S. 4259 · On the floor · International Affairs

Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026

Sponsor: Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

What it does

• Establish a Blue UAS working group within 180 days, led by the Secretary of State in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to assess Taiwan's domestic drone production capacity and identify barriers to integrating Taiwan-manufactured components into Blue UAS programs.
• Require the working group to submit unclassified reports to appropriate congressional committees annually for four years on its findings, recommendations, timelines, resource needs, and potential funding mechanisms.
• Direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to establish a cooperative framework among the United States, Taiwan, regional allies, and global partners to promote secure, PRC-independent unmanned aerial systems supply chains.
• Develop a fast-track certification process for Taiwanese UAS manufacturers, including expedited export control reviews and recognition of equivalent Taiwan cybersecurity standards where appropriate.

Latest action

Jul 27, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 507.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations