[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026

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                               speech of

                            HON. BRYAN STEIL

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2025

  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to the 
Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, which provides $10 million 
to support testing of tethered unmanned aircraft system prototypes.
  Tethered drones, which are physically connected to a ground-based 
power source, offer critical protection against cyberattacks--an 
increasingly important safeguard given rising threats from adversaries 
like China and North Korea.
  My amendment 275, included in Bipartisan En Bloc No. 2, provides the 
Army with the necessary resources to procure and test tethered drones.
  Tethered drone testing could lead to further innovation and advance 
the Army's mission capabilities.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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