Arlington, Va. (Sept. 30, 2022) – Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning today issued the following statement after Congress passed H.R. 6833, a short-term continuing resolution that extends current funding for the federal government until December 16, 2022.
“In any year, a stopgap funding bill is harmful. This year, it could be particularly damaging given the serious economic pressures from inflation and the security situation in Ukraine and many other places. This continuing resolution asks our warfighters, as well as the small and large businesses comprising our defense industrial base, to bear the brunt of inflation while Congress puts off one of its primary responsibilities again. With record-high inflation rates, federal agencies, including our military and the defense industrial base, will be working with nearly 10 percent less than last year. This will force them to make difficult choices – and it could drive small companies that support our government out of business as well.
“The only thing worse than a continuing resolution, however, would be a government shutdown, so we urge President Biden to sign this bill without delay.
“Now, Congress and the administration must negotiate and pass full-year appropriations bills as quickly as possible. We have already seen broad, bipartisan support for additional funds to invest in defense capabilities and also address inflation in both the House and Senate; Congress must follow through for the sake of our national security and the health and resilience of America’s defense industrial base.”
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