H.R. 8053 — DPA Emerging Technology Act of 2026

This section modifies the Defense Production Act Committee—which coordinates federal agencies' use of priorities and allocations authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950—by (1) requiring the Committee to meet at least twice per year, and at other times as determined necessary by the Chairperson; (2) authorizing the Chairperson to establish additional subcommittees to improve coordination among member agencies on particular activities authorized under the Act; and (3) establishing a Subcommittee on Emerging Technology within the Committee. The Emerging Technology Subcommittee analyzes (A) the effects, including potential benefits, of covered emerging technologies on activities essential to national defense requirements and (B) how such technologies can improve efficiencies, encourage innovation, and address supply chain gaps within or across industries and federal agencies. For these purposes, the subcommittee establishes its own definition of covered technology, considering fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics, biotechnology, cryptography and quantum computing, materials science, semiconductors, and space. (Thus, the annual report previously required under subsection (d) is redesignated as subsection (g).)

This section directs the Subcommittee on Emerging Technology of the Defense Production Act Committee—which coordinates federal use of Defense Production Act priorities and allocations authorities—to submit to Congress, not later than 18 months after enactment, a report evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks, and resources required, to establish a strategic reserve of critical biomanufacturing essential to meet national defense requirements under the Defense Production Act.

This section corrects a typographical error in the short title of the Defense Production Act of 1950 by striking “cited as ‘the Defense” and inserting “cited as the ‘Defense”, effective on the date of enactment of that Act.