The Hill News

First and foremost, investments in critical programs such as stealth fighter jets, spy satellites, and bunker-buster missiles that can destroy buried nuclear plants are critical to our nation’s security. Voices from both parties have said the “slash and burn approach” of sequestration would devastate our capabilities.

Further, experts from Secretary Panetta on down also warn that these cuts would also severely damage our industrial base, and could drive up unemployment by up to 1 percent. A study we commissioned found the same. And the International President of the Machinist’s Union, Tom Buffenbarger, says these cuts “will result in two indisputable outcomes â€" more unemployment and a country that is less secure.”

Defense and aerospace investments don’t just keep us safe â€" they provide the aerospace primacy so evident in the missions on Osama Bin Laden and Libya â€" but they spur perhaps more innovation than any other spending. The Int! ernet, laser eye surgery, new advances in computers, and even new cancer vaccines all owe their success in large part to defense-related investments.  

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