NDIA Survey Chooses Top Issues for 2001.

• Position: National Defense Industrial Association - Brief Article

Based on results of the government policy survey published in this space in September 2000, members of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and NDIA's Government Policy Committee agree that national security is the most important issue facing the country in 2001. With that in mind, NDIA is pleased to present the 2001 Government Policy Agenda, a compilation of six issues of great importance to the defense-industrial base. They are described below.

1. A Strategy for the 21st Century

   This past decade's reshaping of the U.S. military and the resulting peace-dividend led to significant reductions in both force levels and structure. However, there is recognition now that the U.S. defense structure needs additional resources to meet the nation's current commitments.

   The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in September, noted an existing mismatch between U.S. defense resources, commitments, and the nature of those commitments. To that end, CBO estimates that the Defense Department needs an additional $51 billion annually.

   The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is the immediate venue for recommending both additional funding for resources and a new formulation of our national-security strategy and policy in the 21st Century.

2. Sustaining Modernization

   Today, U.S. active-duty military strength is at the lowest level in a half-century-less than half the size of the forces that fought the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Declining capability and reliability, because of aging equipment and scarce resources, is detrimental to national security.

   Though the recapitalization process is evolutionary in nature, we must ensure that U.S. forces are properly trained, supported, and motivated. There also must be a balance between near-term and future readiness.

   The defense budget needs to be increased to meet the projected shortfall in funding. Procurement reform must be implemented to streamline the acquisition process, best-value competition must be promoted, reasonable progress payments must be assured, and competitive sourcing must be employed.

3. Ensuring Readiness

   Readiness remains a top priority as U.S. forces continue to be deployed around the world. Readiness instills the confidence that the nation needs to succeed in a wide variety of formidable situations. Today's challenge is to maintain this readiness edge through intense, frequent and realistic training of military personnel.

   We support continued investment in both research and development and...