. 
(E) Whether, during such period, members 
of the vetted Syrian opposition receiving support
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† HR 5515 PAP
under the authority referred to in subparagraph 
(B) continued to demonstrate respect for human 
rights and rule of law, violations of human 
rights and rule of law by such members were ap-
propriately investigated, and the individuals re-
sponsible for such violations were appropriately 
held accountable. 
(2) LIMITATION.—If the Secretary does not make 
a certification by the deadline for submittal required 
for the certification under paragraph (1), or is unable 
in the certification to certify each of the matters spec-
ified in that paragraph, no support may be provided 
to the vetted Syrian opposition under the authority 
in section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2015, as amended by subsection (a), 
during the period that— 
(A) begins on the deadline for submittal of 
the certification (if the certification is not made) 
or the date of the certification (if the certifi-
cation does not certify each of the matters), as 
applicable; and 
(B) ends on the date on which a certifi-
cation is submitted under paragraph (1) that 
certifies each of the matters.
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† HR 5515 PAP
SEC. 1223. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES 
OF THE OFFICE OF SECURITY COOPERATION 
IN IRAQ. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (f)(1) of 
section 1215 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘fiscal year 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2019’’. 
(b) AMOUNT AVAILABLE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Such section is further 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2018 may not exceed $42,000,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘fiscal year 2019 may not exceed 
$45,300,000’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2019’’. 
(2) LIMITATION OF USE OF FISCAL YEAR 2019 
FUNDS PENDING REPORTS.—Of the amount available 
for fiscal year 2019 for section 1215 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as 
amended by this section, not more than an amount 
equal to 25 percent of such amount may be obligated 
or expended for the Office of Security Cooperation in 
Iraq until 30 days after the later of—
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(A) the date on which the report on the 
United States strategy on Iraq required by the 
joint explanatory statement of the committee of 
the conference accompanying Conference Report 
115–404 is submitted to the congressional defense 
committees; and 
(B) the date on which the report required 
under subsection (c) is submitted to the appro-
priate committees of Congress. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the Office of Security Cooperation 
in Iraq. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the enduring planned 
size and missions of the Office of Security Co-
operation in Iraq after the cessation of major 
combat operations against the Islamic State of 
Iraq and Syria. 
(B) A description of the relationship be-
tween the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq
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and any planned enduring presence of other 
United States forces in Iraq. 
(C) A detailed description of any activity to 
be conducted by the Office of Security Coopera-
tion in Iraq in fiscal year 2019. 
(D) A plan and timeline for the normaliza-
tion of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq 
to conform to other offices of security coopera-
tion, including the transition of funding from 
the Department of Defense to the Department of 
State by the beginning of fiscal year 2020. 
(E) Such other matters with respect to the 
Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq as the 
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State 
consider appropriate. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 
of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
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SEC. 1224. SYRIA STUDY GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a working 
group to be known as the ‘‘Syria Study Group’’ (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Group’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Group is to exam-
ine and make recommendations on the military and diplo-
matic strategy of the United States with respect to the con-
flict in Syria. 
(c) COMPOSITION.— 
(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Group shall be composed 
of 12 members, who shall be appointed as follows: 
(A) One member appointed by the chair of 
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 
(B) One member appointed by the ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate. 
(C) One member appointed by the chair of 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate. 
(D) One member appointed by the ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate. 
(E) One member appointed by the chair of 
the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
of Representatives.
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(F) One member appointed by the ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives. 
(G) One member appointed by the chair of 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives. 
(H) One member appointed by the ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
(I) One member appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(J) One member appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(K) One member appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives. 
(L) One member appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(2) CO-CHAIRS.— 
(A) Of the members of the Group, one co- 
chair shall be jointly designated by— 
(i) the chairs of the Committee on 
Armed Services and the Committee on For-
eign Relations of the Senate;
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(ii) the chairs of the Committee on 
Armed Services and the Committee on For-
eign Affairs of the House of Representatives; 
(iii) the majority leader of the Senate; 
and 
(iv) the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(B) Of the members of the Group, one co- 
chair shall be jointly designated by— 
(i) the ranking minority members of 
the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate; 
(ii) the ranking minority members of 
the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; 
(iii) the minority leader of the Senate; 
and 
(iv) the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives. 
