Hearing Entitled: Field Hearing on the Defense Production Act
House Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions
2025-08-13
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Source: Congress.gov
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illicit finance and international finance institutions will come to order without objection the chairman is authorized to declare a recess of the committee at any time today's hearing is titled securing the supply chain the defense production act in focus without objection all members will have five legislative days within which to submit extraneous materials for inclusion in the record i now recognize myself for four minutes for an opening statement Good morning and welcome to today's National Security Subcommittee hearing, Securing the Supply Chain, the Defense Production Act in Focus, which is devoted to evaluating the Defense Production Act ahead of its expiration in September. This year, this subcommittee has had a June hearing and a July briefing that provided fundamental overview of DPA for members of Congress. We convene here today at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base because of its significance in implementing DPA's Title III through Wright-Patt's hosting of major Air Force commands involved in defense acquisition. This ensures that Title III funded capabilities are integrated into operational systems, affects the base's sustainments activities, and enhances its ability to address national industrial base vulnerabilities. My colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to address the critical role of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in executing DPA's Title III authorities and the urgent need to modernize and enhance these powers to strengthen our national security. We will feature two panels, the first offering military officials perspective on the current DPA functionality, and the second panel incorporating feedback from civilian defense contractors from our region on today's procurement landscape. Enacted in 1950 during the Korean War, DPA was designed to secure America's industrial base for national emergencies, prioritizing domestic production over foreign reliance. Today, as our dependence on foreign critical materials, semiconductors, rare materials, pharmaceuticals grows, the DPA's importance is undeniable.
However, from 2018 to 2024, there's been a significant change in the pace of some of the Title III activity. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a reactive posture proving that waiting for a crisis results in a delayed response and not always well thought out. Modernizing DPA demands a proactive approach to bolster domestic capabilities. RightPAT is central to addressing these challenges through the Air Force Research Labs Executive Agent Program Office. Wright-Patt manages Title III projects to expand manufacturing capacity for advanced materials, but also for older technologies. Nevertheless, limitations persist. Streamlining the DPA process could enable faster agreements and expand flexible contracting. Increasing funding flexibility would allow RightPat to prioritize emerging technologies as well as improving existing supply chains. Reauthorizing DPA offers a chance to reset and realign its authorities with today's threats. By enhancing Right Path's role through simplified procurement, expanded funding, and proactive collaboration, we can rebuild a more resilient industrial base. I urge this committee to reconsider the Defense Production Act and the opportunity we have before us to modernize it. I would now yield my time and I will recognize the chairman of the full committee, French Hill, for one minute. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It's great to be here in your home state of Ohio and here at Wright-Patterson with our colleagues. America is navigating one of the most dangerous and complex global threat environments in recent history. Our adversaries are accelerating innovation, scaling production, and heavily investing in their national defense capabilities. It's critical that America keeps pace and expands our dominance as the leader in the free world. That requires not just military might, but economic resilience, financial agility, and industrial strength. During today's field hearing, we'll explore ways to use the Defense Production Act to secure supply chains and strengthen our domestic industrial base. while ensuring that our federal agencies have the tools they need to meet 21st century threats. The DPA needs to be anchored in its strategic goals embedded in the Truman administration, but be modernized, reorganized, and focused for these 21st century challenges. I thank Chairman Davidson for his leadership on our subcommittee and look forward to today's discussion.
I yield back. Thanks, Chairman Hill. Today, we will divide our witnesses into two panels. For the first panel, we welcome the testimony of Mr. Jeffrey Frankston, the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. Also, Dr. Charles Ormsby, Acting Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Air Force Research Laboratory. We thank you both for taking time to be here. You will each be recognized for five minutes to give an oral presentation of your testimony. Without objection, your written statements will be made part of the record. Mr. Frank, Mr. Frankston, you're now recognized for five minutes for your oral statement.
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Mr. Jeffrey Frankston
Thank you, sir. Chairman Hill, Vice Chairman, Committee Chairman Huizenga, Subcommittee Chairman Davidson, Representative Moore, good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today on the critical role the Defense Production Act plays in ensuring the United States maintains the industrial strength needed to support the interim national defense strategic guidance and sustain its competitive edge. It's an honor to speak to you
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