994 
(3) enables efficient and effective communica-
tions between the Department of Defense and Con-
gress, increasing trust, transparency, and relevancy. 
SEC. 1070L. REPORT ON COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report on cost of living adjustment calculations 
for purposes of pay and benefits for members of the 
Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department 
of Defense whose permanent duty station is located in the 
19th Congressional District of California. Such report 
shall include— 
(1) an explanation of the methods used to col-
lect data and the factors used to determine such cost 
of living adjustment; 
(2) an assessment of the appropriateness of in-
cluding in the calculation of such cost of living ad-
justment the presence of military commissaries or 
exchanges; 
(3) the evaluation of the Under Secretary of— 
(A) whether any locations within the 19th 
Congressional District of California should be 
considered a high-cost area for purposes of
995 
chapter 67 of volume 7A of the Department of 
Defense Financial Management Regulation; 
(B) whether the existence of a military 
commissary in Monterey, California, provides 
substantial financial support that affects the 
determination of a cost of living adjustment; 
and 
(C) the advisability of providing certain 
areas within the 19th Congressional District of 
California with an increased cost of living ad-
justment; and 
(4) a comparison of the factors that contribute 
to a determination of the cost of living adjustments 
that are applied to Monterey, California, and Santa 
Clara, California. 
SEC. 1070M. RESPONSIBLE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE FOR LOGISTICS, INTELLIGENCE, 
MAINTENANCE, CYBER DEFENSE, AND OTHER 
MISSION AREAS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the adoption of artificial intelligence (‘‘AI’’) 
is critical to United States defense readiness and 
competitiveness; and
996 
(2) the Secretary of Defense should expand 
pilot programs and fielding of AI-enabled systems 
that enhance decision-making, reduce costs, and im-
prove warfighter effectiveness. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall, not later than the end of the 6-month period 
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 6 months thereafter, issue a report to the con-
gressional defense committees on current and 
planned AI integration efforts, including barriers to 
implementation and recommendations for accel-
erating adoption. 
(2) SUNSET.—Paragraph (1) shall cease to 
have any force or effect after the end of the 5-year 
period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 1070N. GAO REVIEW AND REPORT ON BIOLOGICAL 
WEAPONS EXPERIMENTS ON AND IN RELA-
TION TO TICKS, TICK-BORNE DISEASE. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a review of research conducted during 
the period beginning on January 1, 1945, and ending on 
December 31, 1972, by the Department of Defense, in-
cluding by the Department of Defense in consultation with
997 
the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Agri-
culture, or any other Federal agency on— 
(1) the use of ticks as hosts or delivery mecha-
nisms for biological warfare agents, including experi-
ments involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales; 
and 
(2) any efforts to improve the effectiveness and 
viability of Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales as bio-
logical weapons through combination with other dis-
eases or viruses. 
(b) LOCATION OF RESEARCH.—In conducting the re-
view under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
review research conducted at facilities located inside 
United States and facilities located outside the United 
States, including laboratories and field work locations. 
(c) INFORMATION TO BE REVIEWED.— 
(1) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—In conducting 
the review under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall review any relevant classified informa-
tion. 
(2) DOCUMENTS FOR REVIEW.—In conducting 
the review under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall review, among other sources, the fol-
lowing documents:
998 
(A) Technical Reports related to The Sum-
mary of Major Events and Problems, US Army 
Chemical Corps, FY 1951 – FY1969. 
(B) Site Holding: CB DT DW 48158 
Title: Virus and Rickettsia Waste Disposal 
Study. Technical Report No. 103, January 
1969. Corp Author Name: FORT DETRICK 
FREDERICK MD Report Number: SMUFD- 
TR-103 Publish Date: 19690101. 
(C) Site Holding: CB DT DW 60538 Title: 
A Plaque Assay System for Several Species of 
Rickettsia. 
Corp 
Author 
Name: 
FORT 
DETRICK FREDERICK MD Report Number: 
SMUFD-TM-538 Publish Date: 19690601. 
(D) Site Holding: CB DW 531493 Title: 
Progress Report for Ecology and Epidemiology 
and Biological Field Test Technology, Third 
Quarter FY 1967. Corp Author Name: ARMY 
DUGWAY PROVING GROUND UT Publish 
Date: 19670508. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a re-
port that includes the following:
999 
(A) The scope of any research described in 
subsection (a). 
(B) Whether any ticks used in such re-
search were released outside of any facility (in-
cluding any ticks that were released uninten-
tionally). 
(C) Whether any records related to such 
research were destroyed, and whether such de-
struction was intentional or unintentional. 
(2) FORM
OF
REPORT.—The report required 
under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassi-
fied form, but may contain a classified annex. 
SEC. 1070O. ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRATION OF JOINT COM-
BATANT COMMANDER EXERCISE TEAM INTO 
LARGE SCALE EXERCISES OF UNITED STATES 
INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of the Act, the Commander of the United States 
Indo-Pacific Command shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees an assessment of the ways in which 
a standing Joint and Combatant Commander Exercise 
Team supported by experienced former members of the 
Armed Forces could be integrated into Department of De-
fense concepts of operations in support of coalition, joint, 
and combatant commander large scale exercises.
1000 
SEC. 1070P. REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT 
OF THE NAVAL AUTONOMOUS DATA COLLEC-
TION SYSTEM. 
Not later than April 15, 2026, the Secretary of the 
Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report on the development and deployment of the Naval 
Autonomous Data Collection System. Such report shall in-
clude information about the progress of establishing the 
program, projected benchmarks for fiscal year 2027, and 
any impediments to meeting these goals. 
SEC. 1070Q. REPORT ON OPTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A 
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR AD-
DRESSING RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND 
READINESS CHALLENGES. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives and the Senate a re-
port on options for establishing a digital engagement 
framework for the purpose of addressing recruitment, re-
tention, and readiness challenges facing the Armed Forces 
by— 
(1) leveraging community-driven digital plat-
forms available to members of the Armed Forces 
and the family members and caregivers of such 
members;
1001 
(2) improving the use and awareness of benefits 
or services available under the Transition Assistance 
Program and other programs of the Department of 
Defense; and 
(3) positioning service in the Armed Forces as 
a premier pathway for achieving full human poten-
tial. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) With respect to any benefit, service, or pro-
gram of the Department for members of the Armed 
Forces (including members of the Armed Forces 
participating in the Transition Assistance Program), 
or family members or caregivers of such members, 
the following: 
(A) an assessment of digital engagement 
capabilities, including— 
(i) survey design, implementation, or 
analysis capabilities to identify any such 
benefit, service, or program that is 
underused by such individuals; 
(ii) internal marketing capabilities to 
promote such benefits, services, or pro-
grams;
1002 
(iii) strategic content development 
highlighting available opportunities with 
respect to such benefits, services, or pro-
grams; 
(iv) collaborative networks with sub-
ject matter experts relating to the subject 
matter of such benefits, services, or pro-
grams; and 
(v) advanced data management capa-
bilities 
(including 
geolocation, 
demo-
graphic, and segment analytics) to ensure 
targeted outreach connects such individ-
uals with such benefits, services, or pro-
grams; 
(B) an identification of any such capabili-
ties that have a demonstrated history of high 
user engagement, involve real-time responsive-
ness features, and provide resource-agnostic 
connectivity to any such benefit, service, or pro-
gram; and 
(C) an evaluation of how comprehensive 
community management across digital plat-
forms that are geographically diverse but inter-
connected can improve the use and awareness
1003 
of such benefits, services, or programs, by such 
individuals. 
(2) An assessment of potential partnerships 
with nonprofit organizations under section 501(c)(3) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that the Sec-
retary determines have a demonstrated history of— 
(A) managing large-scale digital commu-
nities serving the individuals specified in para-
graph (1), including across multiple time zones; 
and 
(B) funding health and wellness initiatives 
for such individuals and improving retention in 
health care services and reduced rates of re-
lapse among such individuals. 
(3) Recommendations by the Secretary for the 
potential establishment of one or more pilot pro-
grams to test digital engagement solutions for the 
purpose specified in paragraph (1), measure the ef-
fects of such solutions with respect to the challenges 
specified in such paragraph, and evaluate the cost- 
effectiveness of such solutions, including rec-
ommendations on— 
(A) potential actions under the pilot pro-
gram to stress-test digital platforms under mo-
bilization surge conditions to simulate the rapid
1004 
onboarding of large numbers of members of the 
Armed Forces and family members of such 
members during contingency operations; and 
(B) the potential use of funds appropriated 
to the Department or other funding mecha-
nisms available to the Department to carry out 
such pilot program. 
SEC. 1070R. REPORT ON RED FLAGS MISSED IN FRAUD 
SCHEME 
PERPETRATED 
BY 
JANET 
YAMANAKA MELLO. 
(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 re-
port on the fraud scheme perpetrated by Janet Yamanaka 
Mello, a civilian employee of the Department of the Army, 
who was indicted and pleaded guilty to stealing over 
$100,000,000 in 4-H Military Partnership Grant program 
funds. 
(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report required 
under subsection (a) shall include each of the following: 
(1) A description of the breakdown in the su-
pervision of Mello, including any failures of manage-
ment or oversight that contributed to the ability of 
Mello to carry out the fraud scheme undetected.
1005 
(2) A description of the breakdown in account-
ability with respect to the loss of the stolen funds, 
including any failures to ensure that such funds 
were actually being spent for the purposes for which 
such funds were intended. 
(3) A description of the failure to ensure that 
financial program managers, such as Mello, are not 
able to funnel Government funds to themselves or 
their own entities. 
(4) An identification of any other red flags or 
warning signs that were missed or ignored by em-
ployees of the Department of Defense, including any 
instances of whistleblower retaliation or suppression 
of concerns. 
(5) An assessment of the policies and proce-
dures of the Department of Defense and Depart-
ment of the Army, as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act, designed to prevent employees from per-
petrating similar fraud schemes in the future. 
(6) Recommendations for improvements to the 
policies, procedures, and oversight of the Depart-
ment of Defense and Department of the Army to 
prevent employees from perpetrating similar fraud 
schemes in the future.
1006 
(7) A description of any disciplinary or adminis-
trative actions taken against any individuals or enti-
ties found to have contributed to the ability of Mello 
to carry out the fraud scheme. 
(8) A description of any changes made, or 
planned to be made, to the financial management 
and oversight processes of the Department of De-
fense and the Department of the Army as a result 
of the fraud scheme perpetrated by Mello. 
(9) An assessment of the effects of the fraud 
scheme perpetrated by Mello on the programs and 
operations of the Department of Defense and the 
Department of the Army. 
(10) Any other information the Secretary of 
Defense determines relevant to understanding the 
fraud scheme perpetrated by Mello and preventing 
employees from perpetrating similar fraud schemes 
in the future. 
(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall make the report required under subsection (a) 
publicly available on an appropriate website of the Depart-
ment of Defense.
1007 
Subtitle F—Other Matters 
SEC. 1071. AIR FORCE TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE. 
Chapter 903 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 9026. AIR FORCE TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall operate a Technical Training Center of Excel-
lence. The head of the Center shall be the designee of the 
Commander of the Airman Development Command. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Center shall 
be to— 
‘‘(1) facilitate collaboration among all Air Force 
technical training installations; 
‘‘(2) serve as a premier training location for all 
maintainers throughout the military departments; 
‘‘(3) publish a set of responsibilities aimed at 
driving excellence, innovation, and leadership across 
all technical training specialties; 
‘‘(4) advocate for innovative improvements in 
curriculum, facilities, and media; 
‘‘(5) foster outreach with industry and aca-
demia;
1008 
‘‘(6) identify and promulgate best practices, 
standards, and benchmarks; 
‘‘(7) create a hub of excellence for the latest ad-
vancements in aviation technology and training 
methodologies; and 
‘‘(8) carry out such other responsibilities as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(c) LOCATION.—The Secretary shall select a loca-
tion for the Center that is an Air Force installation that 
provides technical training and maintenance proficiency.’’. 
SEC. 1072. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF 
THE NAVY STUDY OF MARITIME INDUSTRIAL 
BASE. 
Section 1092(a)(2) of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public 
Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2807) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) STUDY
ON
MARITIME
INDUSTRIAL 
BASE.—The Commission shall conduct a study 
on the condition of the United States maritime 
industrial base, including the capacity of the 
maritime industrial base to meet national de-
fense requirements and support naval recapital-
ization. This study shall include—
1009 
‘‘(i) an evaluation of the strength and 
capacity of United States shipyards, repair 
facilities, and supporting infrastructure, in-
cluding the ability of such shipyards, facili-
ties, and infrastructure to meet current 
and future Navy and sealift demands; 
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the skilled 
workforce for shipbuilding and maritime 
operations, including with respect to train-
ing and the sustainability of the labor 
force; 
‘‘(iii) an examination of the effects of 
domestic tax, regulatory, and permitting 
policies on maritime industry investment 
and innovation; 
‘‘(iv) an analysis of the effect of for-
eign subsidies and competition from State- 
owned shipbuilding enterprises on the com-
petitiveness of the United States; and 
‘‘(v) recommendations for legislative 
or administrative actions to— 
‘‘(I) strengthen the United States 
maritime industrial base; 
‘‘(II) modernize and expand the 
capacity of shipyards;
1010 
‘‘(III) foster a reliable and skilled 
maritime labor force; and 
‘‘(IV) 
ensure 
sufficient 
ship-
building capacity to support great 
power competition and United States 
sealift requirements.’’. 
SEC. 1073. EXTENSION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON 
THE FUTURE OF THE NAVY. 
Section 1092(a)(4) of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public 
Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2809), as amended by section 
1083 of the Service Member Quality of Life Improvement 
and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2025 (Public Law 118–159), is further amended by strik-
ing ‘‘January 15, 2026’’ and inserting ‘‘January 15, 
2027’’. 
SEC. 1074. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE SERVICEWOMEN’S 
COMMEMORATIVE PARTNERSHIP. 
Section 362(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 7771 note prec.) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2021’’ and inserting 
‘‘fiscal year 2026’’; and
1011 
(2) by striking ‘‘$3,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,000,000’’. 
SEC. 1075. FEDERAL AGENCY SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN 
WAR COMMISSION. 
Section 1094(f)(2) of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(D) SERVICES.— 
‘‘(i) DEPARTMENT
OF
DEFENSE.— 
The Secretary of Defense may provide to 
the Commission, on a nonreimbursable 
basis, such administrative services, funds, 
staff, facilities, and other support services 
as are necessary for the performance of the 
duties of the Commission under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(ii) OTHER AGENCIES.—In addition 
to any support provided under clause (i), 
the head of any other Federal department 
or agency may provide to the Commission 
such services, funds, facilities, staff, and 
other support as the head of such depart-
ment or agency determines advisable and 
as may be authorized by law.’’.
1012 
SEC. 1076. PROVISION OF CONTRACT AUTHORITY TO AF-
GHANISTAN WAR COMMISSION. 
Subsection (f) of the Afghanistan War Commission 
Act of 2021 (section 1094(f) of Public Law 117–81; 135 
Stat. 1941) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To such extent 
and in such amounts as are provided in appropria-
tion Acts, the Co-Chairpersons of the Commission 
may enter into contracts to enable the Commission 
to discharge its duties under this section.’’. 
SEC. 1077. FRAMEWORK FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND 
FOREIGN DISCLOSURE POLICIES. 
(a) FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall produce a framework to revise 
and update the technology transfer policies of the military 
departments and the National Disclosure Policy. 
(b) FRAMEWORK ELEMENTS.—The framework pro-
duced pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A comprehensive assessment of policies re-
garding the transfer of emerging and advanced de-
fense items, including artificial intelligence, directed 
energy, microwave systems, counter-unmanned aerial 
systems, missile defense, machine learning, cyberse-
1013 
curity, quantum technologies, hypersonics, autono-
mous systems, and such other technologies as the 
Secretary determines appropriate, to enable the 
transfer of such defense items to allies and partners 
of the United States. 
(2) Guidelines for balancing national security 
considerations with the need to share information 
and technology with allies and partners of the 
United States to enhance interoperability and bur-
den sharing. 
(3) A process to gather, consider, and, as ap-
propriate, incorporate input from industry stake-
holders, in accordance with subsection (d), to inform 
revisions to the technology transfer policies of the 
military departments and the National Disclosure 
Policy to enable the transfer of defense items to al-
lies and partners of the United States. 
(4) Recommendations for updating the tech-
nology transfer policies of the military departments 
and the National Disclosure Policy to accommodate 
the use of emerging and advanced defense items in 
multi-domain operations, joint military exercises, 
and allied operational requirements.
1014 
(5) Mechanisms to enable the military depart-
ments to streamline the approval process for tech-
nology transfers. 
(6) Mechanisms to enhance transparency to en-
sure the technology transfer policies of each of the 
military departments are comparable with respect to 
capability and country release tiers for emerging and 
advanced defense items. 
(7) A plan to consolidate technology security 
and foreign disclosure approvals in accordance with 
Executive Order 14268, titled ‘‘Reforming Foreign 
Defense Sales to Improve Speed and Accountability’’ 
and dated April 9, 2025. 
(8) Metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
technology transfer policies of the military depart-
ments and the National Disclosure Policy to enable 
the transfer of defense items to allies and partners 
of the United States while ensuring security of 
United States technology. 
(9) An annual requirement to conduct an audit 
of license applications that were denied during the 
prior year on the basis of technology transfer poli-
cies of the military departments or the National Dis-
closure Policy.
1015 
(10) A process to implement revisions to the 
technology transfer policies of the military depart-
ments and the National Disclosure Policy in accord-
ance with subsection (c). 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the submission of the framework under sub-
section (a), and not less frequently than annually there-
after, the Secretary of Defense shall direct the Secretary 
of each of the military departments to revise the tech-
nology transfer policy of that department and the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy to revise the National Dis-
closure Policy, based on the elements of the framework 
under subsection (b). 
(d) STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.—At least once 
every six months, the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall 
consult with such representatives from the defense indus-
try as the Secretaries and Under Secretary consider ap-
propriate, including representatives from nontraditional 
defense contractors (as such term is defined by section 
3014 of title 10, United States Code) in the course of car-
rying out subsections (a), (b), and (c). 
(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) SUBMISSION
OF
FRAMEWORK.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
1016 
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report con-
taining the framework produced under subsection 
(a). 
(2) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the submission of the frame-
work required under subsection (a), and not less fre-
quently than annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report that includes the following: 
(A) A description of any actions taken to 
improve the technology transfer policies of the 
military departments and the National Disclo-
sure Policy in accordance with the implementa-
tion requirements under subsection (c). 
(B) A description of any actions taken to 
implement or incorporate industry recommenda-
tion into the technology transfer policies of the 
military departments and the National Disclo-
sure Policy. 
