Scott DesJarlais

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.

As the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I was proud to work in a bipartisan fashion along with my friend Ranking Member Seth Moulton on some of the most consequential issues to our national security.

This legislation authorizes full funding to keep modernizing the Nation's nuclear forces as well as the Department of Energy's scientific and production capabilities upon which our deterrent depends.

It also approves acquisition flexibility for the nuclear enterprise and refocuses statutory requirements related to plutonium pit production on the long-term need for the deterrent.

We authorize significant increases for many programs that support the Golden Dome Initiative and border missile defense efforts, including space-based sensing, development of the Next-Generation Interceptor, and procurement of Standard Missile 3 interceptors.

In space, we require a single official to lead the vital positioning, navigation, and timing enterprise and eliminate the current PNT bureaucracy. We also streamline redundant space acquisition organizations to build on the progress made last year to reform acquisitions.

Perhaps most importantly, this bill authorizes a historic increase in the Space Force's budget. This will allow them bring online the next generation of systems necessary to fight and win in space and support new missions to address emerging threats.

This bill prioritizes the industrial base, expands U.S. defense production capacity, and supports the President's request to raise all servicemembers' pay. It rebuilds depleted munition stockpiles through new authorities and saves taxpayers over $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs and government bureaucracy.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eddie Hart for his induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

A Californian from birth, Eddie won State and NCAA titles during his collegiate track and field career where he became known as one of the top sprinters in the Nation.

Eddie's performance in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games earned him the title the ``World's Fastest Human'' and a gold medal for him and the United States of America.

Today, Eddie serves disadvantaged youth in our community through his Eddie Hart All In One Foundation.

Eddie's commitment to service and his athletic excellence has touched countless lives for generations.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Eddie Hart, gold medalist, for his induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Eddie Hart was once the world's fastest human. He is still one of the world's best humans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Smith, and Ranking Member Seth Moulton on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the compromise bill for the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill continues the fundamental reforms to defense acquisition that started in our committee and supports a fighting force that will stand against those who threaten the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I am proud the compromise product builds on the subcommittee's work to enhance our National Security Space capabilities, strengthen our nuclear forces, and expand our missile defense, all critical elements of our national security.

First and foremost, this bill supports the continued modernization of our Nation's nuclear triad, our nuclear command and control systems, and the scientific capabilities that maintain our nuclear stockpile. We also established a new Rapid Capabilities Program within the National Nuclear Security Administration to enhance our ability to respond to growing nuclear threats from China and Russia.

Our adversaries, China in particular, continue to rapidly develop and deploy new nuclear weapons, while U.S. nuclear capabilities can take over a decade to design, develop, and produce.

This bill will apply innovative and rapid acquisition approaches to keep pace with the dynamic threat environment and ensure our Nation continues to field a nuclear deterrent that is second to none.

For the defense of this homeland, the bill supports development of the Golden Dome system to achieve President Trump's bold vision. It also includes multiyear procurement authority and additional resources to expand production of critical missile defense interceptors.

In space, we push to sustain the growth and development of Space Force Guardians. We must ensure we have the highly skilled and technically proficient acquisition cadre capable of bringing online the next generation of systems necessary to fight and win in space.

As we develop those space systems, we are going to need both better- trained acquisition Guardians and more of them. The joint force will be looking to these professionals to deliver significant portions of the Golden Dome architecture. This bill helps them do that.

We also ensure that the National Security Space Launch enterprise is led by one individual who has the authority to make decisions and make trades to support the warfighter.

This bill revitalizes the defense industrial base and American manufacturing, supports a well-deserved pay raise for our servicemembers, creates a more lethal and agile force to counter our adversaries, and secures our Nation's borders, all while saving taxpayers over $20 billion through cutting inefficient programs and government bureaucracy. This is a compromise bill that meets the moment and the need to support our warfighters and protect our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work of this committee to bring forth this strong bipartisan bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''