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By Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX)

The Hill

July 8, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently published an opinion editorial in The Hill, discussing the importance of revitalizing the US Defense Industrial Base. McCaul stressed the importance of ensuring both the US and its allies have the weapon systems necessary to defend themselves.

This week, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is expected to be on the House floor for a vote. One of Congressman McCaul’s amendments, which requires the Department of Defense to establish and implement a strategy, and report to Congress, on increasing competitive opportunities for innovative nontraditional defense contractors in the DOD acquisition process for critical technologies, will be considered.

In the opinion editorial, McCaul explained, “We must also embrace the leaders and new companies that can quickly help us meet today and tomorrow’s security needs, especially as they relate to the global malign threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They will be critical to the rejuvenation of our defense industrial base because they draw on one of America’s best and longest established strengths: innovation. Many startups and other growing companies hesitate to have the Pentagon as a customer because others have encountered unnecessary obstacles and overly burdensome bureaucracy that significantly limit their chances for success. The profit potential in the commercial sector is significant, and the desire to avoid the legion of headaches due to government bureaucracy cannot be underestimated.“

The full text of the opinion editorial can be found here.

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