Rep. Dunn Celebrates Passage of Historic Investment in National Defense

Today, Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) celebrated the passage of H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. Congressman Dunn submitted four amendments related to critical minerals to ensure our nation's fighting force has the necessary resources to defend our nation without relying on the foreign producers of critical minerals.

Amid growing threats across the world stage, from the Chinese Communist Party to narco-terror groups in the Western Hemisphere, the NDAA strengthens the Department of War's (DoW) mission of peace through strength.

"This historic NDAA strengthens our military at home and abroad." said Congressman Dunn. "House Republicans are committed to ensuring that the men and women protecting our great nation have every necessary resource to defend our homeland and build the arsenal of freedom. This legislation will provide our servicemembers an overdue pay raise, strengthen our nuclear deterrence, and invests in programs that directly enhance our military's readiness and capability."

The FY2027 NDAA will revitalize the American defense industrial base, secure supply chains, and provide $60.4 billion in funding for American shipbuilding. The legislation will also bolster domestic production capacity, strengthen nuclear deterrence, and expand missile defense.

The FY2027 NDAA helps implement 22 Executive Orders issued by President Trump, including unleashing American Drone Dominance, building the Golden Dome for America, and restoring the United States Department of War.

Congressman Dunn successfully secured four amendments in the final legislation to strengthen America's defense supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries:

• Supply Chain Security: Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a methodology to identify and assess dependencies on the People's Republic of China for the processing, refining, separation, alloying, magnet manufacturing, or other midstream production stages of materials critical to the defense industrial base.
• Critical Mineral Needs: Supports the Secretary of War in recovering critical minerals relevant to the defense industrial base from unconventional feedstocks.
• Medical Security: Requires the Secretary of War to conduct a department-wide medical supply chain risk assessment and develop a classified, prioritized list of high-risk critical medical products dependent on PRC-origin inputs.
  
• Eliminate Waste: Amends Section 152 of the FY24 NDAA by giving consideration to critical minerals derived from recycled and reused minerals and metals to the maximum extent practicable.

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