NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027

On 2026-07-21, Representative James Gallagher (R-CA-1) delivered a floor speech titled "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027" in the House.

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4736-H5000] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1630 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 General Leave Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8800. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Womack). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Alabama? There was no objection. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 8800. The Chair appoints the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran) to preside over the Committee of the Whole. {time} 1630 In the Committee of the Whole Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 8800) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 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, with Mr. Moran in the chair. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the first time. General debate shall be confined to the bill and amendments specified in the first section of House Resolution 1438 and shall not exceed 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) each will control 30 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers). Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, throughout our committee's oversight hearings this year, we have heard a consistent theme: The defense industrial base, the foundation of our military power, is in deep trouble. Over the last 30 years, the defense [[Page H4737]] industrial base has atrophied significantly. We are no longer capable of manufacturing for our warfighters at scale and speed. In the 1990s, America had 51 prime defense contractors. Today only six remain. Skilled talent has left the workforce, leaving hundreds of thousands of defense manufacturing jobs unfilled. Excessive regulation pushed small businesses, startups, and private capital out of the defense business. Inconsistent demand signals discouraged prime contractors from investing in production capacity. As a result, our stockpiles of critical defense articles have fallen to dangerously low levels. That includes critical minerals, which we have very little capacity to mine, refine, or process. While America allowed vital manufacturing capability to erode, China did not. China's shipbuilding capacity dwarfs ours. They are outproducing us on ships, drones, and munitions. They control over 90 percent of the world's critical mineral refining and processing capacity, and they have embedded themselves deep within our defense supply chains. The consequences are clear. There are growing doubts about our ability to sustain a protracted conflict against China and our other adversaries, and that is unacceptable. We must take action to address these problems before American deterrence erodes any further. The FY27 NDAA, takes that action. This year's bill is focused on revitalizing the defense industrial base. We are giving industry the certainty it needs to invest, expand, and produce faster. We are cutting needless regulations that prevent innovative businesses from working with the Pentagon. We are reviving our organic industrial base by improving conditions at our depots, arsenals, and shipyards. We are securing our supply chain by giving the Department authorities to better identify vulnerabilities and then replace them with domestic or allied sources, and we are creating new jobs and helping Americans build advanced technical skills. In addition to revitalizing the defense industrial base, the NDAA meets our other crucial needs. We are raising pay for servicemembers and improving housing, education, and childcare for military families. We are strengthening our nuclear deterrence and missile defense, while maintaining a strong posture to deter our adversaries, and we are prioritizing the development of innovative technologies that will give our warfighters the edge in future conflicts. To support these policies, we are authorizing $1.15 trillion in discretionary funds to match President Trump's historic budget request. For the first time in 40 years, we have been presented a budget that accounts for the true cost of American deterrence. This top line begins to reverse the damage caused by decades of underinvestment in the U.S. military. However, we understand that with this historic investment comes an even more urgent need to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill does so by cutting nearly $30 billion in wasteful spending, reducing fraudulent payments, and providing new authorities to ensure the Pentagon achieves a full, clean audit within 24 months. Peace through strength doesn't begin on the battlefield. It begins in our factories, our depots, and our shipyards. This bill reflects our commitment to rebuilding that foundation. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and other adversaries. Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, June 29, 2026. Hon. Mike Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Rogers: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. There are certain provisions in the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference committee that is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 8800 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, June 29, 2026. Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. I agree that the Committee on Agriculture has valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Agriculture is not waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters will be included in the committee report on the bill. Sincerely, Mike Rogers, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Washington, DC, June 11, 2026. Hon. Mike Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Rogers: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 8800. the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. There are certain provisions in the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee on Appropriations does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference committee that is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 8800 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Tom Cole, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, June 12, 2026. Hon. Tom Cole, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Cole: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. I agree that the Committee on Appropriations has valid jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this important legislation, and I am most appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on Appropriations is not waiving its juri

Referenced legislation: HRES1438, HR8800