(a) Authority for multiyear procurement

Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Army may enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year 2027 program year, for the procurement of UH–60 Blackhawk aircraft.

(b) Condition for out-year contract payments

A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2027 is subject to the availability of appropriations or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.

(c) Authority for advance procurement

The Secretary of the Army may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2026, for advance procurement associated with the aircraft for which authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is provided under subsection (a), which may include procurement of economic order quantities of material and equipment for such aircraft when cost savings are achievable.

(a) Authorization

The Secretary of the Army may enter into contracts, in advance of full-rate production, for the procurement of future long-range assault aircraft as part of an accelerated low-rate early production effort.

(b) Objectives

In carrying out the early production effort described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army shall pursue the following objectives:

(c) Considerations

In executing the authority provided by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(d) Briefing to Congress

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing detailing—

(a) Limitation

The Secretary of the Army may not reduce, withdraw, or otherwise degrade the sealift capability of the Army Prepositioned Stocks—Afloat program (referred to in this section as APS–3) until the date on which the Secretary submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(b) Definition

In this section, the term sealift capability means the vessels, associated equipment, and any port-of-embarkation and port-of-debarkation infrastructure dedicated to APS–3.

(a) Contract authority

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of not more than two Ford class aircraft carriers.

(b) Authority for advance procurement and economic order quantity

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts for advance procurement, advance construction, and material and equipment in economic order quantities associated with the procurement of the Ford class aircraft carriers for which contracts are authorized under subsection (a).

(c) Use of incremental funding

With respect to a contract entered into under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary of the Navy may use incremental funding to make payments under the contract.

(d) Liability

Any contract entered into under subsection (a) or (b) shall provide that—

(a) Contract authority

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a contract, beginning with fiscal year 2026, for the procurement of up to five Columbia class submarines.

(b) Incremental funding

With respect to a contract entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Navy may use incremental funding to make payments under the contract.

(c) Funding and liability

Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(a) In general

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts, prior to ship authorization, for the advance procurement of covered components for Virginia class submarines, including procurement of such components in economic order quantities when cost savings are achievable.

(b) Funding and liability

Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(c) Budget requests

In the budget justification materials submitted in support of the budget of the Department of Defense (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code) for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Navy shall include a separate budget display identifying the amounts requested pursuant to this section set forth by the specific program, project, or activity under the Virginia class submarine program for which such funds are requested.

(d) Covered components defined

In this section, the term covered components means the following components for Virginia class submarines:

(a) In general

Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Navy for Shipbuilding and Conversion for fiscal year 2026 may be used by the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for the construction of one Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG).

(b) Availability of funds

A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose, and that total liability to the Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated at time of termination.

(a) Authority for multiyear procurement

Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year 2026 program year, for the procurement of Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing Barges and associated material.

(b) Authority for advance procurement

The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2026, for advance procurement associated with the barges for which authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is provided under subsection (a), which may include procurement of economic order quantities of material and equipment for such barges when cost savings are achievable.

(b) Availability of funds and termination liability

Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(a) In general

After the construction of the lead ship of the Landing Ship Medium program has commenced, the Secretary of the Navy shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate vessel construction manager pursuant to which the vessel construction manager shall seek to enter into one or more contracts for the construction of not more than 8 additional landing ships under the program.

(b) Requirements for additional ships

The additional landing ships authorized to be constructed under subsection (a), shall be nondevelopmental items constructed using a design that is—

(c) Lead ship defined

In this section, the term lead ship means the first landing ship procured as a commercial or nondevelopmental item as authorized under section 128(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).

(a) In general

In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department of the Defense budget for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code), the Secretary of the Navy shall include one or more dedicated line items for spare parts and repair parts for amphibious warfare ships in the budget display for other procurement, Navy.

(b) Amphibious warfare ship defined

In this section, the term amphibious warfare ship has the meaning given that term in section 8062(h) of title 10, United States Code.

(a) In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall develop and implement a strategy for investing in and supporting the maritime industrial base to address cost and schedule challenges for surface and submarine shipbuilding programs.

(b) Elements

The strategy under subsection (a) shall—

(c) Report

Following completion of the strategy required under subsection (a), but not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategy. The report shall include—

(a) Minimum inventory requirement

Section 9062(j) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Prohibition on reduction of KC–135 aircraft in PMAI of the reserve components

(a) Extension of minimum inventory requirement

Section 146(a)(3)(B) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended by section 145(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159), is amended by striking 2025 and inserting 2026.

(b) Extension of prohibition on reduction of C-130 aircraft assigned to National Guard

Section 146(b)(1) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended by section 145(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159), is amended by striking 2025 and inserting 2026.

(a) In general

Section 134(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2038) is amended by striking 96 A–10 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory until a period of 90 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees the report under subsection (e)(2) and inserting 96 A–10 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory until October 1, 2026.

(b) Prohibition on retirement

(c) Briefing required

Not later than March 31, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of A–10 aircraft inventory and the proposed plan for divesting all A–10 aircraft prior to fiscal year 2029. The briefing shall cover, at a minimum, the following:

(a) In general

Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary of the Air Force shall preserve each KC–10 aircraft that is retired by the Secretary during a period in which the total inventory of air refueling aircraft of the Air Force is less than 504.

(b) Manner of preservation

The retired KC–10 aircraft preserved under subsection (a) shall be preserved such that each aircraft—

(c) Authority to dispose of preserved aircraft

A KC–10 aircraft preserved under subsection (a) may be disposed of in accordance with chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code.

(1)

to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype contract for the E–7A aircraft; or

(2)

to terminate the operations of, or to prepare to terminate the operations of, a production line for the E–7A aircraft.

(a) Limitation

The Secretary of Defense may not accept or take delivery of covered KC–46 aircraft in excess of the maximum quantity specified in subsection (c) until the Secretary—

(b) Form

The plan described in subsection (a)(2) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(c) Maximum Quantity

The maximum quantity of covered KC–46 aircraft specified in this subsection is 183 aircraft.

(d) Covered KC–46 Aircraft Defined

In this section, the term covered KC–46 aircraft means new production KC–46 aircraft the procurement of which is fully funded by the United States.

