{"id":52068,"date":"2020-07-15T20:26:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T20:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/15\/defense-execs-press-lead-lawmakers-for-covid-reimbursements\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:49:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:49:06","slug":"defense-execs-press-lead-lawmakers-for-covid-reimbursements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/07\/15\/defense-execs-press-lead-lawmakers-for-covid-reimbursements\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense execs press lead lawmakers for COVID reimbursements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Eighty defense industry executives have written to top congressional leaders to ask for emergency appropriations to reimburse defense contractors\u2019 coronavirus<\/a>-related costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by the Aerospace Industries Association, which represents 300 large and small suppliers to the Department of Defense, the letter called for \u201can appropriate level of funding for these reimbursements and respectfully request your support of the Department of Defense\u2019s request for emergency funding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter was one of two this week to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., their minority party counterparts and the leaders of the defense committees. The other letter came Wednesday from the Professional Services Council, which represents more than 400 government contracting firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act allows firms serving the federal government to seek reimbursement for pandemic-related expenses, but Congress hasn\u2019t passed corresponding appropriations. Defense officials have said they need roughly $10 billion, and that without added funding from Congress, the Pentagon would have to dip into modernization and readiness funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both the PSC and the defense executives called for an extension of the 3610 authorities beyond their Sept. 30 expiration date, to Dec. 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While federal civilian workers and uniformed personnel will be paid whether they can come to work or not, that\u2019s not often the case for contractors, said the PSC\u2019s president and CEO, David Berteau. Contractors need the 3610 reimbursements to hold onto highly skilled workers, many with high-level security clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFailure to sustain the employees in that workforce will lead to negative impacts on the agencies which they support as well as on the workers themselves, their families, and their employer companies,\u201d Berteau said in the PSC\u2019s letter. \u201cSuch a failure could also lead to furloughs and layoffs that would further damage an already faltering economy. Extending Section 3610 authorities will help prevent these negative consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t