Summary of H.R. 8331 — Maverick Act (119th Congress, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

• The Maverick Act authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey three specific F-14D Tomcat aircraft to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama.
• The conveyance is a gift, at no cost to the United States, with costs of conveyance and ongoing maintenance borne by the Commission.
• The bill emphasizes preserving naval aviation heritage through display, commemorative use, or controlled operation, while preventing military use of the aircraft.

Key Provisions and Changes

Section 2: Conveyance Authority

• The Secretary of the Navy may convey (without consideration) the following F-14D Tomcat aircraft to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission:
  • F-14D (Bureau Number 163283)
  • F-14D (Bureau Number 164602)
  • F-14D (Bureau Number 159437)
• Conveyance must be done via a conditional deed of gift.

Financial Arrangements

• The conveyance is at no cost to the United States.
• The Commission must cover all costs associated with the conveyance process, compliance determinations, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the aircraft.

Aircraft Condition and Supporting Materials (Subsection d)

• The Secretary is not required to repair or alter the aircraft prior to conveyance (AS-IS condition).
• The Secretary, before conveyance, must provide:
  • Operations manuals specific to the F-14D.
  • Excess Navy spare parts and equipment deemed necessary to restore, operate, or display the aircraft for the permitted use.
• The Secretary is not obligated to provide other spare parts or support beyond the specified manuals and parts.
• The Commission may enter into agreements with a qualified nonprofit to restore the aircraft for its permitted use.

Terms and Conditions of Conveyance (Subsection e)

• The conveyance instrument must include minimum conditions:
  1. The aircraft must not have any capability as a launch platform or for combat use.
  2. The Commission may use the aircraft only for display, public static display, airshows, or commemorative events to preserve naval aviation heritage.
  3. The Commission must maintain and operate the aircraft in compliance with applicable FAA maintenance requirements.
  4. If the Commission transfers ownership or disposes of the aircraft without Secretary approval, or violates the display/maintenance conditions, the U.S. retains the right to repossess the aircraft.
  5. Additional terms may be imposed to protect U.S. interests (e.g., demilitarization, indemnification, restrictions on further disposition).

Liability Clarification (Subsection f)

• Upon conveyance, the United States is not liable for death, injury, loss, or damage arising from use of the aircraft by any party other than the United States.

Applicable Law (Subsection g)

• The conveyance and use of the aircraft are subject to federal and state laws and regulations, including:
  • Arms Export Control Act
  • Export Control Reform Act
  • Espionage Act
  • ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
  • Export Administration Regulations
  • Foreign Assets Control Regulations

Who is Affected

• Navy: Manages the conveyance and ensures compliance with the terms and conditions.
• U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission (Huntsville, AL): Recipients of the three F-14D aircraft; responsible for display, maintenance, restoration, and ongoing costs.
• Qualified nonprofit entities: May be engaged to assist in restoration and operation of the aircraft under agreed arrangements.
• Public and heritage organizations: Benefit from the display and educational use of historic naval aviation assets.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Introduction and Referral: April 16, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• The bill establishes process and conditions for conveyance but does not specify a funding timeline or construction schedule; costs fall to the Commission, and federal responsibilities are limited to the conveyance and initial condition provisions.
• The act creates a legal framework to ensure proper compliance, maintenance standards, and revocation pathways if terms are violated.

Notable Details

• Short title: Maverick Act of 2026.
• Specific aircraft identified by Bureau Numbers: 163283, 164602, 159437.
• Emphasizes non-military use (display, commemorative events) and strict compliance with aviation safety and export control laws.

This summary provides a clear overview of the bill’s intent, major provisions, affected parties, and key legal and procedural safeguards.