[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3240. Mr. YOUNG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle C of title VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 855. STUDY ON PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE SHRINKING 
                   DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through 
     the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
     Sustainment, in consultation with the Small Business 
     Administration, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and 
     advisability of implementing a pilot program to assist small 
     businesses within the defense industrial base to transition 
     to unrestricted contracting.
       (b) Elements.--The study required under subsection (a) 
     shall, for purposes of identifying support measures for 
     contractors growing from small to other-than-small under 
     North American Industry Classification System codes that are 
     among the top ten by total Federal contract spending or are 
     among any additional sectors the Secretary determines 
     critical to the defense industrial base, examine the 
     following:
       (1) Whether an evaluation preference, reserves under 
     multiple award contracts, or other procurement assistance is 
     appropriate.
       (2) Whether a pilot program to implement the procurement 
     assistance described in paragraph (1) would contribute to job 
     creation, increased competition, and a more resilient 
     industrial base and align with broader national security 
     interests.
       (3) Criteria for the pilot program, including an 
     eligibility period and criteria for participation and 
     graduation.
       (4) Methods to also encourage growth of startups and very 
     small businesses should the program proceed.
       (5) Metrics to assess the success of the program.
       (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of 
     the Senate, the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
     Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a 
     report on the findings of the study conducted under 
     subsection (a).
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