Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. NORCROSS. Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Smith and Chairman Rogers for setting by example what it is like to work in a bipartisan fashion and to Chairman Wittman for what he does each and every day to make sure that we work together to make sure we support our warfighters.

This bill continues the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee's proud, bipartisan tradition and reaffirms our shared responsibility for managing this risk.

I am, however, disappointed that some in the majority would kill this bipartisan work. We have seen the amendments, and they will ruin what we have done collectively on our committee. Our servicemembers and their families deserve better.

Madam Chair, this authorizes funding levels for key defense programs including $7 billion for the most expensive defense program in the history of our country, the F-35, and over $800 million to make sure that we continue the E-7A aircraft which is needed so badly, particularly in the Pacific.

Madam Chair, this bill also addresses the risks and costs of military modernization. It extends the review, the assessment, and the reporting to Congress on the F-35 program by the Government Accountability Office, which is incredibly important. We have taken many of the recommendations over the year and find it very valuable.

The bill also continues the subcommittee's work to revitalize our munitions industrial base by providing multiyear procurement authorities, coupled with strong investment in these accounts.

Madam Chair, this bill also includes and fortifies the Office of the Director, Operational Testing and Evaluation. I am concerned with the administration's plan for DOT&E. We must ensure that this office remains independent and relevant.

Madam Chair, I thank Jay, Michael, Heath, Caroline, and Brooke, our professional staff. I also certainly thank my own personal staff, Robin Dickey, my legislative assistant; Sam DeVito; and Bryan Ye.

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