The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act establishes the William S. Knudsen Commission for American Defense-Industrial Mobilization, named after the World War II industrial mobilization leader. This commission is tasked with examining and making recommendations to the President and Congress regarding the United States' defense-industrial base. Congress finds a critical lack of domestic industrial capacity, significant munitions and materiel shortages, and federal regulations that often inhibit production, posing a major threat to national security. The commission will comprise 12 members, appointed by congressional leadership and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. Appointees must be U.S. citizens with significant professional experience in manufacturing, defense procurement, technology, and industrial policy. All appointments must be made within 45 days of enactment, with unmade appointments reducing the commission's total size. Key duties of the commission include conducting a comprehensive review of the defense industrial base and assessing production requirements for major wars across multiple theaters. It will evaluate lessons learned from conflicts like the war in Ukraine, identify minimum and optimal production levels for critical weapons systems, and pinpoint supply chain bottlenecks. The commission will also analyze the burden imposed by federal regulations from agencies such as the Department of Energy, EPA, and DoD on defense production. Based on its findings, the commission will recommend reforms to operational planning, defense procurement, and existing federal programs and policies related to defense production. It will also propose funding levels necessary to support increased domestic industrial capacity and suggest new federal policies or offices to aid industrial mobilization. Within one year, the commission must submit a report detailing its findings, assessments, and a proposed strategy for increasing defense production, with an interim briefing provided within 180 days of member appointments. The commission is authorized $7,000,000 for its operations and will terminate 90 days after submitting its final report.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Armed Forces and National Security
William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act
USA119th CongressS-1524| Senate
| Updated: 4/30/2025
The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act establishes the William S. Knudsen Commission for American Defense-Industrial Mobilization, named after the World War II industrial mobilization leader. This commission is tasked with examining and making recommendations to the President and Congress regarding the United States' defense-industrial base. Congress finds a critical lack of domestic industrial capacity, significant munitions and materiel shortages, and federal regulations that often inhibit production, posing a major threat to national security. The commission will comprise 12 members, appointed by congressional leadership and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. Appointees must be U.S. citizens with significant professional experience in manufacturing, defense procurement, technology, and industrial policy. All appointments must be made within 45 days of enactment, with unmade appointments reducing the commission's total size. Key duties of the commission include conducting a comprehensive review of the defense industrial base and assessing production requirements for major wars across multiple theaters. It will evaluate lessons learned from conflicts like the war in Ukraine, identify minimum and optimal production levels for critical weapons systems, and pinpoint supply chain bottlenecks. The commission will also analyze the burden imposed by federal regulations from agencies such as the Department of Energy, EPA, and DoD on defense production. Based on its findings, the commission will recommend reforms to operational planning, defense procurement, and existing federal programs and policies related to defense production. It will also propose funding levels necessary to support increased domestic industrial capacity and suggest new federal policies or offices to aid industrial mobilization. Within one year, the commission must submit a report detailing its findings, assessments, and a proposed strategy for increasing defense production, with an interim briefing provided within 180 days of member appointments. The commission is authorized $7,000,000 for its operations and will terminate 90 days after submitting its final report.