NDIA welcomes Casey amendment to defense authorization for fiscal 2021

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Defense Industrial Association issues today the following statement on the Casey amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act: 

NDIA applauds Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) for introducing an amendment to the S.4049, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 in support of the defense industrial base during COVID-19. 

Currently, under Section 3610 of the CARES Act, agencies may reimburse federal contractors’ employee compensation resulting from COVID-related shutdowns, but this measure is not appropriated funding. Casey's amendment is a proactive approach to ensure the Secretary of Defense provides congressional defense committees a briefing on the total anticipated costs for the department associated with implementating Section 3610 of the CARES Act.

This would include other anticipated contractor requests for equitable adjustment resulting from the effects of COVID–19 on the defense industrial base. Moreover, the amendment would include that the Secretary of Defense provide specific assessment of the effects on small businesses, and recommendations to Congress for additional actions to assist the defense industrial base in recovering from the effects of COVID–19. 

NDIA continues to support contractors’ requests for equitable adjustments and additional transparency to ensure successful outcomes in support of the warfighter. NDIA thanks Senator Casey for his hard work and encourages the Senate to take up this amendment and incorporate it into the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

 For media queries, please contact Evamarie Socha at esocha@NDIA.org.