To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports H.R. 7900, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,” which would authorize $840 billion for national defense commitments at home and abroad. Passage of this important legislation will strengthen and advance the National Defense Strategy and ensure that unfunded procurement, research, and readiness priorities of the services are met. We support the Committee’s decision to increase the authorizing level of the bill so that the Department of Defense has the resources to adapt to emerging threats as inflation has weakened the Department’s buying power. This legislation serves as a model for bipartisan cooperation as members of both parties worked together to advance critical national priorities. We appreciate the Committee’s work in crafting this legislation and ask that you consider our recommendations.
The Chamber believes H.R. 7900 would be improved if it were amended in several key areas: