AIA | Election 2008 Issues

Keeping America Strong: Advance U.S. Global Leadership in Aerospace and Defense

National Security: Keeping America Safe

fast facts

Today's laws governing export controls were written in the 1970s.

The State Department processes more than 65,000 export licenses each year.

The backlog of licenses fluctuates between 5,000 and 10,000.

Defense license applications have been growing at 8 percent per year.

Aerospace exports in 2006 were $85 billion with a trade surplus of $55 billion.

U.S. high-technology industries employ millions of Americans and account for more than $346 billion in exports.

Challenge #2: Modernize the U.S. export control system to enable interoperability, capability, and defense cooperation with friends and allies.

The war against terrorism is a cooperative effort among civilized nations. A modern export control system will help us maintain our military edge while keeping advanced technologies, weapons, and equipment out of the hands of adversaries.

At the same time, America's friends and allies should have access to the best technologies we can share so that they can keep up their part of the fight.

That's why today's security challenges make defense trade and technological cooperation even more critical.

The export control system we have today was designed for the Cold War and gets in the way of strengthening allies and keeping American workers productive. Combining the technological competitiveness and innovation of U.S. and international industry builds the interoperability, trust, and capabilities critical to keeping America secure, maintaining our influence globally, and advancing our interests abroad.

International cooperation strengthens America's technological edge, sustains the U.S. defense industrial base, and enhances our economic security. Technology cooperation gives our warfighters the best weapons and equipment at the best price for American taxpayers. Access to our trading partners' markets sustains American jobs at home.

Challenge #3: Inspire the nation’s future workforce by motivating students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math »