Sponsors (2)
The bill increases coordination, oversight, and cyber-protection of DPA authorities and makes their use more visible to Congress and the public, but it does so at added cost and administrative burden for agencies and may still limit some sensitive details from public view.
Taxpayers and the public will get clearer, more visible tracking of how federal agencies use DPA authorities through a public Registry, refocused reports, and an independent GAO review, improving transparency and congressional oversight of DPA actions.
Federal departments and agencies (and the Americans they serve) will have clearer, centralized leadership for DPA authorities because a full‑time SES Chair at Commerce will coordinate use and information sharing, improving coordination and the potential effectiveness of DPA responses.
Federal agencies and taxpayers will face lower cyber-risk to DPA usage records because the bill requires improved cybersecurity protections for the Registry, reducing the chance of data manipulation or cyberattacks on DPA records.
Taxpayers will likely bear higher federal costs for creating and staffing a new full‑time SES Chair position and for building and securing the public Registry (IT and security expenses), increasing program costs or budget reallocations.
Federal employees will face additional administrative burden and possible personnel reassignments because agencies must designate SES coordinators within 90 days and must spend staff time to report and update Registry entries quarterly.
The public’s access to detail could be reduced because the bill narrows an annual report item and allows withholding of some sensitive national‑security details from the Registry, limiting transparency despite the new reporting requirements.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Designates a Commerce SES to lead the DPA Committee, strengthens coordination and reporting, and creates a secure registry recording federal uses of DPA authorities.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by James A. Himes · Last progress May 21, 2025
Establishes a senior, full‑time Department of Commerce SES official to lead the Defense Production Act (DPA) Committee, strengthens committee coordination and reporting, and requires the Commerce Secretary to create a secure electronic registry that records how federal DPA authorities are used. The registry must include uses dating back one year, be populated and updated by agency heads on a set schedule, provide tiered access for federal, congressional, and public users, and balance transparency with national security protections. Also requires the Comptroller General to review Committee coordination and information sharing within two years and directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide staff, resources, and budget requests to support the Committee’s work. Agencies must designate SES coordinators and follow new reporting and information requirements to improve oversight of DPA authorities.