Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6118

EnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseChina

Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6118" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6118

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3327-S3328] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6118. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her 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, insert the following: SEC. ___. VISITORS TO NATIONAL LABORATORIES. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Country of concern.--The term ``country of concern'' means-- (A) the People's Republic of China; (B) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; (C) the Russian Federation; (D) the Islamic Republic of Iran; and (E) any other country determined by the Secretary of State. (2) Covered visitor.-- (A) In general.--The term ``covered visitor'' means a foreign national from a country of concern that-- (i) is not an employee of the Department of Energy or the management and operations contractor operating a National Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy; and (ii) has requested access to the premises, information, or technology of a National Laboratory. [[Page S3328]] (B) Exclusion.--The term ``covered visitor'' does not include any lawful permanent resident of the United States. (b) Prohibition.--No funds made available under this Act may be expended on a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) that admits a covered visitor to any area of the National Laboratory that is not accessible to the general public. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 6118 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3327-S3328] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6118. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her 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, insert the following: SEC. ___. VISITORS TO NATIONAL LABORATORIES. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Country of concern.--The term ``country of concern'' means-- (A) the People's Republic of China; (B) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; (C) the Russian Federation; (D) the Islamic Republic of Iran; and (E) any other country determined by the Secretary of State. (2) Covered visitor.-- (A) In general.--The term ``covered visitor'' means a foreign national from a country of concern that-- (i) is not an employee of the Department of Energy or the management and operations contractor operating a National Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy; and (ii) has requested access to the premises, information, or technology of a National Laboratory. [[Page S3328]] (B) Exclusion.--The term ``covered visitor'' does not include any lawful permanent resident of the United States. (b) Prohibition.--No funds made available under this Act may be expended on a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) that admits a covered visitor to any area of the National Laboratory that is not accessible to the general public. ______