Scott Highlights Important Role of Defense Production Act in Keeping America Secure
The chairman stressed the need for the DPA to remain tailored to prioritize defense production, emergency preparedness, and the protection of critical domestic supply chains.
Washington, D.C. – Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today emphasized the important role the Defense Production Act (DPA) plays in protecting the American people and securing supply lines critical to our national defense and emergency preparedness. Chairman Scott stressed the need for the DPA to remain tailored to prioritize defense production, emergency preparedness, and the protection of critical domestic supply chains.
Chairman Scott’s opening remarks as delivered:
I’m starting today’s conversation on the Defense Production Act by highlighting that this Act is a vital tool for protecting the American people and securing the economic foundations of our national defense.
The DPA was enacted during the early days of the Cold War to ensure that the United States could rapidly scale up domestic industrial capacity in times of national emergency.
Over the past 70 years, it has stood the test of time, empowering presidents from both parties to respond to urgent security needs with decisive action.
The world has changed dramatically since the DPA was first signed into law.
The threats we face today are more complex and often more economically driven than ever before.
Threats from adversaries weaponizing supply chains, to our dangerous over-reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and defense components.
The DPA gives us the authority to meet these challenges head-on.
And as Chairman of this Committee, I believe ensuring the DPA remains a focused, reliable, and agile authority to support national security and true national emergency response is among our committee’s highest priorities and responsibilities.
The standing rules of the Senate provide this committee with jurisdiction over defense production and economic stabilization.
As we consider improvements to this Act, we have an opportunity to ensure that the law continues to support American security and resilience in the years to come.
That means keeping the DPA tightly tailored to the purposes for which it was created: defense production, emergency preparedness, and the protection of critical domestic supply chains.
We must ensure that the DPA supports the defense industrial base – the backbone of our military strength.
That includes investments in munitions manufacturing and advanced technologies that enable our warfighters to deter and defeat threats.
It is also important to secure certain economic supply lines critical to our national interest.
Whether that is from domestic mining and processing of rare earth elements, to building out second-source capabilities for antibiotics and essential pharmaceuticals, which are overwhelmingly sourced overseas today.
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us in stark terms that we cannot rely on foreign nations, like China to outsource the production of life-saving medicine.
The DPA has also helped Americans in moments of natural disaster and national emergency, including supporting disaster relief efforts and ramping up production of PPE during COVID.
These are the kinds of uses that fall squarely within the Act’s original mission.
It is no coincidence that the America First agenda has prominently featured the DPA in its approach to national security and industrial independence.
Notably, President Trump’s Executive Order on critical minerals recognized that long-term security means reducing dependence on geopolitical rivals for resources we need to defend our homeland and grow our economy.
Let me close by thanking our witnesses for being with us today and taking your time and providing your insights that are necessary.
Your testimony will help inform this Committee’s work as we move toward a responsible reauthorization of the DPA.
If we remain focused and principled, we can ensure the DPA continues to protect the American people, bolster our defense readiness, and secure our strategic supply chains for decades to come.
Thank you.
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