# 119-s-4677: SUSTAIN Act

119-s-4677, SUSTAIN Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-09-26).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4677
- As of: 2026-09-26
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4677
- Congress: 119
- Title: SUSTAIN Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-26

## Summary

**Preserve MQ-9 force levels and unit capabilities** by stopping cuts to MQ-9 aircraft and MQ-9 units that exist on enactment and by forcing a plan to recapitalize the fleet through September 30, 2032. - Air National Guard units: Keeps each unit's MQ-9 aircraft counts and primary aerospace vehicle authorization at or above enactment-date levels through September 30, 2032 and bars changes to a unit's designed operational capability that would reduce its mission capability. - Personnel and maintainers: Prohibits reductions in assigned personnel for MQ-9 operator and maintenance units if those cuts would impair the unit's ability to meet its designed capability. - Service leaders and state officials: Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to consult with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Director of the Air National Guard before taking actions that would retire, divest, transfer, redesignate, consolidate, or otherwise reduce MQ-9 units. - Exceptions and conversion rules: Allows removal of individual aircraft deemed unsafe or uneconomical to repair and allows mission conversions only with a governor's approval, a certification that capability will be maintained or improved, and a detailed transition plan submitted to congressional defense committees. - Recapitalization reporting: Directs the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Air National Guard, to deliver a MQ-9 recapitalization plan to congressional defense committees within 180 days that covers current status, projected service life, modernization and sustainment through fiscal year 2035, recapitalization options, the ANG role, timelines, funding estimates, and needed authorities.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR), 2026-06-11T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Protect Air National Guard MQ-9s: benefit, low. This bill would stop the Secretary of the Air Force from reducing MQ-9 aircraft or MQ-9 units that exist on the date of enactment. The protection would run from the date of enactment through September 30, 2032. It would bar divestment, deactivation, redesignation, consolidation, transfer, retiremen…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025
- 119-s-1793: COUNTER Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4677 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4677)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-410: Love Lives On Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-410)
- [119-s-1793: COUNTER Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1793)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4677 (as of 2026-09-26).