In the nature of a substitute.

The provided text outlines various amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, along with a statement of opposition. These changes aim to modify federal laws and programs across several categories:

National Security and Foreign Policy

• Creating a security assistance strategy for Mexico to fight drug trafficking and criminal networks.
• Strengthening defense and arms transfer cooperation with Baltic countries via the "Baltic Security Initiative."
• Establishing the "Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act" to recover children taken by Russia.
• Requiring presidential certification that Syria is meeting conditions, such as protecting minorities and fighting ISIS, to avoid sanctions.
• Creating the "SkyFoundry Program" for rapid manufacturing and development of small unmanned aircraft systems.
• Studying national security risks regarding consumer modems and routers from "covered countries."
• Increasing transparency and screening for U.S. investments in AI and quantum computing in the People's Republic of China and other countries of concern.
• Using the "BIOSECURE Act" to stop taxpayer funds from contracting with "biotechnology companies of concern" linked to the People's Liberation Army of China.
• Requiring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to report annually on national security sensitive government facilities and review foreign transactions involving agricultural land near those sites.
• Repealing authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq.

Military Equipment, Infrastructure, and Personnel

• Extending the ban on reducing B-1 bomber aircraft squadrons until September 30, 2030.
• Expanding the "COUNTER Act" to help the Department of Defense protect assets and facilities from drone incursions.
• Changing how the National Guard Bureau handles State reimbursements for military property to ensure unit readiness.
• Requiring the Secretary of Defense to implement recommendations to improve the affordability and supply of military housing.
• Requiring men's and women's sizing for tactical equipment given to Diplomatic Security Service personnel.
• Requiring the consent of a State's chief executive before another State's National Guard can be deployed there.
• Limiting the use of military assets for civilian law enforcement by requiring congressional approval for redirections over 30 days.
• Directing that aircraft previously owned by foreign governments not be used for presidential airlift.

Veteran and Member Support

• Increasing collaboration and resource sharing between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to improve care access.
• Expanding the disabled veterans' outreach program to include certain spouses.
• Providing mail-order pharmacy and telehealth benefits for veterans in the Freely Associated States.
• Updating Transition Assistance Program counseling to include household employment status and child care requirements.
• Creating a military-civilian medical surge program for disaster response.
• Reducing the Pentagon budget by 10 percent (excluding the Defense Health Program and military personnel) to fund veteran dental care.

Government Oversight and Administration

• Stopping Federal Reserve banks from paying earnings on balances held by depository institutions and prohibiting participation in overnight reverse repurchase agreement facilities.
• Requiring the President to appoint and the Senate to confirm the Inspector General of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
• Modernizing the pay comparability system with a pilot program in Utah to address pay disparities.
• Prohibiting flags other than the U.S. flag at covered public buildings, with specific exceptions.
• Requiring Federal law enforcement and armed forces to show identifying information during arrests or crowd control at protests.
• Auditing Department of Defense cloud computing contracts for foreign exposure risks.
• Establishing a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee.
• Increasing disclosure requirements for officers and directors of foreign private issuers via the "Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act."
• Improving the "Do Not Pay" system coordination with the Social Security Administration to stop improper payments.
• Authorizing NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for replacing drinking water wells.
• Expanding protection authority for the Marshal of the Supreme Court to include immediate families and retired Justices.

Public Health and Safety

• Implementing the "MAPS Act" to map pharmaceutical supply chains and find vulnerabilities in critical drug production.
• Authorizing grants for community-school partnerships to prevent youth substance use.
• Reauthorizing the Second Chance Act of 2007 for housing and substance use treatment reentry services.
• Directing the Department of Justice to continue anti-trafficking recommendations for children.

Other Provisions

• Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to work with foreign partners to map rare earth elements and critical minerals.
• Studying the feasibility of removing oil from sunken WWII vessels near the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.

Statement of Opposition One section of the text opposes the NDAA, citing the following:

• Defense Spending: Noting that the bill authorizes $924 billion, and the Pentagon continues to fail independent audits.
• Abuse of Power: Alleging the military is being used for local law enforcement, the National Guard is being politicized, and illegal missile strikes are occurring in international waters.
• Civil Liberties: Claiming the McCarran-Walter Act and Alien Enemies Act were used to target student protesters and immigrants.