(C) A summary of any feedback from in-
dustry stakeholders with respect to current ap-
plications of the technology transfer policies of 
the military departments and National Disclo-
1017 
sure Policy, and a description of any actions 
taken to address such feedback. 
(D) The results of an audit of license ap-
plications that were denied during the preceding 
12-month period on the basis of technology 
transfer policies of the military departments or 
the National Disclosure Policy, including suffi-
cient information to confirm that such denials 
reflected the policy in effect at the time of de-
nial. 
(E) Any recommendations of the Secretary 
for legislation necessary to improve technology 
transfer policies or the National Disclosure Pol-
icy. 
(3) FORM.—Each report submitted under this 
subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, 
but may include a classified annex. 
SEC. 1078. BUDGETING AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR 
NORTHERN STRIKE EXERCISE. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
(1) ensure that the budget and funding for the 
Northern Strike Exercise are sufficient to effectively 
carry out the objectives of the Secretary with respect 
to such exercise; and
1018 
(2) include, in the budget justification materials 
submitted to Congress in support of the Department 
of Defense budget for fiscal year 2027 and each sub-
sequent fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of 
the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), a 
dedicated budget line item for the implementation of 
this section. 
(b) NORTHERN STRIKE EXERCISE DEFINED.— In 
this section, the term ‘‘Northern Strike Exercise’’ means 
a military exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bu-
reau to build readiness and warfighting capabilities for the 
joint force. 
SEC. 1079. PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPORTS 
FOODS 
AND 
DIETARY 
SUPPLEMENTS 
TO 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ASSIGNED 
TO THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPER-
ATIONS COMMAND. 
(a) PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION.—The Com-
mander of the United States Special Operations Command 
may authorize— 
(1) the procurement of sports foods and dietary 
supplements; and 
(2) the distribution of such foods and supple-
ments to members of the Armed Forces assigned to 
the United States Special Operations Command.
1019 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commander of the 
United States Special Operations Command shall— 
(A) establish policies for the procurement 
and distribution of sports foods and dietary 
supplements under this section; and 
(B) require that such procurement and dis-
tribution is in compliance with— 
(i) Department of Defense Instruction 
6130.06, titled ‘‘Use of Dietary Supple-
ments in the Department of Defense’’; and 
(ii) the prohibited dietary supplement 
ingredients list of the Department. 
(2) POLICIES.—The policies established under 
paragraph (1) shall provide that— 
(A) dietary supplements procured or dis-
tributed under this section are required to be 
certified by a non-Department third-party certi-
fying organization that Operation Supplement 
Safety of the Department has vetted for end- 
product quality assurance; 
(B) dietary supplements and sports foods 
procured or distributed under this section are 
required to be free of contaminants and ingredi-
ents and substances prohibited by the Depart-
1020 
ment (including any ingredients and substances 
that are synonymous with such prohibited in-
gredients and substances); 
(C) sports foods and dietary supplements 
may only be distributed to members of the 
Armed Forces— 
(i) by a credentialed and privileged 
registered (performance) dietitian or a 
medical clinician with prescribing authority 
who is assigned to or supporting the 
United States Special Operations Com-
mand at the operational unit level; and 
(ii) under the guidance and oversight 
of a primary care sports medicine physi-
cian. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The procurement and 
distribution of sports foods and dietary supplements under 
this section shall be construed to supplement and not sup-
plant— 
(1) any morale, welfare, or recreation funds or 
activities otherwise required or available; and 
(2) any funding made available for, and services 
provided by, any dining facility of the Department.
1021 
SEC. 1080. PILOT PROGRAM ON ENHANCED USE OF AD-
VANCED SENSOR NETWORKS TO IMPROVE 
AIR FORCE COUNTER-UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEM CAPABILITIES FOR BASE DEFENSE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Beginning not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force, in coordination with the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall carry 
out a pilot program, to be known as the ‘‘Enhancing Co-
operation for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pro-
gram’’, under which the Secretary shall incorporate the 
use of civilian civil airspace sensor networks into Air Force 
data processing systems to— 
(1) improve base defense against small un-
manned aircraft systems (in this section referred to 
as ‘‘sUAS’’); 
(2) inform the development of counter-un-
manned aircraft system capabilities that are suitable 
for use inside the United States and in the National 
Airspace System; and 
(3) enhance cooperation with law enforcement, 
State and local partners, and other Federal depart-
ments and agencies to counter domestic threats. 
(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary, in coordination with 
the Administrator, shall select at least two military instal-
lations located in the United States at which to conduct
1022 
the pilot program. In selecting such military installations, 
the Secretary shall consider the potential for the Air Force 
to— 
(1) access advanced civilian airspace sensor net-
works; 
(2) leverage public-private partnerships that en-
able multi-use of airspace awareness capabilities for 
public safety, defense of critical infrastructure to in-
clude Department of Defense installations, and pro-
tection of civil aviation; and 
(3) minimize the potential for negatively affect-
ing civil aircraft operations in the National Airspace 
System. 
(c) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the pilot pro-
gram are— 
(1) to demonstrate the efficacy of shared situa-
tional awareness data from civilian sensor networks 
to military installation defense systems; 
(2) to provide the Air Force with access to air 
space awareness data derived from civilian airspace 
sensor networks to increase the ability of the Air 
Force to defend bases from the threats posed by 
sUAS; 
(3) to determine any authority, capability, and 
capacity barriers to enhancing cooperation between
1023 
the Air Force, civilian partners, and other Federal, 
State, and local government entities to extend the 
over-the-horizon identification of potential sUAS 
threats beyond the current range of existing domes-
tic base defense systems; and 
(4) to improve the data-sharing frameworks for 
airspace data between the Air Force and various 
stakeholders for the purpose of base defense. 
(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the 
pilot program, the Secretary of the Air Force may enter 
into one or more contracts for the procurement of addi-
tional technologies capable of— 
(1) leveraging commercial or Government off- 
the-shelf detect-track-defeat systems; 
(2) integrating and using civilian airspace 
awareness data to serve as an early warning capa-
bility specifically to help identify and monitor non- 
compliant sUAS; and 
(3) informing appropriate communication mech-
anisms between military installations and local law 
enforcement agencies to report and track non-com-
pliant air vehicles, deter incursions, and foster po-
tential prosecution. 
(e) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 90 days after the 
conclusion of all activities carried out under the pilot pro-
1024 
gram at an installation selected for such program, the Sec-
retary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing that 
includes a description of— 
(1) the manner in which the program was con-
ducted at such installation; and 
(2) any results achieved under the program at 
such installation. 
(f) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on 
the date that is five years after the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
(2) EARLY
TERMINATION
OPTION.—The Sec-
retary of the Air Force may request the termination 
of the pilot program before the date specified in 
paragraph (1) if the Secretary— 
(A) determines that administrative, legal, 
performance, or other factors indicate the pro-
gram will not be successful; and 
(B) submits to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Represent-
1025 
atives, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate notice in writing 
of such determination. 
SEC. 1081. PILOT PROGRAM AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS 
FOR ACCELERATING PROTECTION OF CER-
TAIN FACILITIES AND ASSETS FROM UN-
MANNED AIRCRAFT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) Congress granted the Department of De-
fense extensive counter-UAS authorities under sec-
tion 1697 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 
Stat. 2639); 
(2) the Department has not adequately re-
sponded to publicly reported drone incursions; 
(3) the Department has consistently returned to 
request from Congress additional counter-UAS au-
thorities, despite not fully using available counter- 
UAS authorities and routinely failing to provide to 
Congress with statutorily required briefings and in-
formation on the use and non-use of such available 
authorities; and
1026 
(4) there is intense global demand for counter- 
UAS systems in the inventory of the Department, 
particularly from the Commander of the United 
States Central Command and the Commander of the 
United States Indo-Pacific Command, and the De-
partment will not be able to address domestic 
counter-UAS 
requirements 
without 
substantial 
changes in the policies and priorities of the Depart-
ment. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall— 
(1) develop a plan to ensure that the training 
of members of the armed forces and officers and ci-
vilian employees of the Department, and the 
sustainment of equipment of the Department, is ade-
quate for purposes of the effective use of authorities 
under section 130i of title 10, United States Code; 
and 
(2) ensure that for each covered facility or asset 
at which the Secretary has determined counter-UAS 
operations are necessary to mitigate the threat that 
an unmanned aircraft system poses to the safety or 
security of such covered facility or asset—
1027 
(A) any administrative action required for 
the effective use of such authorities for the pro-
tection of the covered facility or asset not con-
tingent upon action by another Federal depart-
ment or agency has been completed, including 
the establishment of appropriate policies for the 
training of relevant personnel upon the deploy-
ment of new counter-UAS systems, annual 
training, and training for newly assigned per-
sonnel; 
(B) any such training required for the safe 
or effective use of counter-UAS systems for 
such protection has been completed; and 
(C) planning to deploy and sustain systems 
similar to those procured pursuant to the pilot 
program under subsection (c) in a manner ap-
propriate for the covered facility or asset has 
commenced. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM FOR DEPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN 
COUNTER-UAS SYSTEMS.— 
(1) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator as required by section 
130i of title 10, United States Code, shall carry out 
a pilot program for the deployment of covered 
counter-UAS systems for the protection of certain
1028 
covered facilities or assets (in this subsection, re-
ferred to as the ‘‘pilot program’’). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Under the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall— 
(A) not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, select and procure 
covered counter-UAS systems for deployment 
for the protection of four covered facilities or 
assets identified for purposes of the pilot pro-
gram; and 
(B) not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, ensure such cov-
ered counter-UAS systems are so deployed with 
respect to each such identified covered facility 
or asset. 
(3) SITE-SPECIFIC
ASSESSMENT.—The Sec-
retary and the Administrator shall jointly conduct a 
site-specific suitability assessment for each covered 
asset or facility identified for purposes of the pilot 
program to ensure that the operation of a covered 
counter-UAS system under the pilot program with 
respect to the covered facility or asset will not result 
in an adverse impact on aviation safety, including by 
assessing safe engagement ranges and parameters 
for target identification and deconfliction.
1029 
(d) ADDITIONAL COORDINATION REQUIRED.—The 
Secretary shall carry out this section consistent with the 
requirements of section 130i of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(e) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 60 days there-
after until the date on which each requirement under this 
section is complete, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Administrator, shall provide to the congressional defense 
committees and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing on 
the implementation of this section. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. 
(2) The terms ‘‘counter-UAS system’’ and 
‘‘small unmanned aircraft’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(3) The term ‘‘covered counter-UAS system’’ 
means a counter-UAS system that— 
(A) is capable of destroying or disabling a 
small unmanned aircraft by means of high-pow-
ered microwave, laser, or other similar tech-
nology; and
1030 
(B) may be integrated with appropriate 
sensing and command-and-control systems. 
(4) The term ‘‘covered facility or asset’’ means 
a facility or asset with respect to which there is au-
thority to carry out section 130i of title 10, United 
States Code, for the protection of the facility or 
asset. 
(5) The term ‘‘unmanned aircraft’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 130i(j) of title 
10, United States Code. 
SEC. 1082. COUNTER-UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM READI-
NESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Director of the Joint Counter Small Un-
manned Aircraft Systems Office, shall coordinate with the 
Secretaries of the military departments to identify dif-
ferences in the interpretation and application of section 
130i of title 10, United States Code, among the military 
departments, including differences with respect to— 
(1) interpretations of the term ‘‘covered facility 
or asset’’; 
(2) the application of modern best practices for 
counter-unmanned aircraft system to each type of 
covered facility or asset; and
1031 
(3) divergent, unrealistic, or unnecessarily lim-
ited legal interpretations of the term ‘‘covered facil-
ity or asset’’. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
of the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Systems Office 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port that includes a description of each of the following: 
(1) Differences identified in the application of 
section 130i of title 10, United States Code, among 
the military departments. 
(2) Any resources required to expedite and 
modernize site evaluations, including electromagnetic 
spectrum evaluations required for the deployment of 
counter-unmanned aircraft system defenses and site 
surveys described in section 1081 of this Act. 
(3) Suggestions to improve the role of the 
United States Northern Command as a synchro-
nizing body for homeland counter-unmanned aircraft 
systems deployed at covered facilities or assets. 
(4) The plan of the Director to remedy, without 
change to underlying law, the differences in legal in-
terpretations identified pursuant to subsection 
(a)(3).
1032 
(5) The strategy of the Director for retrofitting 
and modernizing military installations and depots 
for testing counter-unmanned aircraft systems and 
an identification of any policy, legal, or regulatory 
challenges to carrying out such strategy. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘cov-
ered facility or asset’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ 
have the meaning given such terms in section 130i of title 
10, United States Code. 
SEC. 1083. PILOT PROGRAM ON DIGITAL FORCE PROTEC-
TION FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Commander of the 
United States Special Operations Command may carry out 
a pilot program, to be known as the ‘‘Digital Force Protec-
tion Pilot Program’’, to identify existing vulnerabilities in 
digital force protection, provide targeted ubiquitous tech-
nical surveillance mitigation training, and help identify 
commercially available secure communication and obfusca-
tion technologies to protect personnel and support overall 
mission effectiveness. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of a pilot program 
carried out under subsection (a) are— 
(1) to increase understanding of existing digital 
signature and ubiquitous technical surveillance risk 
for selected Special Operations Forces units and the
1033 
associated threats to personnel and mission effective-
ness that come from digital exposure and adversary 
tracking; 
(2) to strengthen digital force protection for the 
purposes of operational security and strategic decep-
tion efforts across all domains of warfare; and 
(3) to demonstrate digital force protection as a 
critical enabler of multi-domain operations and the 
need to ensure Special Operations Forces can oper-
ate seamlessly across land, air, sea, space, and 
cyberspace without adversarial digital exploitation 
undermining mission success. 
(c) RECOMMENDATION OF UNITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Commander carries 
out a pilot program under subsection (a), the Com-
mander shall recommend not fewer than two Special 
Operations Forces units to carry out the pilot pro-
gram, which may include a command and unit ele-
ment. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In recommending units 
to participate in the pilot program under paragraph 
(1), the Commander shall take into consideration— 
(A) the need to include multiple categories 
of personnel, including operational support
1034 
staff, enablers, and contractors to ensure a 
complete assessment; 
(B) the readiness status of the units, with 
an emphasis on providing training to those 
units most likely to deploy to areas with high 
likelihood of adversary digital surveillance; and 
(C) the need for a sufficient sample size, 
which is approximately a battalion. 
(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—If the Commander car-
ries out a pilot program under this section, the Com-
mander may enter into a contract for the provision of serv-
ices to facilitate the pilot program. If the Commander uses 
such authority to enter into a contract for training or as-
sessment, such training and assessment shall be capable 
of— 
(1) conducting multiple realistic ubiquitous 
technical surveillance training scenarios that are 
consistent with observed adversarial tactics, tech-
niques, and procedures with exploiting commercially 
available data against Special Operations Forces 
units; 
(2) training key personnel across leadership, 
operational, and support elements on the threats 
posed by the commercial data economy and specific
1035 
skills development to manage digital signatures and 
mitigate ubiquitous technical surveillance risks; 
(3) providing advanced training for personnel 
responsible for highly sensitive activities and mis-
sions; 
(4) evaluating through red cell exercises pilot 
program participant progress and to ensuring units 
are prepared for mission-critical operations in ubiq-
uitous technical surveillance-intensive environments; 
(5) employing commercial technology solutions 
previously deployed in a mission environment and 
interoperable with legacy Department of Defense 
systems, networks, and protocols, including deploy-
ment of on-demand global obfuscated networks and 
identity intelligence and management; 
(6) assessing ubiquitous technical surveillance 
and digital force protection holistically across var-
ious threat vectors including electronic, travel, finan-
cial, online, and physical or visual. 
(e) BRIEFINGS.—If the Commander carries out a 
pilot program under this section, not later than 90 days 
after concluding activities under the pilot program, the 
Commander and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict shall pro-
vide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
1036 
and the House of Representatives a briefing that in-
cludes— 
(1) a thorough analysis identifying current ca-
pabilities and a description of gaps, deficiencies, or 
other vulnerabilities, identified by the pilot program; 
(2) specific recommendations for short-term (1– 
2 years) and long-term (3–5 years) initiatives to en-
hance digital force protection across special oper-
ations components; 
(3) an assessment of how enhanced digital force 
protection measures increase the difficulty, time, and 
resources required for adversaries to conduct digital 
surveillance, force tracking, and operational com-
promise of Special Operations Forces; and 
(4) a comprehensive list of any additional au-
thorities, appropriations, or other resources nec-
essary to implement the recommended digital force 
protection tools and practices identified pursuant to 
the pilot program. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘digital force protection’’ means 
the policies, tools, and practices used to protect mili-
tary personnel, operations, and critical assets from 
adversarial exploitation of the commercial digital
1037 
surveillance economy, associated commercial data, 
and digital footprints. 
(2) The term ‘‘commercial digital surveillance 
economy’’ means the ecosystem of companies and 
technologies involved in collecting, analyzing, and 
selling data generated by the interactions of individ-
uals with digital services and devices. 
(3) The term ‘‘digital footprint’’ means the data 
traces left by individuals through the use of digital 
devices and services that can be exploited to uncover 
personal information, movement patterns, and other 
sensitive details. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on the 
date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 1084. PILOT PROGRAM FOR BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED 
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
may establish a pilot program under which the Depart-
ment of Defense shall use commercially available distrib-
uted ledger technology to seek to improve inventory man-
agement within the Department of Defense.
1038 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—Under the pilot program estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) assess the feasibility and effectiveness of 
using distributed ledger technology in improving in-
ventory management; 
(2) assess the cost savings resulting from the 
use of distributed ledger technology in inventory 
management; 
(3) assess whether the use of distributed ledger 
technology in inventory management improves the 
traceability of inventory; 
(4) assess whether the use of distributed ledger 
technology in inventory management reduces the 
risk of waste, fraud, and abuse; and 
(5) identify and mitigate potential challenges 
and risks associated with the integration of distrib-
uted ledger technology for inventory management, 
including cybersecurity concerns. 
(c) REPORT.—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 Services of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the 
activities performed under the pilot program established 
under subsection (a).
1039 
(d) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out a 
pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on Jan-
uary 1, 2029. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘distributed ledger’’ means a 
ledger that— 
(A) is shared across a set of distributed 
nodes, which are devices or processes, that par-
ticipate in a network and store a complete or 
partial replica of the ledger; 
(B) is synchronized between the nodes; and 
(C) has data appended to it by following a 
specified consensus mechanism. 
(2) The term ‘‘distributed ledger technology’’ 
means technology that enables the operation and use 
of distributed ledgers. 
