TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

On 2026-07-14, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) delivered a floor speech titled "TEXT OF AMENDMENTS" in the Senate.

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3947-S4077] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TEXT OF AMENDMENTS SA 6670. Mr. THUNE 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 subtitle D of title I, insert the following: SEC. __. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTER UNMANNED SYSTEMS RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STRATEGIC ASSETS. (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Air Force $50,000,000 for counter unmanned systems relating to the defense of strategic assets. (b) Offsets.-- (1) Offset 1.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for BMD enabling programs (RDDW 0603890C, line 88) is hereby reduced by $5,000,000. (2) Offset 2.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for special programs--MDA (RDDW 0603891C, line 89) is hereby reduced by $5,000,000. (3) Offset 3.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act for Atomic Energy Defense Activities, National Nuclear Security Administration, Naval Reactors, 14-D-901 Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project, NRF is hereby reduced by $40,000,000. ______ SA 6671. Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Moran, and Ms. Duckworth) 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 subtitle G of title X, insert the following: SEC. ____. AIR TRAFFIC-COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. (3) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General'' means the Comptroller General of the United States. (4) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation Administration. (b) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program Improvements.-- (1) In general.--Section 44506(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(c) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative.-- ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall maintain the Air Traffic- Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program (in this section referred to as the `Enhanced Initiative') to support the recruitment, education, and hiring of well-qualified developmental air traffic controllers. ``(2) Special rules for the enhanced initiative.-- ``(A) Requirements.--In maintaining the Enhanced Initiative under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, at a minimum-- ``(i) select and coordinate with accredited institutions of higher education (as defined in section 61.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations), as determined by the Administrator, that administer an accredited air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students, to prepare students for the position of air traffic controller with the Department of Transportation (as defined in section 2109 of title 5); ``(ii) establish standards for the entry and participation of accredited institutions of higher education into the program; and ``(iii) solicit applications from, and provide guidance to, interested accredited institutions of higher education that administer an accredited air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students, including accredited institutions that participate in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, to foster participation of qualified accredited institutions in the Enhanced Initiative. ``(B) Selection criteria.--Prior to selecting an accredited institution of higher education for participation in the Enhanced Initiative, the Administrator shall-- ``(i) consider the air traffic curriculum of the institution, including the institution's access to air traffic educational resources and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic facilities and equipment; ``(ii) certify that each accredited institution of higher education seeking to participate in the Enhanced Initiative has a qualified air traffic curriculum that provides, at a minimum, an equivalent level of education and training for air traffic controller trainees to that provided at the Federal Aviation Administration Academy; and ``(iii) certify that all evaluations of students at accredited institutions of higher education seeking to participate in the Enhanced Initiative shall be conducted by evaluators that are approved and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. ``(3) Appointment of program graduates.--The Administrator may appoint an individual who has successfully completed a course of training in a program described in paragraph (1) to the position of air traffic controller noncompetitively in the excepted service (as defined in section 2103 of title 5).''. (2) FAA air traffic control training aviation rulemaking committee.-- (A) In general.--The Administrator shall convene an aviation rulemaking committee to-- (i) review the curricula of the air traffic technical training academy of the FAA, including its use in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program; (ii) review the on-the-job training, development, evaluation, and certification of certified professional controllers; (iii) develop findings and recommendations regarding the improvement and modernization of such curricula and training; and (iv) provide to the Administrator a report on such findings and recommendations and for other related purposes as determined by the Administrator. (B) Composition.--The aviation rulemaking committee established under subparagraph (A) shall consist of members appointed by the Administrator, including representatives of-- (i) institutions of higher education that are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International; (ii) aviation industry organizations; (iii) FAA subject matter experts; (iv) military and commercial operators of aircraft, helicopters, and powered-lift aircraft; (v) the exclusive bargaining representative of the air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; (vi) organizations representing certified collective bargaining representatives of airline pilots; (vii) representatives of accredited institutions of higher education participating in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air Traffic- Collegiate Training Initiative program; (viii) aviation safety experts, including those from outside the FAA; and (ix) any other stakeholder determined appropriate by the Administrator. (C) Considerations.--The aviation rulemaking committee established under subparagraph (A) shall consider the following: (i) The advancements in education technology, including digital resources and augmented reality or virtual reality capabilities, that may be incorporated into a modern curriculum and training. (ii) The appropriate balance between the use of theoretical knowledge and practical application. [[Page S3948]] (iii) A review of instructional techniques to improve the effectiveness of learning outcomes. (iv) The real-world applicability of air traffic operations procedures included in the curriculum and training. (v) Student success rates, including outcomes of air traffic controller trainees when placed at facilities for on- the-job training. (vi) Methods for reducing the subjectivity of instructional techniques. (vii) Student success rates correlated with the completion of the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program described in section 44506(c) of title 49, United States Code. (viii) The appropriate method for ensuring the curriculum and training incorporates new entrants into the national airspace system. (ix) Other considerations as determined appropriate by the Administrator. (D) Duties.-- (i) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a copy of the aviation rulemaking committee report provided to the Administrator under subparagraph (A)(iii). (ii) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of submission of the report under clause (i), the Administrator shall implement the recommendations of the report, as determined appropriate by the Administrator. (iii) Justification.--If the Administrator decides not to implement a recommendation described in the report submitted under clause (i), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a justification for such decision not later than 90 days after receiving such report. (E) Prohibition on compensation.--The members of the aviation rulemaking committee convened under this paragraph shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Federal Government by reason of their service on such co

Referenced legislation: SCONRES14, HR3427, S4784