[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1524 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1524
To establish the William S. Knudsen Commission for American Defense-
Industrial Mobilization, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 30, 2025
Mr. Banks (for himself, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Schmitt) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the William S. Knudsen Commission for American Defense-
Industrial Mobilization, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``William S. Knudsen Defense
Remobilization Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States faces a critical lack of domestic
industrial capacity necessary to support and maintain its
defense, particularly in the event of a major conflict.
(2) Current and building shortages of munitions and
materiel are estimated to require years to replenish
sufficiently.
(3) The domestic industrial base is shaped by Federal
Government policies, including by a raft of regulations that
often inhibit production and expansion.
(4) The lack of industrial capacity now constituted a major
threat to the national security as conflicts supplied with
United States arms escalate around the globe and imminent
threats to United States interests have emerged.
(5) Before entering World War II, the United States faced a
similar crisis of adequate defense production as it supplied
its allies in Europe and prepared for the event of war.
(6) In 1940, William S. Knudsen, an American automotive
executive, was tasked with coordinating and spearheading the
nation's war production by serving as the chairman of the
Office of Production Management and as a member of the National
Defense Advisory Commission.
(7) As a result of Mr. Knudsen's efforts, the United States
mobilized an unprecedented industrial war production network,
renowned as the ``Arsenal of Democracy,'' that enabled Allied
victory.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WILLIAM S. KNUDSEN COMMISSION FOR AMERICAN
DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL MOBILIZATION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the legislative branch
the William S. Knudsen Commission for American Defense-Industrial
Mobilization (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to examine and make
recommendations to the President and Congress with respect to the
defense-industrial base of the United States.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12
members of whom--
(A) 1 member shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate;
(B) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate;
(C) 1 member shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives;
(D) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives;
(E) 2 members shall be appointed by the chair of
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(F) 2 members shall be appointed by the ranking
minority member of the Committee on Armed Services of
the Senate;
(G) 2 members shall be appointed by the chair of
the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(H) 2 members shall be appointed by the ranking
minority member of the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Qualifications.--the members appointed under paragraph
(1) shall be from among individuals who--
(A) are United States citizens; and
(B) have significant professional experience or
expertise in--
(i) the manufacturing sector;
(ii) defense procurement;
(iii) defense technology and innovation;
and
(iv) industrial policy.
(3) Deadline for appointment.--
(A) In general.--All members of the Commission
shall be appointed under paragraph (1) not later than
45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) Effect of lack of appointments by appointment
date.--If one or more appointments under paragraph (1)
is not made by the date specified in subparagraph (A)--
(i) the authority to make such appointment
or appointments shall expire; and
(ii) the number of members of the
Commission shall be reduced by the number of
appointments not made by that date.
(4) Chair; vice chair.--
(A) Chair.--The chairs of the appropriate
congressional committees shall jointly designate one
member of the Commission to serve as chair of the
Commission.
(B) Vice chair.--The ranking minority members of
the appropriate congressional committees shall jointly
designate one member of the Commission to serve as vice
chair of the Commission.
(5) Meetings.--
(A) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall hold the
first meeting as soon as practicable after \2/3\ of the
members of the Commission have been appointed under
paragraph (1).
(B) Subsequent meetings.--After its initial
meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the
chair or a majority of its members.
(6) Quorum.--Eight members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business.
(7) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members of the
Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. A
vacancy in the Commission does not affect the powers of the
Commission and shall (except as provided by paragraph (3)(B))
be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment
was made.
(8) Removal of members.--
(A) In general.--A member of the Commission may be
removed from the Commission for cause by the individual
serving in the position responsible for the original
appointment of the member under paragraph (1), provided
that notice is first provided to that official of the
cause for removal, and removal is voted and agreed upon
by \3/4\ of the members of the Commission.
(B) Vacancies.--A vacancy created by the removal of
a member of the Commission under subparagraph (A) does
not affect the powers of the Commission and shall be
filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(d) Duties.--
(1) Review.--The Commission shall conduct a review of the
defense industrial base of the United States, including an
assessment of the production requirements necessary to wage a
major war across multiple theaters.
(2) Assessment.--The Commission shall assess the following:
(A) Lessons learned from the experience of major
war in Ukraine, including a classified annex addressed
to whether current operational plans for major war
contingency scenarios in Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia give due consideration to the lessons learned from
that and other recent conflicts around the world.
(B) The expected defense production requirements
necessary to wage a major war across one or more
theaters, with attention to minimum production
requirements, ordinary production requirements, and
requirements in order to scale production quickly and
at need.
(C) Identification and establishment of minimum and
optimal production and stocks of key, critical weapons
systems and associated munitions production and
maintenance capacity indexed against operational
planning for major war in Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia.
(D) The current, standing capacity of the United
States defense industrial base to produce weapons
systems, ammunition, and other necessary supplies and
maintenance necessary for different major war
contingency scenarios, including sub-tier contracting,
with a view to identifying supply chain bottlenecks,
obstacles to competition, and requirements for the
conversion of civilian commercial facilities to defense
production in a national emergency.
(E) The policies and programs of the Federal
Government that affect domestic industrial capacity
that is or can be used for defense production.
(F) The burden imposed on different sectors within
the defense industrial base as a result of regulations
issued by--
(i) the Department of Energy;
(ii) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(iii) the Department of Commerce;
(iv) the Department of Defense; and
(v) the Small Business Administration.
(3) Recommendations.--The Commission shall make
recommendations with respect to the following matters:
(A) Reforms to operational planning and defense
procurement planning with a view to ensuring United
States contingency plans--
(i) are well suited to likely contingency
scenarios;
(ii) reflect the lessons learned from
recent wars to include Russia's war in Ukraine;
and
(iii) reflect the correct balance of new
and legacy technology to provide the United
States the greatest possible operational
advantage in future contingency operations.
