Prohibit Deactivation of the ECABs Act of 2026

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for any of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for the Army may be obligated or expended to retire, deactivate, schedule to deactivate, or proceed with any other action that would reduce the capabilities, resources, aircraft, or personnel available, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, for the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades unless the Secretary of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees—

(1) a certification that the Secretary of the Army plans to recapitalize any such aircraft for the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades and to otherwise restore any such capabilities, resources, or personnel levels reduced; and

(2) the plan of the Secretary of the Army for the actions specified in paragraph (1).

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, for any Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade that, prior to such date of enactment, the Secretary of the Army retired or deactivated (or carried out any other activity to reduce the capabilities, resources, aircraft, or personnel thereof), the Secretary of the Army shall reinstate or reactivate such brigade, or otherwise restore such brigade to the levels preceding such reduction, as the case may be.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation of this subsection.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to sustain and modernize the aircraft used by the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Army for the operation of aircraft, and training for such operation, by the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

In this section, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.