Congressman Brooks Calls for Protection of U.S. Manufacturers, Military Supply Lines, at Bipartisan Press Conference

Statement

Today Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL), joined with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), in a bipartisan press conference announcing the results of a new study on the dangers of U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers for defense materials. The report is entitled Remaking American Security: Supply Chain Vulnerabilities & National Security Risks Across the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.

Congressman Brooks said, "America's dependence on foreign suppliers is a growing problem that hurts our nation's defense industrial base and threatens our security independence. In a time of war, the United States cannot rely on foreign suppliers for either the critical raw materials or finished products needed for our national defense. We in Congress need to empower the American worker and the American economy by using the resources we have here at home. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that our industrial base remains a vital part of our national security."

"America's vulnerability today is frightening," said Brigadier General John Adams (U.S. Army, Retired), Guardian Six Consulting President, who authored the report. "This report is a wake-up call for America to pay attention to the growing threat posed by the steady deterioration of our defense industrial base. Excessive and unwise outsourcing of American manufacturing to other nations weakens America's military capability. As a soldier, I've witnessed firsthand the importance of our nation's ability to rapidly produce and field a sophisticated array of capabilities. There is a real risk that supply chain vulnerabilities will hamper our response to future threats."

President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Scott Paul, whose organization commissioned the report, said, "Allowing our defense industrial base to keep shrinking and our dependence on foreign manufactures to keep growing will make America weaker, less secure, and less safe."

Congressman Brooks' full remarks:

"I appreciate The Alliance for American Manufacturing for drawing attention to the increasing danger of U.S. military dependence on foreign suppliers.

"This dependence is a growing problem that hurts our nation's defense industrial base and threatens America's security independence.

"During the mark up for the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, I offered an amendment to protect U.S. manufacturing and jobs, as well as the military supply line, by repealing a regulation that allowed the Department of Defense to move armor steel plate production outside the U.S.

"Disturbingly, you can still find foreign supplies in Hellfire missiles, in night-vision devices, the Joint Strike Fighter, Abrams tanks, and even in Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers.

"Having a foreign-based supply chain for our U.S. military not only makes our defense systems vulnerable, it also weakens our own economy.

"That's why I am helping to lead a bipartisan effort, through the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, to protect American manufacturers from damaging and unfair currency manipulation.

"I support this legislation because in my own home district of North Alabama, I have seen firsthand the damaging results of this currency manipulation, as companies have been put at a competitive disadvantage.

"A foreign-based supply chain for America's military does two things, both bad. First, it makes America's defense systems vulnerable, which puts America's national security at unnecessary risk.

"Second, it weakens America's economy, thereby undermining family incomes and America's ability to pay for national security.

"In a time of war, the United States cannot rely on foreign suppliers for either the critical raw materials or finished products needed for our national defense.

"We in Congress need to empower the American worker and the American economy by using the resources we have here at home.

"I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that our industrial base remains a vital part of our national security."

Congressman Brooks is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and sits on the Oversight and Investigations and Strategic Forces Subcommittees.

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