In NH, Ayotte Pushes Bill To Prevent Automatic Pentagon Cuts That Would Devastate Forces

Press Release

As U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) continues her efforts to avoid devastating Pentagon cuts, she made a series of stops yesterday at defense firms in New Hampshire and Massachusetts to discuss the "Down Payment to Protect National Security Act" - legislation she helped write that would prevent draconian, across-the-board military cuts that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said would "inflict severe damage to our national defense for generations."

Senator Ayotte, an Armed Services Committee member, met with workers at BAE Systems in Nashua, a major employer in the state, as well as Nanocomp Technologies in Merrimack and Raytheon in Andover, Mass., which employs more than 1,200 New Hampshire residents. Citing the testimony and comments of senior military leaders who say the cuts would be catastrophic, Senator Ayotte also warned of the potential impact on New Hampshire's defense industry.

Under the debt limit deal reached last August, which Ayotte opposed, the Pentagon faces $600 billion in automatic sequestration reductions - in addition to $487 billion in separate military cuts already slated for implementation over the next decade.
"Secretary Panetta has compared defense cuts of this magnitude to shooting ourselves in the head. Given the concerns he has raised, along with other senior military leaders, I am concerned that across the board Pentagon cuts will damage our defense industrial base and deprive our troops of the resources they need to protect our country. We can't allow a national security crisis to be added to our fiscal crisis," said Senator Ayotte, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in advance of today's visit to BAE.

She continued: "The bill I helped write would avoid the first year of sequestration by freezing pay for civilian government workers, including members of Congress, and reducing the federal workforce through attrition. By visiting area defense contractors, I can hear directly from management and employees at these facilities while providing an update on what's at stake for them in Washington."

Secretary Panetta has said that the automatic defense cuts under sequestration "would do catastrophic damage to our military and its ability to protect this country" and that these reductions would "hollow out the force." General Ray Odierno, Army Chief of Staff, has said "cuts of this magnitude would be catastrophic to the military." And General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "sequestration would pose unacceptable risk."

Tom Arseneault, president of BAE Systems Electronic Solutions, said: "BAE Systems recognizes Congress and the Administration have tough decisions ahead; however, additional cuts through sequestration would have significant impacts on defense companies throughout the state. As the largest defense employer in New Hampshire, we look to our elected officials to address the sequestration issue through a healthy dialogue that ensures our nation's military strength while meeting our fiscal responsibility."

Senator Ayotte, who serves as the top Republican on the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, has worked to find savings and efficiencies at the Pentagon as she's pushed for greater fiscal discipline in Washington. In addition to advancing legislative efforts to require the Pentagon to become audit-ready, a National Defense Authorization Act amendment authored by Senator Ayotte saved $1.2 billion by allowing the Air Force to retire aircraft the Air Force says it doesn't need.

Under the "Down Payment to Protect National Security Act," of which Ayotte is an original co-sponsor, arbitrary military spending reductions set for next year would be avoided by freezing pay for civilian federal workers - including members of Congress - and reducing the federal civilian workforce through attrition. She introduced the bill earlier this month with Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ), John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Marco Rubio (R-FL).

In addition to her BAE visit, Senator Ayotte's schedule includes stops at Nanocomp Technologies in Merrimack and Raytheon in Andover, Mass. (which has over 1,200 New Hampshire residents as employees).

Peter Antoinette, President & CEO of Nanocomp, said, "The Defense Department has been the company's earliest supporter and is its largest customer. We are planning to hire more than 50 employees this year, growing from 45 today to almost 100 at the end of the year. If DoD funds are cut off or sequestered , our work stops dead in its tracks, and the promise of establishing a new 21st century manufacturing business in New Hampshire stops too."

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