Letter to House, Senate Armed Services Committee leadership expresses support for including S. 2209 in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.
In a letter to both House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership delivered May 26, The American Legion called for inclusion of S. 2209, the Warrior Right to Repair Act, in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation would require contractors to provide the technical data and materials the military needs to maintain its own equipment.
“The United States Defense Industrial Base is a vital component of U.S. national security, and major defense contractors play a crucial role in our national defense,” the letter noted. “However, restrictive contract provisions that limit the sharing of intellectual property and technical data with the Department of Defense have placed significant strain on military readiness. In many cases, servicemembers are restricted from repairing their own equipment, leading to delays as it must be sent back to the United States from overseas for repair, or contractors must be flown in to perform simple fixes. Restricting servicemembers' ability to work on their own equipment often results in higher sustainment costs and the likelihood that the Department of Defense will receive an additional charge for the cost of repairs.”
The letter expressed American Legion support for efforts to reduce maintenance delays by requiring defense contractors to provide the Department of Defense with the materials and data needed to conduct repairs. “Ensuring fair and reasonable access to repair materials is essential to maintaining military readiness and operational capability, preventing servicemembers from being left without critical equipment during times of conflict,” the Legion stated. “The American Legion also supports being responsive to the needs of uniformed and civilian military leadership, who have made clear through policy guidance –such as the Army Transformation Initiative – that they support the Right to Repair.”
- Security