S. 4609

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4609 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4609

To require the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for crisis 
management in the South China Sea, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 20, 2026

Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for crisis 
management in the South China Sea, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Strategy for Crisis Management Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. STRATEGY FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA.

(a) Crisis Defined.--In this section, the term ``crisis'' means an 
incident or situation that creates a condition of such national 
security importance that the President or the Secretary of Defense may 
consider a commitment of the United States Armed Forces or Department 
resources, or the initiation of activities by the Department of 
Defense, to achieve or defend national objectives.
(b) Strategy.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop a strategy 
for crisis management in the South China Sea that--
(1) identifies the exact locations of the most likely 
flashpoints in the South China Sea that could lead to scenarios 
of crises short of war that would require heightened 
interagency and international coordination; and
(2) includes, for each major likely flashpoint, a crisis 
playbook with sequenced response options and a plan for 
coordination with foreign partners.
(c) Objectives.--The strategy required by subsection (b) shall be 
designed--
(1) to deny the aim of the People's Republic of China and 
deter further People's Republic of China provocation or actions 
that expand the crisis;
(2) to ensure the safety of United States citizens and 
residents in the region and in the United States;
(3) to ensure the safety of members of the United States 
Armed Forces in the region, including safety from accidents;
(4) to preserve United States economic interests in the 
region, including protecting key trade and commerce routes;
(5) to protect United States national security interests, 
including by upholding treaty obligations and protecting allies 
and partners; and
(6) to manage possible escalation into combat operations by 
taking opportunities for de-escalation and maintaining 
strategic stability.
(d) Crisis Playbooks.--
(1) In general.--Each crisis playbook required by 
subsection (b)(2)--
(A) shall be developed by the Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretary of State, the 
applicable Chief of Mission, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any 
other relevant agency; and
(B) shall be informed by the intelligence community 
and relevant experts.
(2) Elements.--Each crisis playbook shall include the 
following:
(A) A list of specific indicators that would 
elevate a scenario from a baseline of gray-zone 
conditions to the level of a crisis.
(B) Not less than one planning scenario that could 
lead to crisis, with clearly identified assumptions, 
phases, and likely branches.
(C) Anticipated decision points and recommended 
options, sequenced across all identified phases. The 
Secretary of Defense shall consider at least the 
following types of recommended options:
(i) Response options for Department action, 
across the range of possible decisions across 
the Department, including force employment, 
military posture, Department official 
statements or travel, engagements or public 
announcements, capability demonstrations or 
tests.
(ii) Recommendations for types of ongoing 
Department activities to consider ceasing, 
reducing, or changing in scale or type.
(iii) Diplomatic and economic options, 
developed in coordination with the Secretary of 
State, the applicable Chief of Mission, the 
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and the head of any other relevant 
agency, to accompany the options for the 
Department.
(D) Each option recommended under subparagraph (C) 
shall include a cost-benefit-risk analysis, 
specifically--
(i) the projected benefit of the option;
(ii) the assessed risk to members of the 
United States Armed Forces;
(iii) the estimated financial cost;
(iv) the projected humanitarian impact, 
including the impact on local civilians;
(v) the projected impact to escalation 
risk; and
(vi) any accompanying risk mitigation 
strategies.
(E) A list of possible off-ramps, including a 
description of indicators of such off-ramps and 
recommendations of options for the Secretary of Defense 
to take advantage of such off-ramps.
(F) An engagement plan--
(i) for streamlined communication and 
coordination with relevant foreign partners 
during each phase of the crisis to design 
collective diplomatic, economic and military 
responses to People's Republic of China 
coercion and avoid potential actions that could 
unnecessarily provoke or exacerbate a tense 
situation; and
(ii) that identifies recommendations for 
specific immediate actions the Secretary of 
Defense should take now to pre-coordinate with 
foreign partners.
(e) Semiannual Review.--Not less frequently than semiannually, the 
Secretary of Defense shall review, update as necessary, and validate 
each crisis playbook developed under subsection (b)(2).
(f) Interim Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a progress report that--
(A) details the list of locations and scenarios 
identified under subsection (b)(1);
(B) provides a status update on the development of 
the crisis playbook required by subsection (b)(2);
(C) sets forth a plan for the completion of such 
playbooks not later than March 2027; and
(D) details the process by which such playbooks 
will be reviewed, updated as necessary, and validated 
under subsection (e).
(2) Form.--The interim report required by paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 
classified annex.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate the 
House of Representatives a report that summarizes the strategy 
developed under subsection (b).
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
annex.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to require the options set forth in a playbook developed under 
subsection (b)(2) to be the only options considered or followed in a 
crisis scenario.
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