(B) Reforms to existing Federal programs and
policies related to defense production, procurement,
and innovation.
(C) Federal regulations that inhibit defense
production and innovation and their estimated burden to
producers, including regulations issued by--
(i) the Department of Energy;
(ii) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(iii) the Department of Commerce; and
(iv) the Department of Defense.
(D) Funding levels necessary to support increased
domestic industrial capacity.
(E) New Federal policies, programs, and offices
that can support a defense-industrial mobilization and
increased domestic industrial capacity.
(e) Report and Briefing Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the
President and the appropriate congressional committees a report
on the Commission's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) a proposed strategy for increasing the
industrial capacity of the United States for defense
production;
(B) the assessment required by subsection (d)(2);
(C) the recommendations required by subsection
(d)(3); and
(D) considerations for policymakers, including
members and committees of Congress.
(3) Interim briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the
deadline for appointment of members of the Commission specified
in subsection (c)(3)(A), the Commission shall provide to the
appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the status
of the review, assessments, and recommendations required by
subsection (d), including a discussion of any interim
recommendations.
(f) Advice and Input.--The Committee shall seek the advice and
input of industry partners, manufacturing policy experts, State and
local development officials, and manufacturing worker interests when
performing the duties described in subsection (d) and producing the
report required under subsection (e), including by--
(1) holding not less than 4 public hearings per year during
which industry representatives, worker groups, and regional
representatives can provide insight regarding the current state
of the defense-industrial base and the requirements for its
full mobilization; and
(2) establishing an Industry Advisory Board of not more
than 10 members appointed by the chair, which shall include--
(A) an expert in industrial competitiveness and
national security;
(B) a manufacturing trade association
representative;
(C) a representative of small business government
contractors;
(D) a manufacturing worker representative;
(E) a representative from a private investment firm
investing in the defense and industrial sectors; and
(F) such other representatives as the chair may
appoint.
(g) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
(1) Information and suggestions.--The Commission may secure
directly from the Department of Defense, the Department of
Energy, the Department of Commerce, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, the
Department of the Treasury, and the United States Trade
Representative information, suggestions, estimates, and
statistics for the purposes of this section. Each such agency
shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such
information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to
the Commission upon receiving a request made by--
(A) the chair of the Commission;
(B) the chair of any subcommittee of the Commission
created by a majority of members of the Commission; or
(C) any member the Commission designated by a
majority of the Commission for purposes of making
requests under this paragraph.
(2) Additional assistance.--Departments and agencies of the
United States may provide to the Commission such services,
funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as those
departments and agencies may determine advisable and as may be
authorized by law.
(h) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--
(1) Status as federal employees.--Notwithstanding the
requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code,
including the requirements relating to supervision under
subsection (a)(3) of such section, the members of the
Commission shall be deemed to be Federal employees.
(2) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission may be
compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the
actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
(3) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
(i) Staff.--
(1) Executive director.--The Commission shall appoint and
fix the rate of basic pay for an Executive Director in
accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Pay.--The Executive Director appointed under paragraph
(1) may, with the approval of the Commission, appoint and fix
the rate of basic pay for additional personnel as staff of the
Commission in accordance with section 3161(d) of title 5,
United States Code.
(j) Personal Services.--
(1) Authority to procure.--The Commission may--
(A) procure the services of experts or consultants
(or of organizations of experts or consultants) in
accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title
5, United States Code; and
(B) pay in connection with such services travel
expenses of individuals, including transportation and
per diem in lieu of subsistence, while such individuals
are traveling from their homes or places of business to
duty stations.
(2) Maximum daily pay rates.--The daily rate paid an expert
or consultant procured pursuant to paragraph (1) may not exceed
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect
for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
(k) Contracting Authority.--The Commission may acquire
administrative supplies and equipment for Commission use to the extent
funds are available.
(l) Authority To Accept Gifts.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may accept, sue, and
dispose of gifts or donations of services, goods, and property
from non-Federal entities for the purposes of aiding and
facilitating the work of the Commission. The authority under
this paragraph does not extend to gifts of money.
(2) Documentation; conflicts of interest.--The Commission
shall document gifts accepted under the authority provided by
paragraph (1) and shall avoid conflicts of interest or the
appearance of conflicts of interest.
(3) Compliance with congressional ethics rules.--Except as
specifically provided in this section, a member of the
Commission shall comply with rules set forth by the Select
Committee on Ethics of the Senate and the Committee on Ethics
of the House of Representative governing employees of the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.
(m) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments
and agencies of the United States.
(n) Commission Support.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter
into a contract with a federally funded research and development center
to provide appropriate staff and administrative support for the
activities of the Commission.
(o) Expedition of Security Clearances.--The Office of Senate
Security and the Office of House Security shall ensure the expedited
processing of appropriate security clearances for personnel appointed
to the Commission by offices of the Senate and House of
Representatives, respectively, under processes developed for the
clearance of legislative branch employees.
(p) Legislative Advisory Committee.--The Commission shall operate
as a legislative advisory committee and shall not be subject to the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(q) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 for
the Commission to carry out activities under this Act. Such funds shall
remain available until expended.
(r) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall terminate on the date
that is 90 days after the Commission submits the final report
required by subsection (e).
(2) Administrative actions before termination.--The
Commission may use the 90-day period described in paragraph (1)
for the purpose of concluding its activities, including
providing testimony to committees of Congress with respect to
and disseminating the report required by subsection (e).
(s) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
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