SUSTAIN Act

This bill would bar the Secretary of the Air Force, from enactment through September 30, 2032, from retiring, transferring, consolidating, or otherwise reducing MQ-9 drone aircraft and MQ-9 units, including Air National Guard units, below their current levels. It would also bar cuts to the units' designed capabilities and to personnel when those cuts would affect unit capability. Individual aircraft could be removed if found unsafe, uneconomical to repair, or no longer mission capable. A unit could be converted to a new mission with the governor's approval, a certification to Congress, and a transition plan. The Air Force would also have to consult National Guard leaders before changing Guard MQ-9 units and report to Congress within 180 days on its plan to replace or modernize the MQ-9 fleet.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ted Cruz Republican sponsor
• 3 cosponsors