Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan amendment, which supports the Pentagon's FY19 budget request for research and development conducted by the Defense Innovation Unit-Experimental, also known as DIUx.

I am grateful to my colleagues, Representatives Gallagher of Wisconsin and Russell of Oklahoma, and to my colleague from Massachusetts, Representative Tsongas, for working with me on this amendment.

American technological innovation is widely renowned as the world's best. Our private-sector innovators are constantly pushing the envelope of the possible, inventing new technologies that revolutionize how people live. However, when it comes to national security, we have a serious problem.

Thousands of our startups have a strong desire to contribute to national security, but over the past two decades, as our cutting-edge innovators have changed the world, government procurement processes have failed to change with them. As a result, in critical areas such as cybersecurity, our top private-sector innovators have no economically viable avenue to pursue government business. The Department of Defense, therefore, has no access to them.

DIUx is the only funding stream in this entire bill that solves this problem. Military services and commanders in the field identify pressing problems that they need solved and bring them to DIUx. DIUx then pairs them with top commanders and top innovators to provide a pilot contract to solve their problems. This has resulted in bids from more than 650 companies in more than 42 States.

Most importantly, DIUx is able to solve these problems, in most instances, in less than 90 days. This is far more flexible, agile, and cost-effective than any other procurement vehicle currently available.

Just one of DIUx's 71 programs now saves the Air Force 400,000 pounds of fuel per day--just one project. That is enough to more than recoup DIUx's entire FY18 appropriation several times over.

If the devastating cuts proposed to this program come to pass, DIUx will lose its critical momentum, capabilities, and talent, jeopardizing the program's future. If we care about protecting our troops, enhancing national security, and ensuring efficient use of taxpayer funds, I hope we will adopt this amendment, which simply matches the Pentagon's FY19 budget requested by DIUx.

Mr. Chairman, if I may ask how much time I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source