To provide a prohibition on certain reductions to MQ-9 aircraft units, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9119 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9119

To provide a prohibition on certain reductions to MQ-9 aircraft units,
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 3, 2026

Mr. Babin (for himself and Ms. Houlahan) introduced the following bill;
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To provide a prohibition on certain reductions to MQ-9 aircraft units,
                        and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN REDUCTIONS TO MQ-9 AIRCRAFT UNITS.

    (a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in this section, during the
covered period, the Secretary of the Air Force may not--
            (1) divest, deactivate, redesignate, consolidate, transfer,
        initiate any action to retire, place in backup aircraft
        inventory status, or otherwise reduce the mission capability of
        any MQ-9 aircraft or MQ-9 aircraft unit in existence on the
        date of the enactment of this Act, including by--
                    (A) reducing the total primary aerospace vehicle
                authorization (PAA) number of MQ-9 aircraft assigned to
                any unit of the Air National Guard below the levels in
                effect on such date of enactment; or
                    (B) reducing the primary mission aircraft inventory
                of MQ-9 aircraft of the Air Force below the levels in
                effect on such date of enactment;
            (2) modify the designed operational capability statement
        for any MQ-9 aircraft unit, as in effect on the date of the
        enactment of this Act, in a manner that would reduce the
        capabilities of such a unit below the levels specified in such
        statement as in effect on such date; or
            (3) reduce, below the levels in effect on such date of
        enactment, the number of personnel assigned to units
        responsible for the operation and maintenance of MQ-9 aircraft
        if such reduction would affect the ability of such units to
        meet the capability described in paragraph (2).
    (b) Exception for Individual Aircraft.--The prohibition under
subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual MQ-9 aircraft if the
Secretary of the Air Force--
            (1) determines, on a case-by-case basis, that the aircraft
        is unsafe to operate, uneconomical to repair, or no longer
        mission capable due to mishap damage, structural condition,
        airworthiness, obsolescence, or other material sustainment
        issue; and
            (2) meets the requirements of subsection (c) with respect
        to the MQ-9 aircraft unit concerned.
    (c) Exception for Mission Conversion.--The prohibition under
subsection (a) shall not apply to an MQ-9 aircraft unit if the
Secretary of the Air Force, with the approval of the applicable
governor pursuant to section 104(c) of title 32, United States Code--
            (1) assigns to such unit a new primary mission;
            (2) certifies to the congressional defense committees that
        such mission will maintain or enhance the operational
        capability of such unit within the total force; and
            (3) submits to the congressional defense committees a plan
        describing--
                    (A) the personnel impacts of mission conversion;
                    (B) the projected operational capability of the new
                mission, including programmed funding and required
                manpower;
                    (C) the timeline for transition; and
                    (D) any associated aircraft, systems, or
                infrastructure requirements.
    (d) Consultation Requirement.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall
consult with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Director of
the Air National Guard before taking any action to retire, divest,
reduce, realign, restructure, redesignate, consolidate, transfer, or
otherwise modify any MQ-9 aircraft or MQ-9 aircraft unit assigned to
the Air National Guard.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON RECAPITALIZATION PLAN.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination
with the Director of the Air National Guard, shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the plan of the Department
of the Air Force to recapitalize the MQ-9 aircraft fleet.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
            (1) An assessment of the current operational status,
        projected service life, and mission requirements of the MQ-9
        aircraft fleet.
            (2) A description of planned modernization efforts,
        sustainment activities, and capability upgrades for MQ-9
        aircraft through fiscal year 2035.
            (3) An assessment of options for recapitalization or
        modernization MQ-9 aircraft.
            (4) A description of the role of the Air National Guard in
        the future MQ-9 aircraft force structure and recapitalization
        strategy.
            (5) A projected timeline and estimated funding requirements
        associated with recapitalization of the MQ-9 aircraft fleet.
            (6) An identification of any legislative authorities
        required to implement the recapitalization plan.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Congressional defense committees.--The term
        ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that
        term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
            (2) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the
        period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and
        ending on September 30, 2032.
            (3) Designed operational capability statement.--The term
        ``designed operational capability statement'' has the meaning
        given that term in Air Force Instruction 10-201.
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