MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), former Navy helicopter pilot and member of the House Armed Services Committee, secured over $20 million in additional funds for Picatinny Arsenal programs and the New Jersey innovation economy in a mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

The NDAA is critical legislation that Congress authors each year to establish defense priorities, make organizational shifts to military posture, and provide direction on how military funding can be spent.

“One of my chief responsibilities is to craft national defense legislation that strengthens our fighting forces across the globe, bolsters the New Jersey economy by investing in Picatinny Arsenal, and expands protections for our service members and their families. With Pete Hegseth, the most incompetent Secretary of Defense in history, leading our armed forces, it’s more important than ever that we pass commonsense legislation that invests in our fighting forces and the men and women who have stepped up to serve our country. 

“I ensured that Picatinny Arsenal continues to have the resources it needs to keep our soldiers safe across the world, bolster our New Jersey economy, and support the Ukrainian fight against Russian oppression. I continued my fight to ensure that our servicewomen and military families have access to abortion care, no matter where they are stationed; I stood up to protect women in combat roles across our armed forces; and I advocated to expand year-long contraception prescriptions for all active duty service members and families. I fought to strengthen guardrails to provide additional congressional oversight if the President or the Secretary of Defense tries to unilaterally relocate troops and protect the National Guard from being politicized. And I successfully included an amendment in the bill to reverse the Trump Administration’s attempt to legalize racial segregation in our armed forces.

“Our service members and their families make incredible sacrifices to protect the rights, freedoms, and democracy we hold dear. There is far too much at stake right now to allow political fights and partisan gamesmanship to endanger our national security and weaken our fighting forces,” said Mikie Sherrill. 

Rep. Sherrill championed a pilot program for remote blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum women, successfully included an amendment that would expand access to apprenticeship training for service members transitioning to civilian life, and improve training and resources for firefighters serving on military installations.

She spoke up against Republican attempts to strip women from combat roles, highlighted Pete Hegseth’s dangerous use of Signal, and defended U.S. funding for our ally, Ukraine.

The NDAA also includes provisions that will strengthen Picatinny Arsenal, one of the largest employers in NJ-11, and support the critical work conducted there. Rep. Sherrill championed additional funding for Picatinny programs, including:
 

• Scalable Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (CsUAS) Munition delivered Air Defense payloads
• Tier 1 Blast Over Pressure Reduction Technologies
• Low Cost Armaments-based Counter Drone / Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (CsUAS) Protection
• Critical Energetic Materials and Manufacturing Industrial Base Supply Chain Technology 
   

Rep. Sherrill offered and successfully secured inclusion of 12 amendments to the NDAA, including:
 

• Requiring TRICARE to cover up to twelve-month supplies of contraception for service members and their families;
  • This amendment expands on Rep. Sherrill’s effort to require private insurance to allow patients to receive a full year’s supply of birth control instead of the typical three month supply.
• Requiring DoD contractors to certify that they do not have segregated facilities
  • This amendment comes in response to the Trump Administration reversing a policy that required Department of Defense contractors to have nonsegregated facilities.
• Establishing a pilot program to utilize remote monitoring of blood pressure for at-risk pregnant and postpartum military women;
• Expanding bereavement leave to include service members and the spouse of the service member who experience the loss of a pregnancy or stillbirth;
• Increasing the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions in the Armed Forces;
• Increasing access to registered apprenticeships in the Skillbridge program for service members transitioning to civilian careers;
• Requiring the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the training and equipment of Firefighter Rapid Intervention Teams on military facilities.
• Prohibiting the Trump administration from eliminating US military bases in Europe to protect our NATO allies. 

Rep. Sherrill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. As a Russian policy officer, she worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL) and Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems (CITI) Subcommittees.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led over 40 Representatives in the introduction of a new resolution to protect the fundamental rights of the nation’s children to a safe, habitable environment in the face of climate chaos’ increasingly destructive and deadly impacts.

“Every single one of us — no matter our age, our background, our race, our income — has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But those rights are in jeopardy, because the future of our planet is in jeopardy. I applaud the young people who are taking their futures into their own hands and standing up to the Trump administration’s efforts to sell out our clean air and water to the highest fossil fuel bidder. Inaction is not an option and we all must stand up for climate justice and a future where we can all thrive,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.

