DPA Advanced Procurement Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8136
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:41:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
DPA Advanced Procurement Act of 2026 (H.R. 8136)
Purpose
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO), through its leader the Comptroller General, to conduct a study on how federal agencies handle the purchase and storage of "long-lead items" under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA). The DPA gives the President powers to speed up production of critical goods during national emergencies, like wars or supply shortages. Long-lead items are parts that take a long time to design and build, so funding them early helps meet deadlines. The bill also makes a small wording fix to the DPA's title.
Key Provisions
- GAO Study (Section 2):
- GAO must complete and submit the study to the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs within 1 year of the bill's enactment.
- The study must:
- Review current buying and storage methods for DPA-related long-lead items by DPA agencies (federal agencies given DPA powers by the President).
- Suggest ways for federal agencies to collaborate better on these issues.
- Offer legislative recommendations, including possible changes to the DPA.
- Short Title Correction (Section 3):
- Fixes a minor typo in the DPA's original short title text for clarity.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No major changes to the DPA itself; primarily adds a one-time GAO study requirement for oversight.
- The short title correction is a technical edit to the DPA's opening language, effective retroactively to the DPA's enactment in 1950.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DPA agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, Homeland Security) may face improved processes for buying and storing critical parts, leading to faster emergency responses.
- Citizens: Could enhance national security by better preparing for shortages of defense or essential goods.
- International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. readiness in global conflicts or supply chain crises, but no direct foreign policy effects.
- No immediate costs or burdens; impacts depend on future recommendations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- GAO/Comptroller General: Responsible for conducting the study.
- Congressional Committees: House Financial Services and Senate Banking receive the report and may act on recommendations.
- DPA Agencies: Subject to review; could benefit from collaboration ideas.
- Defense and Manufacturing Industries: Potentially affected by any future DPA changes on procurement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens congressional oversight of executive DPA use without limiting presidential authority; study recommendations could lead to future amendments.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to oversee spending and executive actions (no challenges anticipated).
- Political: Promotes efficiency in national defense tools, appealing across parties for preparedness; minor correction avoids confusion in legal references.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- DPA Advanced Procurement Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-27 — PDF (3 pages)