Text of Senate Amendment 6535

On 2026-06-24, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6535" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6535

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3673] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6535. Mr. LEE 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: Strike section 1019 and insert the following: SEC. 1019. CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS IN FOREIGN SHIPYARDS. (a) Authority.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 8679 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense may construct not more than two vessels for each class of covered vessels in a foreign shipyard, if the Secretary determines that-- (A) such construction is in the national security interest of the United States, supported by evidence, for purposes of interoperability with allies and partners, forward logistics support, or accelerating achievement of fleet capacity requirements; (B) the foreign country in which construction is proposed-- (i) is a treaty ally of the United States; and (ii) has the capacity to produce the vessel, including with respect to workforce, physical shipyard constraints, and supply chain; and (C) such construction ensures concurrent direct capital investments in the maritime industrial base of the United States resulting in, not later than the fourth vessel of the class of covered vessels, the onshoring of the construction and the supplier base of such class. (2) Report and certification required.--Not later than 30 days before obligating or expending any funds pursuant to the authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (A) A certification that the conditions described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of such paragraph will be satisfied. (B) An identification of-- (i) the specific vessel or class of vessels to be constructed in a foreign shipyard; and (ii) the specific foreign country and shipyard in which construction is proposed. (C) A description of the enforceable provisions that will govern the protection of classified information and controlled unclassified information related to the vessel during construction. (D) The sourcing plan and schedule to onshore the supply chain and the plan for construction of the third and subsequent vessels of the class of covered vessels in a shipyard in the United States. (3) Additional requirements.--In exercising the authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that-- (A) all critical mission systems, command and control equipment, and secure communications systems are installed in the United States or a secure allied facility; (B) the vessels are projected to be constructed and delivered faster than if the vessels were constructed at a shipyard in the United States, or construction at a foreign shipyard otherwise provides a material benefit to readiness or force posture; (C) the software and hardware related to all machinery control systems, cargo and ballast control systems, power and electrical systems, and safety systems are secure; and (D) a life cycle sustainment plan is approved by the Secretary for the class of covered vessels, including class- standard repair parts. (4) Prohibition on delegation.--The responsibility to submit a certification under paragraph (2) may not be delegated. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Class of covered vessels.--The term ``class of covered vessels'' means the following vessels that do not have combatant classifications: (A) Bulk fuel vessels designed or intended primarily for the carriage of liquid fuels. (B) Strategic sealift vessels designed to rapidly deploy heavy military equipment globally in a roll-on/roll-off configuration. (2) Critical mission system.--The term ``critical mission system'', with respect to a vessel, means a system (weapon or auxiliary) the failure of which would prevent the successful completion of the mission or severely impact ability to fight. (3) Foreign shipyard.--The term ``foreign shipyard'' means a shipyard located outside the United States. ______