H.R.3542 - CLEAR (Committee Leadership and Enhanced Accountability for Resilience) Defense Production Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3542, the CLEAR Defense Production Act of 2025, aims to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950. The bill focuses on enhancing the accountability and transparency of the Defense Production Act (DPA) by establishing a DPA Registry and improving the functioning of the DPA Committee.
The bill mandates the creation of a secure, electronic database (DPA Registry) to track the use of DPA authorities by federal agencies. It also seeks to improve the coordination and planning of the DPA Committee by designating a chairperson and requiring better information sharing.
Furthermore, the Comptroller General is required to issue a report assessing the effectiveness of the DPA Committee's coordination and planning efforts.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be increased transparency and accountability in the use of the Defense Production Act. The DPA Registry would provide a centralized location for tracking how DPA authorities are being used.
Improved coordination within the DPA Committee could lead to more efficient and effective use of the DPA. The Comptroller General's report would provide an independent assessment of the DPA Committee's performance and identify areas for improvement.
Ultimately, this could lead to better resource allocation and a more robust national defense.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in the use of DPA authorities, allowing for better oversight by Congress and the public.
- Improved coordination among federal agencies in the use of DPA authorities, potentially leading to more effective responses to national security needs.
- Enhanced accountability for the use of DPA authorities, reducing the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.
- A more efficient and effective DPA Committee, leading to better planning and resource allocation.
- Public access to information regarding the use of DPA authorities.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- The establishment and maintenance of the DPA Registry could be costly and time-consuming.
- Limiting access to certain types of information in the DPA Registry that may be sensitive to the national security of the United States.
- Federal agencies may face additional administrative burdens in complying with the reporting requirements of the bill.
- The bill could potentially create new bureaucratic layers, slowing down the response to national security emergencies.
- The effectiveness of the bill depends on the willingness of federal agencies to cooperate and share information.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the constitutional mandate to "provide for the common defence" (Preamble). By improving the efficiency and transparency of the Defense Production Act, the bill seeks to strengthen national security. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or liberties.
Congress's authority to enact this legislation stems from Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to "provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States." The establishment of a DPA Registry and the improvement of the DPA Committee fall within this broad grant of power.
No specific constitutional conflicts are apparent.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).