ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five trade associations signed a letter to House and Senate leadership asking for their collective effort to avoid an extended Continuing Resolution (CR) or a government shutdown in Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16).
Focusing on the harmful effects of an extended CR or shutdown on our national security and economy, the chairman and president of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the president of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the executive vice president of the Air force Association (AFA), the national executive director of the Navy League of the United States, and the president of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), wrote to congressional leadership requesting that they "come together again in a bipartisan fashion and strike a multi-year budget deal that will create stability and efficiency in our spending."
The associations commended the Congress for the bipartisan work it did following the 2013 government shutdown to compromise and strike a two year budget deal based on the leadership of Congressman Paul Ryan and Senator Patty Murray. They also make note of the "the game of budget chicken," as the Secretary of Defense recently put it, that has begun again over FY16 funding levels.
"DoD and its industry partners need the stability of a long-term budget deal to plan for the future in a fashion that not only has our national security in mind, but also our tax payer dollars," said Arnold Punaro, Chairman of the NDIA Board of Directors. "A CR would result in DoD getting less money than it would even under the sequester cap for FY16 and it will prolong the budget compromise everyone knows is necessary. Under a CR, DoD loses $3 billion a month in purchasing power compared to the amounts in the budget request. A several month CR is a trap and would quickly become a year-long CR and so Congress must avoid the temptation to kick the can down the road yet again."
The letter urges congressional leadership to begin negotiations now, and find a budget compromise that both chambers of Congress can pass and the President will sign into law. To read the letter, click here.
About NDIA:
The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is America's leading Defense Industry association promoting national security. NDIA provides a legal and ethical forum for the exchange of information between Industry and Government on National Security issues. NDIA members foster the development of the most innovative and superior equipment, training and support for warfighters and first responders through its divisions, local chapters, affiliated associations and events.