March 25, 2026
Mr. Barrett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To direct the Secretary of Defense to test and certify each automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast out transponder system on a Department of Defense aircraft that is operated in United States airspace, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safety in Shared Skies Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Testing and certification of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast out transponder systems on Department of Defense aircraft
(a) Uniform standards
The Secretary of Defense shall establish uniform standards under which the Secretary shall test and certify, at least once every 90 days, each automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast out transponder system installed on a Department of Defense aircraft if the aircraft is operated in United States airspace.
(b) Reporting requirements
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes, for the period covered by the report, a detailed description of the testing and certification conducted pursuant to the uniform standards established under subsection (a), including a description of any failures of an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast out transponder system.
(c) Inspector General audits
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall—
(1)
conduct an audit to ensure the Secretary is in compliance with the testing and certification requirements under subsection (a); and
(2)
submit to Congress a report that includes—
(A)
the results of the audit; and
(B)
the recommendation of the Inspector General as to whether the reporting requirement under subsection (b) and the audit requirement under this subsection should be extended.