[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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