(a) Analysis of alternatives

(b) Prioritization standards

Not later than December 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish standards for prioritizing access to executive airlift aircraft among authorized users of such aircraft within the Federal Government.

(c) Personnel

(a) In general

Not later than March 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the F–47 advanced fighter aircraft program.

(b) Elements

The report required under subsection (a) shall include following:

(c) Form

The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(a) Annual reviews and reports

Not later than March 1, 2026, and on an annual basis thereafter until the termination date specified in subsection (c), the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(b) Elements

Each review and report under subsection (a) shall include an assessment of—

(c) Termination date

The requirements of this section shall terminate on the date on which all development, production, and fielding activities under the F–35 aircraft acquisition program have ceased.

(a) Secretarial authority

Subsection (a) of section 4025 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking , acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the service acquisition executive for each military department,.

(b) Maximum amount of award prizes

Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(c) Limitation

No prize competition may result in the award of a prize with a fair market value of more than $20,000,000 without the approval of the Secretary of Defense.

(c) Congressional notification threshold

Subsection (g)(1) of such section is amended by striking $10,000,000 and inserting the amount specified in subsection (c).

(1)

in the section heading, by inserting and test organizations after defense laboratories;

(2)

by inserting or test organization after laboratory each place it appears; and

(3)

in subsection (a)(3), by inserting or test organizations after laboratories.

(a) Jointly funded projects

Section 4174 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Regulations required

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue or revise regulations (as necessary) to clarify that the authority for acquisition, construction, or furnishing of test facilities and equipment under section 4174 of title 10, United States Code, applies to contracts funded using funds appropriated or otherwise made available for—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the Nevada Test and Training Range, Restricted Area 2508, Warning Area 151/470, Warning Area 386, and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and inserting military special use airspace including all prohibited areas, restricted areas, warning areas, and military operational areas;

(2)

in paragraph (2), in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking training, and large-scale exercises. and inserting regular training, and large-scale exercises. Under such processes, approval of Link 16 operations shall be presumed and denial of Link 16 operations shall be accompanied with substantiated evidence demonstrating compromise of safety due to electromagnetic interference.; and

(3)

in paragraph (5), by inserting regular before training.

(1)

by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:

(d) Applicability of funding

The activities described in subsection (c), including the design and construction of facilities, are applicable to funds authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation.

(a) Extension

Subsection (e) of section 232 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. Buck McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4091) is amended by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting September 30, 2030.

(b) Technical amendment

Subsection (f)(2) of such section is amended by striking section 2302 and inserting section 3014.

(a) Principal investigators in covered defense research projects

Except as provided under subsection (c), as a condition of becoming or remaining a principal investigator of a covered defense research project, a person shall agree that during the 3-year period beginning on the last day the person is a principal investigator of such research, such person may not seek or accept employment, or conduct any activity, for which a foreign entity of concern provides financial compensation or in-kind benefits.

(b) Employees of Department of Defense laboratories

Except as provided under subsection (c), as a condition of becoming or remaining an employee at a laboratory of the Department of Defense, a person shall agree that during the 3-year period beginning on the last day the person is an employee at such laboratory, such person may not seek or accept employment, or conduct any activity, for which a foreign entity of concern provides financial compensation or in-kind benefits.

(c) Waiver authority

The Secretary of Defense may waive the restrictions under subsections (a) and (b) with respect to a United States person if, not later than 30 days before issuing the waiver, the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a notice of the waiver that includes—

(d) Certification

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a process, under the initiative established in section 1286 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note), to ensure that, when a person who previously made an agreement in subsection (a) or (b) applies for funding to conduct a covered defense research project in the future—

(e) Determination of critical and emerging technology

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(f) Applicability

This section shall apply with respect to research that begins on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(g) Definitions

In this section:

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense may establish at least one National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute (referred to in this section as an Institute) at an eligible host institution.

(b) Institute described

A National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute referred to in subsection (a) is an artificial intelligence research institute that—

(c) Financial assistance authorized

(d) Definition

In this section, the term eligible host institution means an institution of higher education in the United States that conducts research sponsored by the Department of Defense.

(a) Requirement

(b) Matters included

The policies and guidelines under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following:

(c) Report

(d) Briefing

During the two-year period beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees an annual briefing on the implementation of the policies and guidelines under subsection (a)(1), including a description of any needed resources for such implementation.

(a) Requirement

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out a training program—

(b) Consultation

(c) Requirements

(d) Performance measurements

The Secretary shall establish mechanisms to measure participation in training programs required under this section, and to receive and consider feedback from program participants to improve training.

(e) Report

Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report that includes a plan to establish and implement the training programs required under this section.

(f) Sunset

This section and the training programs required to be carried out by this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after such programs are established under subsection (a).

(g) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Authorization

(b) Plan and reports

(c) Sunset

(a) Review required

(b) Development of standard reference architecture

(c) Officials specified

The officials specified in this subsection are the following—

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Establishment of digital test and evaluation environment

(b) Data management plans

(c) Pilot program to accelerate test

(d) Covered Armed Force defined

In this section, the term covered Armed Force means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

(a) Program establishment

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the chiefs of the Armed Forces, shall carry out a program to equip selected weapon system platforms with onboard, near real-time, end-to-end serial bus and radio frequency monitoring capabilities to ensure continuous operational oversight and cybersecurity health and resiliency.

(b) Phases

The Secretary of Defense shall implement the program under subsection (a) in phases as follows:

(c) Data collection and analysis

(d) Budget integration

In the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2028 (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31), the Secretary of Defense shall include proposed funding levels for the program expansion authorized under subsection (b)(3).

(e) Reporting requirements

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the status of the program. Each report shall include, with respect to the period covered by the report—

(a) Demonstration required

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a demonstration of a joint multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic testing and training environment across military departments by interconnecting existing ranges and training sites in the western States to improve joint multi-domain training and further testing, research, and development.

(b) Use of existing ranges and capabilities

The demonstration carried out pursuant to subsection (a) shall use existing ranges and range capability, unless capability gaps are identified in the process of planning specific demonstration activities.