“There is no room for debate: climate change is real, and as this crisis grows, our increasingly paying the price. The movement to protect our planet is more important than ever before because we have a president who continues to ignore the science and cozy up to the fossil fuel industry,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am introducing the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System Resolution to emphasize that we as leaders have a duty to ensure that all people, especially our young people, are protected from the existential threat of climate change. Our children and grandchildren should not be forced to suffer the consequences of our lack of action. Together we can save our planet.”

“Children have a right to live and therefore a right to a livable planet,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “But the Trump Administration wants to carve out more giveaways to the Carbon Kings rather than protect the climate for children and future generations of Americans. Our Resolution with Representatives Jayapal and Schakowsky and Senator Merkley is about uplifting the voices of those who will be most affected by this climate irresponsibility and corruption—young people and children—and sounding the alarm on America’s accelerating climate disaster. The time to act for public accountability is right now. I salute everyone involved in this important campaign.”

The resolution — led in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — responds to the Trump Administration’s ‘Polluters over People’ agenda that has enriched Big Oil, fueled climate chaos, and increased energy costs for working families. The resolution calls for leadership to put the United States on a trajectory to avoid the worst impacts of climate chaos.

“Every child in America deserves a healthy and prosperous future, but the Trump Administration is selling out our health, safety, planet, and future to make billionaire corporate polluters even richer,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “We stand with these courageous young activists in Oregon and across the country who are taking matters into their own hands with immediate and decisive steps to fight for themselves and future generations, address climate chaos, and tackle environmental injustice.”

The resolution highlights the principles underpinning Lighthiser v. Trump, a youth-led lawsuit that was filed by 22 young plaintiffs from five states, challenging the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders that “unleash fossil fuels” and endanger the lives of children and future generations.

In addition to Reps. Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin, cosponsors of the resolution include Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Summer L. Lee, Shri Thanedar, Delia C. Ramirez, Yassamin Ansari, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Andre Carson, Nydia M. Velázquez, Nanette Barragán, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Dina Titus, Maxwell Frost, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Steve Cohen, Mary Gay Scanlon, Lateefah Simon, Jerrold Nadler, Kathy Castor, Kevin Mullin, Danny Davis, Julia Brownley, Dave Min, Sara Jacobs, Judy Chu, Maxine Dexter, David Scott, Mark Takano, Gabe Amo, Jared Huffman, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Valerie Foushee, Becca Balint, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Ro Khanna, Alma S. Adams, Ritchie Torres, James P. McGovern, Jill Tokuda, Darren Soto, Stephen F. Lynch, LaMonica McIver, Val Hoyle, and Jahana Hayes.

Issues: Environment

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

Congressman Scott Perry Leads GOP Effort to Save Pennsylvania’s Chocolate

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in the Daily Wire on why the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is the most pro-family, pro-life piece of legislation in American history. 

“The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law,” wrote Rep. Estes. “It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country. But embedded in the wonky tax policy is a reflection of a larger American desire to return to the foundational values that made our country great. It’s a statement that the commitment to life and family is still a pillar of this nation.”

Read the op-ed here or below.

How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Make Big Beautiful Families

Most of the conversation about the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act has rightly focused on the bill’s pro-growth economic reforms. But something that deserves more attention is the fact that the bill is the most pro-life and pro-family piece of legislation signed into law in decades.

For years, the federal government has been funneling Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, skirting the Hyde Amendment and Congress’ intent. That is both wrong and a betrayal of taxpayers. Medicaid, a program meant to help protect and preserve life, should not be used to end it.

The Big Beautiful Bill directly addresses this issue by prohibiting Medicaid funding from being directed to Planned Parenthood through Fiscal Year 2026, and allowing Congress essential time to permanently enshrine this in law. This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that states can block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood.

The urgency of protecting life is underscored by recent data. In Kansas, birth rates have dropped to just 11.7 per 1,000 people, the lowest in more than a century. This mirrors a nationwide trend: in 2022, our birth rates hit a historic low of 1.67 births per woman, indicating that American families are simply not having enough children.