(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—A member shall 
be appointed for the life of the Group.
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(4) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Group 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap-
pointment. 
(d) DUTIES.— 
(1) REVIEW.—The Group shall conduct a review 
on the current United States military and diplomatic 
strategy with respect to the conflict in Syria that in-
cludes a review of current United States objectives in 
Syria and the desired end state in Syria. 
(2) ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
Group shall— 
(A) conduct a comprehensive assessment of 
the current situation in Syria, the impact of 
such situation on neighboring countries, the re-
sulting regional and geopolitical threats to the 
United States, and current military, diplomatic, 
and political efforts to achieve a stable Syria; 
and 
(B) develop recommendations on the mili-
tary and diplomatic strategy of the United 
States with respect to the conflict in Syria. 
(e) COOPERATION
OF
UNITED
STATES
GOVERN-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Group shall receive the 
full and timely cooperation of the Secretary of De-
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fense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence in providing the Group with anal-
yses, briefings, and other information necessary for 
the discharge of the duties of the Group under sub-
section (d). 
(2) LIAISON.—The Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary of State, and the Director of National Intel-
ligence shall each designate at least one officer or em-
ployee of the Department of Defense, the Department 
of State, and the Office of the Director of National In-
telligence, respectively, to serve as a liaison to the 
Group. 
(3) FACILITATION.—The United States Institute 
of Peace shall take appropriate actions to facilitate 
the Group in the discharge of the duties of the Group 
under this section. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) FINAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 30, 
2019, the Group shall submit to the President, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Committee on 
Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Armed 
Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives, the majority and
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minority leaders of the Senate, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and the minority lead-
er of the House of Representatives a report that 
sets forth the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Group under this section. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—The report required by 
subparagraph (A) shall include each of the fol-
lowing: 
(i) An assessment of the current secu-
rity, political, humanitarian, and economic 
situations in Syria. 
(ii) An assessment of the current par-
ticipation and objectives of the various ex-
ternal actors in Syria. 
(iii) An assessment of the consequences 
of continued conflict in Syria. 
(iv) Recommendations for a resolution 
to the conflict in Syria, including— 
(I) options for a gradual political 
transition to a post-Assad Syria; and 
(II) actions necessary for rec-
onciliation. 
(v) A roadmap for a United States and 
coalition strategy to reestablish security and 
governance 
in 
Syria, 
including 
rec-
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ommendations for the synchronization of 
stabilization, development, counterterrorism, 
and reconstruction efforts. 
(vi) Any other matter with respect to 
the conflict in Syria that the Group con-
siders to be appropriate. 
(2) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than February 
1, 2019, the Group shall submit to the Committee on 
Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders 
of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, and the minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report that describes the status of the 
review and assessment under subsection (d) and any 
interim recommendations developed by the Group as 
of the date of the briefing. 
(3) FORM OF REPORT.—The report submitted to 
Congress under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in 
unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Group shall terminate on the 
date that is 180 days after the date on which the Group 
submits the report required by subsection (f)(1).
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SEC. 1225. MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT ON MILI-
TARY POWER OF IRAN. 
Section 1245(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ‘‘the 
Houthis,’’ after ‘‘Hamas,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘the Russian Federation,’’ 
after ‘‘Pakistan,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘trafficking or’’ before ‘‘de-
velopment’’. 
Subtitle D—Matters Relating to 
Europe and the Russian Federation 
SEC. 1231. EXTENSION OF LIMITATION ON MILITARY CO-
OPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (a) of section 1232 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
(Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2488), as amended by sec-
tion 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), is further amended 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2017 or 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2017, 2018, 
or 2019’’. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Such section is further 
amended—
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(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 
new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in subsection 
(a) shall be construed to limit bilateral military-to-military 
dialogue between the United States and the Russian Federa-
tion for the purpose of reducing the risk of conflict.’’. 
SEC. 1232. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS RELAT-
ING TO SOVEREIGNTY OF THE RUSSIAN FED-
ERATION OVER CRIMEA. 
(a) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Defense may be obli-
gated or expended to implement any activity that recognizes 
the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea. 
