Advocacy & Policy

Legislative Center

The November elections dramatically altered the political landscape and AIA is responding with a federal budget advocacy effort to educate new members of Congress and key leaders on the contributions aerospace and defense bring to our economy and national security.

While the nation faces a serious fiscal crisis and ballooning deficit that must be addressed, it is important that ill-considered cuts aren’t made to programs that affect our national security, aviation infrastructure, space leadership, technological innovation and economic vitality.

Read the latest AIA positions on key congressional policy issues that impact the competitiveness and vitality of the aerospace industry.

Export-Import Bank

• Urgent congressional action is required to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. AIA has written letters to the House and Senate urging a four-year reauthorization and an increase in the lending cap to support the competitiveness of U.S. companies in the global marketplace. 
• AIA signed on to a bipartisan letter to congressional leadership calling for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank that includes 381 signatures from trade associations and corporations.

Continuing Resolutions vs. Appropriations Bills

In February, 2011, AIA and 10 other industry associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, sent congressional leaders a letter expressing concern with the prospects of funding the federal government through the use of continuing resolutions rather than regular appropriations bills. These concerns included the fact that “a year-long CR would precipitate a series of costly schedule delays, production breaks, and other acquisition inefficiencies that will not only increase out-year costs for required DOD programs, but could adversely affect our warfighters.”

Federal Budget

• Ill-considered cuts to aerospace and defense programs could negatively impact our sercurity and economic well-being

Acquisition

• Current acquisition policies do not incentivize cost savings, are lengthy and cumbersome and drive up overhead costs

Civil Aviation

• The U.S. civil aviation industry plays a vital role in the health of the world's economy

National Security

• The aerospace and defense industrial base is in danger because weapons programs have dramatically diminished in number and frequencyrhead costs

International

• Global aerospace trade must be conducted fairly, ethically and transparently without market-distorting interventions that impair competitiveness

Space

• Space drives critical technological development vital to our nation's economy, safety and security

Workforce

• Our nation is not producing enough qualified workers to fill important jobs at aerospace companies and the shortfall will increase as retirements grow