Manzullo: Defense industrial base erosion threatens U.S. national security

House Small Business Committee Chairman Don Manzullo (R-IL) said that the continued erosion of the U.S. manufacturing sector eventually could hinder the U.S.'s ability to protect itself, and steps must be taken immediately to preserve U.S. industries that help design and build weapons systems.

Manzullo, who addressed attendees at Defense Manufacturing Conference 2004 in Las Vegas November 30, said at least 16 U.S. industries supplying products or technologies to the U.S. Department of Defense are in danger of disappearing. Those "at-risk" industries and technologies include printed circuit boards; foundries; investment casting; molds; tool and die; machine tools; textiles; chemicals; bio-health; battery technology; ammunition manufacturing; alloy manufacturing and light-weight metals production; materials industry (including superconducting magnets); night-vision technologies; flat/flex panels; and telecommunications hardware (including switches).

"Our government and our large defense contractors must begin to think more strategically—more long-term—about our national strength," Manzullo said. "At what point has so much technology and manufacturing skill left the United States that we become too reliant on foreign suppliers for the core components of our defense manufacturing capabilities?"

Manzullo has held two Small Business Committee hearings concerning the potential loss of the U.S.'s dominance in high-tech and defense-related manufacturing technologies. He has called on the Department of Defense and the large defense contractors to procure as much as possible from U.S. sources to help preserve our Defense Industrial Base. He also has authored a comprehensive plan to restore U.S. manufacturing.

"This is not about protectionism or offshoring," Manzullo said. "It's about preserving the manufacturing and engineering technologies and capabilities necessary to defend the people of the United States."