(b) WAIVER.—The Secretary of Defense, with the con-
currence of the Secretary of State, may waive the limitation 
in subsection (a) if the Secretary of Defense— 
(1) determines that the waiver is in the national 
security interest of the United States; and 
(2) submits to the Committee on Armed Services 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Armed Services and the Com-
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† HR 5515 PAP
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives a notification of the waiver. 
SEC. 1233. EXTENSION OF UKRAINE SECURITY ASSISTANCE 
INITIATIVE. 
Section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 
1068), as most recently amended by section 1234 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub-
lic Law 115–91), is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for fiscal 
year 2018 pursuant to subsection (f)(3)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for fiscal year 2019 pursuant to sub-
section (f)(4)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2019’’; 
(2) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2019, $200,000,000.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2020’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. 
SEC. 1234. SENSE OF SENATE ON RELOCATION OF JOINT IN-
TELLIGENCE ANALYSIS COMPLEX. 
It is the sense of the Senate that, in consideration of 
any future plans regarding the relocation of the Joint Intel-
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ligence Analysis Complex of the United States European 
Command, the Secretary of Defense should maintain its ge-
ographic location within the United Kingdom and its col-
location with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) Intelligence Fusion Center. 
SEC. 1235. SENSE OF SENATE ON ENHANCING DETERRENCE 
AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN EUROPE. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—To protect the national 
security of the United States, it is the policy of the United 
States to pursue an integrated approach to strengthening 
the defense of allies and partners in Europe as part of a 
broader, long-term strategy backed by all elements of United 
States national power to deter and, if necessary, defeat Rus-
sian aggression. 
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense of the Sen-
ate that in order to strengthen the defense of allies and part-
ners in Europe, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State and in consultation with the 
commander of United States European Command, 
should— 
(1) prioritize the need for additional United 
States Army forward presence in Europe, especially 
increased forward-stationed combat enablers to en-
hance United States Army capability and capacity in 
areas such as—
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(A) long-range fires; 
(B) air and missile defense; 
(C) combat engineering; 
(D) logistics and sustainment; 
(E) warfighting headquarters elements; and 
(F) electronic warfare; 
(2) conduct a review of the balance of United 
States Army presence in Europe between rotationally 
deployed and forward-stationed forces, including an 
examination of transitioning the rotational presence 
of a United States Army armored brigade combat 
team (ABCT) in Europe to a forward-stationed 
ABCT, with consideration of— 
(A) the opportunity to more effectively sig-
nal the enduring commitment of the United 
States— 
(i) to assure allies and partners in Eu-
rope; and 
(ii) to deter Russian aggression; 
(B) the significant recurring fiscal costs of 
rotating heavy, equipment-intensive units; 
(C) the family readiness impacts of lengthy 
heel-to-toe rotational deployments; 
(D) the potential advantages of interoper-
ability and cultural proficiency that can be
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achieved by forward-stationed forces that have 
knowledge of local rules, regulations, culture, cus-
toms, geography, and counterpart military units 
and officials; 
(E) the potential tradeoffs between— 
(i) the training readiness and high 
operational tempo of rotational units; and 
(ii) the higher manning rates of for-
ward-stationed forces; and 
(F) the benefits of National Training Center 
rotations for rotationally deployed units as com-
pared to maximized use of United States Army 
training areas in Europe, including the Joint 
Multinational Readiness Center in Germany, by 
forward-stationed units in Europe; 
(3) consider options for mitigating personnel im-
pacts of heel-to-toe rotations of United States forces in 
Europe, including designation of Operation Atlantic 
Resolve as a named operation; 
(4) examine the merit and feasibility of main-
taining a continuous and enduring presence of at 
least one United States Army company in Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania; 
(5) examine the merit and feasibility of increas-
ing the presence of United States special operations
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† HR 5515 PAP
forces in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter ag-
gression, promote interoperability, build resilience 
through training activities focused on countering un-
conventional warfare strategies, and enable the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to take collec-
tive action if required; 
(6) examine the merit and feasibility of 
prepositioning certain equipment and ammunition in 
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; 
(7) continue rotational deployments of United 
States forces to Romania and Bulgaria while taking 
full advantage of the training opportunities available 
at 
military 
locations 
such 
as 
Camp 
Mihail 
Kogalniceanu in Romania and Novo Selo Training 
Area in Bulgaria; 
(8) examine the implications of Russian mili-
tary activity in the Arctic region for United States 
military capability, capacity, and force posture; 
(9) conduct exercises focused on demonstrating 
the capability to flow United States forces from the 
continental United States and surge forces from cen-
tral to eastern Europe in a nonpermissive environ-
ment— 
(A) to test and improve strategic and oper-
ational logistics and transportation capabilities;
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(B) to identify capability gaps, capacity 
shortfalls, or other limiting factors in the execu-
tion of operational plans; and 
(C) to identify appropriate corrective ac-
tion; 
(10) consider incorporating cyber protection 
teams, to the extent practicable, with rotational forces 
in Europe with a focus on training United States 
and allied forces to operate against adversary cyber, 
electronic warfare, and information operations capa-
bilities; 
(11) support robust security assistance for 
Ukraine, including defensive lethal assistance, while 
promoting necessary defense institutional reforms; 
(12) support robust security assistance for Geor-
gia, including defensive lethal assistance, to strength-
en the defense capabilities and readiness of Georgia, 
and improve interoperability with NATO forces; 
(13) promote enhanced military-to-military en-
gagement between the United States and the mili-
taries of the countries of the Western Balkans to pro-
mote interoperability with NATO, civilian control of 
the military, procurement reforms, and regional secu-
rity cooperation;
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(14) develop and implement a comprehensive se-
curity cooperation strategy that rationalizes and 
prioritizes support for allies and partners in Europe, 
including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Roma-
nia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia; 
(15) consider the merit and feasibility of a de-
fense lending initiative to support allies and partners 
in Europe, especially allies and partners that are 
most vulnerable to Russian aggression, to supplement 
and fill gaps in existing United States security assist-
ance and arms sales mechanisms; and 
(16) in NATO or through other multilateral for-
mats— 
(A) promote reforms to accelerate the speed 
of decision and deployability within NATO, in-
cluding delegation to the Secretary General and 
the 
Supreme 
Allied 
Commander 
Europe 
(SACEUR) of the authority to deploy the Very 
High Readiness Joint Task Force to any loca-
tion within the territory of NATO allies in re-
sponse to a security crisis; 
(B) promote a more robust NATO defense 
planning process that—
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† HR 5515 PAP
(i) defines clear, stable chains-of-com-
mand responsible for the execution of grad-
uated response plans; 
(ii) generates realistic military re-
quirements; and 
(iii) provides a basis for assigning al-
lies specific responsibilities as force pro-
viders in contingency plans; 
(C) pursue planning agreements with allies 
and partners in Europe on rules of engagement 
and arrangements for command and control, ac-
cess, transit, and support in crisis situations, 
which occur prior to an invocation of Article 5 
of the Washington Treaty by the North Atlantic 
Council; 
(D) promote operational readiness of major 
combat units as a key element of alliance burden 
sharing alongside spending commitments made 
at the 2014 Wales Summit, including through— 
(i) the establishment of 30-day readi-
ness targets for NATO kinetic air squad-
rons, major naval combatants, and mecha-
nized maneuver battalions; 
(ii) emphasis on allies maintaining 
fully manned units, improving readiness of
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† HR 5515 PAP
key logistics units, increasing lift capacity, 
and maintaining sufficient stocks of equip-
ment and munitions; and 
(iii) the conduct of NATO exercises 
with a focus on rapid mobilization and de-
ployment of allied forces; 
(E) explore transitioning the Baltic air po-
licing mission of NATO to a Baltic air defense 
mission that would— 
(i) be fully integrated with the Inte-
grated Air and Missile Defense of NATO 
and other regional short- and medium- 
range air defense systems; and 
(ii) include the participation of NATO 
and regional partners such as Sweden and 
Finland; and 
(F) support multilateral efforts to improve 
maritime domain awareness in the Baltic Sea, 
including— 
(i) integrating subsurface sensors and 
anti-submarine warfare platforms of NATO 
and other regional partners into a shared 
maritime domain awareness framework; 
(ii) coordinating the development, pro-
curement, and employment of aerial, sur-
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† HR 5515 PAP
face, and subsurface unmanned vehicles as 
