Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6537

TaxesEnvironmentDefense

Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6537" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6537

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3673-S3674] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6537. Mr. LEE (for himself and Mr. Curtis) 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 [[Page S3674]] 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 appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. __. REPORT ON FIELDING OF LINK 16 TACTICAL DATA LINK NETWORKING CAPABILITIES ON CERTAIN ARMY AIRCRAFT. (a) Report Required.--Not later than December 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plans and actions of the Army to field Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft. (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A description of the current and planned fielding of Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F aircraft. (2) An assessment of how Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F aircraft contribute to the Army's next generation command and control efforts. (3) An assessment of how such capabilities support interoperability among Army rotary-wing aircraft, joint force platforms, and allied and partner platforms. (4) An assessment of the operational benefits of fielding Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft, including with respect to safety of flight, situational awareness, contested logistics, and operations involving manned and unmanned platforms operating in shared airspace. (5) A description of any technical, operational, programmatic, budgetary, or policy barriers to fielding Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft. (6) A plan and timeline for addressing such barriers and fielding such capabilities, as appropriate. (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 6537 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3673-S3674] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6537. Mr. LEE (for himself and Mr. Curtis) 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 [[Page S3674]] 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 appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. __. REPORT ON FIELDING OF LINK 16 TACTICAL DATA LINK NETWORKING CAPABILITIES ON CERTAIN ARMY AIRCRAFT. (a) Report Required.--Not later than December 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plans and actions of the Army to field Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft. (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A description of the current and planned fielding of Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F aircraft. (2) An assessment of how Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on AH-64E, UH-60M, and CH-47F aircraft contribute to the Army's next generation command and control efforts. (3) An assessment of how such capabilities support interoperability among Army rotary-wing aircraft, joint force platforms, and allied and partner platforms. (4) An assessment of the operational benefits of fielding Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft, including with respect to safety of flight, situational awareness, contested logistics, and operations involving manned and unmanned platforms operating in shared airspace. (5) A description of any technical, operational, programmatic, budgetary, or policy barriers to fielding Link 16 tactical data link networking capabilities on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft. (6) A plan and timeline for addressing such barriers and fielding such capabilities, as appropriate. (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. ______