# 119-hr-7323: Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026 119-hr-7323, Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7323 - As of: 2026-04-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-7323 - Congress: 119 - Title: Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2026-02-03 - Sponsor: Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO) - Cosponsors: 3 - Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-04-21 ## Summary **regional defense technology hubs** would be created to speed development and fielding of emerging military technologies and to build local talent and industrial capacity. The plan links Defense Department labs, universities, industry, and local governments while imposing security and intellectual property rules to protect sensitive work. - Workers and students: Creates local training pipelines and partnerships with research universities, community colleges, and vocational programs to grow a skilled defense workforce. It aims to align training with mission needs and regional strengths. - Regions and local economies: Offers grants and seed funding to designated hubs to drive economic and workforce development. The Secretary would aim to name at least 10 hubs within 3 years and keep federal support to no more than 50 percent of a hub's annual costs. - Industry, universities, and DoD labs: Authorizes cooperative projects for R&D, prototyping, and tech transition across AI, quantum, edge computing, human‑machine teaming, hypersonics, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. Hubs must meet cybersecurity, export control, and foreign‑entity exclusion rules and follow Department guidelines on intellectual property. *Authorizes up to $375.0 million for FY2026–2030, including $75.0 million available for grants, which would increase federal spending if funded.* ## Cosponsors (3) - Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8] (R-IN), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Creates Defense Technology Hubs Program: benefit, medium. This bill would create a Defense Technology Hubs Program to back regional hubs for military-related tech like AI, quantum, biotech, and hypersonics. The Program would fund partnerships among the Department of Defense, companies, and colleges and support workforce training. The Program would begin 1… - Hub selection and geographic goals: benefit, medium. The bill would require the Secretary to solicit applications from regional consortia and pick hubs based on tech strength, regional partnerships, nearby defense installations, and workforce plans. The Secretary would aim to designate at least 10 hubs within three years after enactment. Applicants w… - Reporting and Independent Evaluation: benefit, low. Each hub would send an annual progress report to the Secretary on technology, partnerships, and outcomes. The Secretary would hire an independent evaluator annually for the first five years and then every two years. The Secretary would also send an annual report to the Armed Services Committees. Th… - Security and Export Controls for Hubs: mixed, medium. Designated hubs would have to meet DoD cybersecurity standards and follow ITAR and EAR export rules. Hubs could not include foreign entities of concern or entities on the Commerce Department Entity List. Hubs would need systems to prevent unauthorized access, and to sponsor and hold security cleara… - Funding and Match Rules for Hubs: mixed, medium. The bill would authorize $375 million for the program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with $75 million set aside for grants to hubs. Grant money would be for seed funding, R&D, prototyping, administration, and security systems. Federal support for any hub could not exceed 50 percent of that hub… - Program Oversight, Waivers, and Intellectual Property Rules: mixed, low. The Under Secretary for Research and Engineering would run the Program through the Assistant Secretary for Critical Technologies and coordinate with the Defense Innovation Unit and other agencies to avoid duplication. The Secretary could waive acquisition rules for projects under $10,000,000 to spe… ## Related bills - 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025 - 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025 - 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act - 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act - 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-hr-7323 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7323) ## Related - [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151) - [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669) - [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900) - [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977) - [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237) - [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7323 (as of 2026-04-21).