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AIA Commends SASC on Contracting Provision

Statement by Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Marion C. Blakey

June 28, 2011

We’re pleased that the Senate Armed Services Committee has approved an amendment to the fiscal year 2012 Defense Authorization by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) that would prohibit federal agencies from collecting information on political contributions as a part of the contracting process. As I testified before the Joint Hearing of the House Small Business and Oversight and Government Reform Committees in May, political contributions should never be considered by any procurement officer when making a decision to either award or deny a contract. The House Armed Services Committee has adopted similar language authored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and we strongly urge that the amendment be adopted when the bill goes to conference.