SEC. 1085. ACCELERATION OF ACCREDITATION AND AC-
CESS TO SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED IN-
FORMATION FACILITIES FOR INDUSTRY. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after 
enactment of this act, the Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with other appropriate departments and agencies 
of the Federal Government, shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a plan to accelerate the accredi-
tation, construction, and operational use of commercial
1040 
sensitive compartmented information facilities accessible 
to private-sector entities in support of national security 
innovation, manufacturing, and mission-critical classified 
activities. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) Recommendation of policies to authorize the 
parallel processing of construction security plans, 
construction, and information technology deployment 
to reduce accreditation and approval timelines. 
(2) An assessment of the feasibility of adopting 
architecture and construction templates to allow for 
shortening or eliminating portions of the construc-
tion security plan review and approval process. 
(3) An evaluation of current policies regarding 
the use of mobile Secret Internet Protocol Router 
Network and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Commu-
nications System systems within accredited con-
tractor sensitive compartmented information facili-
ties, including a review of Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff Instruction 6211.02D. 
(4) An assessment of the feasibility of dele-
gating the authority to review construction security 
plans and associated 30, 60, and 90 percent tech-
nical drawings to appropriately trained sponsor-ap-
1042 
SEC. 1086. STANDARDIZATION OF DATA ANALYSIS AND VIS-
UALIZATION ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE. 
(a) STANDARDIZATION OF DATA ANALYSIS AND VIS-
UALIZATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 365 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that each of the military departments 
adopts a set of standard data analysis and data visualiza-
tion for the collection, management, analysis, visualiza-
tion, and reporting of data related to harmful behaviors. 
Such required data analysis and visualization standards 
shall be designed to— 
(1) enable commanders at all levels of command 
to receive timely, actionable data with consistent 
metrics, data visualization, and presentation for-
mats; 
(2) support location, identify patterns over 
time, and track changes or trends in harmful behav-
ior; and 
(3) if the Secretary establishes a working group 
under subsection (b), comply with other standards 
and best practices identified by the working group. 
(b) WORKING GROUP ON DATA SYSTEMS AND VIS-
UALIZATION.—
1043 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
may establish a working group composed of rep-
resentatives from each military department. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—If the Secretary estab-
lishes a working group under this subsection, the 
working group shall— 
(A) review existing harmful behavior data 
management systems, methods of data collec-
tion, management, analysis, reporting, and 
forms of data visualization used across the mili-
tary departments; 
(B) identify and share best practices for 
data collection, management, analysis, visualiza-
tion, and reporting to improve consistency, ef-
fectiveness, and usability across the Depart-
ment of Defense; and 
(C) assess which data elements are not 
currently captured in existing harmful behavior 
data management systems of record and would 
benefit from inclusion. 
(3) TIMEFRAME FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—If the 
Secretary establishes a working group under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall establish the working 
group by not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
1044 
(c) PROMOTION OF ON-SITE INSTALLATION EVALUA-
TION RESILIENCE INDEX SUMMARY APPLICATION.—The 
Secretary may promote the on-site installation evaluation 
resilience index summary application for wider use by the 
military departments, in addition to the systems to ad-
dress harmful behavior in use by the military departments 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) BRIEFING AND REPORT.—Not later than 365 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall provide a briefing and submit a 
report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives on— 
(1) the status of the implementation of the 
standard features required under subsection (a); 
(2) if the Secretary establishes a working group 
under subsection (b), the findings and recommenda-
tions of the working group; and 
(3) the status of implementing the promotion of 
the on-site installation evaluation resilience index 
summary application under subsection (c). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘data collection’’ means the capa-
bility to gather user-generated data through system 
interfaces, with designated required and optional
1045 
fields, that is saved to the system’s dataset through 
structured workflows. 
(2) The term ‘‘data visualization’’ means the 
manner in which information is presented within a 
data management system, including the graphical 
representation of data to improve clarity, com-
prehension, analysis, and decision-making by users. 
SEC. 1087. PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGA-
TIONS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PRO-
VIDERS AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICERS. 
(a) COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS.— 
(1) PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS.— 
The Commander of the Military Surface Deployment 
and Distribution Command shall develop a process 
through which a transportation service provider may 
submit a complaint to the Commander regarding 
possible violations of the Military Freight Traffic 
Unified Rules Publication or the Defense Transpor-
tation Regulations by Department of Defense trans-
portation officers and transportation service pro-
viders regarding any military shipments that are re-
quired to be processed by the Global Freight Man-
agement System.
1046 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The complaint process re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include each of the 
following: 
(A) An identification of the information 
the complainant should provide as part of a 
complaint to assist the Commander in reviewing 
and investigating the complaint, including ref-
erences to the rules that were allegedly violated. 
(B) A timeline for the adjudication of the 
complaint and rendering of an initial finding by 
an individual designated by the Commander. 
(C) A process for any party to appeal the 
initial finding if the party believes the initial 
finding is incorrect, a timeline for the review of 
the appeal, and a timeline for the Commander 
to render a final decision. 
(D) Such other elements as the Com-
mander determines appropriate. 
(3) CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS.—If, pur-
suant to a complaint submitted through the com-
plaint process under this section, a transportation 
officer or transportation service provider is found to 
have violated the Military Freight Traffic Unified 
Rules Publication or the Defense Transportation 
Regulations, the Commander shall impose a penalty
1047 
in accordance with the Military Freight Traffic Uni-
fied Rules Publication and the Defense Transpor-
tation Regulations and, if applicable, work with the 
transportation officer or transportation service pro-
vider to take corrective action. 
(4) TRANSPORTATION OFFICER ACTIONS.— 
(A) NOTIFICATION PROCESS.— The Com-
mander shall establish a timely process through 
which a transportation service provider may no-
tify the Military Surface Deployment and Dis-
tribution Command of any action a transpor-
tation officer imposes against a transportation 
service provider, such as a letter of non-use, if 
the transportation service provider believes that 
such action was improper, excessive, or not in 
accordance with the Military Freight Traffic 
Unified Rules Publication or Defense Transpor-
tation Regulations. 
(B) AUTHORITY
TO
OVERRIDE.— The 
Commander may override any action taken by 
a transportation officer against a transportation 
service provider if the Commander believes such 
action was improper, excessive, or not in ac-
cordance with the Military Freight Traffic Uni-
fied Rules Publication or Defense Transpor-
1048 
tation Regulations. The authority under this 
subparagraph includes revoking a letter of non- 
use, reducing the duration of a letter of non- 
use, and removing any service failure from the 
record of the transportation service provider. 
(b) GLOBAL FREIGHT MANAGEMENT TRAINING.— 
The Commander of the Military Surface Deployment and 
Distribution Command shall provide recurring training to 
all transportation officers and transportation service pro-
viders that use the Global Freight Management System 
to process and award Department of Defense shipments. 
Such training shall include— 
(1) detailed instruction on the Military Freight 
Traffic Unified Rules Publication and Defense 
Transportation Regulations; 
(2) best practices for processing and awarding 
shipments in the Global Freight Management sys-
tem; 
(3) the importance of awarding shipments 
transparently and in accordance with Department of 
Defense policies; and 
(4) such other information as the Commander 
determines appropriate. 
(c) FREIGHT CARRIER REGISTRATION PROGRAM.—
1049 
(1) UPDATE.—The Commander of the Military 
Surface Deployment and Distribution Command 
shall update the freight carrier registration program 
to ensure that users of the program, including De-
partment of Defense personnel and transportation 
service providers, are able to easily determine if a 
standard carrier alpha code belongs to a motor car-
rier or broker. 
(2) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT.—Not less 
frequently than annually, the Commander shall con-
duct an audit of the freight carrier registration pro-
gram to ensure that all approved transportation 
service providers have active and appropriate oper-
ating authority from the Department of Transpor-
tation. 
SEC. 1088. CONSTRUCTION OF 9/11 PENTAGON MEMORIAL 
VISITOR EDUCATION CENTER. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Defense is 
authorized to construct a visitor education center near the 
9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, 
Virginia, in order to better inform and educate the public 
about the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 
11, 2001, the lives lost during the attack, the historic sig-
nificance of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial site, and how 
the United States responded and moved forward following
1050 
the attack. The Secretary is authorized to designate an 
appropriate non-government organization or non-profit or-
ganization to complete the visitors education center on be-
half of the Secretary. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense, 
acting through the Director of Washington Headquarters 
Services, may make a grant, including a supplemental 
grant, to, or may enter into a cooperative agreement with, 
a non-government organization or non-profit organization 
designated under subsection (a), for the purpose of pro-
viding assistance with constructing the visitor education 
center authorized under such subsection. 
SEC. 1089. PROHIBITION ON USE OF LIVE ANIMALS IN 
TRAUMA TRAINING. 
Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
live animals, including dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, 
and marine mammals— 
(1) may not used in live fire trauma training; 
and 
(2) to the extent necessary, shall be replaced 
with advanced simulators, mannequins, cadavers, or 
actors. 
SEC. 1090. VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—
1051 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall establish a pilot pro-
gram under which the Department of the Air Force 
(including the Space Force) shall use virtual reality 
technology and natural language processing for the 
purposes of data collection and proficiency measure-
ment (in this section referred to as the ‘‘pilot pro-
gram’’). 
(2) TRAINING.—Training under the pilot pro-
gram shall re-enforce existing frameworks of preven-
tion, such as the methodology known as ‘‘Ask, Care, 
Excort’’ or ‘‘ACE’’, assisting unit commanders in 
identifying areas for improvement. 
(3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Air Force currently uses virtual 
reality technology in many training areas which will 
help control the costs associated with the pilot pro-
gram. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall submit to Congress a report on the results of 
the data gathered during the pilot program. 
(c) FUNDING.—
1052 
(1) INCREASE.—Notwithstanding the amounts 
set forth in the funding tables in division D, the 
amount authorized to be appropriated in section 
4301 for Air Force, Operations and Maintenance, 
Operating Forces, Medical Readiness, Line 140, is 
hereby increased by $9,000,000. 
(2) OFFSET.—Notwithstanding the amounts set 
forth in the funding tables in division D, the amount 
authorized to be appropriated in section 4301 for 
Army, Operation and Maintenance, Line 460, is 
hereby reduced by $9,000,000. 
SEC. 1091. EXPEDITIOUS DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS RELAT-
ING TO TOWER 22 ATTACK. 
The Secretary of Defense shall expeditiously disclose 
of all records relating to the January 28, 2024, attack 
on Tower 22 in Jordan. 
SEC. 1092. UPDATES AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIALS 
TO CHAPLAINS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL 
CEMETERY. 
(a) UPDATES AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIALS.— 
(1) PROTESTANT CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL.—The 
Secretary of the Army shall permit NCMAF— 
(A) to modify the memorial to Protestant 
chaplains located on Chaplains Hill to include a
1053 
granite, marble, or other stone base for the 
bronze plaque of the memorial; 
(B) to provide an updated bronze plaque 
that includes the name of each chaplain, 
verified as described in subsection (b), who died 
while serving on active duty in the Armed 
Forces after the date on which the original me-
morial was placed; and 
(C) to make such other updates and cor-
rections to the memorial that the Secretary de-
termines necessary. 
(2) CATHOLIC AND JEWISH CHAPLAIN MEMO-
RIALS.—The Secretary of the Army shall permit 
NCMAF to update and make corrections to the 
Catholic and Jewish chaplain memorials located on 
Chaplains Hill that the Secretary determines nec-
essary. 
(3) NO COST TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.—The 
activities of NCMAF authorized by this subsection 
shall be carried out at no cost to the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
(b) VERIFICATION OF NAMES.—NCMAF may not in-
clude the name of a chaplain on a memorial on Chaplains 
Hill under subsection (a) unless that name has been 
verified by the Chief of Chaplains of the Army, Navy, or
1054 
Air Force or the Chaplain of the United States Marine 
Corps, depending on the branch of the Armed Forces in 
which the chaplain served. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON EXPANSION OF MEMORIALS.— 
Except as provided in subsection (a)(1)(A), this section 
may not be construed as authorizing the expansion of any 
memorial that is located on Chaplains Hill as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Chaplains Hill’’ means the area 
in Arlington National Cemetery that, as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act, is generally identified 
and recognized as Chaplains Hill. 
(2) The term ‘‘NCMAF’’ means the National 
Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces or any 
successor organization recognized in law for pur-
poses of the operation of this section. 
SEC. 1093. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE COMPATIBILITY 
TABLETOP EXERCISE. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation shall con-
duct a tabletop exercise designed to assess the resiliency 
of United States military installations and their sur-
rounding communal capabilities to collaboratively confront
1055 
weather disasters or adversarial threats made against the 
United States homeland. Tabletop exercises under this 
section shall be designed to— 
(1) be planned and executed in a fully distrib-
uted, virtual format to ensure participation across 
geographically-dispersed organizations; 
(2) involve trusted agents from installations 
and other stakeholders in a deliberate and method-
ical exercise planning process to address the critical 
tasks necessary to maintain military mission assur-
ance; 
(3) integrate policies, procedures, capabilities, 
and appropriate authorities to ensure mission assur-
ance during and after cybersecurity events involving 
intelligent energy control systems, traffic control sys-
tems, and incident response systems; 
(4) provide immediate access to exercise data 
for after action analysis and reporting; and 
(5) include as participating organizations ap-
propriate municipal, county, State, and national gov-
ernment entities, and public and private critical in-
frastructure service providers such as energy, water, 
wastewater, transportation, and communications, 
and others as appropriate.
1056 
(b) ELEMENTS.—A tabletop exercise required under 
subsection (a) shall be designed to evaluate, at a min-
imum, the following elements: 
(1) The resilience of community critical infra-
structure to enhance, advance, and supplant that of 
surrounding military installations in the event of at-
tacks upon military critical infrastructure. 
(2) The ability of a military installation, in co-
operation with community leadership, to coordinate 
efforts and operationalize available infrastructure 
and resources presented by defense communities in 
the area surrounding the military installation. 
(3) State and Federal Government response op-
tions to ensure the viability of domestic critical in-
frastructure in the event of a long duration, wide-
spread event. 
(4) An assessment of the mobility of the United 
States Armed Forces from their installations in the 
event of an attack upon critical infrastructure and 
logistical chokepoints. 
(5) The resiliency of United States military 
joint-all domain command and control to withstand 
attacks and—
1057 
(A) the ability of community assets to sup-
plant partial or complete loss of command and 
control; and 
(B) local, State, and Federal Government 
responses to partial or complete loss of such in-
frastructure. 
(6) The importance of nonmilitary actions, in-
cluding economic and financial measures, by the 
United States to prepare for, deter and, if necessary, 
respond to a contingency. 
(c) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out 
this section, the Director shall consult with the Secretaries 
of each of the military departments and the heads of ap-
propriate Federal departments and agencies, as the Direc-
tor determines appropriate. 
(d) LOCATION.—A tabletop exercise required under 
subsection (a) shall be conducted at a location selected by 
the Director that is advantageous to studying cooperative 
efforts between military installations and the local commu-
nities. 
(e) PLANNING AND PREPARATION.—A tabletop exer-
cise required under this section shall be prepared by ap-
propriate personnel from the Office of Local Defense Com-
munity Cooperation, in cooperation with the Armed 
Forces.
1058 
(f) PARTICIPANTS.—The participants in a tabletop 
exercise required under this section may include appro-
priate personnel of— 
(1) the Department of the Defense; 
(2) the military departments; 
(3) the United States Northern Command; 
(4) appropriate State agencies; 
(5) relevant community installations; 
(6) relevant think-tanks of the United States; 
and 
(7) such other entities as the Director deter-
mines appropriate. 
(g) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the conclusion of 
the tabletop exercise required under subsection (a), 
the Director shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report, an provide to such com-
mittees a briefing, on the exercise. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an assessment of the decision-making, 
capability, and response gaps observed in the 
tabletop exercise; 
(B) recommendations to improve the resil-
iency of, and reduce vulnerabilities in, the do-
1059 
mestic critical infrastructure of the United 
States in the event of a military contingency; 
(C) means to encourage collaboration and 
coordination between military installations and 
defense communities, including— 
(i) resource planning; 
(ii) operational effects on land and 
airspace; 
(iii) legislative initiatives; 
(iv) housing availability; 
(v) frequency spectrum capacity; 
(vi) the use and preservation of scarce 
natural resources; 
(vii) water quality and quantity; 
(viii) anti-terrorism and force protec-
tion; 
(ix) reducing dust, smoke, and steam 
elements; 
(x) energy development projects; 
(xi) frequency spectrum enablers and 
enhancers; 
(xii) shared roadway capacity; and 
(xiii) protecting the health and safety 
of nearby residents and workers;
1060 
(D) recommendations to enhance coopera-
tion between military installations and local 
communities that promotes comprehensive com-
munity planning with attention to operational 
resiliency; and 
(E) means to integrate the development 
policies, plans, and regulations of local jurisdic-
tions and land management agencies with the 
plans of military installations. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability of the House of 
Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 
on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Government Affairs of 
the Senate. 
(2) The term ‘‘tabletop exercise’’ means an ac-
tivity—
1061 
(A) in which key personnel assigned high 
level roles and responsibilities are gathered to 
deliberate various simulated emergency or rapid 
response situations; and 
(B) that is designed to be used to assess 
the adequacy of plans, policies, procedures, 
training, resources, and relationships or agree-
ments that guide prevention of, response to, 
and recovery from a defined event. 
SEC. 1094. DEFENSE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTEC-
TION INTERAGENCY REVIEW. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Defense critical infrastructure, encom-
passing cyber and physical assets, is essential to na-
tional security and military readiness but faces 
growing threats from adversaries. 
(2) Effective interagency coordination is vital to 
protect this infrastructure. 
(3) The Department of Defense plays a key role 
in safeguarding critical infrastructure, but its efforts 
must align with broader Federal and private sector 
initiatives. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that strengthening interagency coordination, and co-
ordination between the administration and the private sec-
1062 
tor is critical to securing defense-related infrastructure 
against emerging threats. 
(c) INTERAGENCY REVIEW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, the Director of National In-
telligence, and heads of other relevant departments 
or agencies of the Federal Government, shall con-
duct a comprehensive review of interagency coordi-
nation mechanisms for the protection of defense crit-
ical infrastructure. 