well as mobile air surveillance radars; 
(iii) expanding the scope of Sea Sur-
veillance 
Cooperation 
Baltic 
Sea 
(SUCBAS) information sharing to include 
sensitive or classified data with the goal of 
creating a common operating picture; and 
(iv) encouraging civil-military collabo-
ration on maritime domain awareness; 
(G) promote alignment of the Permanent 
Structured 
Cooperation, 
European 
Defense 
Fund, and Coordinated Annual Review on De-
fense of the European Union (EU) with the 
NATO defense planning process; 
(H) support NATO–EU cooperation to en-
sure that— 
(i) EU capability development is co-
herent, complementary, and interoperable 
with NATO; 
(ii) 
EU-generated 
capabilities 
are 
available to NATO; and 
(iii) EU defense activities are con-
ducted with appropriate transparency and 
participation of non-EU states;
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† HR 5515 PAP
(I) support coordinated NATO and EU ac-
tions on expediting or waiving diplomatic clear-
ances for the movement of United States and al-
lied forces during contingencies; 
(J) support cooperative investment frame-
works that promote increased military mobility 
in Europe; 
(K) explore enhancing the role of NATO 
Force Integration Units to more centrally coordi-
nate exercises and training by de-conflicting 
training engagements, identifying opportunities 
for combined activities, and ensuring exercise de-
sign and delivery are responsive to the dynamic 
security environment; 
(L) support cooperative efforts to improve 
the cyber resiliency of commercial systems in 
Europe, especially port and rail infrastructure 
essential for military mobility; 
(M) support NATO procurement and train-
ing efforts to expand the use of secure and inter-
operable communications at the operational 
level, especially in the militaries of Estonia, Lat-
via, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria;
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† HR 5515 PAP
(N) expand cooperation and joint planning 
with allies and partners on intelligence, surveil-
lance, and reconnaissance (ISR), including— 
(i) exercises related to border security 
and crisis command and control; and 
(ii) electronic warfare, anti-air, and 
anti-surface capabilities; 
(O) promote efforts to improve the capa-
bility and readiness of NATO Standing Mari-
time Groups; 
(P) encourage regular review and update of 
the Alliance Maritime Strategy of NATO to re-
flect the changing military balance in the Black 
Sea with a particular focus on ISR, cyber, elec-
tronic warfare, and anti-submarine warfare ca-
pabilities as well as defense of ports, airfields, 
military bases, and other critical infrastructure; 
(Q) explore increasing the frequency, scale, 
and scope of NATO and other multilateral exer-
cises in the Black Sea with the participation of 
Ukraine and Georgia; 
(R) promote integration of United States 
Marines in Norway with the United Kingdom- 
led Joint Expeditionary Force to increase multi-
lateral cooperation and interoperability between
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† HR 5515 PAP
NATO and regional partners such as Sweden 
and Finland; 
(S) affirm support for the Open Door policy 
of NATO, including the eventual membership of 
Georgia in NATO; and 
(T) promote the contribution of sufficient 
resources by NATO allies for the Substantial 
NATO-Georgia Package, and encourage NATO 
allies to make full use of the NATO–Georgian 
Joint Training and Evaluation Center. 
SEC. 1236. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS RELATED TO NATO 
SUPPORT AND PROCUREMENT ORGANIZA-
TION AND RELATED NATO AGREEMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 2350d 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘NATO Support Organization’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘NATO Support 
and Procurement Organization’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Support Partnership Agree-
ment’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Support 
or Procurement Partnership Agreement’’; and 
(3) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘Support 
Partnership Agreements’’ and inserting ‘‘Support or 
Procurement Partnership Agreements’’.
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(b) ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT.—Section 21(e)(3) of 
the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761(e)(3)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking ‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) Support Organization’’ and inserting 
‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
Support and Procurement Organization’’; and 
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘support part-
nership agreement’’ and inserting ‘‘support or 
procurement partnership agreement’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C)(i), in the matter pre-
ceding subclause (I)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ ‘weapon system partner-
ship agreement’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘ ‘support or 
procurement partnership agreement’ ’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Or-
ganization (NATO) Support Organization’’ and 
inserting ‘‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) Support and Procurement Organiza-
tion’’.
