Haley Stevens: “I strongly oppose the Levin amendment, which would eliminate all funding for long-lead items for the ground- based…”

“I strongly oppose the Levin amendment, which would eliminate all funding for long-lead items for the ground- based interceptors Nos. 31 through 40, and funding for the silos for those missiles. Realigning funding from this program would have significant impact, significant consequences for our national missile defense system. In addition to breaking the production line for these interceptors, it would add an additional $270 million to the cost of the program. Further, it would delay emplacement of the additional interceptors by at least 1 year. I do not believe we can afford that delay in our national missile defense system. Reducing interceptor quantities places second and third tier industrial-based suppliers at a substantial risk of exiting the manufacturing of components for the interceptors. They are currently manufacturing these. If there is a delay, those small businesses would have to leave that system. It will increase the probability of component quality problems because new suppliers would have to be found. We should not interrupt this system. This amendment would break this production line and affect the subcontractors all along the line. My great concern is that quality and process improvement efforts that were initiated by the Missile Defense Agency would be significantly impacted if this amendment were agreed to.…”