Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6343

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Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6343" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6343

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3465-S3466] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6343. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mr. Cotton) 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 subtitle B of title VIII, add the following: SEC. 823. PROHIBITION ON THE PROCUREMENT AND OPERATION OF COVERED UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered nation.--The term ``covered nation'' has the meaning given the term in section 4872(f) of title 10, United States Code. (2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign entity'' means an entity that is-- (A) domiciled in a covered nation; (B) subject to the influence or control of the government of a covered nation, as determined by the Secretary of Defense; or (C) a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B). (3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``covered unmanned ground vehicle system'' means an unmanned ground vehicle system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. (4) Unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``unmanned ground vehicle system'' means a system that includes-- (A) a mechanical device, including a remote surveillance vehicle, autonomous patrol technology, mobile robotics, or a humanoid robot, that-- (i) is capable of locomotion, navigation, or movement on the ground; and (ii) operates at a distance from a human operator or supervisor based on commands or in response to sensor data or any combination thereof; (B) the payload of the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A); and (C) any external device used to control the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A). (b) Prohibition on Procurement of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as provided under subsection (e), the Department of Defense may not procure any covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (c) Prohibition on Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department of Defense may not operate a covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (2) Applicability to contracted services.--The prohibition under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned ground vehicle system being used by the Department of Defense through a contract for the services of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (d) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Procurement or Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement of the Department of Defense, or otherwise made available by the Department, may be used to procure or in connection with the operation of a covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (e) Exemption to Prohibitions.--The Department of Defense is exempt from the prohibitions under subsections (b), (c), and (d) if-- [[Page S3466]] (1) the procurement or operation of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system is in the national interest of the United States; and (2)(A) the sole purpose for the procurement or operation is-- (i) research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare operations, cybersecurity, or the development of unmanned ground vehicle system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle system technology; or (ii) conducting counter-terrorism or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal criminal or national security investigations, including forensic examinations; or (B) the covered unmanned ground vehicle system, as procured or as modified after procurement but before operational use-- (i) can no longer transfer data to, or download data from, a covered foreign entity; and (ii) poses no national security cybersecurity risk as determined by the Secretary of Defense. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 6343 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3465-S3466] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6343. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mr. Cotton) 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 subtitle B of title VIII, add the following: SEC. 823. PROHIBITION ON THE PROCUREMENT AND OPERATION OF COVERED UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Covered nation.--The term ``covered nation'' has the meaning given the term in section 4872(f) of title 10, United States Code. (2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign entity'' means an entity that is-- (A) domiciled in a covered nation; (B) subject to the influence or control of the government of a covered nation, as determined by the Secretary of Defense; or (C) a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B). (3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``covered unmanned ground vehicle system'' means an unmanned ground vehicle system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. (4) Unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``unmanned ground vehicle system'' means a system that includes-- (A) a mechanical device, including a remote surveillance vehicle, autonomous patrol technology, mobile robotics, or a humanoid robot, that-- (i) is capable of locomotion, navigation, or movement on the ground; and (ii) operates at a distance from a human operator or supervisor based on commands or in response to sensor data or any combination thereof; (B) the payload of the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A); and (C) any external device used to control the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A). (b) Prohibition on Procurement of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as provided under subsection (e), the Department of Defense may not procure any covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (c) Prohibition on Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department of Defense may not operate a covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (2) Applicability to contracted services.--The prohibition under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned ground vehicle system being used by the Department of Defense through a contract for the services of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (d) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Procurement or Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement of the Department of Defense, or otherwise made available by the Department, may be used to procure or in connection with the operation of a covered unmanned ground vehicle system. (e) Exemption to Prohibitions.--The Department of Defense is exempt from the prohibitions under subsections (b), (c), and (d) if-- [[Page S3466]] (1) the procurement or operation of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system is in the national interest of the United States; and (2)(A) the sole purpose for the procurement or operation is-- (i) research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare operations, cybersecurity, or the development of unmanned ground vehicle system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle system technology; or (ii) conducting counter-terrorism or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal criminal or national security investigations, including forensic examinations; or (B) the covered unmanned ground vehicle system, as procured or as modified after procurement but before operational use-- (i) can no longer transfer data to, or download data from, a covered foreign entity; and (ii) poses no national security cybersecurity risk as determined by the Secretary of Defense. ______