[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 133 (Friday, August 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S5295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3509. Mr. DAINES 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 year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

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

     SEC. 320A. EXCLUSION FROM COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969 OF SENTINEL 
                   PROGRAM OR GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
     4321 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 109 the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 109A. EXEMPTION OF ACTIONS RELATING TO SENTINEL 
                   PROGRAM OR GROUND-BASED STRATEGIC DETERRENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, after 
     conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
     the Interior, or both, as appropriate, may exempt any action 
     or category of actions undertaken by the Department of 
     Defense or any component of the Department of Defense 
     relating to the Sentinel program or the ground-based 
     strategic deterrent program, or successor similar program, 
     from compliance with any requirement of this Act if the 
     Secretary determines that it is critical to national 
     security.
       ``(b) Additional Exemptions.--The Secretary of Defense may 
     issue additional exemptions under this section for the same 
     action or category of actions after--
       ``(1) conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, the 
     Secretary of the Interior, or both as appropriate; and
       ``(2) making a new determination that the additional 
     exemption is necessary for national defense.
       ``(c) Effect.--An exemption granted under subsection (a) or 
     (b)--
       ``(1) subject to paragraph (2), shall be effective for a 
     period specified by the Secretary of Defense; and
       ``(2) shall not be effective for more than 2 years.
       ``(d) Notice.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after issuing an 
     exemption under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary of 
     Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House 
     of Representatives notice describing the exemption and the 
     reasons therefor.
       ``(2) Form.--Notice under paragraph (1) may be provided in 
     classified form if the Secretary of Defense determines that 
     use of the classified form is necessary for reasons of 
     national security.''.
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