(c) Activities

The demonstration carried out pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(d) Timeline for completion of initial demonstration

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to complete an initial demonstration, interconnecting two or more ranges or testing sites of two or more military departments in the western States, subject to availability of appropriations, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(e) Briefing

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on—

(f) Definitions

In this section:

(g) Termination

This section shall terminate on September 30, 2028.

(a) Availability

Amounts authorized to be appropriated after the date of the enactment of this Act for the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation shall be available for reimbursement of pay, allowances, and other expenses which would otherwise be incurred against appropriations for the reserve components of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, in cases in which members of the such reserve components provide support to research, development, test, and evaluation projects in which their involvement furthers the project because of a member’s or unit’s availability, qualifications, experience, or education.

(b) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(a) Prohibition

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended—

(b) Foreign country of concern defined

In this section, the term foreign country of concern has the meaning given that term in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283; 15 U.S.C. 4651).

(a) Prohibition

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended—

(b) Waiver

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Limitation

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense and available for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment for travel expenses, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which the Secretary of Defense—

(b) Waiver authority

The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Secretary—

(a) In general

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall conduct a review to determine the feasibility and advisability modifying the design of wargaming exercises to ensure that such exercises incorporate militarily-relevant applications of emerging biotechnology.

(b) Elements

In conducting the review required under subsection (a), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall take into account—

(c) Consultation

In conducting the review under subsection (a), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall consult with—

(d) Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the review conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include—

(e) Wargaming exercise defined

In this section, the term wargaming exercise means a military exercise conducted to test or improve tactical expertise, and includes the Globally Integrated Wargames.

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a review to determine the feasibility and advisability of using cloud laboratories at the Department of Defense to provide authorized researchers with access to high-quality experimental instrumentation and data collection for purposes of generating high-quality data.

(b) Elements

In conducting the review required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall take into account—

(c) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the review conducted under subsection (a).

(d) Cloud laboratory defined

In this section, the term cloud laboratory means a physical laboratory equipped with automation and data storage to conduct experiments.

(a) Reports required

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following:

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(a) In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that—

(b) Contents

The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(c) Consultation

In preparing the report under subsection (a) the Secretary shall seek input from relevant individuals and organizations in commercial industry and the venture capital sector.

(1)

by redesignating subparagraphs (U) through (GG) as subparagraphs (W) through (II), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (T) the following new subparagraphs:

(U)

Nuclear energy.

(V)

Nuclear technologies.

(1)

in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)

Information on the costs associated with investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination, including—

(A)

detailed information regarding the total potential total costs to the Department of investigating and remediating such contamination at all locations where investigation and remediation is expected to be funded by the Department; and

(B)

the cost assumption analysis required under subsection (d).; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d) PFAS cost assumption analysis

The Secretary shall carry out an annual cost assumption analysis with respect to the most important contributors to the costs to the Department of investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination that—

(1)

includes—

(A)

an assessment of any changes in regulatory standards, treatment technologies, and site prioritization that could affect future costs;

(B)

examples of how modifying assumptions about contamination extent, remediation timelines, or emerging disposal methods could affect projected costs; and

(C)

an identification of any funding shortfalls or other constraints that could affect the investigation and remediation of such contamination; and

(2)

incorporates a risk and uncertainty analysis with respect to the effects of potential changes in the most important contributors to the costs to the Department of investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination, including—

(A)

variability in the extent of such contamination based on ongoing site assessments, inspections, and investigations;

(B)

shifts in regulatory requirements that could alter investigation and remediation strategies; and

(C)

advances in technologies for the treatment and disposal such contamination that could reduce or increase long-term costs.

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(2)

in subsection (c)(1), by striking October 1, 2024 and inserting October 1, 2026;

(3)

by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:

(d) Exemptions

Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to firefighting foam for use—

(1)

onboard oceangoing vessels, including use in pier-side inspection, testing, and maintenance;

(2)

that is necessary to conduct testing to meet military specification qualification requirements and ensure quality standards of the inventory of the Department;

(3)

during research, development, test, and evaluation of fluorine-free fire-fighting agents;

(4)

on naval nuclear submarine propulsion plants; or

(5)

in tactical vehicles and equipment that is incompatible with fluorine-free fire-fighting agents.; and

(4)

in subsection (e)—

(a) Requirement

Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, for each household that is located in a community with a private drinking water well in which contamination from a perfluoroalkyl substance, polyfluoroalkyl substance, or mixture thereof resulting from activities of the Department of Defense exceeds the maximum contaminant level for such substance or mixture, respectively, and that has not received a permanent safe drinking water solution described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to such household an alternative source of drinking water (which may include the provision of bottled water) until such time as—

(b) Permanent safe drinking water solutions described

A permanent safe drinking water solution described in this subsection is the connection of a household to a public water system, installation at a household of an onsite filtration system capable of treating the contamination specified in subsection (a), or provision to a household of another permanent alternative source of drinking water.

(c) Coordination with existing authorities

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out this section in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and any other authority under environmental law, including by coordinating efforts under subsection (a) with ongoing efforts to address contamination under such authorities.

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Executive agent

The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense, shall ensure that, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, there is designated an executive agent of the Department of Defense for installation and operational nuclear energy.

(b) Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the executive agent specified in subsection (a) shall include the following:

(c) Annual reports

Not later than September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter for a period of five years, the executive agent specified in subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report describing the actions taken to implement this section during the one-year period ending on the date of the submission of such report.

(d) Plan for program of record

(e) Compliance with applicable directive

The Secretary shall carry out this section in compliance with Directive 5101.1.

(f) Support within Department of Defense

In accordance with Directive 5101.1, the Secretary shall ensure that the military departments, the Defense Agencies, and other elements of the Department of Defense provide the executive agent specified in subsection (a) with the appropriate support and resources needed to perform the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the executive agent.

(g) Definitions

In this section—

(a) Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a working group to be known as the Advanced Nuclear Technologies Transition Working Group.

