Defense Production Act

The Defense Production Act of 1950 is a US federal law enacted on September 8, 1950, in response to the Korean War. The Act allows the president to identify critical materials, require private businesses to prioritize contracts for these materials, and control the civilian economy to ensure availability of scarce materials for national defense needs. The Act has been reauthorized over 50 times since 1950 and has undergone several amendments, including the addition of new provisions to enhance provision of civil transportation, energy, and food resources. The Act currently contains three major sections: Title I, which authorizes the president to identify critical goods and require private businesses to accept and prioritize contracts for these materials; Title III, which authorizes the president to allocate materials, services, and facilities to promote national defense; and Title VII, which authorizes the president to control the civilian economy to ensure availability of scarce materials. The president's designation of products under the jurisdiction of the DPA is the authority of the Act most often used by the Department of Defense.learn more on wikipedia