Text of Senate Amendment 5865

On 2026-06-18, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5865" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5865

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2961-S2962] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5865. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. Cruz) 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 title XII, insert the following: Subtitle F--Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026 SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026''. SEC. 1282. DEFINITIONS. In this subtitle: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Blue uas.--The term ``Blue UAS'' refers to UAS components and systems that comply with Defense Contract Management Agency's Blue UAS program and its associated list. SEC. 1283. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) Taiwan is a longstanding and vital democratic partner whose security is central to United States strategic interests and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (2) The People's Republic of China (PRC) is increasingly employing gray-zone tactics, including routine use of unmanned aerial systems and other low-cost platforms, to pressure Taiwan and undermine its security. (3) As set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-8), it is United States policy to maintain its capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion against Taiwan and provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive nature. (4) As set forth in the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-263), it is the sense of Congress that the United States should support Taiwan's acquisition and employment of capabilities that advance asymmetric strategies. (5) The vast majority of commercially available UAS contain PRC-sourced components, creating significant cybersecurity, supply chain, and operational risks for both Taiwan and the United States. (6) Taiwan is well-positioned to develop and produce UAS components and systems but faces challenges in competing with PRC commercial companies, accessing capital, and meeting United States certification and cybersecurity requirements. (7) The United States should support UAS supply chain development in Taiwan to strengthen Taiwan's asymmetric defense posture and expand United States access to secure, PRC-independent UAS components and systems. (8) The Army Organic Industrial Base, including its arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants, is undergoing modernization to support emerging technologies and may provide opportunities to support the testing and sustainment of unmanned aerial systems and related components in coordination with allies and partners. SEC. 1284. BLUE UAS WORKING GROUP. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a Blue UAS working group, leveraging existing workstreams and expanding scope as needed, inclusive of government, industry, and academic experts, to-- (1) assess Taiwan's domestic drone production capacity, including research and development, legal and regulatory frameworks, testing, certification, and production capacities for dual-use drones; (2) evaluate opportunities for public-private partnerships between the United States and Taiwan for co-development and co-production of UAS systems and components, including pilot programs; (3) identify barriers to the inclusion of Taiwan- manufactured components and systems manufactured in Blue UAS programs; (4) identify regulatory, export-control, and certification barriers that impede Taiwan's participation in Blue UAS programs; (5) provide recommendations to expand and improve incorporation of Taiwanese suppliers into Blue UAS programs; (6) identify specific UAS components or systems that could be integrated into Blue UAS programs within 12 to 24 months; (7) analyze opportunities and impediments to include Taiwan in the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group and similar initiatives; (8) assess opportunities for collaboration with the Army Organic Industrial Base, including its arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants, to support the testing, evaluation, production, maintenance, and sustainment of Blue UAS components and systems, including those co-developed or co- produced with Taiwan; and (9) institute lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, in consultation with the United States European Command (EUCOM) and Ukrainian officials. (b) Reporting.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three years, the Working Group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an unclassified report on its activities, including findings, recommendations, timelines, resource needs, and potential funding mechanisms, with a classified appendix as necessary. SEC. 1285. COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK WITH ALLIES. (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a cooperative framework, drawing on the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), among the United States, Taiwan, and regional allies and global partners to promote secure, PRC-independent UAS supply chains and enhance interoperability. (b) Elements.--The cooperative framework shall include-- (1) support regional allies in the acquisition of Blue UAS components or systems from Taiwan in lieu of PRC-sourced components; and (2) fast-track Blue UAS certification for components co- developed or co-produced by Taiwan and regional allies. [[Page S2962]] SEC. 1286. FAST-TRACK CERTIFICATION. (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop a fast-track process for Blue UAS companies in Taiwan to obtain Blue UAS certification. (b) Elements.--The fast-track certification process shall include the following procedures: (1) Expedited export control reviews and licensing for Taiwan drone and drone component manufacturers, including streamlined technical reviews for components with no PRC- connected subcomponents. (2) A fast-track certification procedure for Taiwanese manufacturers, including reciprocal testing arrangements or recognition of equivalent Taiwan cybersecurity standards where appropriate. SEC. 1287. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed-- (1) to alter United States policy towards Taiwan as codified in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96- 8); (2) to alter the United States commitment to the One China Policy, including commitments made in the Three United States-China Communiques and the Six Assurances to Taiwan; or (3) to alter the United States Government's position with respect to the international status of Taiwan. ______