Text of Senate Amendment 6691

On 2026-07-14, Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6691" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6691

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3961-S3970] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6691. Mr. WICKER 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, add the following: DIVISION E--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TITLE LI--PROCUREMENT Subtitle B--Army Programs SEC. 5111. REPORT ON DIVESTITURE OF EXPEDITIONARY COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADES. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing an analysis of the rationale for the divestiture of Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades, including the operational, financial, and strategic justifications for such divestiture. Subtitle D--Air Force Programs SEC. 5131. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTER UNMANNED SYSTEMS RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STRATEGIC ASSETS. (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Air Force $50,000,000 for counter unmanned systems relating to the defense of strategic assets. (b) Offsets.-- (1) Offset 1.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for BMD enabling programs (RDDW 0603890C, line 88) is hereby reduced by $5,000,000. (2) Offset 2.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for special programs--MDA (RDDW 0603891C, line 89) is hereby reduced by $5,000,000. (3) Offset 3.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for Atomic Energy Defense Activities, National Nuclear Security Administration, Naval Reactors, 14-D-901 Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project, NRF is hereby reduced by $40,000,000. TITLE LII--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations SEC. 5211. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONE-WAY AND COUNTER-UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM DRONE TESTBED. (a) Pilot Program Authorized.--The Secretary of the Army may establish a pilot program to test, evaluate, and demonstrate the integration of approved munition payloads with approved unmanned aircraft systems, including one-way unmanned aircraft systems and counter-unmanned aircraft system platforms. (b) Purpose.--The purposes of the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall are-- (1) to accelerate the integration of modular payloads onto multiple drone platforms; (2) to reduce time-to-field for lethal and non-lethal drone-enabled munitions capabilities; (3) to standardize payload-to-platform interfaces; and (4) to support rapid prototyping, validation, and transition of drone-enabled munitions into programs of record. (c) Location.-- (1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology shall determine the location or locations at which the pilot program required by subsection (a) is conducted. (2) Considerations.--In selecting a location under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall consider-- (A) the availability of munitions and energetics subject- matter expertise, including the interface of munitions with drones; (B) proximity to live fire testing range space and range availability, prioritizing joint base facilities; and (C) existing infrastructure capable of supporting rapid prototyping, integration, and live-fire testing. (d) Components.--The pilot program required by subsection (a) may include-- (1) transition and integration of common Electronic Safe and Arming Device designs; (2) incorporation of the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit and the Small Universal Payload Interface; (3) development and standardization of technology and practices supporting payload-to-drone connectivity; (4) prototyping, demonstration, and technology transfer of munition systems integrated with unmanned aircraft systems; and (5) development of standardized drone interface documentation and validated integration processes for counter-unmanned aircraft system platforms, including energetic payload applications. (e) Coordination.--In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Joint Capability Program Executive for Ammunition and Energetics, Development Command (DEVCOM), relevant program executive offices, and other Department of Defense components as the Secretary considers appropriate. Subtitle C--Plans, Reports, and Other Matters SEC. 5231. NATIONAL SECURITY QUANTUM COORDINATION AND COMPETITION. (a) Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition.-- (1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish or designate an office in the Department of Defense to serve as the lead for all quantum [[Page S3962]] efforts of the Department relating to the following: (A) Quantum technology research, including quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (B) Quantum technology development, including quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (C) Quantum technology application, including quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (D) Quantum technology policy, including quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (E) Such other quantum related efforts as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) Designation.--The office established or designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``Department of Defense Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition'' (in this section the ``Office''). (3) Primary mission.--The primary mission of the Office shall be coordinating, leading, and directing quantum technology efforts of the Department in order-- (A) to advance Department research efforts in quantum technology; (B) to develop quantum technology expertise that enables advancements in United States national security capabilities; (C) to aggressively pursue a national competitive advantage in quantum technology, vis-a-vis other countries; and (D) to develop quantum technologies that can be utilized for real-world application by the Department of Defense or other United States national security entities. (b) Coordination With Other Quantum Efforts.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, acting through the Office, regularly coordinate with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that work on quantum science, quantum technology, or quantum research. (2) Quantum coordination office for national security.-- (A) In general.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish within the Office a subcomponent to liaise with, share expertise with, and whenever feasible, coordinate and, if necessary, deconflict efforts with other relevant U.S. government entities pursuing efforts on quantum science, quantum technology, or quantum research. (B) Designation.--The subcomponent established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be known as the ``Quantum Coordination Office for National Security''. (c) Triennial Reports.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on national security quantum capabilities and competition. (2) Contents generally.--Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall cover the following: (A) The state of current quantum efforts within the Department of Defense, including specific sections on quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (B) The state of current quantum efforts of adversarial and competitor countries, including specific sections on quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (C) The state of current quantum efforts of any other countries with advanced capabilities in quantum technology and quantum science, including specific sections on quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. (D) A comparison of the capabilities of the United States and those of adversarial and competitor countries, as well as any other countries with advanced capabilities in quantum technology and quantum science. (E) An assessment of capabilities of the United States compared to those of China, Russia, and Iran, combined with an assessment of how such countries (in addition to any other countries the Secretary considers relevant) may utilize quantum technology in a conflict against the United States or allies and partners of the United States, including via hybrid warfare. (F) A realistic pathway forward, both short term (3 years) and long term (10 years and beyond), for the United States to compete with and outpace other countries in quantum technology and quantum science in regard to national security. (3) Contents of initial report.--In addition to the matter covered by paragraph (2), the first report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an annex on quantum communication efforts that covers the following: (A) The current state of United States national security quantum communications technology and capabilities. (B) A comparison of the national security quantum communications technology and capabilities of the United States compared to that of China, Russia, Iran, and such other countries as the Secretary considers relevant. (C) An immediate (2 years) and long-term (10 years and beyond) plan-- (i) to close any gaps that may exist between national security quantum communications technology and capabilities of the United States and those of China, Russia, Iran, and such other countries as the Secretary con