House Forms Caucus to Support 'Buy American' Defense Rules
The U.S. House of Representatives has established a Berry Amendment Caucus, signaling congressional support for domestic sourcing and “Buy American” requirements in defense acquisition. The caucus launch was lauded by the U.S. textile industry, and its formation will likely influence how contractors and small businesses approach teaming with international partners and manage their supply chains.
- The bipartisan caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Pat Harrigan (R-NC) and Don Davis (D-NC) and will focus on modernizing and strengthening the Berry Amendment's domestic sourcing requirements. - The amendment, originating from the Fifth Supplemental DOD Appropriations Act of 1941, mandates the Department of Defense to source food, clothing, textiles, and hand tools entirely from U.S. producers. - The caucus will educate members of Congress on the scope of products covered by the law and advocate for consistent enforcement to meet the evolving needs of the military. - The formation of this caucus is concurrent with proposals from the Defense Logistics Agency to potentially reconfigure the Berry Amendment, including a "final assembly only" requirement which would permit the use of foreign components. - A key legislative battleground is the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), which allows for the purchase of foreign-made military textiles for contracts below $150,000; the House version of the 2026 NDAA included language to eliminate this exception, while the Senate's did not. - For small businesses, the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes several acquisition reforms, such as raising the threshold for requiring certified cost and pricing data from $2 million to $10 million, which is intended to lower barriers for new entrants to the defense market. - While the Berry Amendment does not explicitly cover most electronics or sensors, its emphasis on domestic supply chains aligns with broader provisions in the FY 2026 NDAA aimed at reducing reliance on foreign adversaries for critical components like optical glass and computer displays. - The focus on domestic sourcing comes as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, crucial for tech startups, faced a funding lapse on October 1, 2025, with reauthorization debates centering on reforms to enhance commercialization and prevent exploitation by foreign entities.
