[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6354. Ms. HIRONO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her 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 subtitle D of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 539F. PROTECTED SPEECH; PROHIBITION OF RETALIATORY OR 
                   ADVERSE ACTIONS AGAINST RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE 
                   ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Prohibition.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretaries of any military department may not take any 
     adverse personnel action against a retired member of the 
     Armed Forces based in whole or in part on the member's speech 
     on matters of public concern or political activity.
       (2) Exception.--The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall 
     not apply to a member who is wearing a military uniform.
       (b) Adverse Personnel Action.--For purposes of this 
     section, the term ``adverse personnel action'' includes--
       (1) issuance of a letter of censure, reprimand, or 
     admonishment;
       (2) initiation or conduct of an officer grade 
     determination;
       (3) reduction in retired grade or retired pay; and
       (4) any other administrative action intended to penalize or 
     diminish the retired status, grade, or benefits of the 
     retired member.
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