For the United States to maintain economic and societal stability, experts assert that our country should have a birth rate of 2.1 births per woman. The long-term consequences of missing this marker are serious, from a shrinking workforce to a weakened social safety net. 

Republicans in Congress addressed this issue in the Big Beautiful Bill Act by making meaningful adjustments to support American families. The legislation enhances and adjusts for inflation the Child Tax Credit (CTC), raising it to $2,200 per child and indexing it to inflation. The law also boosts the adoption tax credit by ensuring it will be partially refundable for up to $5,000 and similarly indexed for inflation. These provisions are significant victories for life, for children yet to be born and for families across America. 

The law also supports families through newly-established Trump Accounts, which set up American children for success, providing a financial “welcome” of $1,000 to every newborn American citizen. Similar to a Health Savings Account or 529 education savings plan, Trump Accounts empower parents to make tax-free contributions over time that can eventually be used by the child for education, housing, health care or any other qualifying expense to jumpstart their entrance into adulthood. It also allows churches, charities and employers to contribute up to $5,000 a year to the accounts.

As the former Kansas State Treasurer, I have a deep appreciation for programs that empower families to take control of their finances and build financial stability for their families’ well-being. The Trump Accounts encourage early and consistent saving, establishing the foundation for hardworking families and everyday Americans to develop generational wealth. 

In addition, the Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the Employer-Provided Childcare Credit so that working families can afford quality early education while continuing to participate in the workforce. It also makes permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave so that families have a lifeline if the breadwinner becomes ill or in the case of a family emergency.

The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law. It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Gil Cisneros (D-CA-31) reintroduced the Fight for the American Dream Act, legislation that allows participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program to serve in the United States military and provides them a pathway toward U.S. citizenship after their service.

“I’m a proud immigrant and a proud U.S. Marine. Serving in our armed forces was an honor, but DACA recipients don’t have that option,” said Rep. Carbajal. “That’s why I’m proud to partner with my colleague, Congressman Cisneros, on this commonsense bill to provide a clear, stable pathway toward citizenship for DACA recipients who want to serve the country they already call home.”

“I championed this legislation as the Under Secretary of Defense and I will continue to be a champion for it as a member of Congress,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Our military is made up of people from all backgrounds, united by the desire to protect and serve our nation. DACA recipients, who call this country home, want to contribute and make our country better.  One of the best ways they can do that is by joining the United States Armed Forces.”

Currently, DACA recipients are barred from joining the U.S. military. The Fight for the American Dream Act would reverse that restriction. Under this Act, Dreamers who are honorably discharged after their service would be given a pathway to grant them U.S. citizenship.

To read the full bill text, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is introducing legislation to formally block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens. 

“ICE is acting like a rogue force, kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets with no due process,” said Jayapal. “When ICE is conducting immigration enforcement, arresting and detaining U.S. citizens is illegal — and deporting U.S. citizens is illegal, full stop. But since Trump took over, ICE has been consistently breaking these laws and going after U.S. citizens, including young children. Congress must act to make it abundantly clear, with absolutely no grey area, that ICE cannot do this and ensure that agents who do act outside of their authority are held accountable.”

Since Trump returned to office, multiple reports have surfaced of U.S. citizens being wrongfully arrested, detained, and deported. One citizen, a 19-year-old, was held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 10 days after he suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital without his ID. He approached a Border Patrol agent asking for help, and instead was held for over a week under the false claim that he was a Mexican national. Two U.S. citizen children were also deported to Honduras after their mother was taken by ICE when she showed up for a regular check-in. Another family experienced the exact same situation when their two-year-old was deported with her mother, who was attending a regular check-in. And in the recent California ICE raids, a 25-year-old disabled veteran who is a US citizen was detained and held for three days without access to legal representation or any charges against him.

ICE has no authority to arrest, detain, or deport U.S. citizens. Their own internal guidance states, “As a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.” U.S. citizens also cannot be deported under U.S. law. 

The Stop ICE from Kidnapping US Citizens Act is sponsored by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-30), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, held a legislative hearing entitled “Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines.” Some of the proposals considered during the hearing reauthorize public health programs, contribute to rural health care access and help rural communities.

