JOINT STATEMENT ON FY21 NDAA INCLUDING SMALL MANUFACTURER CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT

On July 3, Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), and Carrie Hines, President of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, released the following statements after the House Armed Services Committee included the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act:

"I am thankful that my amendment on the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act was included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act. This crucial amendment will provide much-needed assistance to small defense manufacturers with cyber compliance and enhance cybersecurity throughout our defense supply chain by expanding DOD's cyber initiatives with MEP Centers," Congressman Wilson said. "The MEP National Network is ideally situated to assist the Department to help strengthen our national defense. This bipartisan legislation was supported unanimously by all members of the House Armed Services Committee. I would like to thank Representative Elissa Slotkin for co-leading this amendment with me and Representative Jimmy Panetta for joining me in introducing this important bill in the House."

"Cyber vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain pose a significant threat to U.S. national security. MEP Centers, public-private partnerships located in all 50 states, are uniquely positioned to assist small businesses with cybersecurity requirements and have worked closely with the Pentagon to bolster defense supply chain resiliency," Congressman Panetta said. "I am proud that my bipartisan legislation, the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, was included as an amendment to this year's NDAA. This provision will enhance the essential work of MEP Centers so they may continue to provide cybersecurity assistance to small manufacturers as they support national defense."

"The American Small Manufacturers Coalition is exceptionally grateful for the leadership of Representatives Wilson, Slotkin, and Panetta for the inclusion of this language within the House NDAA. The MEP National Network is uniquely positioned to help Department of Defense contractors meet these new requirements, and eventually enable Federal contractors to prepare for CMMC certification requirements, as the only entity that can reach all DOD suppliers in the United States and Puerto Rico," Hines said. "This language will allow the National MEP Centers to continue to meet this challenge in order to protect our National Defense and reduce the risk to the US manufacturing community."

###