(b) Membership

The working group shall be composed of the following members, or designees thereof:

(c) Chairperson

The Secretary of Defense, or a designee thereof, shall serve as the Chairperson of the working group.

(d) Duties

The duties of the working group shall include the following:

(e) Meetings

The working group shall meet at the call of the Chairperson and not less frequently than quarterly.

(f) Briefings and reports

(g) Termination

The working group shall terminate on September 30, 2029.

(h) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Establishment

Not later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a program of record of the Department of the Air Force to—

(b) Submission to Congress

Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees, with respect to the program of record to be established under subsection (a), the following:

(a) Pilot program required

Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall carry out a ten-year pilot program at one or more naval installations for the purpose of determining how small modular reactors or mobile reactors could be used—

(b) Installation prioritization

In selecting naval installations for the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall prioritize an installation that—

(c) Public-private partnerships

(d) Reporting requirements

(e) Early termination

The Secretary of the Navy may terminate the pilot program before the expiration of the five-year period referred to in subsection (a) if the Secretary provides notice of such early termination to the congressional defense committees.

(a) Program required

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and the Environment shall carry out a pilot program under which the Assistant Secretary shall install propane-powered generators at an organic industrial base facility. Under the pilot program, such generators shall—

(b) Definitions

In this section:

(c) Termination

The authority to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(a) Strategy

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 strategy to accelerate the remediation efforts of the Department of Defense with respect to contamination from perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances, which shall include—

(b) Public dashboard

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish on a publicly accessible website of the Department an online dashboard that provides information on the actions of the Department, including each military department, relating to contamination from perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The dashboard shall be updated on a semiannual basis and shall include a summary of—

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Designation of senior military department officials

Chapter 131 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

2229b. Responsibility for contested logistics posture management

(a) Designation of responsible official

The Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall designate the member or employee of the Joint Staff with primary responsibility for the core logistics capabilities of supply, maintenance operations, prepositioned stocks, deployment and distribution, health services support, engineering, logistics services, and operational contract to serve as the official within the Department with principal responsibility for the integration of global contested logistics posture management across the military departments. In carrying out such responsibility, such official shall coordinate with the senior military department officials designated under subsection (c).

(b) Responsibilities

The official designated under subsection (a) shall coordinate and deconflict the activities of the military departments with respect to each of the following:

(1)

The locations of sites outside the continental United States at which stocks of supplies and equipment as well as the composition of those stocks.

(2)

The provision of adequate intra-theater sea and air capability to move material and personnel throughout the theater.

(3)

The monitoring and coordination of resourcing decisions by the military departments in support of operational plans and contingencies.

(4)

The identification of shortcomings in the provision of resources identified in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(c) Senior military department officials

(1)

Each secretary of a military department shall designate, from among officials serving in the department, an official to have principal responsibility for contested logistics posture management for that department.

(2)

Each senior official designated under paragraph (1) shall be responsible for—

(A)

ensuring that the department concerned is adequately prepared to provide coordinated logistics support to the armed forces of that department in contested environments outside the continental United States, including by—

(i)

establishing or arranging for access to locations through which supplies and equipment can be provided to such forces;

(ii)

developing any necessary infrastructure; and

(iii)

to the extent feasible, prepositioning supplies and equipment at such locations; and

(B)

ensuring that the logistics capabilities described in subparagraph (A) meet the requirements of the operational and contingency plans of such forces.

(3)

Each senior official designated under paragraph (1) may designate an official of the military department concerned to serve as a deputy to assist the senior official in carrying out the responsibilities under this section.

(d) Contested logistics posture strategy

(1)

The official designated under subsection (a), in coordination with each senior official designated under subsection (b) and any other Department official identified by the Secretary, shall develop and implement a strategy for carrying out the responsibilities described in subsection (c)(2).

(2)

The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:

(A)

A description of—

(i)

the locations of sites outside the continental United States at which stocks of supplies and equipment are prepositioned as of the date of the strategy;

(ii)

the status and disposition of such prepositioned stocks; and

(iii)

the operational or contingency plan such stocks are intended to support.

(B)

An identification of—

(i)

any shortcomings associated with the sites and prepositioned stocks described in subparagraph (A) that must be addressed to optimally execute operational and contingency plans; and

(ii)

any additional sites, infrastructure, or equipment that may be needed to address such shortcomings and support such plans.

(C)

A description of any additional funding or other resources required—

(i)

to address the shortcomings identified under subparagraph (B)(i); and

(ii)

to provide for the additional sites, infrastructure, and equipment identified under subparagraph (B)(ii).

(D)

A prioritized list of investment recommendations for each item described in subparagraph (C).

(E)

An identification of each case in which the military department concerned lacks the authority or ability to access a location outside the United States for purposes of providing logistics support as required under operational and contingency plans, set forth separately by location.

(F)

An assessment of any existing and projected threats to sites outside the continental United States that are expected to support such operational and contingency plans.

(3)

The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall cover the period of two years following the date of the strategy and shall be updated on an biennial basis.

(b) Deadline for designation

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department shall make the designation required under section 2229b(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

(c) Deadline; reports

(1)

by striking subsection (c); and

(2)

by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.

(a) Establishment of pilot program

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to incentivize public-private partnerships at arsenals of the Department of the Army, to be known as the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Pilot Program (in this section referred to as the pilot program).

(b) Prioritization

(c) Regulations

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to implement subsection (b).

(d) Report

(e) Termination

The authority to carry out the pilot program shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the establishment of the pilot program.

(f) Non-public partner defined

In this section, the term non-public partner means an entity, individual, university, or nonprofit organization that is not part of the United States Government.

(a) In general

Each year, the Secretary of the Air Force shall incorporate in at least one multinational exercise conducted in the area of operations of the United States Indo-Pacific Command—

(b) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the lessons learned from carrying out an exercise in accordance with subsection (a) with respect to the Republic of Korea and the Commonwealth of Australia. Such report shall include each of the following:

(c) Covered nation defined

In this section, the term covered nation means any of the following:

(a) Requirement

Subject to the requirements of subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that when the Department of Defense conducts maintenance of aviation critical safety items and mission critical parts, such maintenance—

(b) Sustainment

The Secretary shall ensure that the acquisition of appropriate technical data requirements and diagnostic tools for the conduct of maintenance of aviation critical safety items and mission critical parts are planned as part of the sustainment of the systems containing such items and parts.