(2) REVIEW COMPONENTS.—The review under 
paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum— 
(A) assess the effectiveness of existing 
frameworks for information sharing, threat re-
sponse, and risk mitigation among departments 
or agencies of the Federal Government, State 
and local governments, and private sector part-
ners; 
(B) identify gaps and inefficiencies in 
interagency efforts to safeguard cyber and 
physical infrastructure critical to national secu-
rity;
1063 
(C) evaluate the integration of the Defense 
Information Assurance Program established by 
section 2224 of title 10, United States Code, 
with broader critical infrastructure protection 
initiatives; 
(D) evaluate mission assurance cybersecu-
rity priorities and determine whether the exist-
ing list of critical cyber missions, capabilities, 
functions, systems, and supporting assets is 
comprehensive; 
(E) include any updates to guidance on re-
placing the Defense Infrastructure Sector Lead 
Agent and reevaluate the sectors it includes as 
part of defense critical infrastructure; and 
(F) provide recommendations for improv-
ing collaboration, reducing bureaucratic obsta-
cles, and enhancing the resilience of defense-re-
lated infrastructure. 
(d) REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPON-
SIBILITIES.—The Secretary of Defense shall concurrently 
assess the implementation by the Department of the fol-
lowing responsibilities: 
(1) Ensuring proper classification and safe-
guarding of critical infrastructure security informa-
1064 
tion from public disclosure pursuant to section 130e 
of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) Assessing the role of the Department in en-
suring the reliability and security of infrastructure 
vital to defense and national security pursuant to 
section 1016 of the USA PATRIOT Act (42 U.S.C. 
5195c). 
(3) Ensuring Department of Defense compli-
ance with information protection standards under 
the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 671 et seq.) and part 29 of title 6, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
(4) Assessing Department of Defense oversight 
of cybersecurity requirements for contractors han-
dling covered defense information pursuant to sec-
tions 252.204–7012 of the Defense Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulation Supplement. 
(e) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit a report to the con-
gressional defense committees, detailing— 
(A) findings of the interagency coordina-
tion review;
1065 
(B) recommendations to enhance Depart-
ment of Defense-led critical infrastructure pro-
tection efforts; 
(C) proposed policy or regulatory changes 
to improve national defense infrastructure secu-
rity and cyber resilience; and 
(D) recommendations for legislative or reg-
ulatory action, if necessary, to strengthen inter-
agency cooperation and Department of Defense 
implementation of critical infrastructure protec-
tion mandates. 
(2) FORM.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in an unclassified form but may 
contain a classified annex. 
(f) REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the Secretary submits the 
report under subsection (e), the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report on the Depart-
ment of Defense’s implementation of the review 
under subsection (c) and an assessment of the rec-
ommendations under subsection (e).
1066 
(2) FORM.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in an unclassified form but may 
contain a classified annex. 
TITLE XI—CIVILIAN PERSONNEL 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 1101. LIVING QUARTER ALLOWANCE FOR DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES 
WITH PERMANENT DUTY STATION IN GUAM. 
Section 1102 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘DE-
PARTMENT OF THE NAVY CIVILIAN EMPLOY-
EES ASSIGNED TO PERMANENT DUTY IN GUAM 
FOR
PERFORMING
WORK, OR
SUPPORTING 
WORK BEING PERFORMED, ABOARD OR DOCK-
SIDE, OF
U.S. NAVAL
VESSELS’’ and inserting 
‘‘CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE STATIONED IN GUAM’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
the Navy’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’; 
and 
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following:
1067 
‘‘(b) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered employee’ means any civilian em-
ployee of the Department of Defense whose permanent 
duty station is located in Guam.’’. 
SEC. 1102. APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES TO COMPETITIVE SERVICE 
AND EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITIONS IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3326 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘cer-
tain’’ before ‘‘positions’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘the civil service’’ and inserting 
‘‘the competitive service or the excepted serv-
ice’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for the 
purpose’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Manage-
ment’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 33 of such 
title is amended in the item relating to section 3326 by 
inserting ‘‘certain’’ before ‘‘positions’’.
1068 
SEC. 1103. PAY FOR CREWS OF VESSELS. 
Section 5348 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding before the pe-
riod at the end the following: ‘‘, not to exceed the 
rate of pay for the Vice President under section 104 
of title 3’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The limitation on pay under section 5307 shall 
not apply to an employee whose pay is fixed under sub-
section (a).’’. 
SEC. 1104. EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON RATE OF BASIC 
PAY FOR CREWS OF VESSELS. 
Section 5373 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) Subsection (a) shall not apply to the authority 
of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military 
department to fix the annual rate of basic pay of officers 
and crews of vessels as is consistent with the public inter-
est and in accordance with the prevailing rates and prac-
tices in the commercial maritime industry, except that the 
annual rate of basic pay of such an employee may not be 
fixed at a rate greater than the annual rate of the salary 
of the Vice President under section 104 of title 3.’’.
1069 
SEC. 1105. 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 1104 of the Servicemember Quality 
of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 138 Stat. 
2087), is further amended by striking ‘‘through 2025’’ 
and inserting ‘‘through 2026’’. 
SEC. 1106. 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 as most recently amended by section 1105 of 
the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
1070 
(Public Law 118–159; 138 Stat. 2088), is further amend-
ed by striking ‘‘2026’’ and inserting ‘‘2027’’. 
SEC. 1107. DEFENSE WORKFORCE INTEGRATION. 
(a) INTEGRATION OF MILITARY AND CIVILIAN HIR-
ING PROCESSES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secre-
taries concerned shall establish a pathway for medi-
cally disqualified entry-level service members to 
enter civilian positions for which they are qualified 
in the Department of Defense or any of its compo-
nents. 
(2) AIR
FORCE
DRIVE
PROGRAM.—The Air 
Force’s Develop, Redistribute, Improve, Vault, Ex-
pose (DRIVE) program shall be considered suffi-
cient to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) and 
may, but need not, serve as a baseline from which 
the other military departments design their pro-
grams. 
(3) 
ENTRY-LEVEL
SERVICE
MEMBER
DE-
FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘entry-level 
service member’’ means a regular or reserve member 
of the Armed Forces who is currently attending or 
has military orders to attend within 90 days—
1071 
(A) basic training; 
(B) a technical school of the Armed 
Forces; 
(C) a service academy; 
(D) the Reserve Officer Training Corps 
(ROTC); 
(E) an officer accession program, including 
officer candidate school, officer training school, 
officer development school, or equivalent pro-
gram. 
(b) PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON CAREER OPPOR-
TUNITIES IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE TO PER-
SONS INELIGIBLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE.—Chapter 50 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 996. Provision of information on career opportuni-
ties in the defense industrial base to per-
sons medically disqualified for military 
service 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish and implement a program to provide indi-
viduals who are not medically qualified for military service 
with information on employment opportunities in the de-
fense industrial base or other employment opportunities 
in support of the national interests of the United States.
1072 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM.—The program established under 
subsection (a) shall inform and refer persons described in 
subsection (a) to employment, apprenticeship, and train-
ing opportunities in— 
‘‘(1) the defense industrial base, including the 
maritime and shipbuilding industries; 
‘‘(2) cybersecurity or intelligence support roles; 
‘‘(3) research and development in defense tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(4) national emergency and disaster prepared-
ness; or 
‘‘(5) any other non-military opportunity the 
Secretary considers in the national interests of the 
United States. 
‘‘(c) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall consult with entities in the defense industrial base, 
other Federal agencies, and academic institutions to carry 
out this section.’’. 
(c) PROVISION TO NAVY PERSONNEL OF INFORMA-
TION ON CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT MILITARY SEALIFT 
COMMAND.—The Secretary of the Navy shall provide in-
formation about career opportunities at Military Sealift 
Command and workforce training programs for ship-
builders to all Navy personnel as part of the Transition 
Assistance Program process.
1073 
(d) REPORT.—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 Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report describ-
ing implementation of the requirements under subsections 
(a) and (c) of this section and section 996 of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (b) of this 
section. 
SEC. 1108. MODIFICATIONS TO TOTAL FORCE MANAGE-
MENT REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Office of the Sec-
retary of Defense shall, in consultation with each Sec-
retary of a military department, provide guidance to each 
such Secretary on the analysis required under subsection 
(b) of section 129a of title 10, United States Code. Such 
guidance shall include defining the seven required ele-
ments of the analysis under such subsection, on either a 
Department-wide or component level. 
(b) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON REDUCTIONS.— 
Such section 129a is amended in subsection (b) by insert-
ing after ‘‘full-time equivalent levels’’ the following: ‘‘, or 
conduct any reductions or realignments that occur outside 
the normal programming process (including ad hoc, imme-
diate, or unprogrammed changes) of 50 employees or more
1074 
implemented before or after the submission of the annual 
budget request,’’. 
(c) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—Such section 
129a is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) REPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COM-
MITTEES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the en-
actment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the congres-
sional defense committees containing the analysis con-
ducted pursuant to subsection (b).’’. 
(d) RIF NOTIFICATION.—Section 1597(d) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘OR 
SIGNIFICANT’’ after ‘‘INVOLUNTARY’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘or furlough of’’ and inserting 
‘‘furlough, or significant reduction of over 50’’; and 
(3) by adding after the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘The Secretary shall notify the congres-
sional defense committees and each Member of Con-
gress representing the area in which reductions are 
ordered. Such notification shall include billet, activ-
ity name, number of employees at the location, num-
ber of employees involuntarily separated by billet, 
reason for the personnel action, actions to mitigate 
reductions, and savings and costs.’’.
1075 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Office of the Secretary 
of Defense shall provide the congressional defense commit-
tees with a briefing on the following: 
(1) The implementation of subsection (a) of this 
section. 
(2) Efforts to update DOD Directive 1100.4 
and DOD Instruction 1100.22 to address the anal-
ysis required under subsection (b) of such section 
129a, as amended by this section. 
SEC. 1109. EXEMPTION FROM CIVILIAN HIRING FREEZE 
FOR DELAYED DOD APPOINTMENTS DUE TO 
ACTIVE DUTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The hiring freeze implemented by 
the Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 
2025, titled ‘‘Hiring Freeze’’, or any extension of such 
Memorandum or freeze, shall not apply to any individual 
who received a final job offer before January 20, 2025, 
with respect to a position within the Department of De-
fense but did not occupy such position solely as a result 
of such individual performing active service (as that term 
is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) 
as a member of the Armed Forces. 
(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall not be con-
strued to confer any right or benefit to any individual, or
1076 
require the Department of Defense to hire any individual 
if the applicable position no longer exists, unless otherwise 
required by law. 
SEC. 1110. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS TO LIMIT COL-
LECTIVE BARGAINING. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available for the Department 
of Defense for fiscal year 2026 may be used to implement 
Executive Order 14251, issued on March 27, 2025, relat-
ing to Exclusions from Federal labor management rela-
tions programs, or any following policy or guidance. 
SEC. 1111. PERSONNEL ACTIONS AGAINST DOD SES CA-
REER APPOINTEES. 
(a) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of any element of 
the Department of Defense may, as provided in this 
section, reprimand or suspend, involuntarily reas-
sign, demote, or remove a career appointee at the 
element if the head determines that the documented 
misconduct or performance of the career appointee 
warrants such action. 
(2) REMOVAL FROM CIVIL SERVICE.—If a head 
removes an individual under paragraph (1), the head 
may remove the individual from the civil service. 
(b) RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES.—
1077 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—An individual who is the 
subject of an action under subsection (a)— 
(A) is entitled to advance notice of the ac-
tion and a file containing all evidence in sup-
port of the proposed action; 
(B) may be represented by an attorney or 
other representative of the covered individual’s 
choice; and 
(C) may grieve the action in accordance 
with an independent grievance process that the 
Secretaries of the military departments shall es-
tablish for purposes of this subsection. 
(2) TIME PERIODS.— 
(A) AGGREGATE PERIOD.—The aggregate 
period for notice, response, and decision on an 
action under subsection (a) may not exceed 15 
business days. 
(B) RESPONSE
PERIOD.—The period for 
the response of a covered individual to a notice 
under paragraph (1)(A) of an action under sub-
section (a) shall be 7 business days. 
(C) DECISION PERIOD.—A decision under 
this paragraph on an action under subsection 
(a) shall be issued not later than 15 business 
days after notice of the action is provided to the
1078 
individual under paragraph (1)(A). The decision 
shall be in writing, and shall include the specific 
reasons therefor. 
(D) GRIEVANCE
PROCESS
PERIOD.—The 
Secretaries shall ensure that the grievance proc-
ess established under paragraph (1)(C) takes 
fewer than 21 days. 
(E) WAIVER.—The applicable Secretary 
may waive the requirements of subparagraphs 
(A) through (D) if the Secretary for good cause 
determines such waiver is in the interests of 
due process. 
(3) FINALITY OF DECISIONS.—A decision under 
paragraph (2) that is not grieved, and a grievance 
decision under such subparagraph, shall be final and 
conclusive, except as provided in paragraph (4). 
(4) MSPB APPEAL.—An individual may appeal 
a final decision under paragraph (3) to the Merit 
Systems Protection Board. The Board shall, within 
120 days of the filing of the appeal, decide the ap-
pealable action in accordance with the Board’s ap-
pellate procedures under section 7701 of title 5, 
United States Code, and this section. 
(5) RELATION
TO
OTHER
PROVISIONS
OF 
LAW.—Section 3592(b)(1) of title 5, United States
1079 
Code, and the procedures under section 7543(b) of 
such title shall apply to an action under paragraph 
(1) unless otherwise provided by this section. 
(c) SUNSET.—This section and the authority under 
this section shall terminate on September 30, 2030. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘career appointee’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 3132(a) of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 2101 of such title 5; and 
(3) the term ‘‘misconduct’’ includes neglect of 
duty, malfeasance, or failure to accept a directed re-
assignment or to accompany a position in a transfer 
of function. 
SEC. 1112. STUDY ON LOCALITY PAY DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Man-
agement, shall conduct a study on locality pay Department 
of Defense employees, including locality pay under sub-
chapter I of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code. 
Such study shall include the following: 
(1) A review of current methodologies used to 
determine locality pay adjustments and their align-
1080 
ment with actual cost of living and labor market 
data. 
(2) An evaluation of regional disparities that 
impact recruitment and retention of Federal employ-
ees in defense-related roles. 
(3) Consideration of alternative models, includ-
ing adjustments based on broader economic indica-
tors, private-sector wage comparisons, and regional 
housing market trends. 
(4) Recommendations for legislative or adminis-
trative changes necessary to improve the accuracy, 
fairness, and effectiveness of locality pay adjust-
ments. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than April 1, 2026, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the study con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1113. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE CIVILIANS FORWARD DEPLOYED INTO 
COMBAT ZONES AND TOXIC EXPOSURE. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a feasibility study regarding the number of 
Department of Defense civilian employees who are forward 
deployed into designated combat zones and who may have 
been exposed to toxic substances as a result of their serv-
ice.
1081 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The study shall in-
clude, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) The number of Department of Defense civil-
ian employees currently forward deployed into com-
bat zones, disaggregated by region and occupational 
specialty. 
(2) Historical data, to the extent practicable, on 
the number of such civilians deployed over the past 
20 years. 
(3) The extent and nature of potential toxic ex-
posures to Department of Defense civilians deployed 
into combat zones, including exposure to— 
(A) open-air burn pits; 
(B) contaminated water supplies; 
(C) airborne particulates; or 
(D) industrial or chemical hazards associ-
ated with local environments; and 
(E) other environmental or occupational 
toxins. 
(4) The current benefits, entitlements, and pro-
tections available to such civilians in cases of toxic 
exposure, including— 
(A) health care benefits and eligibility; 
(B) hazard pay and deployment allow-
ances;
1082 
(C) workers’ compensation and other occu-
pational insurance coverages; 
(D) eligibility for Department of Labor’s 
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; 
and 
(E) eligibility for Department of Veterans 
Affairs programs (if any). 
(5) A comparison of benefits and entitlements 
provided to forward-deployed Department of Defense 
civilians with those provided to members of the 
Armed Forces for toxic exposure and related health 
conditions. 
(6) Identification of any gaps, limitations, or in-
consistencies in coverage or protections between mili-
tary personnel and civilian personnel. 
(7) The process by which Department of De-
fense civilians are informed of potential toxic expo-
sure risks prior to deployment, and any post-deploy-
ment medical monitoring or surveillance programs 
available. 
(8) Data on claims submitted by Department of 
Defense civilians for toxic exposure-related illnesses, 
including approval and denial rates, and average 
time to adjudicate such claims.
1083 
(9) The extent to which contractors performing 
Department of Defense missions are covered by 
similar or different protections compared to direct- 
hire civilians. 
(10) Recommendations for potential legislative 
or regulatory actions to better protect Department 
of Defense civilians from toxic exposures while for-
ward deployed, and to ensure adequate long-term 
health care and compensation for those affected. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port on the findings of the study required under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 1114. DEFINITION OF DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE FA-
CILITY FOR PURPOSES OF DIRECT HIRE AU-
THORITY. 
Section 1125(c) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. 1580 note prec.; 
Public Law 114–328) is amended by inserting ‘‘and in-
cludes supporting units of a facility at an installation or 
base’’ after ‘‘United States’’.
1084 
SEC. 1115. PAYMENT OF RETENTION BONUSES TO DOD CI-
VILIAN EMPLOYEES IN GUAM. 
Chapter 81 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting after section 1599d the following (and con-
forming the table of contents for such chapter accord-
ingly): 
‘‘§ 1599e. Payment of retention bonuses to DOD civil-
ian employees in Guam. 
‘‘Notwithstanding subsection (f) of section 5754 of 
title 5, the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of a military 
department may waive the limit established under sub-
section (e)(1) of such section and pay an otherwise eligible 
employee or category of employees in the territory of 
Guam retention bonuses of up to 50 percent of basic pay, 
based on a critical agency need.’’. 
SEC. 1116. DOD PREVAILING RATE EMPLOYEE PAY IN-
CREASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the first day of the 
first pay period beginning on or after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the rate of pay for any employee of 
the Department of Defense who is a prevailing rate em-
ployee (as that term is defined in section 5342(a)(2)(A) 
of title 5, United States Code) shall be increased by the 
percentage allowed by operation of section 737 of the Fur-
ther Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, as extended 
by division A of the American Relief Act, 2025.
1085 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit a report to the congressional defense commit-
tees on actions taken to resolve delays in increasing the 
rates of pay for such employees, the status of the Depart-
ment of Defense Wage Committee, and any recommenda-
tions for preventing future interruptions to wage increases 
for such employees. 
Subtitle B—Defense Hiring 
Modernization Act of 2025 
SEC. 1121. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Defense Hiring 
Modernization Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 1122. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 5, UNITED STATES 
CODE. 
(a) MODERNIZING COMPETITIVE HIRING AUTHORI-
TIES FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—Section 3301 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) DOD PROCEDURES.—The President may au-
thorize the Department of Defense to determine the quali-
fication, examination, and assessment procedures for posi-
1086 
tions in the competitive service based primarily on job-re-
lated competencies and skills, including the use of struc-
tured interviews, technical evaluations, or skills-based as-
sessments, and alternative assessments.’’. 
