Arlington, Va. (July 26, 2023) – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning yesterday sent a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee commending their legislation to enable the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral security pact.
Writing to committee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Fanning praised four pieces of legislation that were marked up by the committee today: the Oversight and Accountability (AOA) Act of 2023, the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act of 2023, the Keeping our Allies Leading in Advancement (KOALA) Act of 2023, and Bilateral Resilience in Industry Trade Security (BRITS) Act of 2023.
The bills “contain critical enabling authorities that collectively implement AUKUS,” Fanning writes. “These bills include key reforms that AIA members strongly support, including establishing a Department of State Senior Advisor for AUKUS; expanding authorities in the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 by implementing streamlined export license reviews for defense articles and services; and authorizing the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia. Comprehensively, these groundbreaking bills support the broader relationship between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia.
“The benefits for the U.S. defense industrial base derived from this legislation are simply unmatched and will be reflected in our national security, our economy, and our armed services for decades to come,” the letter continues.
In March 2023, AIA joined with its counterparts in Australia and the U.K., the Australian Industry Group and ADS, to release a joint paper outlining steps to reduce the trade, regulatory, and bureaucratic barriers that could hinder the historic partnership. AIA also released specific recommendations targeting the U.S. regulatory framework to support international trade, collaboration, and integration between the three countries. In May 2023, AIA also issued a letter of support for the Senate’s Truncating Onerous Regulations for Partners and Enhancing Deterrence Operations (TORPEDO) Act of 2023, which also aims to reduce trade, regulatory, and bureaucratic barriers that may hinder AUKUS.
Read the full letter below or by clicking here.
Dear Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks:
On behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and our more than 320 American aerospace and defense (A&D) companies, thank you for your leadership on the Australia – United Kingdom – United States (AUKUS) partnership. This historic arrangement is a generational opportunity for all three nations and represents one of the best examples of manufacturing and technology industrial cooperation that strengthens global security and the American defense industrial base.
The introduction of several pieces of legislation this month, including the Oversight and Accountability (AOA) Act of 2023, the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act of 2023, the Keeping our Allies Leading in Advancement (KOALA) Act of 2023, and Bilateral Resilience in Industry Trade Security (BRITS) Act of 2023 contain critical enabling authorities that collectively implement AUKUS. This legislation authorizes the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia and reduces regulatory barriers that may hinder this historic security partnership. Moreover, the legislation strengthens the United States’ (U.S.) longstanding bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Australia respectively.
While the AUKUS partnership is widely supported by the American A&D industry, operational success depends on reducing barriers to cooperation. This requires a modern defense trade system with clearly defined standards that allows industry and foreign partners to jointly plan, produce, and acquire strategic and advanced capabilities. As the manufacturers, exporters, and implementers of the AUKUS Pillars, the U.S. A&D industry will play an integral role as Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. take this historic partnership from concept to reality. Our industry remains steadfast in providing feedback and supporting policies to promote and advance U.S. national security objectives that maximize speed, innovation, and technological advancement — all of which are essential for the success of AUKUS.
These bills include key reforms that AIA members strongly support, including establishing a Department of State Senior Advisor for AUKUS; expanding authorities in the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 by implementing streamlined export license reviews for defense articles and services; and authorizing the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia. Comprehensively, these groundbreaking bills support the broader relationship between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. The foreign military sales and direct commercial sales exemptions specific to each partner under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) in the BRITS Act and KOALA Act are imperative to the operational success of the AUKUS partnership. Further, by permitting additional expedited innovation on future technologies that is not limited to cooperation under the existing AUKUS capability framework, this legislation will strengthen our global leadership while addressing the overarching challenges of deterrence, strategic competition, and supply chain resiliency. We believe there is, and continue to encourage, bipartisan support for these policies.
The benefits for the U.S. defense industrial base derived from this legislation are simply unmatched and will be reflected in our national security, our economy, and our armed services for decades to come. Therefore, we urge the House Foreign Affairs Committee to affirmatively mark up the AOA Act, AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act, KOALA Act, and BRITS Act as soon as possible and bring these bills to the House floor for a vote in short order.
Our organization and member companies look forward to working with you all on a comprehensive bipartisan, bicameral approach to this crucial national security issue.
Respectfully,
Eric Fanning
President and CEO
Aerospace Industries Association
CC:
The Honorable Bill Huizenga, House Foreign Affairs Committee
The Honorable Young Kim, House Foreign Affairs Committee
The Honorable Tom Kean, Jr. House Foreign Affairs Committee
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