East Michigan News

Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2026, which was approved by the House of Representatives. The legislation outlines military policy and priorities for the upcoming year, including a 3.8% pay increase for service members and additional benefits for their families.

Moolenaar emphasized the importance of supporting military personnel and maintaining national security. “The National Defense Authorization Act is vital to support our brave men and women in uniform, and it improves their quality of life with a well-deserved pay raise and benefits for their families. This legislation ensures our military remains the strongest fighting force in the world and builds peace through strength to deter our adversaries," said Moolenaar.

He highlighted several amendments he led that focus on countering threats from China. "The bill includes several of my amendments that will help protect our country from the Chinese Communist Party, including the SAFE Research Act, which will stop federal STEM funding from going to universities or researchers that collaborate with China's military and intelligence services. The bill also includes my bipartisan amendment requiring the Department to assess the national security implications of AI and our positioning relative to China in this increasingly critical competition. I am thankful to Chairman Rogers for including these amendments, along with many of those from my colleagues on the Select Committee. This legislation plays a critical role in advancing American national security in the face of threats from the CCP,” added Moolenaar.

Key provisions supported by Moolenaar and committee members include expanding security cooperation with Taiwan by authorizing up to $1 billion in fiscal year 2026 assistance, requiring strategies against arms sales by China, establishing defense technology partnerships between U.S. and Taiwanese offices, increasing reporting on Taiwan’s readiness, contingency planning with allies, and reviewing NATO and EU contributions to Indo-Pacific security.

Other measures aim at tightening federal research security by prohibiting awards or funding to individuals or institutions partnering with hostile foreign entities, expanding restrictions on foreign unmanned aerial systems operating domestically, modernizing adoption plans for advanced artificial intelligence technologies within defense agencies, authorizing funds for Smart Susceptor Technology development, and mandating disclosures about ties to foreign adversary entities.

To strengthen supply chain resilience within defense industries, directives include maintaining a list of high-risk infrastructure dependent on materials from adversarial nations such as China; studying maritime industrial base capacity; assessing regulatory barriers limiting surge capacity; forming a consortium focused on industrial base challenges; enhancing restrictions on procurement from foreign battery suppliers; reviewing supply chains for medical products reliant on Chinese components; initiating a Strategic Spaceport Program study; and establishing working groups aimed at improving supply chain management through advanced manufacturing practices.