Defense Production Act Extension and Reauthorization of 2008

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT EXTENSION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 23, 2008)

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6894, the Defense Production Act Extension and Reauthorization of 2008.

In 1950, at the outset of the Korean war and at the behest of President Truman, Congress acted to give the President the ability to meet a specific national security need should we have a shortfall in supplies.

The ability of this Nation to call on private industry to meet the demands of securing a nation are just as prominent today as they were over a half century ago when Congress first enacted this law. In an uncertain world where we face constantly changing threats and remain vulnerable to national disaster, the ability of military and civilian agencies to be given priority service to aid the American people is paramount.

Today, with American soldiers fighting so courageously abroad, we have the same imperative: they must have the resources and equipment they need when they need them.

Similarly, this country has seen the toll natural disasters can take on the Nation. Within the last weeks alone, we have seen Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike bring destruction to this Nation's shores. Responding to the needs of the families affected should be a priority, and this legislation reauthorizes the President's ability to effectively respond to those needs with priority purchases of supplies, be they water or equipment, to repair damaged railroad switches.

The authorities in this act are too important to be allowed to expire for any amount of time. Yet, Mr. Speaker, without the Congress acting today, these authorities will expire on September 30. The legislation before us would reauthorize the Defense Production Act in its current form, for 1 year, with no other changes to the DPA's powers. This 1-year extension will continue these authorities while providing the Congress a window to consider any need for updating this act. A recently issued GAO report on the authorities, as well as volumes of other information, will ensure engagement in an important dialogue on how to improve on this authority's taking place. Passing this law today ensures that that debate takes place without the impending pressure of adjournment.

I hope, Mr. Speaker, that we can undertake any needed updates of the act at the beginning of the first session of the next Congress and then extend the authorization for multiple years at that point so that these important authorities remain available to protect America, Americans and American interests, uninterrupted.

In closing, I would like to thank Chairman LUIS GUTIERREZ and full committee Chairman BARNEY FRANK for authoring this bipartisan legislation. Because of their leadership on this issue, Congress has before it today a bill to ensure the American people and their security interests are well served. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 6894.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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