Following the hearing, Chairman Griffith issued the following statement:

“Congress is determined to reauthorize vital programs that provide rural communities critical access to health care.

“As the Health Subcommittee moves forward, I will continue to dedicate my Chairmanship to advancing policies that enable access to telehealth services, bolster our health care workforce, help administer health care to rural communities, like those in Southwest Virginia, and improve health care delivery to the nation.”

Congressman Griffith’s opening remarks in the hearing can be seen here or below.

Rep. Griffith’s questions to witnesses in the hearing can be seen here.

BACKGROUND

This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

In his first public actions after being named Chairman, Representative Griffith visited multiple rural health care providers in Southwest Virginia.

H.R. 2493, Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, continues existing programs that include direct funding to rural underserved populations.

H.R. 3419, To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs, preserves and promotes the use of telehealth and telemedicine in the treatment of patients.  

Another proposal reauthorizes programs related to health professions education. This bill helps fund the education, training and preparation of prospective health professionals.

Expiration of these public health programs will occur at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.

These bills will continue to be examined before potential consideration by the full House.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) today introduced legislation to eliminate bureaucratic barriers atomic veterans face when they apply for benefits they are entitled to after being exposed to toxic radiation. 

The Congresswoman introduced the Providing Radiation Exposed Servicemembers Undisputed Medical Eligibility (PRESUME) Act to prohibit the VA from requiring evidence of a certain dose of radiation to determine if a veteran is considered radiation-exposed for the purposes of “presumptive benefits.”

“Like anyone on the battlefield, cold warriors at the Nevada Test Site put themselves in harm’s way in service to our country. We cannot leave any of them behind. The bureaucratic barriers to care can be easily fixed through my legislation,” said Rep. Titus. “Our country’s atomic veterans helped win the peace during the Cold War, and they must be able to access the highest standard of care available.”

Currently, to receive care for what the VA has categorized as “presumptive diseases” due to radiation exposure, a veteran must provide proof of on-site participation as well as radiation dose estimates from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Radiation dose estimates have historically been unreliable, leaving many exposed veterans unable to obtain the compensation they have earned.

“Our atomic veterans should be treated the same way as civilians exposed to atomic radiation,” Rep. Titus said. “They have been wrongfully subjected to a double standard and have not received the care they deserve for treatment of cancer and pulmonary diseases. The PRESUME Act would fix this.” 

The PRESUME Act has been endorsed by Disabled American Veterans, The Invisible Enemy, National Association of Atomic Veterans, Military-Veterans Advocacy, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“For far too long, veterans exposed to radiation have faced an uphill battle for VA health care and benefits. The diseases they develop, which often manifest decades after their military service, after radiation exposure. DAV is proud to support the PRESUME Act, which would remove outdated VA regulations and provide equity with other government programs by removing the radiation dose estimate requirements. We thank Rep. Titus for her leadership in reintroducing this critical legislation to ensure those exposed to radiation while in service get the care and benefits, they have rightfully earned,” said Jim Marszalek, National Service Director for Disabled American Veterans.

“‘Veterans are a uniting issue for America as they are the protectors of our freedom. For many veterans, ionizing radiation is a significant issue and is the focus of our advocacy at The Invisible Enemy. Rep. Titus’ bill to remove the dosage requirement is very important as dosage is often impossible to prove but the impact of that exposure on veteran’s lives is significant. The Invisible Enemy 100% supports Rep. Titus on her effort to help our brothers and sisters in their quest for the benefits so deserved and earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of the Las Vegas-based The Invisible Enemy.

“The National Association of Atomic Veterans is pleased to support the Presume Act. The legacy of Nuclear tests is riddled with Veterans not having proper Personal Protective Equipment and/or failure of monitoring radiation levels. Few of the Veterans were issued radiation badges and of those that had them, there were high failure rates due to environmental factors. Further, these badges only measure external gamma rays, X-rays, and high-energy beta radiation. They do not measure alpha, neutron, or low energy beta radiation. Additionally, none of the monitoring methods measure internal radiation doses of any form. Requiring a veteran to prove the level of exposure places an unreasonable burden of proof upon them,” said Keith Kiefer, National Commander for the National Association of Atomic Veterans.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Lauds Progress on FY26 Defense Policy Bill

Washington – Late Tuesday evening, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee (CITI), voted in favor of advancing H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 55 – 2. The annual legislation, which contains multiple amendments and provisions authored by Rep. Bacon, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for the Armed Forces. 

