Official Summaries

This bill modifies the organization and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense (ASDs). Current law provides for 19 ASDs, with some of these positions established in statute and others specified by the Department of Defense (DOD).

First, the bill establishes in statute an ASD for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement, whose main duty is to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base through cooperation with security partners and allies, including Taiwan.

Next, the bill establishes in statute an ASD for Strategy, Plans, Capabilities, and Homeland Defense. The principal duty of such ASD is to advise the Secretary of Defense and others on national security issues and defense strategy, policy and planning oversight of various issues, and advancing and representing priority issues. This position replaces the DOD-specified ASD for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. 

The bill eliminates the DOD-specified ASD for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs.

Finally, the bill expands the responsibilities of the DOD-specified ASD for International Security Affairs to include Western Hemisphere affairs.

Current Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 436 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 436

 To amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the organization and 
    authorities of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense with duties 
        relating to industrial base policy and homeland defense.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 5, 2025

 Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the organization and 
    authorities of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense with duties 
        relating to industrial base policy and homeland defense.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORITIES OF ASSISTANT 
              SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE WITH DUTIES RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL 
              BASE POLICY AND HOMELAND DEFENSE.

    (a) Establishment of Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
International Industrial Base Development and Engagement.--Section 
138(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) and (8) as paragraphs 
        (8) and (9), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new 
        paragraph (7):
    ``(7) One of the Assistant Secretaries is the Assistant Secretary 
of Defense for International Industrial Base Development and 
Engagement, who shall report directly to the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment. The principal duty of the Assistant 
Secretary shall be to strengthen the United States defense industrial 
base through the promotion of cooperation with security partners and 
allies of the United States, including Taiwan.''.
    (b) Renaming of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, 
and Capabilities as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, 
Capabilities, and Homeland Defense.--
            (1) In general.--On and after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act--
                    (A) the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
                Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities shall be known as the 
                Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, 
                Capabilities, and Homeland Defense; and
                    (B) any reference in any law or regulation to the 
                Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and 
                Capabilities shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
                Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, 
                Capabilities, and Homeland Defense.
            (2) Establishment.--Section 138(b) of title 10, United 
        States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended 
        by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(10)(A) One of the Assistant Secretaries is the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, Capabilities, and Homeland 
Defense.
    ``(B) The principal duty of the Assistant Secretary shall be to 
advise the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and the Principal Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense on--
            ``(i) national security issues and defense strategy and the 
        capabilities, forces, and contingency plans necessary to 
        implement the defense strategy;
            ``(ii) policy and planning oversight for--
                    ``(I) homeland defense and mission assurance by the 
                Department of Defense;
                    ``(II) support by the Department for civil 
                authorities; and
                    ``(III) Arctic and global resilience; and
            ``(iii) advancing and representing priority issues with--
                    ``(I) other Federal agencies;
                    ``(II) countries that are allies and partners of 
                the United States;
                    ``(III) State, local, territorial, and Tribal 
                governments; and
                    ``(IV) private sector organizations.''.
    (c) Elimination of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland 
Defense and Hemispheric Affairs.--The position of Assistant Secretary 
of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs is eliminated.
    (d) Expanded Authority of Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
International Security Affairs.--The responsibilities of the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs shall include 
responsibility for Western Hemisphere affairs.
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