(b) 
MODERNIZING
PUBLIC
NOTICE
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 3327 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The Office of Personnel Management may au-
thorize the Department of Defense to use flexible outreach 
methods, including curated prospect sourcing, provided 
that all hiring opportunities remain publicly accessible and 
merit-based.’’. 
(c) ELIMINATION
OF
TIME-IN-GRADE
RESTRIC-
TIONS.—Section 3361 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘An individual’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) DOD PROMOTIONS.—Promotions in the com-
petitive service within the Department of Defense may be 
made based on demonstrated skills and qualifications 
without regard to minimum time-in-grade requirements, 
subject to agency policies and applicable merit system 
principles.’’.
1087 
(d) SHARED TALENT POOLS AND STRUCTURED AS-
SESSMENTS.—Subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following (and conforming the table of sections at the be-
ginning of such subchapter accordingly): 
‘‘§ 3330g. DOD use of shared talent pools and struc-
tured assessments 
‘‘(a) SHARED TALENT POOLS.—The Department of 
Defense may share certificates of eligibles and curated 
prospect pools within the Department. Certificates issued 
under this authority shall remain valid for not less than 
one year from the date of issuance, subject to agency-spe-
cific qualification checks. 
‘‘(b) STRUCTURED ASSESSMENTS.—The Department 
of Defense shall use validated structured interviews, tech-
nical evaluations, or other skills-based assessments as part 
of the hiring process for competitive service positions at 
the Department, in accordance with regulations prescribed 
by the Office of Personnel Management.’’. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit a report to the congressional defense commit-
tees on the impact of this subtitle and the amendments 
made by this subtitle on hiring at the Department of De-
fense. Such report shall include an analysis on the impact
1088 
on the length of the hiring process, the quality of appli-
cants, the useability of the system for applicants and the 
Department, the total number of individuals appointed 
through alternative job postings, the total number of indi-
viduals appointed from a shared applicant pool, and any 
identified challenges to hiring. 
TITLE XII—MATTERS RELATING 
TO FOREIGN NATIONS 
Subtitle A—Assistance and 
Training 
SEC. 1201. AUTHORITY TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR SPACE DO-
MAIN AWARENESS. 
Section 333(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(10) Space domain awareness.’’. 
SEC. 1202. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO BUILD CAPAC-
ITY OF FOREIGN SECURITY FORCES. 
Subsection (g)(2) of section 333 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘made’’ after 
‘‘Amounts’’.
1089 
SEC. 1203. MODIFICATIONS TO IRREGULAR WARFARE CEN-
TER AND REGIONAL DEFENSE FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
Section 345 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended as follows: 
(1) In the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
of subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘may’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘shall’’. 
(2) In subsection (c)(4)(B), by striking ‘‘The 
Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agen-
cy’’ and inserting ‘‘The Commander of United 
States Special Operations Command, reporting di-
rectly to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Spe-
cial Operations and Low Intensity Conflict,’’. 
SEC. 1204. MODIFICATION OF PUBLIC REPORTING OF CHI-
NESE MILITARY COMPANIES OPERATING IN 
THE UNITED STATES. 
Section 1260H(g)(2)(B)(i)(I) of the William M. 
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 
note) is amended by adding at the end before ‘‘; or’’ the 
following: ‘‘operating inside or outside of China’’.
1090 
SEC. 1205. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUA-
TION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO FUR-
THER THE WARFIGHTING CAPABILITIES OF 
THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAIN PARTNER 
COUNTRIES. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States to support and encourage further defense 
collaboration with Israel in areas of emerging technologies 
capable of enabling the warfighting capabilities of both the 
United States and Israel to meet emerging defense chal-
lenges, including in the areas of artificial intelligence, cy-
bersecurity, robotics, quantum, and automation. 
(b) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense, upon re-
quest by the Ministry of Defense of a covered partner 
country and in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of National 
Intelligence, is authorized to carry out, jointly with the 
covered partner country, research, development, test, and 
evaluation of emerging technologies to further the warfare 
capabilities of the United States and the covered partner 
country to meet emerging defense challenges, including in 
the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, 
quantum, and automation. 
(c) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION.—Any 
activity carried out pursuant to the authority of subsection 
(b) shall be conducted in a manner that robustly protects
1091 
sensitive information and the national security interests 
of the United States and the covered partner country. 
(d) APPLICABILITY OF EXPORT CONTROL RESTRIC-
TIONS.—Any activity authorized under subsection (b), in-
cluding fundamental research, open source, and stand-
ards-related activities, for the development, production, or 
use of goods, technology, software, knowledge, or source 
code shall be subject to— 
(1) the Export Administration Regulations 
under subchapter C of title 15, Code of Federal 
Regulations; and 
(2) all other laws applicable to the control of 
arms exports. 
(e) REPORT.—None of the activities described in sub-
section (b) may be carried out with respect to a covered 
partner country until the date on which the Secretary of 
Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of National In-
telligence submits to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report with respect to that partner country that 
includes the following: 
(1) A memorandum of agreement between the 
United States and the covered partner country re-
garding sharing of costs and security safeguards for
1092 
the activities described in subsection (b), and any 
supporting documents. 
(2) A certification that such memorandum of 
agreement— 
(A) requires sharing of costs of the activi-
ties and security safeguards described in sub-
section (b), including in-kind support, between 
the United States and the covered partner 
country; 
(B) establishes the rights of the United 
States to any intellectual property developed 
under the memorandum of agreement; 
(C) requires the United States Government 
to receive semiannual reports on expenditure of 
funds, if any, by the government of the covered 
partner country, including— 
(i) a description of what the funds 
have been used for; 
(ii) a description of when funds were 
expended; 
(iii) an identification of entities that 
expended the funds; and 
(iv) the export control regimes in 
place in the covered partner country to 
protect sensitive technology, including re-
1093 
lated intellectual property and innovation 
efforts; and 
(D) includes robust safeguards against the 
ability of the People’s Republic of China or 
other foreign adversaries of the United States 
from, directly or indirectly, accessing, acquiring, 
or benefitting from any potential innovation, 
technology, research, product, or application 
funded, produced, or utilized by the partner-
ship. 
(f) LEAD AGENCY.—Not earlier than the date on 
which the Secretary of Defense submits the first report 
pursuant to subsection (e), the Secretary shall designate 
the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate of 
the Department of Defense as the lead agency of the De-
partment in carrying out this section. 
(g) SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees on a semiannual basis a report that contains a 
copy of the most recent semiannual report provided by the 
government of each covered partner country to the De-
partment of Defense pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(C). 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means—
1094 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Perma-
nent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the 
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select 
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and 
(2) the term ‘‘covered partner country’’ means 
a country that, as of June 1, 2025, has signed a bi-
lateral agreement with the United States that is 
managed by the Irregular Warfare Technology Sup-
port Directorate of the Department of Defense. 
SEC. 1206. CYBERSECURITY INTEGRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in co-
ordination with the Secretary of State, shall cooperate 
with the Government of Panama to seek to integrate cy-
bersecurity into current and future joint training exer-
cises. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The cybersecurity integration in sub-
section (a) should— 
(1) incorporate elements of the Cyber Coopera-
tion Arrangement; 
(2) provide technical assistance and training, 
and enhance joint cooperation to improve mitigation, 
deterrence, and detection of cyberattacks and cyber
1095 
vulnerabilities on critical infrastructure in and 
around the Panama Canal; and 
(3) incorporate cybersecurity activities into cur-
rent and potential joint exercises conducted between 
the United States Government and the Government 
of Panama to improve the security of the Panama 
Canal. 
(c) ACTIVITIES.—Activities to further the purpose de-
scribed in subsection (b) may include— 
(1) information sharing with the Panama Canal 
Authority and the Government of Panama regarding 
cybersecurity threats and incidents; 
(2) technical assistance to the Panama Canal 
Authority and the Government of Panama on detec-
tion and mitigation of cyberattacks in order to im-
prove response activities, including advising national 
computer security incident response teams; 
(3) conducting joint cybersecurity training exer-
cises and other information sharing activities relat-
ing to cybersecurity with the Government of Pan-
ama, including by— 
(A) supporting participation by the Gov-
ernment of Panama in existing cybersecurity 
training facilitated or managed by the Depart-
1096 
ment of Defense and approved by the Secretary 
of Defense; 
(B) incorporating cyber elements into ex-
isting 
joint 
training 
exercises, 
such 
as 
PANAMAX; and 
(C) conducting an annual table-top cyber-
security exercise; and 
(4) conducting activities as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate, consistent with the purposes de-
scribed in subsection (b) for the cybersecurity inte-
gration described in subsection (a). 
(d) REPORT AND BRIEFING.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annu-
ally thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination 
with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report and briefing 
on— 
(1) implementation of this section and any chal-
lenges related to implementation; and 
(2) any cyber threats, such as ransomware at-
tacks, on critical infrastructure in and around the 
Panama Canal, along with actions taken to address 
and mitigate these threats. 
(e) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION.—Any 
activity carried out under this section shall be conducted
1097 
in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive informa-
tion and the national security interests of the United 
States. 
SEC. 1207. MODIFICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 341(e)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end before the semicolon the 
following: ‘‘, including costs incurred with respect to ac-
tivities beginning in one fiscal year and ending not later 
than the end of the first fiscal year thereafter’’. 
Subtitle B—Matters Relating to 
Israel 
SEC. 1211. WAR RESERVE STOCKPILE AUTHORITY FOR 
ISRAEL. 
Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Ap-
propriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–287; 118 Stat. 
1011) is amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 2027’’ and in-
serting ‘‘January 1, 2029’’. 
SEC. 1212. MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF UNITED 
STATES-ISRAEL ANTI-TUNNEL COOPERATION. 
Section 1279(f) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 8606 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2026’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2028’’.
1098 
SEC. 1213. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF UNITED 
STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION TO COUNTER 
UNMANNED SYSTEMS IN ALL WARFIGHTING 
DOMAINS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1278 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (22 U.S.C. 
8606 note) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘UN-
MANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS’’ and inserting ‘‘UN-
MANNED SYSTEMS IN ALL WARFIGHTING DO-
MAINS’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the subsection heading to read as 
follows: ‘‘UNITED STATES-ISRAEL PROGRAM ON 
COUNTERING UNMANNED SYSTEMS.—’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘to establish capabili-
ties’’ and inserting ‘‘to accelerate develop-
ment of advanced technologies’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘unmanned aerial sys-
tems’’ and inserting ‘‘unmanned systems in 
all warfighting domains’’; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following:
1099 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—The activities required by 
this subsection may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Collaborative research initiatives in-
volving government, private sector, and aca-
demic institutions in the United States and 
Israel. 
‘‘(B) Joint training exercises and informa-
tion-sharing mechanisms to maximize the shar-
ing of technical expertise, data, and tactics re-
lated to emerging unmanned systems and re-
lated threats. 
‘‘(C) Development of joint technical re-
quirements. 
‘‘(D) Collaborative development and eval-
uation of novel systems with defense industry 
partners. 
‘‘(E) Coordination with acquisition pro-
gram offices of the United States and Israel 
military service departments, components, and 
commands to expedite deployment of relevant 
systems and enhance military readiness.’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘activities described in paragraph 
(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘activities described in this 
subsection’’;
1100 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘aer-
ial’’; and 
(B) 
in 
paragraph 
(4), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$55,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$70,000,000’’; 
(4) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘an appro-
priate research and development entity of a military 
department’’ and inserting ‘‘the Irregular Warfare 
Technology Support Directorate’’; 
(5) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (f) and (g), respectively; 
(6) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
on an annual basis a report that shall include for the pre-
ceding year a description of activities conducted under the 
program including— 
‘‘(1) an assessment of progress made by the 
United States and Israel in addressing unmanned 
systems threats and requirements; 
‘‘(2) an assessment of the program’s collabora-
tion with other United States Government programs 
and defense contractors;
1101 
‘‘(3) an update on efforts to transition capabili-
ties to acquisition program managers for fielding by 
United States or Israeli military services, compo-
nents, and commands; and 
‘‘(4) recommendations for future program ac-
tivities and funding.’’; and 
(7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘December 31, 2026’’ and inserting ‘‘De-
cember 31, 2028’’. 
(b) TRANSITION PROVISION.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall continue to carry out the activities authorized 
by section 1278 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2020, as such section was in effect on the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act, until 
such time as the Secretary submits to the appropriate 
committees of Congress the report required by subsection 
(a)(2) of such section for purposes of carrying of the ac-
tivities required by such section, as amended by subsection 
(a) of this section. 
SEC. 1214. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL DE-
FENSE EXHIBITIONS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Department of 
Defense and its agencies should not participate in inter-
national defense exhibitions in any way until the Secretary 
of Defense certifies that such exhibitions and the jurisdic-
1102 
tions in which they are located allow Israeli companies to 
fully participate in the exhibition and are not using restric-
tions or the threat of restrictions on any party’s participa-
tion in the exposition as a means of deterring Israel from 
defending itself. 
SEC. 1215. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL SECU-
RITY MEASURES ON THE BORDER BETWEEN 
GAZA AND EGYPT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in co-
ordination with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a 
study on steps that Israel, Egypt, and the United States 
can take to enhance international security measures on the 
border between Gaza and Egypt to ensure Hamas and 
other actors do not use tunnels or methods via the Medi-
terranean Sea to smuggle weapons and illicit goods. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
that contains the results of the study. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by this subsection shall include a descrip-
tion and map indicating existing tunnels on the bor-
der between Gaza and Egypt. 
(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means—
1103 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate. 
SEC. 1216. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEFENSE INNOVATION 
UNIT OFFICE IN ISRAEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Government of Israel, shall 
seek to establish an office of the Defense Innovation Unit 
at a location within the territory of Israel. 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the office estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall be— 
(1) to engage appropriate counterparts of the 
Ministry of Defense of Israel and representatives of 
the private sector in collaborative efforts to counter 
developments by Iran, China, and other adversaries 
of dual-use defense technologies; 
(2) to leverage resources and innovation activi-
ties of the United States and Israel for the benefit 
of the national security of the United States and 
Israel;
1104 
(3) to identify Israeli innovations and techno-
logical competitive advantages that can be incor-
porated and integrated into the United States de-
fense industrial base; and 
(4) to carry out such other functions of the De-
fense Innovation Unit in Israel as the Director of 
the Unit considers appropriate. 
SEC. 1217. U.S.-ISRAEL DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE HARMO-
NIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, acting through the Under Secretary for Acquisition 
and Sustainment, shall convene the U.S.-Israel Defense 
Industrial Base Working Group to study the potential for 
defense industrial base integration between the United 
States and Israel, including the possibility of inclusion into 
the national technology and industrial base (as defined in 
section 4801 of title 10, United States Code). 
(b) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION.—Any 
activity carried out pursuant to the authority provided by 
subsection (a) shall be conducted in a manner that appro-
priately protects sensitive information and the national se-
curity interests of the United States and Israel.
1105 
SEC. 1218. REPORT ON U.S.-ISRAEL MILITARY EXERCISES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) conducting regular military exercises of in-
creasing complexity with the State of Israel that in-
volve air, sea, ground, space, and cyberspace forces 
supports the national security interests of the 
United States; 
(2) these military exercises should include other 
regional partners as well when feasible; and 
(3) these military exercises strengthen the read-
iness of U.S. forces and those of our partners, bol-
ster their ability to operate together, reinforce deter-
rence, and support regional security. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 
a period not to exceed 3 years, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a re-
port that includes the following: 
(1) A list of Department of Defense exercises 
that included Israel over the previous 12 months. 
(2) A detailed description of— 
(A) the capabilities and missions rehearsed 
in each exercise;
1106 
(B) how each exercise rehearsed new or 
more challenging combat capabilities and sce-
narios; 
(C) how each exercise improved the readi-
ness and capabilities of participating militaries 
and strengthened their ability to operate to-
gether; and 
(D) the resources that would be needed to 
conduct more frequent and beneficial U.S.- 
Israel military exercises. 
(3) A plan to increase the complexity of exer-
cises and invite other regional partners to partici-
pate. 
(c) FORM.—The report required by subsection (b) 
shall be in written form and transmitted in an unclassified 
manner and may contain a classified annex. 
Subtitle C—Matters Relating to the 
Near and Middle East 
SEC. 1231. REPEAL OF WAR-RELATED REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS FOR CONCLUDED OPERATIONS. 
Section 1221 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is repealed.
1107 
SEC. 1232. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR REIMBURSE-
MENT OF CERTAIN COALITION NATIONS FOR 
SUPPORT PROVIDED TO UNITED STATES 
MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (a) of 
section 1233 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 
393) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending 
on December 31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘beginning on Octo-
ber 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2026,’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—Sub-
section (d)(1) of such section is amended by striking ‘‘be-
ginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on December 31, 
2025’’ and inserting ‘‘beginning on October 1, 2025, and 
ending on December 31, 2026,’’. 
SEC. 1233. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO VETTED SYRIAN 
GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. 
Section 1209 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3541) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(1)—
1108 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘elements of the Syrian opposi-
tion and other’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Shia 
militias aligned with or supporting the Govern-
ment of Syria’’ and inserting ‘‘Shia militias pre-
viously aligned with or supporting the Assad 
government’’; and 
(3) in subsection (l)(3)(E)), by striking ‘‘De-
cember 31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘the date specified 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection 
(a)’’. 
SEC. 1234. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO COUNTER THE 
ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA. 
Section 1236 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3559) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (g); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (h) through (o) 
as subsections (g) through (n), respectively;
1109 
(4) in paragraph (1)(C)(i) of subsection (i) (as 
so redesignated), by striking ‘‘subsection (l)(2)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (k)(2)’’; 
(5) in paragraph (2) of subsection (k) (as so re-
designated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking 
‘‘subsection (j)(1)(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (i)(1)(C)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (k)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (j)’’; and 
(6) in paragraph (6) of subsection (n) (as so re-
designated), by striking ‘‘December 31, 2025’’ and 
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 1235. COUNTER-TERRORISM SUPPORT. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.—Subsection 
(a)(1) of section 1226 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 22 
U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘with 
Syria’’ and inserting ‘‘with any other country’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘with 
Libya’’ and inserting ‘‘with any other country’’. 
(a) SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT OF LEBANON.—Sub-
section (c)(2) of such section is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘Such support may be used only to pro-
1110 
mote the ability of the armed forces of Lebanon to counter 
the threat posed by Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, ISIS, 
and any other terrorist organization that threaten the se-
curity of Lebanon and its neighbors.’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Subsection (h) of 
such section is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2025’’ 
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 1236. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING TO BADR ORGANIZA-
TION. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available to the Secretary of 
Defense for fiscal year 2026 may be made available to the 
Badr Organization. 
SEC. 1237. INTELLIGENCE SHARING WITH RESISTANCE 
UNITS IN AFGHANISTAN. 
The Secretary of Defense shall provide such intel-
ligence sharing as the Secretary determines appropriate 
with units of the former Afghan Army and police forces, 
as well as other units the Secretary determines are resist-
ance units, for purposes of countering the Taliban. 
SEC. 1238. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL RE-
PORT ON MILITARY POWER OF IRAN. 
(a) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Subsection (b) of 
section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—
1111 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), 
(C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (D), (E), 
(F) and (G), respectively; 
(B) by adding after subparagraph (A) the 
following subparagraphs: 
‘‘(B) the evolving use of terrorism in Iran’s 
security strategy, be it direct or indirect via 
proxy; 
‘‘(C) evolving thresholds for the use of di-
rect and attributable force by Iran;’’. 
(C) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(D) in subparagraph (G), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding after subparagraph (G) the 
following subparagraph: 
‘‘(H) how Iran believes an integrated 
American, Arab, and Israeli regional security 
architecture focused on intelligence sharing, air 
and missile defense, and maritime security 
would create challenges for Iranian grand strat-
egy, security strategy, and military strategy.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)—
1112 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) 
and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respec-
tively; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end; and 
(C) by adding after subparagraph (B) the 
following subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) a summary of Iran’s procurement of 
advanced conventional capabilities from Russia 
and the impact of these procurements on Iran’s 
military capabilities, Israel’s Qualitative Mili-
tary Edge, and Iran’s conventional forces as as-
sessed under subparagraph (B);’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘any 
Iraqi Shia-militia operating under the auspices 
of the ‘Islamic Resistance,’ ’’ after ‘‘the Badr 
Organization,’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
semicolon at the end and inserting ‘‘, including 
United States forces in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and 
the Red Sea;’’ 
(C) in subparagraph (I)(ii), by striking 
‘‘and activities; and’’ and inserting ‘‘, assets, 
and critical infrastructure; and’’;
1113 
(D) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘abil-
ity to manipulate the information environment 
both domestically and against the interests of 
the United States and its allies; and’’ and in-
serting ‘‘information warfare efforts designed to 
oppress the Iranian people and undermine the 
United States, its allies, and its interests;’’ 
(C) in subparagraph (K), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(L) an assessment of the military power 
of Iranian proxies and partners, including 
Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, 
Ansar Allah, and Iraqi and Syrian proxies.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘nu-
clear weapons capabilities and developments’’ 
and inserting ‘‘nuclear weapons-related ad-
vances, including growth of atomic infrastruc-
ture, fissile material inventories and purity, and 
weaponization-related activities’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) as 
subparagraph (I);
1116 
(1) in subsection (b) to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report re-
quired under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) The goals, factors, and trends shaping 
Russia’s security strategy and military strategy, in-
cluding military spending and investment priorities. 
‘‘(2) Developments in the military doctrine, 
operational concepts, joint command and organiza-
tional structures, and significant military operations 
and deployments of the Russian Armed Forces. 
‘‘(3) An assessment of the force structure, read-
iness, and capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces. 
‘‘(4) An assessment of the military strategy, ob-
jectives, and force posture of the Russian Armed 
Forces deployed in the Arctic and the North Atlantic 
region. 
‘‘(5) An assessment of the military strategy, ob-
jectives, and force posture of the Russian Armed 
Forces as they relate to the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO), including the force posture of 
Russian Armed Forces deployed adjacent to NATO’s 
borders, including in Kaliningrad. 
‘‘(6) An assessment of the military strategy, ob-
jectives, and force posture of the Russian Armed
1117 
Forces deployed in Ukraine or adjacent to Ukraine’s 
borders. 
‘‘(7) An assessment of the military strategy, ob-
jectives, and force posture of the Russian Armed 
Forces in the Baltic and Black Seas. 
‘‘(8) An assessment of the reconstitution efforts 
of the Russian Armed Forces, including its ability to 
restore losses from the war in Ukraine and to ex-
pand its force beyond 2022 levels. 
‘‘(9) An assessment of the impact of United 
States and international sanctions on the Russian 
military’s reconstitution efforts, including an assess-
ment of the impact of removing sanctions on the 
Russian military’s reconstitution efforts. 
‘‘(10) An assessment of what the Russian 
Armed Forces has learned from the war in Ukraine 
and how it has applied those lessons. 
‘‘(11) An assessment of the military strategy, 
objectives, and force posture of Russia that affect 
countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
‘‘(12) An assessment of the military strategy, 
objectives, and force posture of Russia that affect 
countries in the Indo-Pacific, with a specific empha-
sis on how such strategy, objectives, and force pos-
ture affect the People’s Republic of China.
1118 
‘‘(13) An assessment of the military strategy, 
objectives, and force posture of Russia that affect 
countries in the Middle East. 
‘‘(14) An assessment of the military strategy, 
objectives, and force posture of Russia that affect 
countries in Africa. 
‘‘(15) An assessment of human rights violations 
committeed by Russian private military corporations 
in African countries, including human rights viola-
tions committed against Christians and other reli-
gious groups, during the preceding 10-year period 
(with respect to the first report submitted after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection) or since 
the most recent prior report submitted under this 
subsection (with respect to each subsequent report). 
‘‘(16) An assessment of the extent to which the 
Russian military and Russian private military cor-
porations are collaborating with the People’s Repub-
lic of China to secure mining assets linked to the 
People’s Republic of China in Africa, including any 
entity, engaged in prospecting, mining, refining, or 
smelting materials extracted from the earth, that— 
‘‘(A) is majority owned by the PRC; 
‘‘(B) is legally registered or internationally 
headquartered in the PRC;
1119 
‘‘(C) is directly operating on behalf of the 
PRC; 
‘‘(D) is directly or indirectly controlled or 
directed by the PRC; 
‘‘(E) is formed from a spin-off, merger or 
acquisition, or sale of a business unit involving 
an entity described in any of subparagraphs (A) 
through (D) or is otherwise a successor to such 
an entity; or 
‘‘(F) provides financial services for an enti-
ty described in any of subparagraphs (A) 
through (E). 
‘‘(17) A description of Russia’s overseas mili-
tary basing, military logistics capabilities, and infra-
structure to project power. 
‘‘(18) A summary of all significant Russian co-
operation with foreign forces, including major train-
ing and exercises, foreign deployments, and basing 
agreements—specifying for each Russian foreign de-
ployment the number of force deployed, the types of 
capabilities deployed, the length of the deployment, 
and any agreement enabling or governing the de-
ployment. 
‘‘(19) An assessment of relations between the 
Russian Federation and Iran, the People’s Republic
1120 
of China, and North Korea, with respect to security 
and military matters. 
‘‘(20) An assessment of the proliferation activi-
ties of Russia and Russian entities, including activi-
ties relating to the supply of materials, technologies, 
or expertise relating to nuclear weapons or other 
weapons of mass destruction or missile systems to 
other states or non-state actors. 
‘‘(21) An assessment of Russia’s nuclear pro-
gram and capabilities, including 
‘‘(A) its nuclear strategy and associated 
doctrines; 
‘‘(B) the size and state of its stockpile and 
projections of its future arsenals; 
‘‘(C) its civil and military production ca-
pacities; and 
‘‘(D) the modernization and force structure 
of its strategic forces. 
‘‘(22) A description of Russia’s current missile 
defense strategy and capabilities, including efforts to 
develop missile defense capabilities. 
‘‘(23) A description of Russia’s anti-access and 
area denial capabilities. 
‘‘(24) A description of Russia’s command, con-
trol, communications, computers, intelligence, sur-
1121 
veillance, and reconnaissance modernization program 
and capabilities and the applications for such pro-
gram and capabilities for precision-guided weapons. 
‘‘(25) An assessment of Russia’s space and 
counterspace programs and capabilities. 
‘‘(26) An assessment of Russia’s cyberwarfare 
and electronic warfare capabilities (including details 
on the number of malicious cyber incidents origi-
nating from Russia against Department of Defense 
infrastructure). 
‘‘(27) An assessment of any influence oper-
ations or campaigns by the Russian Federation tar-
geting the United States, any military alliances and 
partnerships of which the United States is a mem-
ber, or treaty allies of the United States, including: 
‘‘(A) the objectives of such operations; 
‘‘(B) the tactics, techniques, and proce-
dures used; and 
‘‘(C) the impact of such operations on the 
United States, military alliances or partnerships 
of which the United States is a member, or 
treaty allies of the United States; 
‘‘(D) detail regarding any campaign that 
specifically targeted U.S. Department of De-
fense personnel; and
1122 
‘‘(E) the metrics used to judge the impact 
of such operations. 
‘‘(28) An assessment of how Russian private 
military companies are being utilized to advance the 
security interests of the Russian Federation; 
‘‘(29) An assessment of the threat perception of 
the Russian Federation by U.S. allies and partners 
in the Indo-Pacific. 
‘‘(30) Other military and security developments 
involving Russia that the Secretary of Defense con-
siders relevant to United States national security.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘January 31, 
2026’’ and inserting ‘‘January 31, 2030’’. 
SEC. 1242. REPORT ON UNITED STATES DETERRENCE AND 
DEFENSE POSTURE IN THE EUROPEAN RE-
GION. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—At the same time as the 
submission of the budget of the President (sub-
mitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 
31, United States Code) for each of fiscal years 
2027 and 2028, the Commander of the United 
States European Command shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees a report containing
1123 
the independent assessment of the Commander with 
respect to the activities and resources required, for 
the first fiscal year beginning after the date of sub-
mission of the report and the four following fiscal 
years, to achieve the following objectives: 
(A) The implementation of the National 
Defense Strategy with respect to the European 
region. 
(B) The maintenance of the comparative 
military advantage of the United States and 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
with respect to the Russian Federation. 
(C) The reduction of the risk of executing 
contingency plans of the Department of De-
fense, including contingency plans conducted by 
United States Central Command and United 
States Africa Command. 
(D) The maintenance of the capability and 
capacity to defense the homeland forward. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) With respect to the achievement of the 
objectives described in paragraph (1), a descrip-
tion of the intended force structure and posture
1124 
of assigned and allocated forces in each NATO 
member country. 
(B) An assessment of the capability re-
quirements to achieve such objectives. 
(C) An assessment of logistics require-
ments, including personnel, equipment, supplies, 
storage, and maintenance needs to achieve such 
objectives. 
(D) An identification of required infra-
structure and military construction investments 
to achieve such objectives. 
(E) An assessment of security cooperation 
authorities, activities, or resources required to 
achieve such objectives. 
(F)(i) A plan to fully resource United 
States force posture and capabilities, includ-
ing— 
(I) a detailed assessment of the re-
sources necessary to address the elements 
described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(E), including specific cost estimates for 
recommended investments or projects— 
(aa) to maintain a posture and 
presence of the United States Armed
1125 
Forces that meet the objectives of 
paragraph (1); 
(bb) to maintain the logistics and 
maintenance capabilities and the pre- 
positioning of equipment, munitions, 
fuel, and materiel that meet the objec-
tives of paragraph (1); 
(cc) to carry out a program of 
exercises, training, experimentation, 
and innovation for the joint force that 
meet the objectives of paragraph (1); 
(dd) to maintain the infrastruc-
ture to ensure the responsiveness and 
resiliency of the United States Armed 
Forces within NATO in order to meet 
the objectives of paragraph (1); 
(ee) to build the defense and se-
curity capabilities, capacity, and co-
operation of allies and partners that 
meet the objectives of paragraph (1); 
and 
(ff) to modernize the capabilities 
available to United States European 
Command to meet the objectives of 
paragraph (1); and
1126 
(II) a detailed timeline to achieve the 
intended force structure and posture de-
scribed in clause (i). 
(ii) The specific cost estimates required by 
clause (i)(I) shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, include the following: 
(I) With respect to procurement ac-
counts— 
(aa) amounts displayed by ac-
count, budget activity, line number, 
line item, and line item title; and 
(bb) a description of the require-
ments for each such amount. 
(II) With respect to research, develop-
ment, test, and evaluation accounts— 
(aa) amounts displayed by ac-
count, budget activity, line number, 
program element, and program ele-
ment title; and 
(bb) a description of the require-
ments for each such amount. 
(III) With respect to operation and 
maintenance accounts— 
(aa) amounts displayed by ac-
count title, budget activity title, line
1128 
program submitted pursuant to section 
221(a) of title 10, United States Code. 
(iii) A budget display, prepared with the 
assistance of the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller), that compares the independent 
assessment of the Commander of the United 
States European Command with the amounts 
contained in the budget display for the applica-
ble fiscal year. 
(3) FORM.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) may be submitted in classified form, but shall in-
clude an unclassified summary. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 15 days 
after the submission of the budget of the President (sub-
mitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code) for each of fiscal years 2027 and 
2028, the Secretary of Defense (acting through the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Secretary of 
Defense (Comptroller), and the Director of Cost Assess-
ment and Program Evaluation) and the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff shall provide to the congressional de-
fense committees a joint briefing, and any written com-
ments the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff consider necessary, with respect to 
their assessments of the report submitted under sub-
1129 
section (a), including their assessments of the feasibility 
and advisability of the plan required by subsection 
(a)(2)(F). 
SEC. 1243. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL RE-
PORT ON MILITARY AND SECURITY DEVELOP-
MENTS INVOLVING THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC 
OF CHINA. 
(a) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Subsection (b) of 
section 1202(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2000 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘, including nuclear and 
drone development cooperation.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (7)(A), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing foreign farmland acquisitions,’’ after ‘‘Chinese 
overseas investments or projects’’; 
(3) in paragraph (8)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘infrastructure) and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘infrastructure),’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘, and the likely role of Chinese cyber 
capabilities in a conflict with the United 
States.’’;
1130 
(4) in paragraph (9)(B), by striking ‘‘and other 
advanced technologies’’ and inserting ‘‘biotechnology, 
and other advanced and emerging technologies’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (10)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) the likely strategic intent of the Peo-
ple’s Liberation Army in a conflict over Taiwan, 
and how the People’s Republic of China will 
conduct a cyber enabled economic warfare cam-
paign, a cross straight invasion campaign, or a 
blockade campaign; and’’. 
(b) TERMINATION.—Subsection (a) of such section is 
amended by striking ‘‘January 31, 2027’’ and inserting 
‘‘January 31, 2030’’. 
SEC. 1244. REPORT RELATING TO AUKUS PILLAR 1. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate, Committee on Armed Services of the House of
1131 
Representatives, Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives a report on the impact and po-
tential of Pillar 1 of the Australia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States partnership (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘AUKUS partnership’’) including— 
(1) a detailed description of how Pillar 1 of the 
AUKUS partnership encourages the economic co-
ordination between Australia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States, including through domestic 
businesses, the defense industries, and direct invest-
ments; 
(2) a detailed description of how Pillar 1 of the 
AUKUS partnership encourages the defense coordi-
nation between Australia, the United Kingdom, and 
the United States to protect United States national 
security and the stability of the Indo-Pacific region; 
(3) a detailed description of how Pillar 1 of the 
AUKUS partnership encourages the diplomatic co-
ordination between Australia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States to increase the ties among 
such countries; and 
(4) a detailed description and analysis of how 
terminating the AUKUS partnership would harm 
the economic, defense, and diplomatic coordination
1132 
between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the 
United States. 
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 
a classified annex if submitted separately from the unclas-
sified portion. 
SEC. 1245. REPORT ON STRATEGY FOR INCREASING MEM-
BERSHIP IN THE COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY 
INTEGRATION 
AND 
PROSPERITY 
AGREE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2026, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report describing the strategic importance of the 
Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity 
Agreement and the benefits of its potential expansion. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall also include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the strategic benefits of 
CSIPA to regional and global security. 
(2) An assessment of CSIPA’s operational value 
to the Department of Defense and partners in the 
region following the Red Sea attacks.
1133 
(3) An assessment of how CSIPA leverages 
United States military assets such as the Fifth Fleet 
to address regional threats. 
(4) Identification of potential modifications to 
the CSIPA framework that would support broader 
regional participation. 
(5) An evaluation of the resource and capability 
requirements necessary to expand CSIPA member-
ship. 
(6) Recommendations for further collaboration 
between the United States Armed Forces and 
CSIPA members. 
(c) DEFINITION OF COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY IN-
TEGRATION AND PROSPERITY AGREEMENT.—In this sec-
tion, the terms ‘‘Comprehensive Security Integration and 
Prosperity Agreement’’ and ‘‘CSIPA’’ refers to the cooper-
ative agreement signed by the United States and the King-
dom of Bahrain on September 13, 2023. 
SEC. 1246. INCLUSION OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN 
PLANNING AND STRATEGY RELATING TO THE 
ARCTIC REGION. 
(a) STRATEGY.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commander of the United States Special Operations
1134 
Command, in consultation with the Secretary of De-
fense and the Commander of the United States 
Northern Command, shall develop and submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a Special Operations 
Forces Arctic Security Strategy, applicable across 
each component of the special operations forces and 
within each Armed Force (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘strategy’’). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy shall— 
(A) build upon the findings of the report 
under section 1090(a)(3) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 
(Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) and 
the 2022 National Defense Strategy; 
(B) facilitate a consistent understanding of 
Arctic security priorities across the Department 
of Defense and a common understanding of the 
use and purpose of special operations forces for 
Arctic activities across the Armed Forces, com-
batant commands, and other relevant elements 
of the Department of Defense; and 
(C) promote greater use and prioritization 
of special operations forces capabilities, particu-
larly with respect to the special operations force
1135 
of the Army, in Arctic security planning and co-
ordination with Indigenous populations and 
High North allies and partners. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A plan for the leveraging of North Amer-
ican Indigenous Arctic populations, and the estab-
lishment of working definitions and parameters for 
cooperation with such populations in the following 
areas: 
(A) Intelligence, surveillance, and recon-
naissance gathering. 
(B) Improved Arctic training and oper-
ation tactics, techniques, and procedures. 
(C) Empowering local populations to create 
solutions to regional issues. 
(D) Building resilience against invasion 
and occupation and enhancing deterrence capa-
bilities. 
(E) Improving the capacity of allies and 
partners to build capabilities in the region that 
produce advantages against adversaries. 
(F) Building United States credibility for 
combat operations in the region.
1136 
(G) Demonstrating United States commit-
ment to improving living standards in the re-
gion. 
(H) Any other area the of the Commander 
of the United States Special Operations Com-
mand determines appropriate. 
(2) A requirement that special operations forces 
achieve readiness with respect to not more than two 
Arctic environments. 
(3) With respect to terminology and working 
definitions of the Department— 
(A) a requirement that— 
(i) the use of the terms ‘‘Arctic-capa-
ble’’ and ‘‘Arctic-ready’’ may no longer be 
used in any document or other material 
produced by the Department of Defense 
that outlines Arctic strategies; 
(ii) the replacement terms ‘‘Arctic- 
trained’’ and ‘‘Arctic-proficient’’ shall be 
used in lieu of ‘‘Arctic-capable’’ and ‘‘Arc-
tic-ready’’, respectively; and 
(iii) the Department shall provide 
clear definitions and readiness require-
ments for each replacement term under 
clause (ii).
1137 
(B) a review of terminology, and the use of 
such terminology, relating to military doctrinal 
readiness (such as the terms ‘‘trained’’ and 
‘‘proficient’’) in the Arctic context, to ensure 
that the Armed Forces meet operational expec-
tations and may fully partake in joint-training 
exercises with allies and partners of the United 
States. 
(4) A description of the conditions necessary to 
establish a standardized pathway for self-validation 
for each Armed Force that requires units to be Arc-
tic capable, with such standardized pathway being 
tailored to each Armed Force but consistent with re-
spect to shared terminology, an agreed upon list of 
Arctic environments, and agreed upon standards to 
become Arctic capable in each such environment. 
(5) A requirement that the Commander of the 
United States Special Operations Command, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Commander of the United States Northern Com-
mand, include in any future years plan for the Arc-
tic Security Initiative required under section 
1090(b)(2)(B) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 
10 U.S.C. 113 note) the following:
1138 
(A) Updates on ongoing priorities for Arc-
tic objectives of the special operations forces. 
(B) Assessments of the integration of Arc-
tic operations of the special operations forces, 
including the use of Indigenous approaches to 
domain awareness. 
(C) A description of the activities and re-
sources needed for the special operations forces 
to obtain readiness in the Arctic region, includ-
ing manning, training, equipping, and funding 
requirements. 
(D) Any other matter the Commander of 
the United States Northern Command and the 
Secretary of Defense jointly determine appro-
priate. 
(6) A requirement that, on an annual basis, the 
Commander of the United States Special Operations 
Command submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a progress report (in unclassified form, but 
with the option of including a classified annex) on 
the implementation and use of the strategy, includ-
ing— 
(A) an assessment of the ability of the 
strategy to address new and ongoing concerns;
1139 
(B) areas relating to the strategy in need 
of improvement, including any new funding nec-
essary; 
(C) use of the strategy across each Armed 
Force; and 
(D) an updated threat assessment with re-
spect to the Arctic region. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘special 
operations forces’’ means forces described under section 
167(j) of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 1247. STRATEGY. 
Not later than 300 days after the enactment of this 
Act the Department of Defense shall submit a strategy 
to the House Armed Services Committee and Senate 
Armed Services Committee relating to raising the issue 
of political prisoners in Pakistan, including former Prime 
Minister Imran Khan, in all military-to-military engage-
ments with the military of Pakistan.
1140 
TITLE 
XIII—OTHER 
MATTERS 
RELATING TO FOREIGN NA-
TIONS 
Subtitle A—Matters Relating to 
Europe 
SEC. 1301. ALLIED CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNITED STATES 
FORCE 
POSTURE 
ON 
NATO’S 
EASTERN 
FLANK. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the United States remains steadfast in its 
ironclad commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) as the foundation of trans-
atlantic security and to upholding its obligations 
under the North Atlantic Treaty, including its com-
mitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the 
Treaty; 
(2) at this time, United States forces stationed 
in and deployed to NATO’s eastern flank remain 
critical to conventional deterrence and defense on 
the European continent; and 
(3) NATO allies should strengthen the alliance 
by contributing further to the costs associated with 
the alliance’s force posture on NATO’s eastern 
flank, including United States forces stationed in
1141 
and deployed to other allied countries, not solely 
within their own national borders, using the authori-
ties of section 2350j of title 10, United States Code, 
as amended by subsection (b). 
(b) AMENDMENTS.—Section 2350j of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘another 
country or’’ before ‘‘a regional organization’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by inserting before the colon at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, to be allocated as the country or re-
gional organization making the contribution 
may specify’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 
before the period the following: ‘‘in the host na-
tion or another country’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
before the period the following: ‘‘in the host na-
tion or another country’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
before the period the following: ‘‘in the host na-
tion or another country’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following:
1142 
‘‘(4) Sustainment of United States armed 
forces in a deployed, rotational, or permanent 
change of station status in a NATO country.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(f) LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF CONTRIBU-
TIONS
FOR
COSTS
OF
MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION 
PROJECTS.—The authority to provide for the payment of 
military construction projects of the Department of De-
fense under subsection (c)(2) may be exercised only with 
respect to contributions accepted under subsection (a) on 
or after the date of the enactment of this subsection.’’; 
and 
(5) in paragraph (2) of subsection (g) (as so 
amended), by amending subparagraph (E) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(E) The amount of such burden sharing 
contributions expended, by eligible category, in-
cluding compensation for— 
‘‘(i) local national employees; 
‘‘(ii) military construction projects; 
‘‘(iii) supplies and services of the De-
partment of Defense; and
1143 
‘‘(iv) sustainment of United States 
armed forces in a deployed, rotational, or 
permanent change of station status in a 
NATO country.’’. 
(c) 
DEFINITION.—In 
this 
section, 
the 
term 
‘‘sustainment of United States armed forces’’— 
(1) means the provision of the reasonable and 
proper costs of United States armed forces in a de-
ployed, rotational, or permanent change of station 
status in a NATO country, for fuel, transportation, 
force protection including cyber protection, training 
ammunition, utilities, medical and maintenance serv-
ices, including that which is required to keep infra-
structure, pre-positioned stocks, and equipment in 
good working order; and 
(2) does not include pay, allowances, and other 
normal benefits to which the United States forces 
are entitled. 
SEC. 1302. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF UKRAINE SE-
CURITY ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1250 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 
114–92; 129 Stat. 1068) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following:
1144 
‘‘(7) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION.—None of 
the amounts authorized to be appropriated by sub-
section (f) for a fiscal year may be obligated or ex-
pended for that fiscal year until the date on which 
the President submits to the congressional defense 
committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a written deter-
mination that doing so is in the national interest of 
the United States.’’; 
(2) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(11) For fiscal year 2026, $300,000,000. 
‘‘(12) For fiscal year 2027, $300,000,000.’’; 
and 
(3) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2026’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2028’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a)(1) shall apply beginning with amounts author-
ized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for 
fiscal year 2026.
1145 
SEC. 1303. EXTENSION OF REPORT RELATING TO ALLIED 
AND PARTNER SUPPORT TO UKRAINE. 
Section 1243 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 
460) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) all allied contributions to Jumpstart For-
eign Military Sales cases or any similar initiatives; 
and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘January 1, 
2025’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1, 2027’’. 
SEC. 1304. OVERSIGHT OF UNITED STATES FORCE POS-
TURE IN EUROPE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Until the date that is 90 days 
after the date on which the Commander of the United 
States European Command and the Secretary of Defense, 
in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, have each independently sub-
mitted to the appropriate congressional committees the 
certifications and assessments described in subsection (b),
1146 
none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for 
the Department of Defense may be used— 
(1) to take any action to reduce the total num-
ber of members of the Armed Forces assigned, de-
ployed, or allocated to the United States European 
Command and present in the European theater to a 
number less than 76,000; or 
(2) to divest, consolidate, or otherwise return to 
a host country any sites included in the real prop-
erty inventory of the United States European Com-
mand as of June 1, 2025. 
(b) 
CERTIFICATIONS
AND
ASSESSMENTS
DE-
SCRIBED.—The certifications and assessments described 
in this subsection shall include the following: 
(1) A certification that such a reduction, divest-
ment, consolidation, or return of forces from Europe 
is in the national security interests of the United 
States, including a justification explaining the anal-
ysis behind such certification. 
(2) A certification that the Secretary has con-
sulted appropriately with North Atlantic Treaty Or-
ganization (referred to in this section as ‘‘NATO’’) 
allies and partners regarding such a reduction, di-
vestment, consolidation, or return.
1147 
(3) An assessment of the threat the Russian 
Federation poses to NATO in the near-, medium-, 
and long-term. 
(4) A description of the requirements being 
prioritized that necessitate such a reduction, divest-
ment, consolidation, or return. 
(5) An analysis of the impact of such a reduc-
tion, divestment, consolidation, or return on the se-
curity of the United States, as well as the deterrence 
and defense posture of NATO. 
(6) An analysis of the impact of such a reduc-
tion, divestment, consolidation, or return on the abil-
ity of the Armed Forces to support or execute the 
contingency plans of the Department of Defense, in-
cluding operations— 
(A) conducted by the United States Euro-
pean Command, within the area of responsi-
bility of the European Command; or 
(B) by the United States Central Com-
mand and the United States Africa Command, 
leveraging agreements with countries in the 
area of responsibility of the European Com-
mand regarding access, basing, or overflight. 
(7) An analysis of the impact of such a reduc-
tion, divestment, consolidation, or return on the abil-
1148 
ity of the Armed Forces to defend the homeland for-
ward. 
(8) An analysis of the impact of such a reduc-
tion, divestment, consolidation, or return on military 
training and major military exercises, including on 
interoperability with NATO allies and partners. 
(9) A description of consultations with NATO, 
as well as NATO allies and partners, regarding such 
a reduction, divestment, consolidation, or return. 
(10) A plan for how the United States will co-
ordinate with NATO to ensure that NATO can as-
sume the capabilities and responsibilities of the 
members of the United States Armed Forces with-
drawn as a result of such a reduction, divestment, 
consolidation, or return. 
(11) An assessment of the impact of such a re-
duction, divestment, consolidation, or return on 
transatlantic cooperation to deter the People’s Re-
public of China. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
1149 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(d) SUNSET.—The limitation in subsection (a) shall 
terminate on September 30, 2026. 
SEC. 1305. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NATO MILITARY READI-
NESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that each member country 
of NATO should annually commit to providing, at a min-
imum, 3.5 percent of GDP to core defense spending and 
an additional 1.5 percent of GDP to defense-related infra-
structure spending, to ensure NATO military readiness. 
SEC. 1306. BALTIC SECURITY INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Pursuant to the authority 
provided in chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code, 
the Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out an 
initiative, to be known as the ‘‘Baltic Security Initiative’’ 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Initiative’’), for the 
purpose of deepening security cooperation with the mili-
tary forces of the Baltic countries. 
(b) RELATIONSHIP
TO EXISTING AUTHORITIES.— 
The Initiative required by subsection (a) shall be carried 
out pursuant to the authorities provided in title 10, United 
States Code.
1150 
(c) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the Initiative 
shall be— 
(1) to achieve United States national security 
objectives by— 
(A) deterring aggression by the Russian 
Federation; and 
(B) implementing the North Atlantic Trea-
ty Organization’s new Strategic Concept, which 
seeks to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence 
and defense posture by denying potential adver-
saries any possible opportunities for aggression; 
(2) to enhance regional planning and coopera-
tion among the military forces of the Baltic coun-
tries, particularly with respect to long-term regional 
capability projects, including— 
(A) long-range precision fire systems and 
capabilities; 
(B) integrated air and missile defense; 
(C) maritime domain awareness; 
(D) land forces development, including 
stockpiling large caliber ammunition; 
(E) command, control, communications, 
computers, intelligence, surveillance, and recon-
naissance; 
(F) special operations forces development;
1151 
(G) coordination with and security en-
hancements for Poland, which is a neighboring 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally; and 
(H) other military capabilities, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Defense; and 
(3) with respect to the military forces of the 
Baltic countries, to improve cyber defenses and resil-
ience to hybrid threats. 
(d) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report setting forth a strategy for the 
Department of Defense to achieve the objectives de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The strategy required 
by this subsection shall include a consideration of— 
(A) security assistance programs for the 
Baltic countries authorized as of the date on 
which the strategy is submitted; 
(B) the ongoing security threats to the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern 
flank posed by Russian aggression, including as
1152 
a result of the Russian Federation’s 2022 inva-
sion of Ukraine with support from Belarus; and 
(C) the ongoing security threats to the 
Baltic countries posed by the presence, coercive 
economic policies, and other malign activities of 
the People’s Republic of China. 
(e) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Defense should seek to require 
matching funds from each of the Baltic countries that par-
ticipate in the Initiative in amounts commensurate with 
amounts provided by the Department of Defense for the 
Initiative. 
(f) BALTIC COUNTRIES DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Baltic countries’’ means— 
(1) Estonia; 
(2) Latvia; and 
(3) Lithuania. 
Subtitle B—Matters Relating to the 
Indo-Pacific Region 
SEC. 1311. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF PACIFIC DE-
TERRENCE INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 1251 of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note) 
is amended—
1153 
(1) by striking ‘‘the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2026’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2025’’ and inserting 
‘‘fiscal year 2026’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Subsection (d)(1)(A) of such section 
is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2026 and 2027’’ and 
inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2027 and 2028’’. 
(c) PLAN REQUIRED.—Subsection (e) of such section 
is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2026 and 2027’’ and 
inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2027 and 2028’’. 
SEC. 1312. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER 
FUNDS FOR BIEN HOA DIOXIN CLEANUP. 
Section 1253(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3955) is amended by 
striking ‘‘fiscal year 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 
2026’’. 
SEC. 1313. TAIWAN SECURITY COOPERATION INITIATIVE. 
Subsection (d) of section 1323 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 
118-159) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Of the amounts’’ and inserting 
the following:
1154 
‘‘(1) Of the amounts’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Of the amounts authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of 
Defense, not more than $1,000,000,000 may be 
made available for the purposes of subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 1314. EXTENSION OF DETERRENCE PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 1314(c) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 10 
U.S.C. 311 note) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2027’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2030’’. 
SEC. 1315. STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN MULTILATERAL DE-
TERRENCE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence 
against regional aggression in the Indo-Pacific region by 
expanding multilateral coordination with United States al-
lies and partners in the region, with particular emphasis 
on Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, including 
through enhancing multilateral access and basing agree-
ments, command and control structures, intelligence-shar-
ing, and exercises and operations. 
(b) STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall describe current activities
1155 
and identify future actions to be taken over the next 5 
years by the Department of Defense to— 
(1) leverage reciprocal access agreements be-
tween the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies 
and partners, particularly Japan, the Philippines, 
and Australia, to expand regional access for these 
and other allied and partner militaries, including for 
purposes of enhancing interoperability at locations 
across the Indo-Pacific region, prepositioning muni-
tions 
stockpiles, 
and 
jointly 
supporting 
and 
leveraging shared facilities, operational access, and 
infrastructure; 
(2) improve command and control structures 
enabling enhanced multilateral coordination with 
Indo-Pacific allies and partners, including through 
the Combined Coordination Center in the Phil-
ippines, the joint force headquarters of the United 
States in Japan, and a potential combined coordina-
tion structure in Australia; 
(3) expand intelligence-sharing and maritime 
domain awareness among the United States and 
Indo-Pacific allies and partners, including through 
the Bilateral Intelligence Analysis Cell in Japan and 
the Combined Coordination Center in the Phil-
ippines; and
1156 
(4) expand the scope and scale of multilateral 
military exercises and operations in the region, par-
ticularly among the United States, Japan, Australia, 
and the Philippines, including more frequent com-
bined maritime operations through the Taiwan 
Strait and in the South China Sea. 
(c) SUBMISSION; INTERIM REPORT.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF STRATEGY.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees the strategy required 
by subsection (a), including an identification of any 
changes to funding or policy required to strengthen 
multilateral deterrence among the United States and 
allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific against re-
gional aggression. 
(2) INTERIM REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.— 
Not later than March 15, 2027, the Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the progress of the implementa-
tion of the strategy required by subsection (a), in-
cluding any resource or authority gaps identified in 
the Department’s ability to execute the strategy.
1157 
SEC. 1316. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DEFENSE ALLIANCE 
AND PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTH KOREA. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of De-
fense should continue efforts that strengthen United 
States defense alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pa-
cific region so as to further the comparative advantage of 
the United States in strategic competition with the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China, including by— 
(1) reinforcing the United States alliance with 
South Korea; 
(2) maintaining the presence of approximately 
28,500 members of the United States Armed Forces 
deployed to South Korea; 
(3) enhancing mutual defense base cooperation; 
and 
(4) affirming the United States extended deter-
rence commitment using the full range of United 
States defense capabilities, consistent with the Mu-
tual Defense Treaty Between the United States and 
the Republic of Korea, signed at Washington, Octo-
ber 1, 1953, in support of the shared objective of a 
peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula. 
SEC. 1317. REPORT ON CIVILIAN-MILITARY RELATIONS IN 
THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commander of United States 
Indo-Pacific Command, acting through Joint Task Force-
1158 
Micronesia, shall be responsible for assessing and coordi-
nating military efforts to strengthen community relation-
ships between the United States Armed Forces and indi-
viduals living in the Freely Associated States (FAS) and 
impacted by military installations, installations, and oper-
ating locations in the FAS. including through consultation 
with each of the Armed Forces, other elements of United 
States Indo-Pacific Command, and the Secretary of State. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of United 
States Indo-Pacific Command, acting through Joint Task 
Force-Micronesia, shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a report that includes— 
(1) the results of a study on the relationships 
between civilians living in the FAS and Armed 
Forces presence in the FAS; 
(2) an assessment of such relationships; 
(3) a summary of efforts by the Armed Forces 
to improve such relationships to the extent affected 
by United States military activities in the FAS; 
(4) an identification of legally available, civilian- 
military community engagement programs, activities, 
and authorities with respect to the FAS; 
(5) an identification of any new authorities 
needed to implement existing DoD civilian-military
1159 
community engagement programs, activities, and au-
thorities in the FAS; 
(6) an identification of any other components of 
Federal departments or agencies required to imple-
ment any whole-of-government, civilian-military com-
munity engagement programs, activities, and au-
thorities in the FAS; and 
(7) a plan and estimated cost for improving 
such community engagement with respect to the im-
pact of United States military activities in the FAS. 
