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34 PCB007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2025 A M E R I CA N M A D E A DVO CACY Congress Back From Break With Work To Do by Shane W hiteside, Summit Interc onne ct As Washington wakes up after the August Congressional recess, leaders from both sides of the aisle confront a host of serious policy challenges. One of the challenges is reau- thorizing the Defense Production Act (DPA), a U.S. law that gives the president broad authority to influence the domestic industrial base to support national defense and emergency preparedness. It allows the government to priori- tize contracts, allocate resources, and provide financial incentives to expand production capacity for critical goods and services during times of national emergency or for national defense purposes. In 2023, the White House des- ignated PCBs and integrated cir- cuit substrates as critical national technologies, a move that cut red tape and opened the door to direct government investment. Since that announcement nearly three years ago, our indus- try has seen the benefit of DPA funding. Because the Department of Defense relies on secure and trusted PCBs, more than $118 million has been granted to PCB companies. New facilities and capabilities are coming online in Michigan, New York, and New Hampshire. This is an important first step, but the investments that must follow are now threat- ened on two fronts: 1. DPA reauthorization is set to expire this year. 2. The FY2026 defense bud- get, as passed, contains no additional funds for PCB investments. This disconnect between stated Pentagon goals and bud- getary reality is concerning. The Pentagon's own industrial base study identified PCBs as a critical