The following are excerpts from the final legislation and/or conference report which contain references to and studies for The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, underlined and in bold. (Pound signs [##] between passages denote the deletion of unrelated text.)
S1071 Cornyn, John (R-Texas) 12/18/25
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
######
Ҥ6114.Nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship, management, and responsiveness plan.
######
“(4) .—With respect to the nuclear security infrastructure—
“(A) a description of the modernization and refurbishment measures the Administrator determines necessary to meet the requirements prescribed in—
“(i) the national security strategy of the United States as set forth in the most recent national security strategy report of the President under section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3043 ) if such strategy has been submitted as of the date of the plan;
“(ii) the most recent national defense strategy as of the date of the plan; and
“(iii) the most recent Nuclear Posture Review as of the date of the plan;
“(B) a schedule for implementing the measures described under subparagraph (A) during the 10-year period following the date of the plan;
“(C) the estimated levels of annual funds the Administrator determines necessary to carry out the measures described under subparagraph (A), including a discussion of the criteria, evidence, and strategies on which such estimated levels of annual funds are based; and
“(D) (i) a description of—
“(I) the metrics (based on industry best practices) used by the Administrator to determine the infrastructure deferred maintenance and repair needs of the nuclear security enterprise; and
“(II) the percentage of replacement plant value being spent on maintenance and repair needs of the nuclear security enterprise; and
“(ii) an explanation of whether the annual spending on such needs complies with the recommendation of the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that such spending be in an amount equal to four percent of the replacement plant value, and, if not, the reasons for such noncompliance and a plan for how the Administrator will ensure facilities of the nuclear security enterprise are being properly sustained.
######
Ҥ6224.Department of Energy counterintelligence polygraph program.
“(a) NEW COUNTERINTELLIGENCE POLYGRAPH PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Energy shall carry out, under regulations prescribed under this section, a new counterintelligence polygraph program for the Department of Energy. The purpose of the new program is to minimize the potential for release or disclosure of classified data, materials, or information.
######
“(c) POLYGRAPH REVIEW DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘Polygraph Review’ means the review of the Committee to Review the Scientific Evidence on the Polygraph of the National Academy of Sciences.
######
Ҥ6263.Program to monitor department of energy workers exposed to hazardous and radioactive substances.
“(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall establish and carry out a program for the identification and on-going medical evaluation of current and former Department of Energy employees who are subject to significant health risks as a result of the exposure of such employees to hazardous or radioactive substances during such employment.
“(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM
“(1) .—The Secretary shall, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, issue regulations under which the Secretary shall implement the program. Such regulations shall, to the extent practicable, provide for a process to—
######
“(3) .—In prescribing the guidelines referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with representatives of the following entities:
“(A) The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
“(B) The National Academy of Sciences.
“(C) The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
“(D) Any labor organization or other collective bargaining agent authorized to act on the behalf of employees of a Department of Energy defense nuclear facility.
######
Subtitle D--Matters Involving Uncrewed Systems
######
Sec. 7337. National Academy of Sciences report on uncrewed systems and use of data.
######
SEC. 7337. National Academy of Sciences report on uncrewed systems and use of data
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall seek to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall prepare an assessment of available uncrewed, autonomous, or remotely-controlled maritime domain awareness technologies for use by the Coast Guard.
(b) ASSESSMENT.—In carrying out the assessment under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall—
(1) .—describe the potential benefits and limitations of current and emerging uncrewed autonomous, or remotely controlled systems used in the maritime domain for—
(A) ocean observation;
(B) vessel monitoring and identification;
(C) weather observation;
(D) search and rescue operations;
(E) to the extent practicable for consideration by the Academy, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and
(F) communications;
(2) .—assess how technologies described in paragraph (1) can help prioritize Federal investment by examining—
(A) affordability, including acquisition, operations, maintenance, and lifecycle costs;
(B) reliability;
(C) versatility;
(D) efficiency; and
(E) estimated service life and persistence of effort;
(3) .—analyze whether the use of new and emerging maritime domain awareness technologies can be used to—
(A) effectively carry out Coast Guard missions at lower costs and reduced manpower needs;
(B) expand the scope and range of Coast Guard maritime domain awareness; and
(C) allow the Coast Guard to more efficiently and effectively allocate Coast Guard vessels, aircraft, and personnel;
(4) evaluate the extent to which such systems have moved from the research and development phase to effective operations since the National Academy of Sciences published the study titled “Leveraging Unmanned Systems for Coast Guard Missions” and issued in 2020; and
(5) identify adjustments that would be necessary in Coast Guard authorities, policies, procedures, and protocols to incorporate uncrewed technologies to enhance efficiency.
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year after entering into an arrangement under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment prepared under this section.
(d) USE OF INFORMATION.—In formulating costs pursuant to subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences may utilize information from other Coast Guard reports, assessments, or analyses regarding existing Coast Guard manpower requirements or other reports, assessments, or analyses for the acquisition of unmanned, autonomous, or remotely-controlled technologies by the Federal Government.
######
SEC. 8205. HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES
(a) CANCER-RELATED DEATHS AND DISABILITIES
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1201 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281), as amended by section 8204, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
######
“(i) In general.—.—The Director shall make an update under subparagraph (A)(ii) in any case in which the Director finds such an update to be appropriate based on competent medical evidence of significant risk to public safety officers of developing the form of exposure-related cancer that is the subject of the update from engagement in their public safety activities.
“(ii) Evidence.—.—The competent medical evidence described in clause (i) may include recommendations, risk assessments, and scientific studies by—
“(I) the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
“(II) the National Toxicology Program;
“(III) the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or
“(IV) the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
######
********************************************************************************
JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT TO ACCOMPANY THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
Overview
The following consists of the joint explanatory material to accompany the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
Section 5 of the Act specifies that this joint explanatory statement shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this legislation as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference.
In this joint explanatory statement, the provisions of H.R. 3838, the House-passed version of the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, are generally referred to as “the House bill." The provisions of S. 2296, the Senate-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, are generally referred to as “the Senate bill." The final form of the agreements reached during negotiations between the House and the Senate are referred to as "the agreement."
######
Independent assessment of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program
The Senate bill contained a provision (sec. 1551) that would direct the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct an independent assessment of the National Industrial Security Program.
The House bill contained no similar provision.
The agreement does not include the Senate provision.
We are aware that the Department of Defense has initiated an effort known as the Fast-tracking Acquisition Security Transformation (FAST) study, which is intended to identify and resolve security bottlenecks that hinder the rapid delivery of critical technology to our warfighters and make recommendations to modernize security policies and processes. The FAST study has focused on several key challenges, including foreign ownership, control and influence, cybersecurity, information systems authorizations, classified facility accreditation, facility clearances, personnel, and subcontracting. We applaud the Department for proactively engaging in this effort, and with the broad industry outreach, they have started to gain better understanding of the impacts of the challenges for industry and the ensuing impact on the government's ability to be responsive to industry needs. We expect this study will also inform the government on any potential personnel shortfalls that may exist in the evolution of processes that have not had commensurate staffing increases to accommodate those changes. We look forward to the final report, and to discussions about how that report will inform future budgeting and resourcing decisions for the Department.
######
Review of the occupational health and safety conditions of operational facilities associated with the LGM–30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system
The House bill contained a provision (sec. 1627) that would require the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to enter into an agreement with the Executive Officer of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a review of the occupational health and safety conditions of specified LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile facilities and submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than 18 months from the date of the enactment.
The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
The agreement does not include the House provision. We encourage the Department of the Air Force to continue to closely monitor facilities and take appropriate steps to limit servicemember exposure to toxic or hazardous substances should such substances be detected.
######