Arlington, Va (March 1, 2022) – Today, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning released the following statement ahead of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address:
“The State of the Union address comes at a critical time for the United States, for our safety, security, and economy. We must remain focused on the pandemic, economic pressure, inflation, and other major issues, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that national security must remain a top priority for America.
“Threats to U.S. national security are not receding; in many ways they are growing in number and complexity. The good news is there is solid bipartisan support for a strong national defense and for sustained and stable spending to support it. We are hopeful the president continues to underscore the need for increased investment in national security this evening.
“The length and complexity of the pandemic mean we have to stay focused on policies that enable recovery and support resiliency throughout the defense industrial base and shared aerospace and defense supply chain. A timely budget and corresponding appropriations that match our security, safety, space, and sustainability priorities are essential. Policies that encourage job and economic growth, promotes American competitiveness, and help unleash the next generation of innovation are also crucial for our country and industry.
“We know that our adversaries are not waiting for us to get our budget together. We’re still operating under a continuing resolution, which is not an efficient way to govern, and it makes it difficult for the industry to plan and be the kind of partner that government needs it to be.
“Our country and the world are at an inflection point. We have an opportunity to propel American leadership forward. The aerospace and defense industry looks forward to continuing its work with the Biden Administration and other stakeholders to do just that.”
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