The House Rules Committee completed their rule hearing for the consideration of HR 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. In addition to making some changes to the reported text of the bill, the Committee completed work on the rule for the consideration of the bill this week (scheduled later today), including approving the introduction of 298 amendments. Nine of those amendments are of potential interest here, eight related to cybersecurity issues and one Space Geek related amendment. There are no chemical safety related amendments beyond the obligatory fentanyl issues and surprisingly no counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) amendments cleared for consideration.
Cybersecurity Amendments
The eight cybersecurity amendments of potential interest here include;
60. Biggs (SC): Requires that each five-year assessment of STRACNET will include an annex, created in coordination between the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with assessment of cybersecurity vulnerabilities to our strategic rail network, recommended fixes, and timelines for.
62. Biggs (SC), Bacon (NE), Case (HI): Requires DoD to conduct a study examining the current role of the National Guard in cyber incident response, assessing both federal-level engagements and state-level deployments. The findings should inform recommendations on potential to the National Guard’s cyber response capabilities to ensure a more robust and coordinated national cyber defense strategy.
68. Buchanan (FL): Requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the threat of fiber optic-controlled drones to US military installations, operations and personnel. This report should evaluate the use of these drones by foreign adversaries for surveillance and targeting.
79. Cammack (FL): Authorizes the National Security Agency to support the cybersecurity of the defense industrial base, telecommunications sector, and cybersecurity service providers by sharing cyber threat intelligence, coordinating with the private sector, and providing direct assistance to strengthen defenses and respond to incidents.
82. Cammack (FL): Requires the Secretary of Defense to report within one year on the interoperability of cyber training programs across the Armed Forces, including the use of standardized curricula and whether establishing a DOD cyber academy would improve preparedness.
120. Fitzgerald (WI): Requires DoD, SBA, and IRS to report on resources available to small businesses for Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMMC) compliance.
165. Joyce (OH): Authorizes Project Spectrum, a DoD Small Business Office program launched under the first Trump Administration that provides grants to small businesses to help them shore up their cybersecurity so they can compete for DoD contracts.
269. Shreve (IN): Requires a comprehensive review of the current effectiveness of interagency coordination and the DOD’s implementation of their existing responsibilities pertaining to the physical safety and cybersecurity of the air, rail, and maritime infrastructure that underpins U.S. military readiness.
Space Geek Amendments
I would like to mention the one commercial space related amendment as part of my limited Space Geek coverage:
108. Dunn (FL), Moolenaar (MI): Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of incorporating additional federal, commercial, or state-operate spaceports
into the Department of Defense's national security launch infrastructure.
Moving Forward
Consideration will start today with the approval of the rule resolution. The actual consideration of HR 3838 will probably start tomorrow. The rule authorizes 10 minutes of debate for each of the 298 amendments, but many will be considered en bloc with a single vote covering multiple amendments. Those would be amendments with little or no opposition, with most of the above listed amendments falling into that category. Amendment #79, providing for NSA cybersecurity support to the parts of the private sector, probably will not be one of the en bloc amendments.
The final vote on HR 3838 is expected to be held on Thursday. Baring unforeseen issues, the bill is expected to pass with some level of bipartisan support.