“Once again, the People’s House proves that bipartisan progress is possible where it matters most,” said Chairman Bacon after completing his ninth annual full-committee markup of the NDAA. “When it comes to national security, the American people expect us to work across the aisle to provide for the common defense. It’s been a long couple of months, but I am proud of what we produced and look forward to advancing this important legislation in the House.”     

Highlights from the committee’s FY 2026 bill include:

• Sets major reforms to the defense acquisition system to speed development and fielding of modern technologies while reducing bureaucracy 
• Preserves development of the U.S. Air Force E-7 advanced airborne warning and control system
• Preserves U.S. force posture in Europe and authorizes additional security assistance to Ukraine 
• Fully funds modernization of the U.S strategic nuclear deterrent including development of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile – Nuclear

In addition, the committee’s bill contains numerous legislative proposals sponsored by Rep. Bacon, including: 

• Directs the Secretary of Defense to prepare an implementation plan to establish a Joint Task Force Cyber for the Indo-Pacific area of operations
• Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide an acquisition and fielding strategy for the F-47 advanced fighter aircraft program
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an independent assessment of toxic exposure in the AF ICMB community
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an implementation plan to reform Department of Defense (DoD) casualty assistance programs 
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network 
• Directs significant security upgrades to DoD mobile telecommunications
• Directs the major defense acquisitions programs to prepare digital manufacturing transition plans for critical components 
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Center for Strategic Deterrence and WMD Studies at the National Defense University
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to improve cancer detection and prevention measures for DoD firefighters 
• Directs updates on the U.S. Space Force Satellite Control Network

Watch Rep. Bacon’s remarks here and see full remarks as delivered below:

“Thank you, Chairman Rogers. I want to begin by thanking all the members of the subcommittee for their dedication and thoughtful work in creating a strong, bipartisan, Cyber, IT and Innovative Subcommittee print. The subcommittee’s package advances departments’ cyber and innovation ecosystems and conducts critical oversight. I also want to thank our great subcommittee staff, led by Sarah Moxley. Every member of the staff are professional experts on both sides of the aisle.

“The subcommittee’s mission is to ensure that warfighters are armed with the most innovative technologies that improve lethality and increase U.S. capabilities. Modern technology is fast paced, so ensuring the department of Defense is at the leading edge of technology is imperative to deterring adversaries. Warfighters must have the tools to fight across all domains on the battlefield, in cyberspace, now and in the future.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to optimize these efforts as the committee considers the FY 26 NDAA. The FY 26 CITI subcommittee print prioritizes the continued improvement of testing and evaluation through digital processes, supports the research and development of novel technologies, and improves the department’s cyber practices. This package brings flexibility for research and development across the department to ensure rapid innovation.

“The print achieves this through the empowering of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, and improving the ability to do developmental prototyping, creating a bridge over the Valley of Death. It also directs the use of digital engineering and modern software practices to create a more agile and accurate testing and evaluation process. 

“Additionally, the subcommittee print directs the department to use modern technology to improve processes and cyber practices, provisions leverage AI to bolster cybersecurity skills, create new lines of efforts for using generative AI, and continue to lay out the framework for the department’s adoption of AI. The subcommittee print supports the continued research and development of hypersonic programs and modernization and expansion of hypersonic testing and evaluation. Finally, the print includes several recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.

“These provisions give the department tools to optimize the military use of biotechnology, to guarantee that the U.S. remains the world’s leader in biotechnology innovation. Overall, the subcommittee print ensures the U.S. remains status as the most lethal warfighting force in the world. Lastly, I want to thank Ranking Member Khanna for his bipartisanship and dedication to producing the subcommittee print.

“We believe this package will continue to give the department the flexibility and tools needed to deliver the most modern technology to the hand of the warfighters. And with that, I yield back.”

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