Maverick Act
Officially: “Maverick Act” Read the full text
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1Short title
This section says the short title of this Act is the Maverick Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maverick Act .
2Conveyance of F-14D Tomcat aircraft from the Navy to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama
This section would let the Secretary of the Navy give away, at no charge, all of the United States' ownership rights in 3 surplus F-14D Tomcat aircraft (identified by Bureau Numbers 164341, 164602, and 159437) to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama. These aircraft are ones the Navy no longer needs for its operations, and the Secretary would not be required to make the transfer, only allowed to. The transfer would have to be done through a conditional deed of gift. The aircraft being transferred do not have any ability to launch or release weapons, or any other combat capability they were originally designed to have. The Secretary would have to include several specific conditions in the transfer document: that the Secretary is not required to repair or fix up the aircraft before transferring them; that the Secretary must provide any maintenance and operations manuals specific to the F-14D aircraft, but only manuals the Secretary has enough intellectual property rights to hand over; that the Secretary may provide extra spare parts to make one of the aircraft flyable or ready for static display, but only if the Commission pays fair market value to replace any parts taken from existing Navy stock, and the Secretary may not buy new parts on the Commission's behalf; and that the Secretary will not be responsible for transferring any additional parts or providing any other support beyond what this section requires, either during or after the transfer. The Secretary could also allow the Commission to enter into agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations to restore and operate the transferred aircraft for public display, airshows, and events commemorating naval aviation history, and if the Secretary allows such an agreement, the Secretary could add further terms and conditions to the transfer document to protect the interests of the United States. The transfer document would also have to include conditions that the Commission must operate and maintain the aircraft in compliance with all limitations and maintenance requirements imposed by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; that the Commission may not sell, give away, or transfer possession of the aircraft to anyone else without the Secretary's prior approval; and that if the Secretary determines at any time that the Commission has failed to comply with either of those two conditions, ownership of the aircraft, including any repairs or alterations made to it, would revert to the United States, and the United States would have the right to take immediate possession of the aircraft. The transfer would have to happen at no cost to the United States, with the Commission responsible for paying all costs of the transfer itself, all costs of confirming compliance with the transfer's terms, and all costs of operating and maintaining the aircraft after transfer. Regardless of any other law, once ownership of an aircraft is transferred, the United States would not be liable for any death, injury, loss, or damage caused by any use of the aircraft by anyone other than the United States. The transfer and any later use of the aircraft would remain subject to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including the Arms Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4811 et seq.), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 120 et seq.), Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 730 et seq.), Foreign Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR 500 et seq.), and chapter 37 of title 18 of the United States Code, commonly known as the Espionage Act.
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2. Conveyance of F–14D Tomcat aircraft from the Navy to the U.S. Space and rocket center commission in Huntsville, Alabama (a) Authority The Secretary of the Navy (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) may convey, without consideration, to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama (in this section referred to as the Commission ), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 3 surplus F–14D Tomcat aircraft (Bureau Numbers 164341, 164602, 159437), which are excess to the operational requirements of the Navy. (b) Form of conveyance The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be made by means of a conditional deed of gift. (c) Condition of aircraft The aircraft being conveyed under subsection (a) do not have any capability for use as a platform for launching or releasing munitions or any other combat capability that it was designed to have. (d) Conditions The Secretary shall include in the instrument of conveyance of the aircraft under subsection (a)— (1) a condition that the Secretary is not required to repair or alter the condition of the aircraft before conveying ownership of the aircraft; (2) a condition that the Secretary shall provide any maintenance and operations manuals that— (A) are specific to the F–14D aircraft; and (B) the Secretary has sufficient intellectual property rights to convey; (3) a condition that the Secretary may provide excess spare parts to make one of the F–14D aircraft flyable or able to complete a static display, provided that any part transferred from existing Navy stock is replenished at fair market value by the Commission, with no items being procured by the Secretary on behalf of the Commission; and (4) a condition that the Secretary will not be responsible for transferring any additional parts or providing any additional support beyond what is stated in this section, during or after the conveyance of the aircraft. (e) Agreements for restoration and operation The Secretary may— (1) authorize the Commission to enter into agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of restoring and operating the aircraft transferred under subsection (a) for public display, airshows, and commemorative events to preserve naval aviation heritage; and (2) if the Secretary authorizes any such agreement, require such additional terms and conditions in the instrument of conveyance as appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. (f) Reverter upon breach of conditions The Secretary shall include in the instrument of conveyance of the aircraft under subsection (a)— (1) a condition that the Commission shall operate and maintain the aircraft in compliance with all applicable limitations and maintenance requirements imposed by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; (2) a condition that the Commission shall not convey any ownership interest in, or transfer possession of, the aircraft to another party without the prior approval of the Secretary; and (3) a condition that if the Secretary determines at any time that the Commission has failed to comply with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2), all right, title, and interest in and to the aircraft, including any repair or alteration of the aircraft, shall revert to the United States, and the United States shall have the right of immediate possession of the aircraft. (g) Conveyance at no cost to the United States The conveyance of an aircraft under subsection (a) shall be made at no cost to the United States. Any costs associated with such conveyance, costs of determining compliance with terms of the conveyance, and costs of operation and maintenance of the aircraft conveyed shall be borne by the Commission. (h) Clarification of liability Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the conveyance of ownership of the aircraft under subsection (a), the United States shall not be liable for any death, injury, loss, or damage that results from any use of such aircraft by any person other than the United States. (i) Applicable law The transfer and use of the aircraft under subsection (a) is subject to all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, including— (1) the Arms Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. ); (2) the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 ( 50 U.S.C. 4811 et seq. ); (3) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 120 et seq.); (4) Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 730 et seq.); (5) Foreign Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR 500 et seq.); and (6) chapter 37 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the Espionage Act ). Passed the Senate April 28, 2026. Secretary
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In the Senate.