ICYMI: Press Coverage of the New Dems' Acquisition Reform Recommendations

Following a series of meetings between the Coalition and representatives of public and private-sector stakeholder groups, the New Dems released a series of recommendations to reform our defense acquisition system and ensure that our service members have the equipment and logistical support they need to carry out their missions and protect our vital national security interests. Press clips from the release of the proposals can be found below.

Click here to read a copy of the recommendations.

Click here to read a copy of the letter.

Defense News: “U.S. House Democrats Finalize Sweeping Acquisition Reform Plan”

The New Democrat Coalition (NDC), a 55-member group that touts itself as the “pro-growth, fiscally responsible wing” or the party, is floating to House Armed Services Committee members 10 pages of findings and recommendations to “streamline and upgrade the acquisitions process.”

The coalition’s report, obtained by Defense News’ CongressWatch, applauds the Defense Department’s acquisition corps. But, in blunt language, states, “it is clear that acquisition reforms are needed.”

Defense News: “House Democratic Group: ‘Professionalize’ Pentagon’s Troubled Acquisition System”

In a new, 10-page report proposing Pentagon acquisition reforms, the 55-member New Democrat Coalition wants to “professionalize military acquisition leadership.”

“Far too often acquisition leaders do not have a solid background in acquisition or lack the technical background or familiarity with the industry associated with the government’s desired solution,” states the NDC report.

One analyst who closely studies Pentagon acquisition issues applauded the lawmakers’ proposal.

“This has been a life-long crusade to provide the right career and promotion path,” says David Berteau, a former Pentagon official now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“I think it’s really important. We have to recognize that we don’t want to put them at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to promotion,” Berteau said. “The [promotion] system covers a lot more than acquisition. You have to have the right interface for what’s best and what works for acquisition, and what’s best and what works for the rest of system.”

Defense News: "Could real acquisition reform be afoot?"

Forces might be converging that could lead to significant Pentagon acquisition reform, and a group of House Democrats is pushing pages of ideas.

For months, House Armed Services Committee (HASC) leaders have been conducting a major reform study. Because that effort is being led by the panel’s likely next chairman, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, insiders say much of it could become law.

Inside Defense: “Democratic Task Force Targets Sequestration in Acquisition Reform”

Repealing sequestration headlines a list of defense acquisition reform recommendations sent to the House Armed Services Committee by the pro-business New Democrat Coalition National Security Task Force.

A Sept. 30 letter addressed to committee Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) outlines five principles to improve the defense acquisition process. Thornberry, seen as the likely heir to Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA), was tapped last year to lead a defense acquisition reform initiative.

"We believe that these innovative ideas represent opportunities for success in a wide range of topics, and if adopted and taken together would result in the improvement of our acquisition system," according to the letter signed by nine House lawmakers.

POLITICO: “Business-friendly Dems push business-friendly acquisition reforms”

A congressional coalition of pro-business Democrats is out with its recommendations for overhauling the Pentagon’s long-troubled acquisition bureaucracy. The New Democrat Coalition’s national security task force has submitted a list of acquisition reform proposals to House Armed Services Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and ranking Democrat Adam Smith of Washington state, who are leading a long-term acquisition reform project.

The task force — led by Reps. Derek Kilmer of Washington state, Ron Barber of Arizona and Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii — has several recommendations that’ll be well-received by the defense industry, including cutting down on audits and streamlining regulations. “Government is spending increasing amounts of scarce budget resources on ensuring compliance with rules, often in a duplicative manner,” the task force says in a 12-page report. “The high volume of government audits is costly in time and money to both government and industry and ought to be optimized.”