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SEC. 1237. REPORT ON SECURITY COOPERATION BETWEEN 
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND CUBA, NICA-
RAGUA, AND VENEZUELA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense 
Intelligence Agency shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report on security cooperation between 
the Russian Federation and each of the countries specified 
in subsection (b). 
(b) COUNTRIES.—The countries specified in this sub-
section are as follows: 
(1) Cuba. 
(2) Nicaragua. 
(3) Venezuela. 
(c) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report required 
by subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of bilateral security coopera-
tion between the Russian Federation and each coun-
try specified in subsection (b) that includes each of 
the following: 
(A) A list of Russian weapon systems or 
other military hardware or technology valued at 
not less than $1,000,000 provided to or pur-
chased by such country since January 1, 2007. 
(B) A description of the participation of the 
security forces of such country in training or ex-
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† HR 5515 PAP
ercises with the security forces of the Russian 
Federation since January 1, 2007. 
(C) A description of any security coopera-
tion agreement between the Russian Federation 
and such country. 
(D) A description of any military or intel-
ligence infrastructure, facilities, and assets devel-
oped by the Russian Federation in each such 
country and any associated agreements or under-
standings between the Russian Federation and 
such country. 
(2) An assessment of security cooperation, spe-
cifically in an advisory role, among the countries 
specified in subsection (b). 
(d) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classi-
fied annex. 
(e) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES
OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 
of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate; and
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† HR 5515 PAP
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 1238. SENSE OF SENATE ON COUNTERING RUSSIAN 
MALIGN INFLUENCE. 
It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of State should— 
(1) urgently prioritize the completion of a com-
prehensive strategy to counter Russian malign influ-
ence; and 
(2) submit to Congress the report required by 
section 1239A(d) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91). 
Subtitle E—Matters Relating to the 
Indo-Pacific Region 
SEC. 1241. REDESIGNATION, EXPANSION, AND EXTENSION 
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA MARITIME SECURITY 
INITIATIVE. 
(a) REDESIGNATION AS INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME SE-
CURITY INITIATIVE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a)(2) of section 
1263 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2016 (10 U.S.C. 333 note) is amended by 
striking ‘‘the ‘Southeast Asia Maritime Security Ini-
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tiative’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘the ‘Indo-Pacific Maritime 
Security Initiative’ ’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1263. INDO-PACIFIC MARITIME SECURITY INITIA-
TIVE.’’. 
(b) EXPANSION.— 
(1) EXPANSION OF REGION TO RECEIVE ASSIST-
ANCE AND TRAINING.—Subsection (a)(1) of such sec-
tion is amended by inserting ‘‘and the Indian Ocean’’ 
after ‘‘South China Sea’’ in the matter preceding sub-
paragraph (A). 
(2) RECIPIENT COUNTRIES OF ASSISTANCE AND 
TRAINING GENERALLY.—Subsection (b) of such section 
is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking the 
comma at the end and inserting a period; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(6) Bangladesh. 
‘‘(7) Sri Lanka.’’. 
(3) COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF CER-
TAIN INCREMENTAL EXPENSES.—Subsection (e)(2) of 
such section is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
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‘‘(D) India.’’. 
(c) EXTENSION.—Subsection (h) of such section is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2020’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2025’’. 
SEC. 1242. MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL REPORT ON MILI-
TARY AND SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS IN-
VOLVING THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 
Section 1202(b) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (16) 
and (17) through (23) as paragraphs (7) through (17) 
and (19) through (25), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (6): 
‘‘(6) China’s overseas military basing and logis-
tics infrastructure.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘including technology transfers and espio-
nage’’ in the first sentence and inserting ‘‘including 
investment, industrial espionage, cybertheft, aca-
demia, and other means of technology transfer’’; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (17), as so re-
designated, the following new paragraph (18):
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‘‘(18) An assessment of relations between China 
and the Russian Federation with respect to security 
and military matters.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(26) The relationship between Chinese overseas 
investment, including initiatives such as the Belt and 
Road Initiative, and Chinese security and military 
strategy objectives. 
