FEDERALcongressional record

Proposed Study on Using Underutilized Air National Guard Bases

Original title: Text of Senate Amendment 6120

June 24, 2026

Military Infrastructure Air National Guard Defense Spending Strategic Planning

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The Frame

What this does

This amendment mandates a formal assessment of whether existing, underused Air National Guard runways can be repurposed for active military flying missions, potentially impacting future defense infrastructure investments and base operations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Air Force

The agency is required to conduct a feasibility study and submit a report to congressional defense committees within 180 days.

National Guard Bureau

The Bureau is required to consult with the Secretary of the Air Force on the feasibility study.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Background

S. 4784 is the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets the budget and policies for the Department of Defense. context
Ms. Ernst is a U.S. Senator from Iowa and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. context

Summary

Senator Ernst has proposed an amendment to the 2027 defense authorization bill requiring the Air Force to study the feasibility of basing permanent, manned flying missions at Air National Guard airfields that currently lack them. The report would evaluate whether these underutilized sites could support strategic assets and long-range strike systems.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of this amendment?

The goal is to determine if Air National Guard airfields that currently lack manned aircraft could be used to host permanent, manned flying missions.

Who is responsible for the report?

The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for submitting the report, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Commander of United States Strategic Command.

What specific criteria must the airfields meet to be included in the study?

The airfields must have active runways of at least 9,000 feet, s, and be located near regional training corridors or geographic commands.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Related Legislation

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Senate Scheduling Update for S. 4784

The Senate has agreed to delay the vote on a cloture motion for S. 4784 until after the confirmation vote for the Schwartz nomination. This procedural

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Underutilized Infrastructure

The amendment signals a legislative interest in maximizing the utility of existing Air National Guard assets rather than solely focusing on new construction.

Air Force National Guard Bureau

Connected Entities

organizationUnited States Strategic Command“Consulted on the feasibility study.”Map →

organizationNational Guard Bureau“Consulted on the feasibility study.”Map →

organizationAir Force“Responsible for conducting the feasibility study.”Map →

other9,000“Minimum runway length requirement in feet for the study.”Map →

personMs. Ernst“U.S. Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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