[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6535. Mr. LEE 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:

       Strike section 1019 and insert the following:

     SEC. 1019. CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS IN FOREIGN SHIPYARDS.

       (a) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 8679 of title 10, 
     United States Code, the Secretary of Defense may construct 
     not more than two vessels for each class of covered vessels 
     in a foreign shipyard, if the Secretary determines that--
       (A) such construction is in the national security interest 
     of the United States, supported by evidence, for purposes of 
     interoperability with allies and partners, forward logistics 
     support, or accelerating achievement of fleet capacity 
     requirements;
       (B) the foreign country in which construction is proposed--
       (i) is a treaty ally of the United States; and
       (ii) has the capacity to produce the vessel, including with 
     respect to workforce, physical shipyard constraints, and 
     supply chain; and
       (C) such construction ensures concurrent direct capital 
     investments in the maritime industrial base of the United 
     States resulting in, not later than the fourth vessel of the 
     class of covered vessels, the onshoring of the construction 
     and the supplier base of such class.
       (2) Report and certification required.--Not later than 30 
     days before obligating or expending any funds pursuant to the 
     authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees a report that 
     includes the following:
       (A) A certification that the conditions described in 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of such paragraph will be 
     satisfied.
       (B) An identification of--
       (i) the specific vessel or class of vessels to be 
     constructed in a foreign shipyard; and
       (ii) the specific foreign country and shipyard in which 
     construction is proposed.
       (C) A description of the enforceable provisions that will 
     govern the protection of classified information and 
     controlled unclassified information related to the vessel 
     during construction.
       (D) The sourcing plan and schedule to onshore the supply 
     chain and the plan for construction of the third and 
     subsequent vessels of the class of covered vessels in a 
     shipyard in the United States.
       (3) Additional requirements.--In exercising the authority 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
     that--
       (A) all critical mission systems, command and control 
     equipment, and secure communications systems are installed in 
     the United States or a secure allied facility;
       (B) the vessels are projected to be constructed and 
     delivered faster than if the vessels were constructed at a 
     shipyard in the United States, or construction at a foreign 
     shipyard otherwise provides a material benefit to readiness 
     or force posture;
       (C) the software and hardware related to all machinery 
     control systems, cargo and ballast control systems, power and 
     electrical systems, and safety systems are secure; and
       (D) a life cycle sustainment plan is approved by the 
     Secretary for the class of covered vessels, including class-
     standard repair parts.
       (4) Prohibition on delegation.--The responsibility to 
     submit a certification under paragraph (2) may not be 
     delegated.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Class of covered vessels.--The term ``class of covered 
     vessels'' means the following vessels that do not have 
     combatant classifications:
       (A) Bulk fuel vessels designed or intended primarily for 
     the carriage of liquid fuels.
       (B) Strategic sealift vessels designed to rapidly deploy 
     heavy military equipment globally in a roll-on/roll-off 
     configuration.
       (2) Critical mission system.--The term ``critical mission 
     system'', with respect to a vessel, means a system (weapon or 
     auxiliary) the failure of which would prevent the successful 
     completion of the mission or severely impact ability to 
     fight.
       (3) Foreign shipyard.--The term ``foreign shipyard'' means 
     a shipyard located outside the United States.
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