[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 580. Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2024 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 G of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1299L. VIRGINIA CLASS SUBMARINE TRANSFER CERTIFICATION.

       (a) Certification Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not less than 60 days prior to 
     transferring one or more Virginia class submarines from the 
     inventory of the United States Navy to the Government of 
     Australia, under section 21 of the Arms Export Control Act 
     (22 U.S.C. 2761), the President shall certify to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that--
       (A) any submarine transferred under such authority shall be 
     used to support the joint security interests and military 
     operations of the United States and Australia;
       (B) Submarine Rotational Forces-West Full Operational 
     Capability to support 4 rotationally deployed Virginia-class 
     submarines and one Astute-class submarine has been achieved, 
     including the Government of Australia having demonstrated the 
     domestic capacity to fully perform all the associated 
     activities necessary for the safe hosting and operation of 
     nuclear-powered submarines; and
       (C) Australia Sovereign-Ready Initial Operational 
     Capability to support a Royal Australian Navy Virginia-class 
     submarine has been achieved, including the Government of 
     Australia having demonstrated the domestic capacity to fully 
     perform all the associated--
       (i) activities necessary for the safe hosting and operation 
     of nuclear-powered submarines;
       (ii) crewing;
       (iii) operations;
       (iv) regulatory and emergency procedures, including those 
     specific to nuclear power plants; and
       (v) detailed planning for enduring Virginia-class submarine 
     ownership, including each significant event leading up to and 
     including nuclear defueling.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Activities necessary for the safe hosting or operation 
     of nuclear-powered submarines.--The term ``activities 
     necessary for the safe hosting and operation of nuclear-
     powered submarines'' means each of the following activities 
     as it relates to Virginia-class and Astute-class submarines, 
     as appropriate, and in accordance with applicable United 
     States Navy or other Government agency instructions, 
     regulations, and standards:
       (A) Maintenance.
       (B) Training.
       (C) Technical oversight.
       (D) Safety certifications.
       (E) Physical, communications, operational, cyber, and other 
     security measures.
       (F) Port operations and infrastructure support.
       (G) Storage, including spare parts, repair parts, and 
     munitions.
       (H) Hazardous material handling and storage.
       (I) Information technology systems.
       (J) Support functions, including those related to medical, 
     quality-of-life, and family needs.
       (K) Such other related tasks as may be specified by the 
     Secretary of Defense.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
                                 ______