Toomey, Casey join forces to save BAE Systems from budget cuts
Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators have joined forces to protect the jobs of those working for a defense contractor in Fayette and York counties after learning the 2013 federal budget will not provide funding to continue their operations.
In an effort to delay the spending cut that would halt the manufacturing of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle by BAE Systems, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requesting an assessment study be completed before final legislation action is taken by the Senate.
The president’s budget would halt production of the tank beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2017, creating significant defense industrial base issues, said Toomey.
Named after World War II Gen. Omar Bradley, the tank was introduced in 1981 and manufactured by United Defense, now BAE Systems. The company has facilities in Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and the U.S., employing 100,000 people worldwide.
According to the U.S. Army website, the Bradley provides protected transport of an infantry squad on the battlefield and firepower to support dismounted soldiers.
“I believe insufficient information is available to the Army and Congress to make an informed decision on what the potential risks would be of closing the production lines for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle,” said Toomey.
The Senate agreed late Thursday to include the amendment in the managers’ package of the authorization act — increasing its prospects for inclusion in the final bill, added Toomey.
The study, if conducted, would assess the cost of a shutdown versus the cost of continued production along with determining the loss of a specialized workforce and supplier base.
“Eliminating production of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle could wind up costing the military more money in the long run and hurt workers in Fayette and York counties,” said Casey. “Every year, this combat vehicle supports more than 500 jobs in York and boosts the commonwealth’s economy by $60 million while keeping our troops safe. It’s critical that we keep production going.”
Michael Jordan, executive director of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, said the shutdown of the Dunbar Township operation would be devastating to the employees and the county as a whole.
“It is of great concern to learn of a potential production break of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which is produced partly in Fayette County,” he said. “The proposed budgetary action could lead to the loss of many local, family-sustaining jobs and would have a negative economic impact on businesses throughout the county.
“Fay-Penn has and will continue to support BAE Systems and the engineering talent that they employ in our county,” added Jordan.
BAE Systems, which upgrades the vehicles in Fayette and York counties, has estimated the costs of shutdown and restarting could be as much as $750 million. Company officials said that a prolonged shutdown could result in the loss of engineering talent, a skilled workforce and key suppliers across the U.S.
“After that shutdown, many of these employees would not be available to return in two or three years,” said Todd Harrold, BAE vice president of manufacturing operations. “Therefore, anything that can be done to highlight this situation, such as the study that Senators Toomey and Casey are suggesting, would be helpful.”
Officials at the Dunbar Township manufacturing plant could not be reached for comment Friday.