FY22 Continuing Resolution (CR) and Appropriations / FY23 Budget / Supplemental
Defense Authorization
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Reporting RequirementOn July 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14036, Promoting Competition in the American Economy. The Executive Order established the White House Competition Council to coordinate and promote Federal Government efforts to advance competition. Under Section 5 of the Order, the Department of Defense (DoD) was directed to submit a report to the Chair of the White House Competition Council reviewing the state of competition within the defense industrial base (DIB), including areas where a lack of competition may be of concern and any recommendations for improving the solicitation process. Executive SummaryCompetition within the DIB is vital to the Department for several reasons. When markets are competitive, the Department reaps the benefits through improved cost, schedule, and performance for the products and services needed to support national defense. During initial procurement, incentivizing innovation through competition drives industry to offer its best technical solutions at a best-value cost and price. During contract performance, the expectation that contractors will have to compete against other firms in the future encourages them to perform effectively and efficiently.
Competition is also an indicator of the necessary industrial capability and capacity to deliver the systems, key technologies, materials, services, and products the Department requires to support its mission. Insufficient competition may leave gaps in filling these needs, remove pressures to innovate to outpace other firms, result in higher costs to taxpayers as leading firms leverage their market position to charge more, and raise barriers for new entrants. Moreover, having only a single source or a small number of sources for a defense need can pose mission risk and, particularly in cases where the existing dominant supplier or suppliers are influenced by an adversary nation, pose significant national security risks. For all these reasons, promoting competition to the maximum extent possible is a top priority for the Department. Executive SummaryThe Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization focused exclusively on accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the Services, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), defense agencies, and other components. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD and the interagency to rapidly prototype, field, and scale commercial solutions that can save lives, lead to new operational concepts, increase efficiencies, and save taxpayer dollars.
In fiscal year (FY) 2021, DIU delivered the following commercial solutions to DoD end-users, bringing the cumulative total of DIU delivered capabilities to 35. • Commercial Threat Data • Cyber Asset Inventory Management • Cyberspace Deception • Installation Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems • Generative Modeling of of Hypersonic Missile Trajectories • Responsive Launch Since COVID began, global supply is newsworthy. “Supply Chain Resilience” is a buzzword, and COVID, Suez Canal closure and other supply chain disruptions continue. It is one of President Biden’s biggest challenges. If current supply issues are not resolved soon, the potential for mass layoffs is real. Most of America’s fragile supply chain centers at the Port of Los Angeles and its worrisome impact on upcoming holidays. Lost has been troublesome news regarding our military’s critical supply chain, and its inability to keep fighter jets, bombers and refueling tankers afloat. The sprawling network of private contractors that manufacture critical replacement parts is known as the defense industrial base. Recent reports paint a worrisome picture of the defense industrial base’s rapidly declining ability to support our military. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Senate Committee on Armed Services held a hearing to review nominees for the positions of Under Secretary of the Army; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations, and the Environment; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Research Affairs; and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Members’ questions focused on balancing readiness and modernization, investing in energy resilience, cultural reform within the armed services, establishing better housing conditions for service members, and combatting climate change. In addition, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Camarillo highlighted that modernization of military weapons technology, such as long-range hypersonic weapons, is critical to counter advances China and Russia are making in military technology. All committee members expressed general support for the nominees.
Witnesses • The Honorable Gabriel Camarillo – Nominee to be Under Secretary of the Army • Ms. Rachel Jacobson – Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations, and Environment • Mr. Alex Wagner – Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs • Mr. Andrew Hunter – Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Members in Attendance Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-WV), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ranking Member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). Directed energy (DE) weapons use concentrated electromagnetic energy, rather than kinetic energy, to combat enemy forces. Although the United States has been researching directed energy since the 1960s, some experts have observed that the Department of Defense (DOD) has invested billions of dollars in DE programs that failed to reach maturity and were ultimately cancelled. In recent years, however, DOD has made progress on DE weapons development, deploying the first operational U.S. DE weapon in 2014 aboard the USS Ponce. Since then, DE weapons development has continued, with DOD issuing a Directed Energy Roadmap to coordinate the department’s efforts. DOD has also introduced a High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the defense industrial base for DE weapons and improve laser beam quality and efficiency.
This report provides background information and issues for Congress on DE weapons, including high-energy lasers (HELs) and high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons, and outlines selected unclassified DOD, Air Force, Army, and Navy DE programs. If successfully fielded, HELs could be used by ground forces in a range of missions, including short-range air defense (SHORAD); counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS); and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missions. HPM weapons could provide a non-kinetic means of disabling adversary electronics and communications systems. Compared with traditional munitions, DE weapons could offer lower logistical requirements, lower costs per shot, and—assuming access to a sufficient power supply—deeper magazines. These weapons could, however, face a number of limitations not faced by their kinetic counterparts. For example, atmospheric conditions (e.g., rain, fog, obscurants) could potentially limit the range and beam quality of DE weapons, in turn reducing their effectiveness. Highlights in the document include:
On Monday, September 13, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The majority of members expressed concern over the future of Taliban control of the country. Members largely focused on pre-withdrawal planning and evacuation processes for relevant U.S. and Afghan personnel. Other topics included vetting evacuees, humanitarian aid, U.S. intelligence capabilities, and provisions for protecting at-risk groups in Afghanistan.
Witnesses
Members in Attendance Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). Washington, D.C.
The countdown to August recess would begin if it were clear exactly when this work session will end. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has threatened to delay August recess while Congress negotiates two potential infrastructure packages, neither of which have been written. The House is beginning floor consideration of as many as ten of twelve appropriations bills this week. The way ahead for the Senate Appropriations Committee is still a bit unclear, but there is talk of marking up a handful of bills the first week of August. The House Armed Services Committee begins marking up its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act this week after the Senate Armed Services Committee approved its version of the bill last week, releasing a 40-page executive summary at its conclusion. The Fight Against Cyberattacks and Ransomware International cyber leaders are keeping an eye on potential cyber-attacks at the Olympic games in Tokyo, after reports Russian hackers targeted the last two Olympic games. Amid a crisis of cyberattacks and increasing warnings about U.S. vulnerability, the Biden administration and Congress are taking steps to fight back. NATO condemned China's aggressive cyber behavior, last week, and publicly attributed the cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange Server to Beijing-linked hackers, marking the first time NATO has formally rebuked China for cyberattacks. On the same day, Norway formally attributed a breach of Norwegian parliament email accounts to Chinese hackers involved in the hack of Microsoft's Exchange Server. Meanwhile in Congress, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the launch of a bipartisan investigation into the recent string of crippling ransomware attacks against U.S. companies. Chairman Peters said the HSGAC will be moving additional cybersecurity bills in its next markup. A number of measures strengthening the Defense Department's cybersecurity posture were included the Senate version of the FY 2022 NDAA, including $268.4 million across the DOD to support cybersecurity efforts. The House last week also passed eight bills focused on protecting telecommunications from cyberattacks. By: Leo Shane III https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/07/21/plan-to-boost-bidens-defense-budget-could-see-bipartisan-support/ Senate lawmakers will consider increasing White House military spending plans for next year by $25 billion as part of their debate over the annual defense spending bill this week. As closed-door work on the massive military policy measure began Wednesday morning, Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were bullish on the prospects of dramatically boosting plans for a $716 billion base budget for the Department of Defense in the measure. |
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