[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6286. Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Kelly) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2027 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 section 134, add the following:
       (e) Additional Protection for Air National Guard MQ-9 
     Aircraft Units.--
       (1) Prohibition.--The Secretary of the Air Force may not, 
     during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and ending on September 30, 2031--
       (A) divest, deactivate, redesignate, consolidate, transfer, 
     place in storage, or initiate any action to retire any MQ-9 
     aircraft assigned to an Air National Guard unit, or otherwise 
     reduce the mission capability of any Air National Guard MQ-9 
     aircraft unit;
       (B) reduce--
       (i) the total primary aerospace vehicle authorization (PAA) 
     number of MQ-9 aircraft assigned to any unit of the Air 
     National Guard below the levels in effect on such date of 
     enactment; or
       (ii) the assigned aircraft authorization of any Air 
     National Guard MQ-9 aircraft unit below the level in effect 
     on such date of enactment;
       (C) modify the designed operational capability statement 
     for any Air National Guard MQ-9 aircraft unit, as in effect 
     on such date of enactment, in a manner that would reduce the 
     capabilities of such unit below the levels specified in such 
     statement as in effect on such date; or
       (D) reduce, below the levels in effect on such date of the 
     enactment, the number of personnel assigned to units 
     responsible for the operation and maintenance of MQ-9 
     aircraft if such reduction would affect the ability of such 
     units to meet the capability described in subparagraph (C).
       (2) Exception for individual aircraft.--The prohibition 
     under paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual MQ-9 
     aircraft if the Secretary of the Air Force--
       (A) determines, on a case-by-case basis, that the aircraft 
     is unsafe to operate, uneconomical to repair, or no longer 
     mission capable due to mishap damage, structural condition, 
     air worthiness, obsolescence, or other material sustainment 
     issue;
       (B) assigns an Air National Guard MQ-9 aircraft unit a new 
     primary mission, with approval of the applicable Governor 
     pursuant to section 104(c) of title 32, United States Code, 
     and certifies to the congressional defense committees that 
     such new primary mission will maintain or enhance the 
     operational capability of such unit within the total force; 
     and
       (C) submits to the congressional defense committees a plan 
     describing--
       (i) the personnel impacts of mission conversion;
       (ii) the projected operational capability of the new 
     mission, including programmed funding and required manpower;
       (iii) the timeline for transition; and
       (iv) any associated aircraft, systems, or infrastructure 
     requirements.
       (3) Consultation requirement.--The Secretary of the Air 
     Force shall consult with the Chief of the National Guard 
     Bureau before taking any action described in paragraph (1).
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