Text of Senate Amendment 6199

On 2026-06-24, Senator Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6199" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6199

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3381] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6199. Mr. WARNOCK (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) 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 E of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1271. ASSESSMENT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC CABLE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (2) Covered cable.--The term ``covered cable'' means a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (b). (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Trade and Development Agency. (4) Not trusted.--The term ``not trusted'' means, with respect to an entity, that the entity is determined by the Director to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons based solely on one or more determinations described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2(c) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(c)). (5) Trusted.--The term ``trusted'' means, with respect to an entity, that the Director has not determined that the entity is not trusted. (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as necessary, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States and Western Africa, and potentially the United States Virgin Islands, to enhance the national security of the United States. (c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (b) shall include an assessment of-- (1) the digital security, national security, and economic opportunities associated with a covered cable; (2) the security of telecommunications between the contiguous United States and the continent of Africa as of the date of the report; (3) the potential for engagement with trusted entities in the deployment of a covered cable, and the associated geopolitical and economic advantages; (4) the potential connectivity opportunities to maximize investments in the United States economy through the use of a covered cable; (5) the state of submarine fiber optic cables connected to United States telecommunications infrastructure; and (6) any other related matters the Director determines are appropriate. (d) No Mandatory Data Collection.--The Director may not require any entity to provide data for purposes of preparing the report required by subsection (b). (e) Form.--The report required by subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form without any designation relating to dissemination control, but may include a classified annex. ______