WASHINGTON, D.C, – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act. This bill is designed to modernize and expand the United States’ industrial base to meet national security challenges. It aims to reestablish production lines, invest in workforce development, secure critical supply chains, and incentivize innovation across aerospace, defense, and military technologies. The bill honors the legacy of William S. Knudsen, an American automotive industry executive who led U.S. defense mobilization during World War II, by mobilizing American manufacturing capabilities for modern defense readiness.
Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Our dangerously low military stockpiles are a threat to our national security. We’ll never be ready for a major conflict if have supply chains in communist China and shuttered factories at home. This bill jumpstarts our defense manufacturing so we’re prepared for the next fight.”
Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) are original cosponsors of the bill.
Key provisions of the William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act include:
- Establishing a Commission that oversees the expansion and development of America’s defense industrial base
- Providing Manufacturing Grants to support regional production hubs.
- Implementing Public and Private Partnerships to reactivate outdated defense manufacturing infrastructure.
- Creating Education and Training Initiatives to rebuild a skilled industrial workforce.
- Mandating Measures for Supply Chain Security focusing on semiconductors, rare earth elements, and precision components
Full bill text can be found here.
Background:
The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act was introduced in the 118th Congress on March 14th, 2024, by then-Senator JD Vance.
Recent unclassified wargames have shown that the U.S. military may run out of its best munitions within days of a conflict with China.
Recent estimates show that Chinese military and commercial shipyards produce over 200 times more by tonnage than U.S. shipyards.