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(a) Requirements

By not later than September 30, 2028, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Air Force, shall ensure that—

(b) Treatment of individual contracts

The information required under subsection (a)(2) may be provided on an individual contract basis.

(c) Waiver

The Secretary may waive a requirement under subsection (a) if the Secretary—

(d) Report

Not later than February 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Air Force, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program that includes a description of each of the following:

(a) In general

In order to accelerate the modernization of the organic industrial base of the Army and to expand capacity across the munitions industrial base to meet the munitions requirements of the Army, the Secretary of the Army shall—

(b) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should expedite the use or modification of Army facilities to the fullest extent possible in order to increase the rate of production of munitions.

(1)

certifies to the congressional defense committees that such a reduction complies with—

(2)

submits to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(a) Establishment

Chapter 1 of title 32, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

116. Center for the Study of the National Guard

(a) Establishment

The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall establish a center, to be known as the Center for the Study of the National Guard at an appropriate academic institution that—

(1)

maintains an established relationship with the National Guard Bureau;

(2)

possesses a strong academic program in military history; and

(3)

is situated in proximity to a major National Guard installation.

(b) Responsibilities

The Center for the Study of the National Guard shall—

(1)

serve as the principal repository for historical documents, oral histories, and other records related to the National Guard;

(2)

conduct research, analysis, and educational programs related to the history, evolution, and operational contributions of the National Guard;

(3)

facilitate outreach efforts to increase public awareness of the role of the National Guard in national defense and domestic response operations; and

(4)

support the Department of Defense in shaping policy decisions and strategic planning related to National Guard operations carried out under titles 10 and 32, United States Code.

(c) Collaboration and support

The Chief of the National Guard Bureau may—

(1)

collaborate with the Center for the Study of the National Guard in the collection, preservation, and dissemination of National Guard history;

(2)

provide historical documents, records, and resources to support the research and archival efforts of the Center; and

(3)

facilitate joint initiatives between the National Guard Bureau and the Center to enhance historical preservation, education, and public awareness.

(d) Public-private partnership

The Secretary of Defense shall seek to establish and maintain the Center for the Study of the National Guard as a public-private partnership to minimize costs to the Federal Government.

(b) Deadline for establishment

The Secretary of Defense shall establish the Center for the Study of the National Guard required under section 116 of title 32, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Congressional briefing

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that includes—

(a) Assessments

(b) Plan

(a) In general

Not later than 30 days after the last day of each fiscal quarter that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, until the termination date specified in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the status of munitions response projects at sites formerly used by the Department of Defense.

(b) Elements

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, for the quarter covered by the report, the following information:

(c) Termination date

The termination date specified in this subsection is the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(a) Report required

Not later than May 31, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the declining rates of aircraft readiness within the fleet of the Air Force (with an emphasis on fighter aircraft within such fleet) and factors contributing to that decline. Such report shall include, with respect to such aircraft, the following:

(b) Form

The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(a) Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(b) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(c) Report to Congress

Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing an assessment of fielded military vehicle programs for which no driver simulator has been fielded to support the vehicle fleet. Such report shall include an updated cost analysis requirement document that includes necessary programming for driver simulators and a phasing plan for the procurement and fielding of driver simulators.

(1)

in the section heading, by striking : requirement to transfer animals to 341st Training Squadron after service life;

(2)

in the heading for subsection (a), by striking In general and inserting Requirement to transfer;

(3)

by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and

(4)

by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):

(c) Authority to evacuate

(1)

Subject to the limitations under paragraph (2), in the event of a situation during which the Department of Defense evacuates noncombatants from a foreign country, the Secretary of Defense may enter into agreements with appropriate nonprofit entities under which such entities provide for the evacuation of—

(A)

the family pets of citizens of the United States who are evacuated by the Department; and

(B)

contract working dogs located in such country.

(2)

The limitations under this paragraph are as follows:

(A)

The Department of Defense is not responsible for providing veterinary care for a family pet or contract working dog by reason of the evacuation of the pet or dog pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B)

The Secretary may not exercise the authority under paragraph (1) if the exercise of such authority would result in a reduction in the number of individuals who would otherwise be evacuated.

(1)

by striking and before the United States Virgin Islands; and

(2)

by inserting the State of Yap of the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, after Virgin Islands,.

(a) In general

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c) of section 40118 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to pay for the transportation by a foreign air carrier of Department of Defense personnel and any in-cabin or accompanying checked baggage or cargo if—

(b) Limitation

An amount paid pursuant to subsection (a) for transportation by a foreign carrier may not be greater than the amount that would otherwise have been paid had the transportation been on an air carrier holding a certificate under section 41102 had that carrier been willing and able to provide such transportation. If the amount that would otherwise have been paid to such an air carrier is less than the cost of transportation on the applicable foreign carrier, the Department personnel may pay the difference of such amount.

(c) Domestic animal defined

In this section, the term domestic animal means a dog or a cat.

(a) Provision of assistance

Beginning not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Defense may provide adjustment and diversification assistance, pursuant to section 2391(b) of title 10, United States Code, to State and local governments affected by the actions taken under the Army Transformation Initiative with respect to—

(b) Report

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that milk is available to members of the Armed Forces at dining facilities on military installations.

(b) Prohibition

The Secretary may not, to carry out this section, purchase milk from an entity owned or controlled by a foreign adversary, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 7.4 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(c) Definition of milk

In this section, the term milk has the meaning given such term in section 133.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation) and includes fluid or powdered milk.