‘‘(27) Efforts by China to influence the media, 
cultural institutions, business, and academic and pol-
icy communities of the United States to be more fa-
vorable to its security and military strategy and ob-
jectives. 
‘‘(28) Efforts by China to monitor and influence, 
in support of its security and military strategy and 
objectives, the following: 
‘‘(A) Chinese citizens in the United States. 
‘‘(B) United States citizens of Chinese de-
scent.’’. 
SEC. 1243. SENSE OF SENATE ON TAIWAN. 
It is the sense of the Senate that— 
(1) the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et 
seq.) and the ‘‘Six Assurances’’ are both cornerstones 
of United States relations with Taiwan;
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(2) the United States should strengthen defense 
and security cooperation with Taiwan to support the 
development of capable, ready, and modern defense 
forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient 
self-defense capability; 
(3) the United States should strongly support the 
acquisition by Taiwan of defensive weapons through 
foreign military sales, direct commercial sales, and 
industrial cooperation, with a particular emphasis on 
asymmetric warfare and undersea warfare capabili-
ties, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act; 
(4) the United States should improve the predict-
ability of arms sales to Taiwan by ensuring timely 
review of and response to requests of Taiwan for de-
fense articles and defense services; 
(5) the Secretary of Defense should promote De-
partment of Defense policies concerning exchanges 
that enhance the security of Taiwan, including— 
(A) United States participation in appro-
priate Taiwan exercises, such as the annual Han 
Kuang exercise; 
(B) Taiwan participation in appropriate 
United States exercises; and 
(C) exchanges between senior defense offi-
cials and general officers of the United States
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and Taiwan consistent with the Taiwan Travel 
Act (Public Law 115–135); 
(6) the United States and Taiwan should expand 
cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster 
relief; and 
(7) the Secretary of Defense should consider sup-
porting the visit of a United States hospital ship to 
Taiwan as part of the annual ‘‘Pacific Partnership’’ 
mission in order to improve disaster response plan-
ning and preparedness as well as to strengthen co-
operation between the United States and Taiwan. 
SEC. 1244. REDESIGNATION AND MODIFICATION OF SENSE 
OF CONGRESS AND INITIATIVE FOR THE 
INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. 
(a) REDESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1251 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub-
lic Law 115–91) is amended by striking ‘‘Indo-Asia- 
Pacific’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Indo- 
Pacific’’. 
(2) HEADING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) SECTION
HEADING.—The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘SEC. 1251. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND INITIATIVE FOR THE 
INDO-PACIFIC REGION.’’. 
(B) SUBSECTION HEADINGS.—Such section 
is further amended in the headings of subsections 
(b) and (f) by striking ‘‘INDO-ASIA-PACIFIC’’ and 
inserting ‘‘INDO-PACIFIC’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF INITIATIVE.—Such section is 
further amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) 
and inserting the following new paragraphs (1) 
through (4): 
‘‘(1) Activities to increase the rotational and for-
ward presence, improve the capabilities, and enhance 
the posture of the United States Armed Forces in the 
Indo-Pacific region— 
‘‘(A) consistent with the National Defense 
Strategy; and 
‘‘(B) to the extent required to minimize the 
risk of execution of the contingency plans of the 
Department of Defense. 
‘‘(2) Activities to improve military and defense 
infrastructure, logistics, and assured access in the 
Indo-Pacific region to enhance the responsiveness, 
survivability, and operational resilience of the United 
States Armed Forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
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‘‘(3) Activities to enhance the storage and pre- 
positioning in the Indo-Pacific region of equipment 
and munitions of the United States Armed Forces. 
‘‘(4) Bilateral and multilateral military train-
ing and exercises with allies and partner nations in 
the Indo-Pacific region.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘security capacity’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘of allies’’ in 
subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘security 
capacity of allies’’; and 
(ii) 
by 
redesignating 
clauses 
(i) 
through (v) as subparagraphs (A) through 
(E), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘only’’; and 
(3) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC STA-
BILITY INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) PLAN REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 
1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with the Commander of the United States Pa-
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cific Command, shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a future years plan on activi-
ties and resources of the Initiative. 
‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY.—The plan shall apply 
to the Initiative with respect to fiscal year 2020 
and at least the four succeeding fiscal years. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required under 
paragraph (1) shall include each of the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the objectives of the 
Initiative. 
‘‘(B) A description of the manner in which 
such objectives support implementation of the 
National Defense Strategy and reduce the risk of 
execution of the contingency plans of the Depart-
ment of Defense by improving the operational re-
silience of United States forces in the Indo-Pa-
cific region. 
‘‘(C) An assessment of the resource require-
ments to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(D) An assessment of any additional rota-
tional or permanently stationed United States 
forces in the Indo-Pacific region required to 
achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(E) An assessment of the logistics require-
ments, including force enablers, equipment, sup-
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plies, storage, and maintenance, to achieve such 
objectives. 
‘‘(F) An identification and assessment of re-
quired infrastructure investments to achieve such 
objectives, including potential infrastructure in-
vestments by host countries and new construction 
or upgrades of existing sites that would be fund-
ed by the United States. 
‘‘(G) An assessment of any new agreements, 
or changes to existing agreements, with other 
countries for assured access required to achieve 
such objectives. 
‘‘(H) An assessment of security cooperation 
investments required to achieve such objectives. 
‘‘(3) FORM.—The plan required under para-
graph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 
may include a classified annex.’’. 
SEC. 1245. PROHIBITION ON PARTICIPATION OF THE PEO-
PLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN RIM OF THE PA-
CIFIC (RIMPAC) NAVAL EXERCISES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the pace and militarization by the Govern-
ment of the People’s Republic of China of land rec-
lamation activities in the South China Sea is desta-
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bilizing the security of United States allies and part-
ners and threatening United States core interests; 
(2) these activities of the Government of the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China adversarially threaten the 
maritime security of the United States and our allies 
and partners; 
(3) no country that acts adversarially should be 
invited to multilateral exercises; and 
(4) the involvement of the Government of the 
People’s Republic of China in multilateral exercises 
should undergo reevaluation until such behavior 
changes. 
(b) CONDITIONS
FOR FUTURE PARTICIPATION
IN 
RIMPAC.—The Secretary of Defense shall not enable or fa-
cilitate the participation of the People’s Republic of China 
in any Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise unless 
the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense commit-
tees that China has— 
(1) ceased all land reclamation activities in the 
South China Sea; 
(2) removed all weapons from its land reclama-
tion sites; and 
(3) established a consistent four-year track 
record of taking actions toward stabilizing the region.
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SEC. 1246. ASSESSMENT OF AND REPORT ON GEOPOLITICAL 
CONDITIONS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall select and enter into an agreement with 
an entity independent of the Department of Defense 
to conduct an assessment of the geopolitical conditions 
in the Indo-Pacific region that are necessary for the 
successful implementation of the National Defense 
Strategy. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The assessment 
required by paragraph (1) shall include a determina-
tion of the geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific 
region, including any change in economic and polit-
ical relations, that are necessary to support United 
States military requirements for forward defense, ex-
tensive forward basing, and alliance formation and 
strengthening in such region. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the independent entity selected 
under subsection (a) shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report on the results of the assessment 
conducted under that subsection. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPORT.—The Sec-
retary shall provide the independent entity selected under
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subsection (a) with timely access to appropriate informa-
tion, data, resources, and analyses necessary for the inde-
pendent entity to conduct the assessment required by that 
subsection in a thorough and independent manner. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 
of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
SEC. 1247. SENSE OF SENATE ON UNITED STATES-INDIA DE-
FENSE RELATIONSHIP. 
It is the sense the Senate that the United States should 
strengthen and enhance its major defense partnership with 
India and work toward mutual security objectives by— 
(1) expanding engagement in multilateral frame-
works, including the Quadrilateral Dialogue between 
the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, to 
promote regional security and defend shared values 
and common interests in the rules-based order; 
(2) exploring additional steps to implement the 
‘‘major defense partner’’ designation to better facili-