Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4259 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4259

 To promote the development, production, and deployment of secure and
   resilient Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to enhance United States
 national security and support the defense and resilience of Taiwan in
                        the Indo-Pacific Region.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 26, 2026

  Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Curtis) introduced the
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To promote the development, production, and deployment of secure and
   resilient Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to enhance United States
 national security and support the defense and resilience of Taiwan in
                        the Indo-Pacific Region.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
                Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the
                Budget, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
                Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
                on Armed Services, the Committee on the Budget, and the
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of
                Representatives.
            (2) Blue uas.--The term ``Blue UAS'' refers to UAS
        components and systems that comply with Defense Contract
        Management Agency's Blue UAS program and its associated list.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Taiwan is a longstanding and vital democratic partner
        whose security is central to United States strategic interests
        and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
            (2) The People's Republic of China (PRC) is increasingly
        employing gray-zone tactics, including routine use of unmanned
        aerial systems and other low-cost platforms, to pressure Taiwan
        and undermine its security.
            (3) As set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979
        (Public Law 96-8), it is United States policy to maintain its
        capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of
        coercion against Taiwan and provide Taiwan with arms of a
        defensive nature.
            (4) As set forth in the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act
        (subtitle A of title XII of Public Law 117-263), it is the
        sense of Congress that the United States should support
        Taiwan's acquisition and employment of capabilities that
        advance asymmetric strategies.
            (5) The vast majority of commercially available UAS contain
        PRC-sourced components, creating significant cybersecurity,
        supply chain, and operational risks for both Taiwan and the
        United States.
            (6) Taiwan is well-positioned to develop and produce UAS
        components and systems but faces challenges in competing with
        PRC commercial companies, accessing capital, and meeting United
        States certification and cybersecurity requirements.
            (7) The United States should support UAS supply chain
        development in Taiwan to strengthen Taiwan's asymmetric defense
        posture and expand United States access to secure, PRC-
        independent UAS components and systems.
            (8) The Army Organic Industrial Base, including its
        arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants, is undergoing
        modernization to support emerging technologies and may provide
        opportunities to support the testing and sustainment of
        unmanned aerial systems and related components in coordination
        with allies and partners.

SEC. 4. BLUE UAS WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, shall establish a Blue UAS working group,
leveraging existing workstreams and expanding scope as needed,
inclusive of government, industry, and academic experts, to--
            (1) assess Taiwan's domestic drone production capacity,
        including research and development, legal and regulatory
        frameworks, testing, certification, and production capacities
        for dual-use drones;
            (2) evaluate opportunities for public-private partnerships
        between the United States and Taiwan for co-development and co-
        production of UAS systems and components, including pilot
        programs;
            (3) identify barriers to the inclusion of Taiwan-
        manufactured components and systems manufactured in Blue UAS
        programs;
            (4) identify regulatory, export-control, and certification
        barriers that impede Taiwan's participation in Blue UAS
        programs;
            (5) provide recommendations to expand and improve
        incorporation of Taiwanese suppliers into Blue UAS programs;
            (6) identify specific UAS components or systems that could
        be integrated into Blue UAS programs within 12 to 24 months;
            (7) analyze opportunities and impediments to including
        Taiwan in Replicator programs and similar initiatives; and
            (8) assess opportunities for collaboration with the Army
        Organic Industrial Base, including its arsenals, depots, and
        ammunition plants, to support the testing, evaluation,
        production, maintenance, and sustainment of Blue UAS components
        and systems, including those co-developed or co-produced with
        Taiwan.
    (b) Reporting.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three years, the
Working Group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
an unclassified report on its activities, including findings,
recommendations, timelines, resource needs, and potential funding
mechanisms, with a classified appendix as necessary.

SEC. 5. COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK WITH ALLIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, shall establish a cooperative framework, drawing
on the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR),
among the United States, Taiwan, and regional allies and global
partners to promote secure, PRC-independent UAS supply chains and
enhance interoperability.
    (b) Elements.--The cooperative framework shall include--
            (1) support regional allies in the acquisition of Blue UAS
        components or systems from Taiwan in lieu of PRC-sourced
        components; and
            (2) fast-track Blue UAS certification for components co-
        developed or co-produced by Taiwan and regional allies.

SEC. 6. FAST-TRACK CERTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, shall develop a fast-track process for Blue UAS
companies in Taiwan to obtain Blue UAS certification.
    (b) Elements.--The fast-track certification process shall include
the following procedures:
            (1) Expedited export control reviews and licensing for
        Taiwan drone and drone component manufacturers, including
        streamlined technical reviews for components with no PRC-
        connected subcomponents.
            (2) A fast-track certification procedure for Taiwanese
        manufacturers, including reciprocal testing arrangements or
        recognition of equivalent Taiwan cybersecurity standards where
        appropriate.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed--
            (1) to alter United States policy towards Taiwan as
        codified in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-8);
        and
            (2) to alter the United States Government's position with
        respect to the international status of Taiwan.
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