Text of Senate Amendment 6061

On 2026-06-24, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6061" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6061

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3265-S3267] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6061. Mr. LUJAN 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. ___. NATIONAL SECURITY COMMISSION ON EMERGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. (a) Establishment.-- (1) In general.--There is hereby established, as of the date specified in paragraph (2), an independent commission in the legislative branch of the Federal Government to be known as the ``Congressional National Security Commission on Emerging Science and Technology'' (in this section referred to as the ``Commission''). (2) Date of establishment.--The date of the establishment referred to in paragraph (1) is the earlier of-- (A) 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; or (B) the first day of the first Congress that commences after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Membership.-- (1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members appointed as follows: (A) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, (after consultation with the Chairs of the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate), one of whom will be a member of the Senate and the other two will not. (B) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, (after consultation with the ranking members of the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate), one of whom will be a member of the Senate and the other two will not. (C) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, (after consultation with the Chairs of the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives), one of whom will be a member of the House of Representatives and the other two will not. (D) Three members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, (after consultation with the ranking members of the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives), one of whom will be a member of the House of Representatives and the other two will not. (2) Qualifications.--The members of the Commission who are not members of Congress and who are appointed under paragraph (1) (1) shall be individuals from private civilian life who are eligible to receive the appropriate security clearance to effectively execute their duties and who are recognized experts and have relevant professional experience in matters relating to-- (A) emerging science and technology research and development; (B) use of emerging science and technology by national policy makers and military leaders; (C) the implementation, funding, or oversight of the national security policies of the United States; (D) foreign affairs, the Armed Forces, or other relevant aspect of United States national security policy; (E) investment in emerging science and technology; (F) oversight and regulation of emerging science and technology products; or (G) the impact of science and technology on United States economic competitiveness and national security. (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. (3) Qualification.--The Chair of the Commission shall be a member of Congress who has been appointed to serve as a member of Commission, but the Vice Chair shall not be a Member of Congress. (d) Period of Appointment.--Appointments under subsection (b) shall have terms of appointment that are staggered in the following manner such that, starting two years after the date on which the Commission is established, one-third of the seats on the Commission will be appointed to the following: (1) The four members of the Senate and the House of Representatives appointed to serve on the Commission shall have a term of appointment that expires two years after the date on which the Commission is established. However, those seats may then be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and thereafter the terms of all subsequent appointments shall last for four years from the date of the last expiration of that term. (2) The second appointment shall have a term of appointment which shall expire three years after the date on which the Commission is established. However, those seats may then be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and thereafter the terms of all subsequent appointments shall last for four years from the date of the previous expiration of that term. (3) The third appointment shall have a term of appointment shall expire four years after the date on which the Commission is established. However, those seats may then be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and thereafter the terms of all subsequent appointments shall last for four years from the date of the last expiration of that term. (e) Purpose.--The purposes of the Commission are-- (1) to examine and make recommendations with respect to emerging science and technology as they pertain to current and future national security missions and activities of the United States; and (2) to ensure the position of the United States as a leading source of scientific innovation. (f) Scope and Duties.-- [[Page S3266]] (1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out a review of advances in emerging science and technology. In carrying out such review, the Commission shall consider the methods, means, and investments necessary to advance and secure the development of emerging science and technology by the United States to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States. (2) Scope of the review.--In conducting a review described in paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following: (A) Associated ethical, legal, social, and environmental considerations related to emerging science and technology as they will be used for future applications related to national security and defense. (B) Opportunities to strengthen and expand the domestic emerging technology sector. (C) Necessary adaptations to national defense strategies to address capabilities, risks, and disruptions arising from emerging technologies. (3) Additional matters for review.--The Commission may also consider at its discretion any matters that are referred to the Commission for examination by-- (A) either the Chair or Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; (B) either the Chair or Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; (C) either the majority leader or the minority leader of the Senate; (D) either the Chair or Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; (E) either the Chair or Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (F) either the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (g) Commission Reports and Recommendations.-- (1) Annual submittal.--Every year, not later than February 1, the Commission shall submit to Congress an annual report on the findings of the Commission and such recommendations that the Commission may have for legislative or administrative action. (2) Intermittent submittal.--The Commission may submit to Congress findings and recommendations throughout the year, as the members of the Commission and Executive Director of the Commission consider appropriate. (3) Statutory language.--Recommendations for legislative action submitted by the Commission under this subsection shall include proposed statutory language. (4) Form.--Each annual report submitted under paragraph (1) and other papers submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include classified annexes. (h) Government Cooperation.-- (1) Cooperation.--In carrying out its duties, the Commission shall receive the full and timely cooperation of the Secretary of Defense and other Federal departments and agencies in providing the Commission with analysis, briefings, and other information necessary for the fulfillment of its responsibilities. (2) Liaison.--The Secretary of Defense shall designate at least one officer or employee of the Department of Defense to serve as a liaison officer between the Department and the Commission. (3) Detailees.--The Secretary of Defense and the heads of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government may provide, and the Commission may accept and employ, personnel detailed from the Department of Defense and such other departments and agencies, without reimbursement. (4) Facilitation.-- (A) Independent, nongovernmental institute.--Not later than 45 days after the Commission establishment date specified in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of Defense 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 national security and military