Text of Senate Amendment 6220

On 2026-06-24, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6220" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6220

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3391-S3393] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6220. Mr. KENNEDY 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 X, add the following: Subtitle H--Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act SEC. 1094. PURPOSES. The purposes of this subtitle are-- (1) to provide for the independent and objective conduct and supervision of audits and investigations relating to the programs and operations funded with amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to Ukraine for military, economic, and humanitarian aid; (2) to provide for the independent and objective leadership and coordination of, and recommendations concerning, policies designed-- (A) to promote economic efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of the programs and operations described in paragraph (1); and (B) to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in such programs and operations; and (3) to provide for an independent and objective means of keeping the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies fully and currently informed about-- (A) problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of the programs and operations described in paragraph (1); and (B) the necessity for, and the progress toward implementing, corrective action related to such programs. SEC. 1095. DEFINITIONS. In this subtitle: (1) Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the military, economic, and humanitarian aid to ukraine.--The term ``amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the military, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine'' means amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year-- (A) for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; (B) for Foreign Military Financing funding for Ukraine; (C) to the Department of State under the heading ``nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs''; and (D) under titles III and VI of the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (division N of Public Law 117-103). (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; (E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; (F) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; (G) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (H) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives. (3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid established under section 1096(a). (4) Special inspector general.--The term ``Special Inspector General'' means the Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid appointed pursuant to section 1096(b). SEC. 1096. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR UKRAINIAN MILITARY, ECONOMIC, AND HUMANITARIAN AID. (a) In General.--There is hereby established the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid to carry out the purposes set forth in section 1094. (b) Appointment of Special Inspector General.--The head of the Office shall be the Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid, who shall be appointed by the President. The first Special Inspector General shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Qualifications.--The appointment of the Special Inspector General shall be made solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. (d) Compensation.--The annual rate of basic pay of the Special Inspector General shall be the annual rate of basic pay provided for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. (e) Prohibition on Political Activities.--For purposes of section 7324 of title 5, United States Code, the Special Inspector General is not an employee who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal law. (f) Removal.--The Special Inspector General shall be removable from office in accordance with section 403(b) of title 5, United States Code. SEC. 1097. ASSISTANT INSPECTORS GENERAL. The Special Inspector General, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing the civil service, shall appoint-- (1) an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, who shall supervise the performance of auditing activities relating to programs and operations supported by amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine; and (2) an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, who shall supervise the performance of investigative activities relating to the programs and operations described in paragraph (1). SEC. 1098. SUPERVISION. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the Special Inspector General shall report directly to, and be under the general supervision of, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense. (b) Independence To Conduct Investigations and Audits.--No officer of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, or any other relevant Federal agency may prevent or prohibit the Special Inspector General from-- (1) initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation related to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine; or (2) issuing any subpoena during the course of any such audit or investigation. SEC. 1099. DUTIES. (a) Oversight of Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine Provided After February 24, 2022.--The Special Inspector General shall conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and of the programs, operations, and contracts carried out utilizing such funds, including-- (1) the oversight and accounting of the obligation and expenditure of such funds; (2) the monitoring and review of reconstruction activities funded by such funds; (3) the monitoring and review of contracts funded by such funds; (4) the monitoring and review of the transfer of such funds and associated information between and among departments, agencies, and entities of the United States and private and nongovernmental entities; (5) the maintenance of records regarding the use of such funds to facilitate future audits and investigations of the use of such funds; (6) the monitoring and review of the effectiveness of United States coordination with the Government of Ukraine, major recipients of Ukrainian refugees, partners in the region, and other donor countries; (7) the investigation of overpayments (such as duplicate payments or duplicate billing) and any potential unethical or illegal actions of Federal employees, contractors, or affiliated entities; and (8) the referral of reports compiled as a result of such investigations, as necessary, to the Department of Justice to ensure further investigations, prosecutions, recovery of funds, or other remedies. (b) Other Duties Related to Oversight.--The Special Inspector General shall establish, maintain, and oversee such systems, procedures, and controls as the Special Inspector General considers appropriate to discharge the duties described in subsection (a). (c) Consultation.--The Special Inspector General shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees before engaging in auditing activities outside of Ukraine. (d) Duties and Responsibilities Under Chapter 4 of Title 5, United States Code.--In addition to the duties specified in subsections (a) and (b), the Special Inspector General shall have the duties and responsibilities of inspectors general under chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code. (e) Coordination of Efforts.--In carrying out the duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the Special Inspector General under this subtitle, the Special Inspector General shall coordinate with, and receive cooperation from-- (1) the Inspector General of the Department of Defense; (2) the Inspector General of the Department of State; (3) the Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development; and (4) the Inspector General of any other relevant Federal agency. SEC. 1099A. POWERS AND AUTHORITIES. (a) Authorities Under Chapter 4 of Title 5, United States Code.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), in carrying out the duties [[Page S3392]] specified in section 1096, the Special Inspector General shall have the authorities provided under section 406 of title 5, United States Code, including the authorities under subsection (e) of such section. (2) Limitation.--The Special Inspector General is not authorized to audit or investigate the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)). (b) Audit St