Erik Paulsen: “I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for their hard work in bringing this important legislation…”

“I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for their hard work in bringing this important legislation to the floor today. It is vital that we do provide our men and women in uniform with the support and resources they need to keep our country safe. Mr. Chairman, I am offering this amendment to provide funding for Defense Production Act purchases for strategic radiation- hardened microelectronics. Through research, development, and testing we have been able to create the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world. These systems are created using thousands of different parts, many of which utilize some of the most advanced technology that is available anywhere. {time} 1515 One of those products that many of our systems rely on is radiation- hardened microelectronics. These microelectronics are specially designed to withstand extremely harsh natural and manmade radiation environments. Although they can be small, they play a large role in ensuring our systems work in the toughest conditions. The Department of Defense requires accesses to these unique products from sources that it knows and that it trusts to be responsible for handling those components with the utmost security. That is why, in 2004, the DOD created the Trusted Foundry Program for microelectronics. This program would ensure that the DOD had access to cutting-edge microelectronics that were produced right here in America by American companies.…”