MEDIA PACKAGE: Select Committee on CCP Holds Hearing - "Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy: The Imperative to Strengthen America's Defense Industrial Base and Workforce"
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing this morning titled "Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy: The Imperative to Strengthen America's Defense Industrial Base and Workforce." Witnesses included Mr. Chris Brose, Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril, Dr. William Greenwalt, Non-resident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Ms. Halimah Najieb-Locke, Vice President of Policy and Strategy, Entanglement Inc.
Watch the opening video above, outlining challenges facing America's Defense Industrial Base.
Watch the full hearing HERE, or continue reading below for highlights.
Video & B-roll for public broadcast and distribution is available HERE
(Email sccpressteam@mail.house.gov for passcode to access media. All media is permissible to use in any format)
Chairman John Moolenaar laid the groundwork in his opening statement:
“Our defense industrial base lacks the capacity to win a war with the [People's Republic of China], is unable to innovate quickly or at scale, and its supply chains are vulnerable to manipulation and economic coercion at the hands of the [People's Republic of China].
Bold policy changes and significant resources are now needed to restore deterrence and prevent a fight with the [People's Republic of China]."
Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi:
“It turns out China produces almost 5x the number of these castings than the US.
Now, DoD says it actually relies on Chinese castings for some of their own weapons systems.”
Mr. Chris Brose, Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril Industries:
“Great power conflict would be a war of production, attrition and regeneration at scales that are nearly unfathomable to our defense industrial base.
We may be ready for Day 1, but we are utterly unprepared for Day 30, let alone Day 300.”
Read Mr. Brose's testimony HERE.
Dr. William Greenwalt, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute highlights the success of the American industrial base in WWII and how we must deploy the same tactics to prevent WWIII:
“This is a whole of nation effort that is much bigger than just immediately ramping up a few existing defense production lines.”
Read Dr. Greenwalt's testimony HERE.
Ms. Halimah Najieb-Locke, Vice President of Policy and Strategy, Entanglement, Inc. discusses how the consolidation of the defense industry weakens US capacity:
"What was true in 2013 is true today. We must rally to close the gaps in our manufacturing capacities."
Read Ms.Najieb Locke's testimony HERE.