WASHINGTON—Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), respectively Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, today jointly introduced H.R. 1597, a bill aimed at reforming the Department of Defense’s broken acquisition system. The legislation...
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), respectively Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, today jointly introduced H.R. 1597, a bill aimed at reforming the Department of Defense’s broken acquisition system. The legislation is intended to be a discussion draft. Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith will offer its provisions for consideration in the forthcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Chairman Thornberry discussed the legislation at CSIS earlier this week. Introducing the bill, Chairman Thornberry said:
“We are releasing this bill one month ahead of NDAA consideration because we want to get people’s feedback. We listened to a lot of folks as we drafted this bill, and we want to hear from them again as we work to make it law. The broken acquisition system is contributing to the loss of our military’s technological edge. I hope that by streamlining the process, improving accountability, and eliminating outdated regulations, we can start to get some of that edge back. While this bill won’t fix all that is broken, it is a start.”
Ranking Member Smith said: "I am happy to join the Chairman in sponsoring the bill. Improving the Department's acquisition process is an important step towards ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and effectively. This bill is the product of healthy exchanges with the Department and with industry, and it provides a solid foundation for continuing a productive dialogue."
You can find the bill text and more information about the reform effort here: Defense Reform.
