Not About the Programs

Marion Blakey, head of the Aerospace Industries Association, which helped “facilitate” Thursday’s inaugural meeting of the Senate Aerospace Caucus, said this lawmakers’ group won’t be focused on specific programs. “If you listened to what Senators Murray and Bond said here today, the initiatives they are pursuing cut across all aspects of our industry,” Blakey said. She was referring to caucus co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.). Blakey noted that the caucus is bipartisan and that, like AIA, must remain program-neutral because its members have competing interests. The caucus aims to create a healthier government-industrial partnership to ensure US competitiveness and leadership in the global aerospace sector. Murray said part of that will be an emphasis on “stability and fairness” in government contract awards, as well as acquisition reform. (See Senate Aerospace Caucus Launched above.)