Congressional Panel Discusses Soldier Clothing and Equipment Needs, Potential Defense Sequestration Consequences

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A Congressional panel comprised of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), Congressman Bill Owens (D-NY), Congressman Larry Kissell (D-NC) and Congressman Chris Gibson (R-NY) discussed soldier personal clothing and equipment needs, and the impact that a potential defense sequestration process could have on mission readiness, the U.S. defense supply chain and the ability to continue vital research and development work.

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The panel was hosted by the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC), an advocacy group for the domestic industry that supplies U.S. service members with personal clothing and protective equipment.  Lexington Institute CEO Merrick "Mac" Carey moderated.  The WPRC is comprised of 33 companies located across the country in the soldier and professional user personal equipment space. The group participated in over 150 meetings with Members of Congress, congressional staffers and professional staffers on the Senate and House Armed Services Committee.

The event, attended by Members of Congress, congressional staffers and the media, underscored the need to ensure a consistent funding stream for operational clothing and individual equipment.  It coincided with the Coalition's annual visit to Capitol Hill to promote soldier equipment needs and raise awareness of the devastating impact that defense sequestration would have on the industrial base.

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) said, "As both a senator, and a soldier, I understand the importance of protecting the individual warfighter who is serving in dangerous environments where protection can be a matter of life and death. I am very proud that Massachusetts has led the way in many respects, not only in defense of our nation, but in finding solutions to unique challenges in the area of Individual Soldier Equipment and Protection."

Congressman Larry Kissell (D-NC) said, "It's absolutely vital that we protect our warfighters with the best equipment and apparel we can, and today's discussion helped to highlight that importance. I'm focused on advocating for continued funding for advancements in research and development, to ensure both the protection of our troops and the protection of our economy. As we draw down some of our military presence abroad, we must continue to make investments in these equipment advances and ensure that our troops remain taken care of and protected."

Congressman Bill Owens (D-NY) said, "It is critical to provide our men and women in uniform with the equipment they need to accomplish their mission and return safely to their families. Put simply, a soldier with wet feet, cold hands and a badly maintained rifle can't perform as well as one for whom we've addressed those issues. Protection and readiness of the American warfighter remain one of my top priorities and we must ensure adequate support as Congress moves forward with constrained defense budgets in the years to come."

Congressman Chris Gibson (R-NY) said, "As a 24 year veteran of the United States Army, I know firsthand the criticality of a soldier's equipment and uniforms.  The last decade has brought remarkable progress regarding the sophistication and usability of the equipment our servicemembers are using. However, I firmly believe we can do even better, particularly as we look to further incorporate nanotechnology into our manufacturing, which has the potential to make equipment lighter and more durable.  As a member of the Armed Services Committee, that will continue to be my focus and I applaud the commitment of our U.S. companies in taking care of our military."

Executive Director of the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition, David Costello, said, "The WPRC represents the best of the American manufacturing industry that builds the clothing and equipment that helps make our troops the most effective fighting force on the planet.  We are honored to have the support of Senator Brown and Congressmen Owens, Gibson and Kissell as we seek to ensure the continued proper outfitting of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and operators."

The WPRC membership includes: ADS, Inc., ArmorSource, LLC, Bates Footwear, Benchmade Knife Company, Bluewater Defense, Brookwood Companies, Inc., Ceradyne, Inc., Darn Tough Vermont, DuPont, Duro Textiles, LLC, Eye Safety Systems, Inc., ForceProtector Gear, Gerber Gear, Glen Raven Inc., Insight Technology, Inc., International Textile Group, Inc., Leading Technology Composites, Inc., London Bridge Trading Company, Milliken & Company, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., Otis Technology, Inc., Outdoor Research, Pelican Products, Inc., Polartec, LLC, Silynx Communications, Inc., Smith Optics, Surefire, LLC, Survival Armor, TenCate Protective Fabrics, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Wilcox Industries Corp., Wild Things Tactical, and Wiley X, Inc.

For information on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition, visit: www.warriorprotection.net

SOURCE Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition