[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 718. Mr. THUNE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1045. TRANSFER OF EXCESS AIR FORCE MQ-1 PREDATOR 
                   REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT AND RELATED EQUIPMENT 
                   TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR U.S. 
                   CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL PURPOSES.

       (a) Offer of First Refusal Outside DoD.--
       (1) In general.--Upon a determination that aircraft or 
     equipment specified in subsection (b) is also excess to the 
     requirements of all components of the Department of Defense, 
     the Secretary of the Air Force shall offer to the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security to transfer such aircraft or equipment 
     to the Secretary of Homeland Security for use by U.S. Customs 
     and Border Patrol.
       (2) Timing of offer.--Any offer under this subsection for 
     aircraft or equipment shall be made before such aircraft or 
     equipment is otherwise disposed of outside the Department of 
     Defense.
       (b) Aircraft and Equipment.--The aircraft and equipment 
     specified in this subsection is the following:
       (1) Retired MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft of the 
     Air Force that are excess to Department of the Air Force 
     requirements.
       (2) Initial spare MQ-1 Predator remotely pilot aircraft of 
     the Air Force that are excess to such requirements.
       (3) Ground support equipment of the Air Force for MQ-1 
     Predator remotely piloted aircraft that is excess to such 
     requirements.
       (c) Transfer.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     accepts an offer under subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
     Air Force shall transfer the aircraft or equipment concerned 
     to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The cost of any 
     aircraft or equipment so transferred, and the cost of 
     transfer, shall be borne by the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security.
       (d) Demilitarization.--Any aircraft or equipment 
     transferred under this section shall be demilitarized before 
     transfer. The cost of demilitarization shall be borne by the 
     Secretary of the Air Force.
       (e) Use of Transferred Aircraft and Equipment.--Any 
     aircraft or equipment transferred to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security pursuant to this section shall be used by 
     the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for border 
     security, enforcement of the immigration laws, and related 
     purposes.
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