The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4350, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2022
______
HON. KEN CALVERT
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 27, 2021
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Rogers, and the Members of the Committee for their leadership in crafting a Defense Authorization Bill that is in line with what Secretary Mattis said we needed in the 2018 National Defense Strategy: 3-5 percent real growth from FY22 to FY25.
This bill addresses the critical areas of emerging tech, research and development, Airpower and Sea power, shipbuilding, and Space among many others.
I would specifically like to thank the Chair and Ranking Member for the inclusion of critical innovation priorities that I requested, such as:
The designation of Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects, which will more effectively transition Small Business Innovation Research programs into the Services' budget process;
The Pilot Program to Facilitate the Agile Acquisition of Technologies for Warfighters and new line for Agile Procurement Transition Pilot programs in the amount of $100,000,000. This authorization will be critical as we seek to compete with China by leveraging the innovative power of our private sector;
And for the much needed report on flexible funding for transitioning science and technology.
The DoD should not be doing research and development for the sake of doing research. We should always have an eye on developing cutting edge capabilities for the warfighter. For far too long the DoD has struggled to transition and scale critical innovative technologies from development projects to acquisition programs in a time period that meets the needs of the warfighter and ensures technology providers are able to survive. This report will help Congress understand why so we can develop ways to solve the problem of ``the valley of death''.
Let me be clear, we are in a geopolitical competition with China, and experts on both sides of the aisle agree that the current budgeting and acquisition process is not adequate to compete and win.
As the Defense bills move through Congress, I look forward to Authorizing and Appropriating the funding, capabilities, and resources that our warfighters need to fight tonight and modernize for the future.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 168
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