Text of Senate Amendment 5875

On 2026-06-18, Senator David McCormick (R-PA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5875" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5875

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2965-S2966] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5875. Mr. McCORMICK (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) 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 appropriate place in title X, insert the following: SEC. 10__. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ROBOTICS. (a) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an independent commission to be known as the ``Commission on American Leadership in Robotics'' (in this section referred to as the ``Commission''). (2) Purpose.--The Commission shall-- (A) examine robotics as it pertains to interstate and foreign commerce, economic competitiveness, and national security; and (B) make recommendations relating thereto to the appropriate congressional committees. (b) Membership.-- (1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 18 members appointed as follows: (A) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (B) Three members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. (C) Three members appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate. (D) Three members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. (E) Six members appointed by the President of the United States. (2) Deadline for appointment.--Members shall be appointed to the Commission by not later than 45 days after the date on which the Commission is established under subsection (a). (3) Effect of lack of appointment by appointment date.--If one or more appointments under paragraph (1) are not made by the appointment date specified in paragraph (2), the authority to make such appointment or appointments shall expire, and the number of members of the Commission shall be reduced to the number of appointments made to the Commission as of that date. (4) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be individuals who are recognized experts and have appropriate professional experience in matters relating to any of the following: (A) Robotics. (B) Applications, or potential applications, of robotics by the private sector or public sector. (C) Impacts of robotics on economic competitiveness, including economics, international trade, or supply chain analysis. (c) Chair and Vice Chair.-- (1) Chair.--The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly designate one member of the Commission to serve as Chair of the Commission. (2) Vice chair.--The Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall jointly designate one member of the Commission to serve as Vice Chair of the Commission. (d) Period of Appointment and Vacancies.-- (1) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (e) Scope and Duties.-- (1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out a review of advances in robotics. (2) Considerations.--In carrying out the review under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the methods, means, and policies necessary to advance the development of robotics by the United States to comprehensively address the economic competitiveness and national security needs of the United States. (3) Scope of the review.--In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following: (A) The competitiveness of the United States in robotics, including matters related to the domestic marketplace for robotics and private sector and public sector applications of robotics in the United States. (B) Means and methods for the United States to assert and maintain a technological advantage in robotics, specifically in the deployment of robotics in industrial, retail, and commercial sectors in the United States. (C) International developments and trends, including foreign actions and policies to advance robotics. (D) Means by which to foster greater emphasis and investments in robotics to stimulate strategic partnerships in robotics with industry, the public, and academic institutions, to the extent that such efforts have material application related to economic competitiveness and manufacturing. (E) Workforce incentives and programs to attract and recruit leading talent in robotics, including in associated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, to the extent that such efforts relate to economic competitiveness in robotics. (F) The global and domestic supply chain for robotics, including any supply chain risks or dependencies, and policies to increase the manufacturing of robotics in the United States. (G) Any other matters the Commission determines appropriate related to robotics. (f) Commission Report and Recommendations.-- (1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date on which the Commission is established under subsection (a), the Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the President an interim report on the status of the review by the Commission under subsection (e), including a discussion of any interim recommendations. (2) Final report.--Not later than two years after the date on which the Commission is established under subsection (a), the Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the President a final report on the findings of the Commission and such recommendations as the Commission may have for action by Congress and the Federal Government. (g) Government Cooperation.-- (1) Cooperation.--In carrying out its duties under this section, the Commission shall receive the full and timely cooperation of the Secretary and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies in providing the Commission with analysis, briefings, and other information necessary for the fulfillment of such duties. (2) Liaison.--The Secretary shall designate at least one officer or employee of the Department to serve as a liaison officer between the Secretary and the Commission. (3) Detailees authorized.--The Secretary and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies may provide, and the Commission may accept and employ, personnel detailed from the Department and such other Federal departments and agencies, as the case may be, without reimbursement. (4) Facilitation of certain services.-- (A) Independent, nongovernmental institute.--Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Commission is established under subsection (a), the Secretary may make available to the Commission the services of an independent, nongovernmental institute described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code, that has recognized credentials and expertise in economic competitiveness and technology in order to facilitate the discharge of the duties of the Commission under this section. (B) Federally funded research and development center.--On request of the Commission, the Secretary shall make available to the Commission the services of a federally funded research and development center that is covered by a sponsoring agreement of the Department in order to enhance the efforts of the Commission to discharge its duties under this section. (5) Other services.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide to the Commission, on a nonreimbursable basis, such administrative services, funds, staff, facilities, and other support services as are necessary for the discharge of the duties of the Commission under this section. (B) Other agencies.--In addition to any support provided under subparagraph (A), the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies may provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support as such heads determine advisable and as may be authorized by law. (h) Staff.-- (1) Status as federal employees.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, including the required supervision under subsection [[Page S2966]] (a)(3) of such section, a member of the Commission shall be considered to be a Federal employee. (2) Executive director.--The Commission shall appoint and fix the rate of basic pay for an Executive Director in accordance with section 3161(d) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Pay.--The Executive Director, with the approval of the Commission, may appoint and fix the rate of basic pay for additional personnel as staff of the Commission in accordance with section 3161(d) of title 5, United States Code. (i) Personal Services.-- (1) Authority to procure.--The Commission may-- (A) procure the services of experts or consultants (or of organizations of experts or consultants) in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) pay in connection with such services travel expenses of individuals, including transportation and per diem in lieu of subsistence, while such individuals are traveling from their homes or places of business to duty stations. (2) Maximum daily pay rates.--The daily rate paid an expert or consultant procured pursuant to paragraph (1) may not exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. (j) Authority To Accept Gifts.-- (1) In general.--The Commission may accept, use, and