DPA Transparency Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced
Summary
Prohibits entities tied to top officials from receiving Title III Defense Production Act assistance. The bill also raises monetary penalties and makes the Defense Production Act Committee adopt a GAO-based fraud risk management regime.
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- Companies become ineligible for Title III help if a “covered individual” — the President, the Vice President, or a member of the DPA Committee — or their spouse, child, son‑in‑law, or daughter‑in‑law directly or indirectly holds a significant interest. A significant interest means owning or controlling at least 20% of an entity, and related persons’ holdings are aggregated.
- Specified civil penalties in the Act are increased from $10,000 to $100,000 in three locations (sections 103, 705, and 710(f)), raising potential fines for violations.
- The Committee must summarize anti‑fraud steps and perform fraud risk assessments for all activities. Within 1 year the Committee must implement a fraud risk management framework consistent with GAO‑15‑593SP, train personnel on it, and designate a point of contact for fraud issues.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher DPA civil penalties
This bill would raise three civil penalties in the Defense Production Act from $10,000 to $100,000. The increases would apply in section 103, every occurrence in section 705, and section 710(f). Businesses or people subject to those DPA penalty rules would face up to $100,000 per violation where the law previously said $10,000. The change would take effect upon enactment.
New fraud rules for DPA programs
This bill would require the Defense Production Act Committee to add a summary of steps taken to reduce fraud and a fraud risk assessment in its reports. Within one year of enactment, the Committee would adopt processes and procedures consistent with GAO-15-593SP. The Committee would also train staff on those standards and name a point of contact to manage fraud issues and coordinate with other agencies. These steps would aim to reduce fraud in transactions under the Act.
Bars DPA aid to officials' firms
This bill would make an entity ineligible for Title III assistance if a covered individual or specified relative holds a "significant interest." A covered individual would include the President, Vice President, or a member of the Defense Production Act Committee, plus that person's spouse, child, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law. "Significant interest" would mean owning, controlling, or holding at least 20 percent of any class of equity, and related persons' holdings would be aggregated. The restriction would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov