[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 168 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4350, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 27, 2021

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith, 
Ranking Member Rogers, and the Members of the Committee for their 
leadership in crafting a Defense Authorization Bill that is in line 
with what Secretary Mattis said we needed in the 2018 National Defense 
Strategy: 3-5 percent real growth from FY22 to FY25.
  This bill addresses the critical areas of emerging tech, research and 
development, Airpower and Sea power, shipbuilding, and Space among many 
others.
  I would specifically like to thank the Chair and Ranking Member for 
the inclusion of critical innovation priorities that I requested, such 
as:
  The designation of Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects, which will 
more effectively transition Small Business Innovation Research programs 
into the Services' budget process;
  The Pilot Program to Facilitate the Agile Acquisition of Technologies 
for Warfighters and new line for Agile Procurement Transition Pilot 
programs in the amount of $100,000,000. This authorization will be 
critical as we seek to compete with China by leveraging the innovative 
power of our private sector;
  And for the much needed report on flexible funding for transitioning 
science and technology.
  The DoD should not be doing research and development for the sake of 
doing research. We should always have an eye on developing cutting edge 
capabilities for the warfighter. For far too long the DoD has struggled 
to transition and scale critical innovative technologies from 
development projects to acquisition programs in a time period that 
meets the needs of the warfighter and ensures technology providers are 
able to survive. This report will help Congress understand why so we 
can develop ways to solve the problem of ``the valley of death''.
  Let me be clear, we are in a geopolitical competition with China, and 
experts on both sides of the aisle agree that the current budgeting and 
acquisition process is not adequate to compete and win.
  As the Defense bills move through Congress, I look forward to 
Authorizing and Appropriating the funding, capabilities, and resources 
that our warfighters need to fight tonight and modernize for the 
future.

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