[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2749-S2750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 657. Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Tillis) 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 X, add the following:

     SEC. 1083. REPORT ON ALIEN ESSENTIAL SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICAL 
                   EXPERTS NECESSARY FOR THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL 
                   BASE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days 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 on the alien (as 
     defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))) essential scientists and technical 
     experts currently advancing the research, development, 
     testing, manufacturing, or evaluation of critical 
     technologies, or otherwise serving national security 
     functions for the defense industrial base.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:

[[Page S2750]]

       (1) A detailed assessment of aliens currently living in the 
     United States whose professional contributions are essential 
     to advancing the research, development, testing, 
     manufacturing, or evaluation of critical technologies, or 
     otherwise serving national security interests, which shall 
     include a consideration of the following categories of 
     aliens:
       (A) Aliens who are employed by a United States employer and 
     engaged in work to promote and protect the national security 
     innovation base.
       (B) Aliens who are engaged in basic or applied research, 
     funded by the Department of Defense, through a United States 
     institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
       (C) Aliens who possess scientific or technical expertise 
     that will advance the development of critical technologies 
     identified in the National Defense Strategy or the National 
     Defense Science and Technology Strategy, required by section 
     218 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 132 Stat. 1679).
       (2) An assessment of science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (STEM) occupations relevant to national security 
     in which the Secretary of Defense anticipates workforce 
     shortages, including and identification of--
       (A) the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 
     occupation profiles relevant to national security for which 
     the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor 
     anticipate workforce shortages; and
       (B) current barriers that limit the ability of aliens with 
     relevant expertise to fill such occupations.
       (3) Recommendations for improving the strategies and 
     initiatives of the Department of Defense for recruiting and 
     retaining skilled alien labor in STEM fields critical to the 
     Department's research, development, testing, evaluation, and 
     acquisition of capabilities to support the national defense, 
     including--
       (A) the Department's use of visas for nonimmigrants 
     described in subparagraph (H)(i)(b)(ii) of section 101(a)(15) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)(15)), including information about the particular 
     cooperative research and development projects and co-
     production projects for which Department project managers 
     have submitted verification letters in connection with such 
     visas;
       (B) the Department's use of immigrant visas and 
     nonimmigrant visas other than the visas described in 
     subparagraph (A), and naturalization, to supplement the 
     national security innovation base;
       (C) an assessment of other existing mechanisms through 
     which the Department could supplement the national security 
     innovation base, including immigrant and nonimmigrant visas 
     not described in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
       (D) proposed mechanisms to facilitate additional programs 
     to attract talent.
       (4) An assessment of the role of international talent in 
     the national security industrial and innovation base.
       (5) An identification of--
       (A) current gaps or shortfalls in the workforce of 
     scientists and technical experts currently advancing the 
     research, development, testing, manufacturing, or evaluation 
     of critical technologies, or otherwise serving national 
     security functions for the defense industrial base; and
       (B) mechanisms the Department of Defense may consider to 
     address such gaps or shortfalls.
       (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in classified form and may include an unclassified 
     annex.
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