,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbei ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bf1 #bjbf,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 and ,mr4 ,curtis7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to promote the development1 production1 and deployment of secure and resilient ,unmanned ,aerial ,systems 7,,uas7 to enhance ,united ,states national security and support the defense and resilience of ,taiwan in the ,indo-,pacific ,region4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,blue ,skies for ,taiwan ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on the ,budget1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on the ,budget1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,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 list4 #c4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,taiwan is a longstanding and vital democratic partner whose security is central to ,united ,states strategic interests and regional stability in the ,indo-,pacific region4 7#b7 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china 7,,prc7 is increasingly employing gray-zone tactics1 including routine use of unmanned aerial systems and other low-cost platforms1 to pressure ,taiwan and undermine its security4 7#c7 ,as set forth in the ,taiwan ,relations ,act of #aigi 7,public ,law #if-h71 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 nature4 7#d7 ,as set forth in the ,taiwan ,enhanced ,resilience ,act 7subtitle ,a of title ,,xii of ,public ,law #aag-bfc71 it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should support ,taiwan's acquisition and employment of capabilities that advance asymmetric strategies4 7#e7 ,the vast majority of commercially available ,,uas contain ,,prc-sourced components1 creating significant cybersecurity1 supply chain1 and operational risks for both ,taiwan and the ,united ,states4 7#f7 ,taiwan is well-positioned to develop and produce ,,uas components and systems but faces challenges in competing with ,,prc commercial companies1 accessing capital1 and meeting ,united ,states certification and cybersecurity requirements4 7#g7 ,the ,united ,states should support ,,uas supply chain development in ,taiwan to strengthen ,taiwan's asymmetric defense posture and expand ,united ,states access to secure1 ,,prc-independent ,,uas components and systems4 7#h7 ,the ,army ,organic ,industrial ,base1 including its arsenals1 depots1 and ammunition plants1 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 partners4 #d4 ,blue ,,uas ,working ,group 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall establish a ,blue ,,uas working group1 leveraging existing workstreams and expanding scope as needed1 inclusive of government1 industry1 and academic experts1 to-- 7#a7 assess ,taiwan's domestic drone production capacity1 including research and development1 legal and regulatory frameworks1 testing1 certification1 and production capacities for dual-use drones2 7#b7 evaluate opportunities for public-private partnerships between the ,united ,states and ,taiwan for co-development and co-production of ,,uas systems and components1 including pilot programs2 7#c7 identify barriers to the inclusion of ,taiwan-manufactured components and systems manufactured in ,blue ,,uas programs2 7#d7 identify regulatory1 export-control1 and certification barriers that impede ,taiwan's participation in ,blue ,,uas programs2 7#e7 provide recommendations to expand and improve incorporation of ,taiwanese suppliers into ,blue ,,uas programs2 7#f7 identify specific ,,uas components or systems that could be integrated into ,blue ,,uas programs within #ab to #bd months2 7#g7 analyze opportunities and impediments to including ,taiwan in ,replicator programs and similar initiatives2 and 7#h7 assess opportunities for collaboration with the ,army ,organic ,industrial ,base1 including its arsenals1 depots1 and ammunition plants1 to support the testing1 evaluation1 production1 maintenance1 and sustainment of ,blue ,,uas components and systems1 including those co-developed or co-produced with ,taiwan4 7b7 ,reporting ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for three years1 the ,working ,group shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an unclassified report on its activities1 including findings1 recommendations1 timelines1 resource needs1 and potential funding mechanisms1 with a classified appendix as necessary4 #e4 ,cooperative framework with allies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall establish a cooperative framework1 drawing on the ,partnership for ,indo-,pacific ,industrial ,resilience 7,,pipir71 among the ,united ,states1 ,taiwan1 and regional allies and global partners to promote secure1 ,,prc-independent ,,uas supply chains and enhance interoperability4 7b7 ,elements ,the cooperative framework shall include-- 7#a7 support regional allies in the acquisition of ,blue ,,uas components or systems from ,taiwan in lieu of ,,prc-sourced components2 and 7#b7 fast-track ,blue ,,uas certification for components co-developed or co-produced by ,taiwan and regional allies4 #f4 ,fast-track certification 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall develop a fast-track process for ,blue ,,uas companies in ,taiwan to obtain ,blue ,,uas certification4 7b7 ,elements ,the fast-track certification process shall include the following procedures3 7#a7 ,expedited export control reviews and licensing for ,taiwan drone and drone component manufacturers1 including streamlined technical reviews for components with no ,,prc-connected subcomponents4 7#b7 ,a fast-track certification procedure for ,taiwanese manufacturers1 including reciprocal testing arrangements or recognition of equivalent ,taiwan cybersecurity standards where appropriate4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this ,act4 #h4 ,rules of construction ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed-- 7#a7 to alter ,united ,states policy towards ,taiwan as codified in the ,taiwan ,relations ,act of #aigi 7,public ,law #if-h72 and 7#b7 to alter the ,united ,states ,government's position with respect to the international status of ,taiwan4