SEC. 1318. ANNUAL REPORT ON PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES 
OF EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO MILITARIES 
IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, 
in coordination with the Commander of United States Eu-
ropean Command, shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a comprehensive report on the military 
presence and activities of European Union and NATO 
member countries in the Indo-Pacific region, that also in-
cludes— 
(1) the best available estimate, over the course 
of the preceding year, of the sum of—
1160 
(A) the number of land, maritime, and air 
personnel of the United States Armed Forces, 
who are working jointly with 
(B) the reported number of personnel from 
European Union and NATO-member militaries 
operating in or deployed to the Indo-Pacific re-
gion; and 
(2) an analysis of how the presence of the mili-
taries of such countries in the Indo-Pacific region 
contributes to deterrence against Chinese aggression, 
including a discussion of posture, capability, multi-
lateral operations, and strategic signaling effects. 
(b) CRITERIA.—Each report required under sub-
section (a) shall include, with respect to each military of 
a member country of the European Union or NATO with 
a presence in the Indo-Pacific region, the following: 
(1) An estimate of the percentage of each mili-
tary’s total forces, disaggregated by service branch 
(land, maritime, air), that are typically deployed, 
stationed, or otherwise present in the Indo-Pacific 
region on an annual basis. 
(2) Types and frequency of military activities, 
such as maritime patrols, joint training exercises, 
port visits, freedom of navigation operations, and
1161 
other relevant operations conducted in the Indo-Pa-
cific region. 
(3) Identification and assessment of the specific 
offensive, defensive, and logistics capabilities de-
ployed or maintained by each military in the region, 
including platforms, systems, and infrastructure. 
(4) An analysis of how the military presence 
and capabilities of each military complement en-
hances or increases United States military readiness 
and capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. 
SEC. 1319. STRATEGY TO ENHANCE INDO-PACIFIC DEFENSE 
INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop and implement a strategy to enhance defense in-
dustrial cooperation between the United States and allies 
and partners of the United States in the Indo-Pacific re-
gion. 
(b) STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall— 
(1) describe current activities and identify fu-
ture actions to be taken over the next 5 years by the 
Department of Defense to enhance defense indus-
trial cooperation (as such term is defined in the Se-
curity Assistance Management Manual of the De-
fense Security Cooperation Agency) between the
1162 
United States and allies and partners of the United 
States in the Indo-Pacific region, including efforts 
under the existing Partnership for Indo-Pacific In-
dustrial Resilience; 
(2) identify lessons the Department has learned 
from defense industrial cooperation initiatives with 
European allies, including through meetings among 
National Armament Directors of the Ukraine De-
fense Contact Group, the European Union, and 
NATO, for efforts to enhance defense industrial co-
operation in the Indo-Pacific region; 
(3) identify priority armaments for joint devel-
opment, production, or sustainment with Indo-Pa-
cific allies and partners, including priority weapons 
systems for joint acquisition and sustainment with 
Taiwan; and 
(4) describe plans for cooperating with the De-
partment of State, the Department of Commerce, 
and other relevant Federal departments or agencies 
to resolve bureaucratic hurdles, such as export con-
trols, that could impede deeper defense industrial 
collaboration with Indo-Pacific allies and partners of 
the United States. 
(c) BRIEFING AND REPORT.—
1163 
(1) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall brief the congressional defense com-
mittees on the strategy required by subsection (a), 
including an identification of any changes to funding 
or policy required to enhance defense industrial col-
laboration with Indo-Pacific allies and partners of 
the United States. 
(2) INTERIM REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.— 
Not later than March 15, 2027, the Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the progress of the implementa-
tion of the strategy required by subsection (a), in-
cluding any resource or authority gaps identified in 
the Department’s ability to execute the strategy. 
SEC. 1320. ANNUAL REPORT ON TAIWAN CAPABILITIES AND 
INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT. 
Section 1248 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2027, the Sec-
retary of State and the Secretary of Defense, in 
coordination with the Director of National In-
telligence and the heads of other relevant Fed-
1164 
eral departments and agencies, shall jointly’’ 
and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2031, the Secretary 
of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 
of State and the Director of National Intel-
ligence, shall’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ability 
of Taiwan’’ and inserting ‘‘readiness of the Tai-
wan military’’; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (16) as 
paragraph (19); and 
(D) by adding after paragraph (15) the 
following: 
‘‘(16) An assessment regarding how Japan, the 
Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and 
Australia would likely respond to contingencies, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) a military strike or invasion of Tai-
wan or an offshore island of Taiwan, including 
Kinmen, Matsu, Wuciou, Taiping Island, and 
Penghu; 
‘‘(B) a commercial blockade of Taiwan in 
which international vessels are subjected to 
search or seizure by the People’s Liberation 
Army;
1165 
‘‘(C) a major cyberattack against the crit-
ical infrastructure of Taiwan; and 
‘‘(D) a seizure of one or more of Taiwan’s 
offshore islands or territorial claims. 
‘‘(17) Guidance for representatives from the 
military of Taiwan to attend, as observers and as 
appropriate, joint military exercises led by the 
United States, such as the biennial Rim of the Pa-
cific exercise. 
‘‘(18) An assessment of the feasibility of using 
economic tools, including export controls, sanctions, 
and tariffs, to deter China from carrying out the ac-
tions described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 
paragraph (16).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) an assessment of how the United States 
Armed Forces could marshal resources to respond to 
the actions described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(D) of subsection (a)(16), based on the force posture 
and stockpiles of the Armed Forces.’’.
1166 
SEC. 1321. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ON DEFENSE INDUS-
TRIAL PRIORITIES BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES AND TAIWAN. 
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to establish a 
partnership between the Department of Defense and ap-
propriate counterparts of Taiwan in order to— 
(1) enhance market opportunities for United 
States-based and Taiwan-based defense technology 
companies; 
(2) bolster Taiwan’s defense industrial base; 
(3) harmonize global security posture through 
emerging technology; 
(4) counter the Chinese Communist Party and 
Chinese Communist Party-aligned adversarial proxy 
group development of dual-use defense technologies; 
and 
(5) in coordination with appropriate counter-
part offices of the Taiwan Ministry of National De-
fense— 
(A) enable coordination on defense indus-
trial priorities; 
(B) streamline emerging defense tech-
nology research and development; 
(C) create more pathways to market for 
defense technology startups; and
1167 
(D) collaborate on the coordinated develop-
ment of dual-use defense capabilities, such as— 
(i) drones; 
(ii) microchips. 
(iii) directed energy weapons. 
(iv) artificial intelligence. 
(v) missile technology. 
(vi) intelligence, surveillance, and re-
connaissance technology. 
SEC. 1322. REPORTING REQUIREMENT ON OBSTACLES TO 
TAIWANESE PROCUREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, 
in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report identi-
fying obstacles to United States assistance in strength-
ening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities as well as any pol-
icy recommendations to address those obstacles. 
(b) FORM.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include 
a classified annex. 
(c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate commit-
tees of Congress’’ means— (1) the Committee on Foreign 
Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the
1168 
Senate; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Represent-
atives. 
SEC. 1323. INVITATION TO TAIWAN TO THE RIM OF THE PA-
CIFIC EXERCISE. 
The Secretary of Defense is directed to invite the 
naval forces of Taiwan to any Rim of the Pacific Exercise 
that is to take place following the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 1324. SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN TO IMPROVE THE RESIL-
IENCE AND SECURITY OF ITS ENERGY INFRA-
STRUCTURE. 
The President should take such actions as may be 
necessary to— 
(1) consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act 
(22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), support efforts to 
strengthen Taiwan’s ability to withstand any poten-
tial blockade or embargo, in whole or in part, includ-
ing by exploring opportunities for training and sup-
port to the Taiwan Navy with respect to convoy op-
erations involving liquefied natural gas; and 
(2) ensure Taiwan is eligible for energy security 
and diversification efforts undertaken by the United 
States pursuant to section 2004 of the European 
Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019, in-
1169 
cluding by providing Taiwan with access to same 
liquified natural gas programs as European coun-
tries. 
TITLE XIV—OTHER 
AUTHORIZATIONS 
Subtitle A—Military Programs 
SEC. 1401. WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026 for the use of the Armed Forces and other 
activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for 
providing capital for working capital and revolving funds, 
as specified in the funding table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1402. CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS DESTRUC-
TION, DEFENSE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds 
are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Depart-
ment of Defense for fiscal year 2026 for expenses, not oth-
erwise provided for, for Chemical Agents and Munitions 
Destruction, Defense, as specified in the funding table in 
section 4501. 
(b) USE.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under subsection (a) are authorized for the destruction of 
lethal chemical agents and munitions in accordance with 
section 1412 of the Department of Defense Authorization 
Act, 1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521).
1170 
SEC. 1403. DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTER-DRUG AC-
TIVITIES, DEFENSE-WIDE. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2026 for ex-
penses, not otherwise provided for, for Drug Interdiction 
and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-wide, as specified in 
the funding table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1404. DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2026 for ex-
penses, not otherwise provided for, for the Office of the 
Inspector General of the Department of Defense, as speci-
fied in the funding table in section 4501. 
SEC. 1405. DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026 for the Defense Health Program for use 
of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of 
the Department of Defense for providing for the health 
of eligible beneficiaries, as specified in the funding table 
in section 4501.
1171 
Subtitle B—Other Matters 
SEC. 1411. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES FOR FUNDING AND 
MANAGEMENT OF JOINT DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY DEMONSTRATION 
FUND 
FOR 
CAPTAIN 
JAMES 
A. 
LOVELL 
HEALTH CARE CENTER, ILLINOIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1704(e) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public 
Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), as most recently amended 
by section 1421(a) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 138 Stat. 
2129), is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2026’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2027’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Of the 
funds authorized to be appropriated for section 1405 and 
available for the Defense Health Program for operation 
and maintenance, $162,500,000 may be transferred by the 
Secretary of Defense to the Joint Department of Defense– 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Dem-
onstration Fund established by subsection (a)(1) of sec-
tion 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571). 
For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of such section 1704, 
any funds so transferred shall be treated as amounts au-
1172 
thorized and appropriated specifically for the purpose of 
such a transfer. 
(c) USE OF TRANSFERRED FUNDS.—For the pur-
poses of subsection (b) of such section 1704, facility oper-
ations for which funds transferred under subsection (a) 
may be used are operations of the Captain James A. 
Lovell Federal Health Care Center, consisting of the 
North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Navy 
Ambulatory Care Center, and supporting facilities des-
ignated as a combined Federal medical facility under an 
operational agreement covered by section 706 of the Dun-
can Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500). 
SEC. 1412. AMENDMENT TO NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCK-
PILE SHORTFALL BRIEFINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 14(f)(2) of the Strategic 
and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h- 
5(f)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(A) a list of the materials described in such 
paragraph and, for each such material— 
‘‘(i) a description of the material; 
‘‘(ii) the priority of the material; and
1173 
‘‘(iii) the objective to be achieved if fund-
ing is provided, in whole or in part, for the ac-
quisition of the material to remedy the shortfall 
of such material in the stockpile;’’. 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(D) verification that the National Defense 
Stockpile Manager manages and evaluates the stock-
pile using the most complete and accurate data pro-
vided by the military departments (as defined under 
section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code); 
‘‘(E) the amounts appropriated by Congress to 
the stockpile for both the current fiscal year and the 
previous fiscal year; 
‘‘(F) a description of any progress or mitigation 
plans based on recommendations to address such 
shortfall that were made in reports submitted under 
subsection (a) prior to such briefing; 
‘‘(G) a description of the risks resulting from 
the inability of the armed services to provide com-
1174 
prehensive data for all strategic and critical mate-
rials; 
‘‘(H) the cost to remedy all such shortfalls; and 
‘‘(I) the cost to remedy such shortfalls for such 
materials that are a priority.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION BRIEFING.—Not later than 
February 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense and the Direc-
tor of the Defense Logistics Agency shall jointly provide 
to congressional defense committees a briefing on the 
progress of implementing the recommendations in the re-
port of the Government Accountability Office titled ‘‘Na-
tional Defense Stockpile: Actions Needed to Improve 
DOD’s Efforts to Prepare for Emergencies’’ and dated 
September 10, 2024 (GAO-24-106959), including— 
(1) the specific actions taken to implement such 
recommendations; 
(2) an explanation of any obstacles to imple-
menting such recommendations; 
(3) a description of any planned actions to im-
plement such recommendations; and 
(4) for each such recommendation not fully im-
plemented as of the date of such briefing, an esti-
mate of the date on which such recommendation will 
be fully implemented.
1175 
SEC. 1413. BEGINNING BALANCES OF THE DEFENSE LOGIS-
TICS AGENCY WORKING CAPITAL FUND FOR 
AUDIT PURPOSES. 
For purposes of an audit conducted under chapter 
9A of title 10, United States Code, of the Defense Logis-
tics Agency Working Capital Fund established pursuant 
to section 2208 of title 10, United States Code, Working 
Capital Funds— 
(1) the Fund Balance with Treasury opening 
balance for October 1, 2024, for United States 
Standard General Ledger Account 101000 is 
$3,483,483,641.67, as recorded in official account-
ing records; 
(2) the Unexpended Appropriations–Cumulative 
opening balance for October 1, 2024, for United 
States Standard General Ledger Account 310000 is 
$883,887,145.71, as recorded in official accounting 
records; 
(3) the Cumulative Results of Operations open-
ing balance for October 1, 2024, for United States 
Standard General Ledger Account 331000 is 
$27,271,547,121.85, as recorded in official account-
ing records; 
(4) the Contract Authority Carried Forward 
opening balance for October 1, 2024, for United 
States Standard General Ledger Account 413900 is
1176 
$13,130,151,985.39, as recorded in official account-
ing records; 
(5) the Total Actual Resources–Collected open-
ing balance for October 1, 2024, for United States 
Standard General Ledger Account 420100 is 
$3,578,944,883.86, as recorded in official account-
ing records; and 
(6) the Unapportioned–Unexpired Authority 
opening balance for October 1, 2024, for United 
States Standard General Ledger Account 445000 is 
$507,354,134.72, as recorded in official accounting 
records. 
SEC. 1414. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME. 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fis-
cal year 2026 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home 
Trust Fund the sum of $77,000,000 for the operation of 
the Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
SEC. 1415. REPORT ON PRIORITIZATION OF RECOVERY OF 
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FROM END-OF-LIFE 
EQUIPMENT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, acting through the Director of the Defense 
Logistics Agency, shall submit to the Committees on
1177 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report on the efforts of the Department of De-
fense to prioritize the recovery of rare earth elements from 
end-of-life equipment of the Department through the Stra-
tegic Materials Recovery and Reuse Program. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of current activities of the 
Strategic Materials Recovery and Reuse Program to 
recover rare earth elements from end-of-life equip-
ment of the Department of Defense. 
(2) An assessment of planned expansions of the 
Strategic Materials Recovery and Reuse Program to 
increase the recovery and recycling of rare earth ele-
ments within the United States. 
(3) A description of the management practices, 
partnerships, and resource requirements necessary 
to scale the operations of the Strategic Materials Re-
covery and Reuse Program to increase the recovery 
and recycling of rare earth elements within the 
United States. 
(4) Recommendations for enhancing the recov-
ery and recycling of rare earth elements domestically 
under the Strategic Materials Recovery and Reuse 
Program to support the defense industrial base and
1178 
reduce the reliance of the Department of Defense on 
foreign sources for rare earth elements. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘strategic and critical materials’’ 
means materials determined by the President to be 
strategic and critical materials under section 3(a) of 
the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act 
(50 U.S.C. 98b(a)). 
(2) The term ‘‘Strategic Materials Recovery 
and Reuse Program’’ means the program of the De-
fense Logistics Agency established pursuant to sec-
tion 6(a)(5) of the Strategic and Critical Materials 
Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98e(a)(5)) for the re-
covery of strategic and critical materials available 
from Federal agencies. 
TITLE XV—CYBERSPACE- 
RELATED MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Cyber Operations 
SEC. 1501. ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO 
OPERATE PROCESSES. 
Section 1522 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 
2223 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)—
1179 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs: 
‘‘(E) defines Department of Defense-wide, 
mandatory timelines for activities performed by 
authorizing officials with respect to an Author-
ization to Operate for cloud-hosted platforms, 
services, and applications; and 
‘‘(F) establishes processes and policies, de-
veloped in coordination with the Chief Informa-
tion Officers of the military departments, for 
the boards established in subsections (c) and 
(d).’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (e) and (g), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORITY-TO-OPERATE 
EXPEDITED APPEALS BOARD FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE.—
1180 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense shall establish a board, to be known as the 
‘Authority-to-Operate Expedited Appeals Board’. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The board established 
under paragraph (1) shall decide whether to 
grant each Authorization to Operate for which 
a relevant stakeholder in the Authorization to 
Operate submission process submits a request 
in accordance with subparagraph (B) not later 
than 90 days after the date on which such rel-
evant stakeholder submits such request. 
‘‘(B) SUBMISSION.—A relevant stakeholder 
in the Authorization to Operate submission 
process seeking a decision from the board es-
tablished under paragraph (1) with respect to 
an Authorization to Operate may submit a re-
quest for such decision to such board if— 
‘‘(i) a request for such Authorization 
to Operate was appropriately submitted to 
the authorizing official for such Authoriza-
tion to Operate not less than 180 days 
prior to the submission to the board; and
1181 
‘‘(ii) as of the date of such submis-
sion, such authorizing official has not 
made a final decision with respect to such 
Authorization to Operate. 
‘‘(C) AUTHORIZING
OFFICIAL
AUTHOR-
ITY.—Upon the submission of a request for an 
Authorization to Operate in accordance with 
subparagraph (B), the authorizing official for 
an Authorization to Operate shall cease to have 
authority to grant or deny such Authorization 
to Operate. 
‘‘(3) SUBMISSION
FOR
CONSIDERATION.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each relevant 
stakeholder in the Authorization to Operate submis-
sion process may submit to the board established 
under paragraph (1) a request for a decision under 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) BOARD REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) MEMBERSHIP.—The board estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall be composed 
of the following members: 
‘‘(i) The Chief Information Officer of 
the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(ii) The Commander of the United 
States Cyber Command.
1182 
‘‘(iii) The Director of the Defense In-
formation Systems Agency. 
‘‘(iv) Any other official determined ap-
propriate by the chair of such board. 
‘‘(B) CHAIR.—The chair of the board es-
tablished under paragraph (1) shall be the 
Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
Defense. 
‘‘(C) FREQUENCY.—The board established 
under paragraph (1) shall meet not less than 
frequently than quarterly. 
‘‘(5) EXISTING FORUM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of De-
fense may designate a body in the Department 
of Defense to carry the responsibilities de-
scribed in paragraph (2) if— 
‘‘(i) the body so designated is in exist-
ence as of the date of the enactment of 
this subsection: and 
‘‘(ii) the responsibilities of such body 
relate to managing risks for information 
technologies. 
‘‘(B) EFFECTS.—If the Secretary of De-
fense designates a body under subparagraph 
(A)—