(a) Establishment of Minimum Standards

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of each military department, veterinary experts, and military working dog program managers, shall establish and implement minimum standards for kennels and other facilities used to house military working dogs. Such minimum standards shall include each of the following:

(b) Implementation and Compliance

(c) Waiver Authority

The Secretary of Defense may waive a specific requirement or standard developed under subsection (a), on a case-by-case basis, if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is required to provide for a temporary deployment or exigent circumstances. The Secretary may not issue a waiver under this subsection unless the Secretary—

(a) Restroom access

The Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that, with respect to each covered location, there is a restroom—

(b) Location

The location of a restroom under subsection (a)(1) may not be a location to which access by the covered driver would result in—

(c) Notification of noncompliance

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(a) In general

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations to prohibit any member of the Armed Forces from wearing optional combat boots as part of a required uniform unless the optional combat boots are entirely manufactured in the United States and entirely made of—

(b) Waiver

The requirements of subsection (a) may be waived if a member of the Armed Forces provides a medical justification authorized by the commanding officer of such member to wear optional combat boots as part of a required uniform.

(c) Exception

The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to a member of the Armed Forces within a combat arms military occupational specialty who is in a deployed status.

(d) Definitions

In this section:

(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall enhance efforts to manage, control, and interdict the greater banded hornet on military installations in Guam.

(b) Authorized activities

The efforts required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(c) Annual briefings

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the next three years, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the implementation of this section, which shall include detailed information about the efforts of the Secretary to manage, control, and interdict the greater banded hornet on military installations in Guam.

(1)

the Secretary of the Army submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a business case analysis that includes an analysis of the Army initial entry rotary wing training currently provided at Fort Novosel, Alabama, and options for changing such training in order to increase the quality of the training, reduce costs, and gain efficiencies; and

(2)

the Secretary provides to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the business case analysis submitted under paragraph (1).

(1)

The Army, 454,000.

(2)

The Navy, 344,600.

(3)

The Marine Corps, 172,300.

(4)

The Air Force, 321,500.

(5)

The Space Force, 10,400.

(a) In general

The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2026, as follows:

(b) End strength reductions

The end strengths prescribed by subsection (a) for the Selected Reserve of any reserve component shall be proportionately reduced by—

(c) End strength increases

Whenever units or individual members of the Selected Reserve of any reserve component are released from active duty during any fiscal year, the end strength prescribed for such fiscal year for the Selected Reserve of such reserve component shall be increased proportionately by the total authorized strengths of such units and by the total number of such individual members.

(1)

The Army National Guard of the United States, 30,845.

(2)

The Army Reserve, 16,511.

(3)

The Navy Reserve, 10,409.

(4)

The Marine Corps Reserve, 2,400.

(5)

The Air National Guard of the United States, 25,171.

(6)

The Air Force Reserve, 6,218.

(1)

For the Army National Guard of the United States, 21,294.

(2)

For the Army Reserve, 6,258.

(3)

For the Air National Guard of the United States, 10,405.

(4)

For the Air Force Reserve, 6,455.

(1)

The Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000.

(2)

The Army Reserve, 13,000.

(3)

The Navy Reserve, 6,200.

(4)

The Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000.

(5)

The Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000.

(6)

The Air Force Reserve, 14,000.

(a) Authorization of appropriations

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for military personnel, as specified in the funding table in section 4401.

(b) Construction of authorization

The authorization of appropriations in the subsection (a) supersedes any other authorization of appropriations (definite or indefinite) for such purpose for fiscal year 2026.

(a) Repeal of annual report on military technicians

Section 115a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (g).

(b) Incorporation of annual civilian personnel management report into annual defense manpower profile report

(a) Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer grades

Section 525 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Exclusion of certain officers from authorized strength of Space Force general officers on active duty

Section 526 of such title is amended—

(c) Strength in grade of Space Force general officers in space force active status not on sustained duty

Chapter 2003 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

20110. Strength in grade: Space Force general officers in Space Force active status not on sustained duty

(a) Authorized strength

The authorized strength of general officers in the Space Force serving in space force active status not on sustained duty is five.

(b) Exclusions

The following Space Force general officers shall not be counted for purposes of this section:

(1)

Those counted under section 526 of this title.

(2)

Those serving in a joint duty assignment for purposes of chapter 38 of this title, except that the number of officers who shall not be counted under this paragraph may not exceed two.

(c) Permanent grade

A Space Force general officer may not be reduced in permanent grade because of a reduction in the number authorized under subsection (a).

(d) Temporary exclusion

The limitation of subsection (a) does not apply to an officer released from a joint duty assignment or other non-joint active duty assignment, but only during the 60-day period beginning on the date the officer departs the joint duty or other active duty assignment. The Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to extend the 60-day period by an additional 120 days, except that not more than three Space Force officers may be covered by an extension under this subsection at the same time.

(1)

in paragraph (3), by striking 171 and inserting 168; and

(2)

in paragraph (5), by striking 21 and inserting 24.

(1)

by inserting (1) after (b); and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department may waive the limitation in paragraph (1) in the case of a selection board that will consider officers for recommendation for promotion to the grade of major general or rear admiral if the Secretary of the military department determines that qualified officers on the active-duty list or Space Force officer list or otherwise authorized to serve on the board are not available in sufficient number to comprise that selection board.

(a) Career flexibility for chaplains

Subsection (a) of section 710 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Detail as students at schools for education required for appointment as a chaplain

Chapter 101 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2004b the following new section 2004c:

2004c. Detail as students at schools for education required for appointment as a chaplain: commissioned officers; certain enlisted members

(a) Detail authorized

The Secretary of each military department may detail commissioned officers and enlisted members of the armed forces as students at accredited colleges, universities, and schools of theology, located in the United States, for a period of training leading to a graduate degree that meets the educational requirements for appointment as a chaplain in the armed forces. No more than twenty officers and enlisted members from each military department may commence such training in any single fiscal year.

(b) Eligibility for detail

To be eligible for detail under subsection (a), an officer or enlisted member must be a citizen of the United States and must—

(1)

(A)

have served on active duty for a period of not less than two years nor more than five years and be an officer in the pay grade O–3 or below as of the time the training is to begin; or

(B)

have served on active duty for a period of not less than three years nor more than ten years and be an enlisted member in the pay grade E–4 or above as of the time the training is to begin;

(2)

in the case of an enlisted member, meet all requirements for acceptance of a commission as a commissioned officer in the armed forces; and

(3)

sign an agreement that unless sooner separated the officer or enlisted member will—

(A)

complete the educational course of chaplaincy training; and

(B)

if the Secretary of the military department concerned carries out a program under section 710 of this title—

(i)

agree to be inactivated for a period of not less than two years nor more than three years under subsection (a)(2) of such section title upon completion of a detail under this section; and

(ii)

accept transfer or detail as a chaplain in the military department concerned upon completion of the period described in clause (i).

