Senate defense legislation primes pump on U.S. policies to counter China

摘要

The Senate is advancing legislation to force Pentagon and White House leadership to consider sweeping industrial policy actions in the coming years to boost the resiliency of U.S. supply chains, as lawmakers remain concerned about an overreliance on China. The Senate Armed Services Committee's fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill, which the panel approved last week, would require the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment to send the defense secretary a "series of recommendations regarding United States industrial policies." The recommendations should include executive actions, programmatic changes, regulatory changes and legislative proposals, according to the bill. The recommendations should "fully implement" President Trump's July 2017 executive order on "assessing and strengthening the manufacturing and defense industrial base and supply chain resiliency of the United States," according to the bill. Another provision in the legislation would direct the deputy defense secretary to develop "an assessment of the economic forces and structures shaping the capacity of the national security innovation base," along with policy recommendations based on the study. The bill would further require the Pentagon to review and act on specific materials and technology sectors "to address sourcing and industrial capacity." The technologies listed include microelectronics, printed circuit boards, Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, personal protective equipment, rare earth materials, synthetic graphite and coal-based rayon carbon fibers.