ICYMI: Select Committee Leaders Discuss Defense Industrial Base Shortcomings on Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier

WASHINGTON DC — In case you missed it, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party joined Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News last Wednesday.

The leaders discussed the waning capacity of the U.S. defense industrial base and the serious risk of losing a war with China if we fail to strengthen our industrial capabilities.

Watch the full Fox News interview HERE, read the full transcript HERE, or find key moments below.

Moolenaar's observations following a war simulation with China:



"What we learned is that in a protracted war, our defense industrial base does not have the resources it needs to win that war. It's stretched thin with different regional conflicts around the world. We need to make sure we shore up [our defense industrial base] so that we can win a war if it were ever necessary."

Krishnamoorthi's comparison of US and Chinese industrial capacity:

"Right now, our defense industrial base is in such disrepair that it shows weakness and that invites aggression.

Just as one example in the ship building arena [shows]: For every one ocean going vessel that we can produce, China can produce 359 in one single year.

And unfortunately, we have gaps with regard to long range anti-ship missiles. We also have gaps in terms of manpower to actually fill the vacancies in our defense industrial base to produce the stuff that we need to deter aggression."