|
|
|
The Aerospace Industries Association encourages the 2008 candidates to endorse 10 issues. The issues relate to each major sector of the aerospace industry – civil aviation, national security and space – and, as a group, will ensure that the nation's security and economy remain strong.
- Modernize the nation's export control system to build interoperability, capability, and defense cooperation with friends and allies.
- Ensure that global aerospace trade is conducted fairly, securely, ethically, and transparently without market-distorting interventions that impair competitiveness.
- Ensure economic competitiveness and world leadership through robust investment in research and development.
- Develop a highly skilled, stable, secure, and renewable aerospace workforce to ensure America's national security and economic prosperity.
- Develop a 21st century acquisition process that gives our military personnel the best equipment at the best value for the taxpayer.
- Strengthen the responsiveness and capability of U.S. national security space programs.
- Transport people and goods with increasing safety, security, and efficiency while eliminating infrastructure constraints to economic growth.
- Ensure a national consensus to adequately fund national defense as a high and enduring priority.
- Ensure environmental standards and policies that are global in development and application.
- Increase U.S. government financial and policy support for civil and commercial space projects.
About the U.S. aerospace industry:
The U.S. aerospace and defense industry is the global leader. AIA member companies – which design, manufacture and operate a spectrum of products with a multitude of commercial, industrial and military applications – constantly push boundaries with their technological and operational innovations.
- The aerospace industry generated $184 billion in sales for the U.S. economy in 2006.
- In an era when the United States is shouldering a massive trade deficit, the U.S. aerospace industry – the country's largest exporter of manufactured goods – provided a record trade surplus of $55 billion in 2006. This trade balance was generated from $85 billion in exports.
- Employment in the U.S. aerospace industry reached 635,000 at the end of 2006. These are highly-paid jobs in nearly every state across the nation.
- Aviation and aviation-related industries are responsible for 11 million jobs in the United States.
- The industry backlog in 2006 is nearly $300 billion, fueling continued financial strength in the industry for years to come.
- One quarter of one percent of the population produces the equipment that supports our aerospace and defense industrial base. These men and women design and manufacture the systems that protect our troops, the products that transport people and goods across the globe, and the advanced technology to explore the universe.
|
