[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 153 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5030-S5031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5646. Mr. CRUZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) 
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 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 D of title I, add the following:

     SEC. 144. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO B-BOMBER 
                   AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS.

       (a) Prohibition.--During the covered period, the Secretary 
     of the Air Force may not--
       (1) modify the designed operational capability statement 
     for any B-1 bomber aircraft squadron, as in effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, in a manner that would 
     reduce the capabilities of such a squadron below the levels 
     specified in such statement as in effect on such date; or
       (2) reduce, below the levels in effect on such date of 
     enactment, the number of personnel assigned to units 
     responsible for the operation and maintenance of B-1 aircraft 
     if such reduction would affect the ability of such units to 
     meet the capability described in paragraph (1).

[[Page S5031]]

       (b) Exception.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
     not apply to a bomb wing for which the Secretary of the Air 
     Force has commenced the process of replacing B-1 bomber 
     aircraft with B-21 bomber aircraft.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered period'' means the period beginning 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on 
     September 30, 2026.
       (2) The term ``designed operational capability statement'' 
     has the meaning given that term in Air Force Instruction 10-
     201.
       (d) Conforming Repeal.--Section 133 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81; 
     135 Stat. 1574) is repealed.

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