(c) Service obligation

The agreement of an officer or enlisted member under subsection (b) shall provide that the officer or enlisted member shall serve on active duty for two years for each year or part thereof of chaplaincy training completed under subsection (a), except that the agreement may authorize the officer or enlisted member to serve a portion of such service obligation on active duty and to complete the service obligation that remains upon separation from active duty in the Selected Reserve, in which case the officer or enlisted member shall serve three years in the Selected Reserve for each year or part thereof of the chaplaincy training of such officer or enlisted member under subsection (a) for any service obligation that was not completed before separation from active duty.

(d) Selection of officers and enlisted members for detail

Officers and enlisted members detailed for chaplaincy training under subsection (a) shall be selected on a competitive basis by the Secretary of the military department concerned.

(e) Relation of service obligations to other service obligations

Any service obligation incurred by an officer or enlisted member under an agreement entered into under subsection (b) shall be in addition to any service obligation incurred by such officer or enlisted any other provision of law or agreement.

(f) Expenses

Expenses incident to the detail of officers and enlisted members under this section shall be paid from any funds appropriated for the military department concerned.

(g) Failure to complete program

An officer or enlisted member who is dropped from a program of chaplaincy training to which detailed under subsection (a) for deficiency in conduct or studies, or for other reasons, may be required to—

(1)

perform active duty in an appropriate military capacity in accordance with the active duty obligation imposed by regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense, except that in no case shall an officer or enlisted member be required to serve on active duty for any period in excess of one year for each year or part thereof he participated in the program; or

(2)

repay the expenses incident to the detail of such officer or enlisted member and paid under subsection (f).

(h) Limitation on details

No agreement detailing an officer or enlisted member of the armed forces to a chaplaincy school may be entered into during any period in which the President is authorized by law to induct persons into the armed forces involuntarily. Nothing in this subsection shall affect any agreement entered into during any period when the President is not authorized by law to so induct persons into the armed forces.

(a) Army

Section 7037(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Judge Advocate General, while so serving, has the grade of lieutenant general..

(b) Navy

Section 8088(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Judge Advocate General, while so serving, has the grade of vice admiral or lieutenant general, as appropriate..

(c) Air Force

Section 9037(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Judge Advocate General, while so serving, has the grade of lieutenant general..

(a) Selection boards

(b) Promotions to major general

(c) Technical and conforming amendments

Title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(a) Establishment

Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall establish blast safety officer positions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

(b) Duties

Duties of a blast safety officer shall include the following, in accordance with standards established pursuant to section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note):

(c) Assignments

The Secretary of a military department concerned shall assign a blast safety officer to each special mission unit in each such Armed Force.

(d) Training; certification

A blast safety officer shall receive training and maintain a certification in blast safety.

(a) In general

(b) Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the day that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to appointments made on or after such day.

(1)

by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j);

(2)

by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection:

(i) Temporary authority for extended activation for Marine Corps

(1)

The Secretary of the Navy may exercise the authority under subsection (a) with respect to units of the Selected Reserve of the Marine Corps by substituting 545 consecutive days for 365 consecutive days.

(2)

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Navy may not order a unit to active duty in direct support of an operation for more than 365 consecutive days. For purposes of this paragraph, direct support does not include training, exercises, or preparation activities prior to deployment to support an operation.

(3)

The authority under this subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2030.; and

(3)

in subsection (j), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section, by striking section 231(f)(2) and inserting section 231.

(a) In general

Chapter 3 of title 32, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 328 the following new section:

328A. Active Guard and Reserve duty: State disaster response duty

(a) Authority

The chief executive of a State who has declared a emergency in such State due to a disaster, may, with the consent of the Secretary of Defense, order a member of the National Guard of such State, who is performing Active Guard and Reserve duty pursuant to section 328 of this title, to perform duties in response to, or in preparation for, such disaster. Duty performed under this section shall be referred to as State disaster response duty.

(b) Requirements

State disaster response duty performed pursuant to this section—

(1)

shall be on a reimbursable basis, in accordance with subsection (c);

(2)

may be performed to the extent that the performance of such duty does not interfere with the performance of the member’s primary Active Guard and Reserve duties of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, and training the reserve components; and

(3)

shall not exceed a total of 14 days per member per calendar year, except that the Secretary of Defense may, if the chief executive so requests before the end of the 14th such day, authorize an extension of the duration of such duty, not to exceed an additional—

(A)

7 days, if the Secretary determines that such extension is appropriate; and

(B)

46 days if the Secretary determines that such duty is in support of the response to a catastrophic incident, as such term is defined in section 501 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311).

(c) Reimbursement

(1)

The Secretary of the military department concerned shall charge a State for the fully burdened costs of manpower for each day of State disaster response duty performed pursuant to this section.

(2)

Such charges shall be paid from the funds of the State of the requesting chief executive or from any other non-Federal funds.

(3)

Any amounts received by a Secretary of a military department under this section shall be credited, at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense, to—

(A)

the appropriation, fund, or account used to pay such costs; or

(B)

an appropriation, fund, or account available for the purposes for which such costs were incurred.

(4)

If the State of the requesting chief executive is more than 90 days in arrears in reimbursing the Secretary of the military department concerned for State disaster response duty performed pursuant to this section, such duty may not be performed—

(A)

unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense; and

(B)

after the requesting chief executive obligates funds for the amount in arrears.

(d) Limitation of liability

While performing State disaster response duty under this section, a member of the National Guard is not an instrumentality of the United States with respect to any act or omission in carrying out such duty. The United States shall not be responsible for any claim or judgment arising from the use of a member of the National Guard under this section.

(e) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term Active Guard and Reserve duty has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10.

(2)

The term State has the meaning given such term in section 901 of this title.

