Text of Senate Amendment 6424

On 2026-06-24, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6424" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6424

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3547-S3548] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6424. Ms. CORTEZ MASTO 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 in title VIII, insert the following: SEC. 8___. DESIGNATION AND USE OF A GOVERNMENT-OWNED, CONTRACTOR-OPERATED RAPID MANUFACTURING FACILITY FOR UNCREWED SYSTEMS. (a) Designation of Facility.--The Secretary of Defense shall designate an existing Government-owned facility, or modify an existing facility within the organic industrial base, to function as a Government-owned, contractor-operated rapid manufacturing facility (in this section referred to as the ``Facility'') for the purpose of supporting accelerated production and integration of airborne and maritime uncrewed systems. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Facility shall be to provide the Department of Defense with a surge-capable capability to rapidly produce, reconfigure, and scale uncrewed systems and associated payloads in response to operational requirements and contingency planning needs. (c) Activities.--The Facility shall-- (1) support the production of airborne and maritime uncrewed systems, including attritable systems, loitering munitions, autonomous surface vessels, and modular payloads; [[Page S3548]] (2) employ modular open architectures, digital engineering, and advanced manufacturing techniques, including additive manufacturing and automation, to enable flexible production; (3) maintain the capability to shift production across system types based on operational demand; (4) prioritize systems capable of being fielded within 12 to 24 months using iterative development and deployment approaches; and (5) support rapid transition from prototyping to production consistent with existing Department of Defense acquisition authorities. (d) Operation.-- (1) Contract.--The Secretary shall provide for the operation of the Facility through a competitively awarded contract or consortium agreement using existing contracting authorities. (2) Priority in operator selection.--In selecting an operator for the award of a contract or agreement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize entities with demonstrated experience in rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing, and defense system integration. (e) Integration With Existing Efforts.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure coordination with, and avoid duplication of, existing Department of Defense efforts, including-- (1) the Defense Innovation Unit; (2) the Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes; (3) the Manufacturing Technology Program; and (4) the transition activities of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. (f) Workforce Development.--The Secretary shall use the Facility, to the maximum extent practicable, to support training and reskilling of Department of Defense personnel and members of the defense industrial workforce in advanced manufacturing, digital engineering, and agile production methods, using existing training programs and authorities. (g) Limitation.--The Facility may not be used for the production of major defense acquisition program platforms, including ships and submarines. (h) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing-- (1) the facility designated under subsection (a); (2) the manner by which existing authorities, facilities, and appropriations will be used to carry out this section; (3) the management and contracting structure for the Facility; and (4) metrics to evaluate production speed, flexibility, and operational relevance. (i) Budget Neutrality.-- (1) No additional funds authorized.--No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. (2) Use of existing resources.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out this section using amounts otherwise authorized and appropriated for the Department of Defense. (3) No new program element required.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the establishment of a new program element or budget line. (j) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to alter or expand the statutory requirements applicable to major defense acquisition programs or to create a new acquisition category. ______