Congress has introduced the latest National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which features increased defense spending and several measures aimed at supporting the aerospace and defense industry. The bill includes steps to streamline acquisition, protect intellectual property rights, and speed up the delivery of key capabilities to the U.S. military.
Eric Fanning, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), responded positively to these developments. “For years, overregulation, outdated policies, and misaligned priorities have hamstrung the industry that delivers the strength needed to maintain peace around the world,” Fanning said. “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act delivers needed change by cutting through bureaucratic red tape and delivering a clear demand signal to the defense industrial base: innovate, build, and deliver."
Fanning highlighted several aspects of the bill that align with AIA’s advocacy efforts. “The Aerospace Industries Association and our members are especially pleased to see a much-needed boost to defense funding, protections for innovative intellectual property, and investments in space launch facilities, policies that we have championed,” he stated. “We are also pleased to see significant changes to the acquisition system included in this year’s bill to help usher in a faster and more agile system, benefiting both the Pentagon and industry."
He also acknowledged lawmakers for their work on this legislation. “We thank Chairman Wicker, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Reed, and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership and the Armed Services Committees for their bipartisan efforts to strengthen our national defense and deliver for the warfighter and the millions of Americans that provide for the national security of the United States.”
The NDAA contains provisions requiring an assessment by the Pentagon regarding its access needs to industry intellectual property—a point previously emphasized by Fanning in an op-ed published in The Washington Times.
Other elements supported by AIA include raising procurement thresholds for key items, reducing compliance requirements related to Cost Accounting Standards, and simplifying procedures for acquiring commercial products and services.
