Sean Patrick Maloney: “I rise in support of the 3-year reauthorization of the Defense Production Act of 1950. This is bipartisan legislation…”

“I rise in support of the 3-year reauthorization of the Defense Production Act of 1950. This is bipartisan legislation that was reported by the Committee on Financial Services by voice vote. First enacted during the Korean War, the DPA has proven a useful tool in ensuring the delivery of goods and services needed for the defense of the Nation during times of war and peace. The act was used in Operation Desert Storm to assist in the massive deployment of forces to the Gulf. Most recently it was used by the Clinton and Bush administrations to maintain the supply of natural gas to California. Without this action, the administration contended that defense installations in northern and central California could have faced interrupted natural gas service. The DPA has played an important role in dealing with recent natural disasters. Should the country face a major domestic terrorist attack, the DPA could be valuable in ensuring that emergency supplies are delivered to those who need them and in a timely manner. As the representative of a city that has been the target of terrorist attacks and many terrorist threats, I can attest that, unfortunately, such a potential use of the DPA is not a mere theoretical possibility.”