SenateS. 4609119th Congress
Strategy for Crisis Management Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4609 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4609
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for crisis
management in the South China Sea, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2026
Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for crisis
management in the South China Sea, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strategy for Crisis Management Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 2. STRATEGY FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA.
(a) Crisis Defined.--In this section, the term ``crisis'' means an
incident or situation that creates a condition of such national
security importance that the President or the Secretary of Defense may
consider a commitment of the United States Armed Forces or Department
resources, or the initiation of activities by the Department of
Defense, to achieve or defend national objectives.
(b) Strategy.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop a strategy
for crisis management in the South China Sea that--
(1) identifies the exact locations of the most likely
flashpoints in the South China Sea that could lead to scenarios
of crises short of war that would require heightened
interagency and international coordination; and
(2) includes, for each major likely flashpoint, a crisis
playbook with sequenced response options and a plan for
coordination with foreign partners.
(c) Objectives.--The strategy required by subsection (b) shall be
designed--
(1) to deny the aim of the People's Republic of China and
deter further People's Republic of China provocation or actions
that expand the crisis;
(2) to ensure the safety of United States citizens and
residents in the region and in the United States;
(3) to ensure the safety of members of the United States
Armed Forces in the region, including safety from accidents;
(4) to preserve United States economic interests in the
region, including protecting key trade and commerce routes;
(5) to protect United States national security interests,
including by upholding treaty obligations and protecting allies
and partners; and
(6) to manage possible escalation into combat operations by
taking opportunities for de-escalation and maintaining
strategic stability.
(d) Crisis Playbooks.--
(1) In general.--Each crisis playbook required by
subsection (b)(2)--
(A) shall be developed by the Secretary of Defense,
in coordination with the Secretary of State, the
applicable Chief of Mission, the Secretary of Commerce,
the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any
other relevant agency; and
(B) shall be informed by the intelligence community
and relevant experts.
(2) Elements.--Each crisis playbook shall include the
following:
(A) A list of specific indicators that would
elevate a scenario from a baseline of gray-zone
conditions to the level of a crisis.
(B) Not less than one planning scenario that could
lead to crisis, with clearly identified assumptions,
phases, and likely branches.
(C) Anticipated decision points and recommended
options, sequenced across all identified phases. The
Secretary of Defense shall consider at least the
following types of recommended options:
(i) Response options for Department action,
across the range of possible decisions across
the Department, including force employment,
military posture, Department official
statements or travel, engagements or public
announcements, capability demonstrations or
tests.
(ii) Recommendations for types of ongoing
Department activities to consider ceasing,
reducing, or changing in scale or type.
(iii) Diplomatic and economic options,
developed in coordination with the Secretary of
State, the applicable Chief of Mission, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the head of any other relevant
agency, to accompany the options for the
Department.
(D) Each option recommended under subparagraph (C)
shall include a cost-benefit-risk analysis,
specifically--
(i) the projected benefit of the option;
(ii) the assessed risk to members of the
United States Armed Forces;
(iii) the estimated financial cost;
(iv) the projected humanitarian impact,
including the impact on local civilians;
(v) the projected impact to escalation
risk; and
(vi) any accompanying risk mitigation
strategies.
(E) A list of possible off-ramps, including a
description of indicators of such off-ramps and
recommendations of options for the Secretary of Defense
to take advantage of such off-ramps.
(F) An engagement plan--
(i) for streamlined communication and
coordination with relevant foreign partners
during each phase of the crisis to design
collective diplomatic, economic and military
responses to People's Republic of China
coercion and avoid potential actions that could
unnecessarily provoke or exacerbate a tense
situation; and
(ii) that identifies recommendations for
specific immediate actions the Secretary of
Defense should take now to pre-coordinate with
foreign partners.
(e) Semiannual Review.--Not less frequently than semiannually, the
Secretary of Defense shall review, update as necessary, and validate
each crisis playbook developed under subsection (b)(2).
(f) Interim Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives a progress report that--
(A) details the list of locations and scenarios
identified under subsection (b)(1);
(B) provides a status update on the development of
the crisis playbook required by subsection (b)(2);
(C) sets forth a plan for the completion of such
playbooks not later than March 2027; and
(D) details the process by which such playbooks
will be reviewed, updated as necessary, and validated
under subsection (e).
(2) Form.--The interim report required by paragraph (1)
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a
classified annex.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate the
House of Representatives a report that summarizes the strategy
developed under subsection (b).
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to require the options set forth in a playbook developed under
subsection (b)(2) to be the only options considered or followed in a
crisis scenario.
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