(b) Regulations

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations under section 328A of such title, as added by subsection (a).

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c) Annual briefing

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives the first of five annual briefings regarding the FireGuard Program. Such a briefing shall include, with regards to the year preceding the date of the briefing, the following elements:

(1)

The States (as such term is defined in section 901 of this title), counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments that received information under the FireGuard Program.

(2)

A comparative analysis of a map of—

(A)

each wildfire, initially provided to an entity described in paragraph (1) through the FireGuard Program; and

(B)

the perimeter of such wildfire after containment.

(3)

An analysis of the time between the detection of a fire via raw satellite data and alerts being sent to local responders.

(4)

A review of efforts undertaken to integrate emerging satellite and aerial surveillance technologies from qualified private, nonprofit, and public sector sources.

(a) In general

Chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

996. Establishment of women’s initiative teams

(a) Establishment

The Secretary concerned shall establish a women’s initiative team in each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force to identify and address barriers, if any, to the service, recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in those armed forces.

(b) Duties

Each women’s initiative team established under subsection (a) shall—

(1)

identify and address issues, if any, that hinder service by women in the armed force in which such team is established;

(2)

support the recruitment and retention of women in such armed force;

(3)

recommend policy changes that support the needs of women members of such armed force; and

(4)

foster a sense of community.

(c) Composition

Each women’s initiative team established under subsection (a) shall be composed of members of the armed force in which such team is established of a variety of ranks, backgrounds, and occupational specialities.

(d) Collaboration

A women’s initiative team established under subsection (a) shall work collaboratively with the leadership of the armed force in which such team is established and other stakeholders to carry out the duties described in subsection (b).

(b) Reports

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date that is five years after such date, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities and progress of each women’s initiative team established under section 996 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). Each report shall include the following:

(a) Expansion

Chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

996. Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record

(a) Establishment

The Secretary of Defense shall maintain a database that is a central portal for exposure-related data that compiles, collates, presents, and provides available occupational and environmental exposure information to support the needs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such database shall be referred to as the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record.

(b) Elements

The Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record includes the following elements:

(1)

Service records of members of the armed forces.

(2)

All non-classified data available to the Secretary regarding how, where, and when members of the armed forces have been exposed to various occupational or environmental hazards.

(3)

Medical records of members relating to exposures described in paragraph (2), including diagnoses, treatment plans, and laboratory data.

(c) Service records

If a member is a member described in paragraph (2) of subsection (b), the Secretary shall include the data described in such paragraph in the service record of such member.

(d) Data sharing

The Secretary shall provide access to information in the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record to the following:

(1)

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

(2)

The Director of the Defense Health Agency, for use by health care providers, epidemiologists, and researchers of the Department of Defense.

(3)

The Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for use by health care providers, epidemiologists, and researchers of such department.

(4)

The Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for use by personnel of such department regarding compensation and benefits for service-connected disabilities or death.

(e) Annual report

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall submit, to the committees specified in paragraph (2), an annual report regarding the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record.

(2)

The committees specified in this paragraph are the following:

(A)

The Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

(B)

The Committee on Armed Services of House of Representatives.

(C)

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.

(D)

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(E)

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(F)

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.

(b) Conforming amendment

Section 1171(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2)

The term Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record means the database maintained under section 996 of title 10.

(1)

in paragraph (12), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (24); and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new paragraphs:

(13)

Air Defense Artillery;

(14)

Aviation;

(15)

Cavalry Scout;

(16)

Psychological Operations;

(17)

Special Forces;

(18)

Civil Affairs;

(19)

Cyber;

(20)

Electronic Warfare;

(21)

Military Intelligence;

(22)

Public Affairs;

(23)

Army Music; and

(a) Merit requirement

All Department of Defense military personnel actions, including accessions, promotions, assignments, command selection, and military and civil schooling selection and training, shall be based exclusively on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance.

(b) Consideration of race prohibited

Consideration of an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in any military personnel action is prohibited throughout the Department of Defense.

(c) Limited exception for tasking of specific missions

(a) Recruiting at secondary schools

Section 503(c)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(b) Recruiting at institutions of higher education

Section 983(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(c) Types of affiliation for JROTC units

(d) Report on honor schools

Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on schools designated as honor schools by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Such report shall include the following elements:

(a) In general

Section 504 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(c) Alternative service in the defense industrial base

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to provide to an individual described in paragraph (2) information about with opportunities to work in the defense industrial base.

(2)

An individual described in this paragraph is an individual who seeks to originally enlist in an armed force but is denied enlistment.

(3)

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall—

(A)

identify job opportunities in the defense industrial base;

(B)

provide available information about training or certification programs to obtain the skills necessary for such a job; and

(C)

seek to enter into agreements with entities in the defense industrial base.

(4)

The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual report on the program under this subsection. Such a report shall include, with respect to the year preceding the date of the report, the following elements:

(A)

The number of individuals described in paragraph (2) provided information described in paragraph (3)(A).

(B)

The number of individuals described in paragraph (2) provided information described in paragraph (3)(B).

(C)

The number of agreements described in paragraph (3)(C) into which the Secretary entered.

(b) Report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report regarding the implementation of subsection (c) of such section, as added by subsection (a).

(a) Automatic registration

The Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) is amended by striking section 3 (50 U.S.C. 3802) and inserting the following new section 3:

3.

(a)

(1)

Except as otherwise provided in this title, every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, shall be automatically registered under this Act by the Director of the Selective Service System.

(2)

This section shall not apply to any alien lawfully admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101) for so long as such alien continues to maintain a lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States.

(b)

Regulations prescribed pursuant to this section (a) may require—

(1)

a person subject to registration under this section to provide, to the Director, information (including date of birth, address, social security account number, phone number, and email address) regarding such person;

(2)

a Federal entity to provide, to the Director, information described in paragraph (1) that the Director determines necessary to identify or register a person subject to registration under this section; and

(3)

the Director to provide, to a person registered under this section, written notification that—

(A)

such person has been so registered; and

(B)

if such person is not required to be so registered, the procedure by which such person may correct such registration.

(b) Technical and conforming amendments

The Military Selective Service Act is further amended—