[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4462-S4463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2907. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2026 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

[[Page S4463]]

year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 334. REPORT ON RISKS FROM SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE HAZARDS 
                   IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of State, shall submit to Congress a report that 
     includes the following:
       (1) An assessment of the risk from surface and subsurface 
     explosive ordnance hazards, submerged maritime vessels, and 
     related hazards, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, 
     to operations, security cooperation, and other activities of 
     the Department of Defense in the Indo-Pacific region, 
     including--
       (A) an assessment of the expected prevalence of unexploded 
     hazards throughout such region in locations that the 
     Secretary of Defense is expecting to begin major or minor 
     construction projects during the one-year period beginning on 
     the date of the report; and
       (B) a review of threats to critical infrastructure in 
     Pacific Island countries and territories that could be 
     relevant to potential contingency operations of the 
     Department, including airports, ports, bridges, and 
     hospitals.
       (2) An assessment of authorities to allow the Department to 
     partner with the militaries or police forces of Pacific 
     Island countries to conduct surface and subsurface explosive 
     ordnance removal, including underwater ordnance.
       (3) An assessment of the value a region-wide survey of 
     unexploded ordnance in the Indo-Pacific region could provide 
     for operations, security cooperation, and other activities of 
     the Department that support the defense and security 
     interests of the United States.
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