I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7323 
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a network of regional hubs 
to foster innovation, collaboration, and rapid development of defense- 
related technologies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 3, 2026 
Mr. BELL (for himself, Ms. ROSS, Mr. HUDSON, and Mr. MESSMER) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a network 
of regional hubs to foster innovation, collaboration, and 
rapid development of defense-related technologies, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defense Technology 
Hubs Act of 2026’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to enhance national secu-
rity and technological superiority by requiring the Sec-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Feb 03, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7323.IH
H7323
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
retary of Defense to establish a network of regional de-
fense technology hubs to foster innovation, collaboration, 
and rapid development of defense-related technologies to 
attract talent from across the United States. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ANCHOR
FEDERAL
DEFENSE
INSTITU-
TION.—The term ‘‘anchor Federal defense institu-
tion’’ means a defense manufacturing facility, an in-
stitution of higher education that engages the De-
partment on research, development, testing, and 
evaluation, or a military installation. 
(2) DEFENSE
TECHNOLOGY
HUB.—The term 
‘‘defense technology hub’’ means a regional hub des-
ignated and supported under the Program. 
(3) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble consortium’’ means a consortium composed of 
universities, defense contractors, small businesses, 
nonprofit organizations, independent research enti-
ties, and State or local governments. 
(4) EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES.—The term 
‘‘emerging technologies’’ means scientific and engi-
neering advancements with potential military appli-
cations as identified by the Secretary of Defense. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Feb 03, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7323.IH
H7323
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the Defense Technology Hubs Program established 
under section 4(a). 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY HUBS 
PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a program to designate and support 
regional hubs focused on advancing defense tech-
nologies critical to national security. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The program established 
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the 
‘‘Defense Technology Hubs Program’’. 
(b) 
DESIGNATION
OF
DEFENSE
TECHNOLOGY 
HUBS.— 
(1) SOLICITATION
OF
APPLICATIONS.—Under 
the Program, the Secretary shall solicit applications 
from eligible consortia to be designated as defense 
technology hubs under the Program. 
(2) SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS.—A consor-
tium seeking designation and support as a regional 
hub under subsection (a)(1) shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application therefor at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Feb 03, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7323.IH
H7323
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(3) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall select eligi-
ble consortia for designation and support under sub-
section (a)(1) from among those submitting applica-
tions pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection 
using the following criteria: 
(A) Demonstrated capability in defense-rel-
evant technology areas. 
(B) Evidence of regional collaboration and 
stakeholder commitment. 
(C) Presence of anchor Federal defense in-
stitutions or mission-critical installations of the 
Department that support or are early adopters 
of emerging defense technologies, such as 
geospatial intelligence, data fusion, artificial in-
telligence, autonomy, edge networking and com-
puting, human-machine teaming, and quantum. 
(D) Existence of regional innovation eco-
systems 
with 
demonstrated 
success 
in 
leveraging Federal, State, and private sector 
collaboration, such as technology innovation 
consortia, academic research clusters, and spe-
cialized defense accelerators. 
(E) Demonstrated success in developing 
partnerships and collaborative arrangements 
with local Federal defense institutions and mis-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Feb 03, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7323.IH
H7323
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
sion-critical installations for the purposes of ad-
vancing research, development, prototyping, and 
transition of emerging defense technologies. 
(F) Demonstrated success in developing 
partnership and collaborative arrangements 
with Federal defense institutions and mission- 
critical installations in workforce development 
and training programs to build a skilled pipe-
line for defense innovation. 
(E) Potential to address Department-iden-
tified strategic priorities. 
(F) Economic and workforce development 
impact. 
(4) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In selecting eligible 
consortia for designation and support under the 
Program, the Secretary shall ensure that de-
fense technology hubs are distributed— 
(i) across diverse geographic regions 
of the United States, with a goal of desig-
nating at least 10 defense technology hubs 
before the date that is 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(ii) to regions in which eligible con-
sortia are co-located with, or readily acces-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Feb 03, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7323.IH
H7323
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS