NEDA joins coalition in supporting specialty metals legislation

The National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) has joined the Specialty Metals Availability Reform Team (SMART) Coalition in filing a letter of support for the proposed DFARS rule that would make the specialty metals acquisition restrictions inapplicable to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) items.

The proposed rule provides a long-awaited and important recognition of the inapplicability of the specialty metals acquisition requirements in 10 USC 2533b to COTS items. A copy of the regulation is posted on NEDA's web site: www.nedassoc.org.  

NEDA has been instrumental in bringing these specialty metals issues to the forefront of the electronic components industry. In 2006 it worked in conjunction with the Berry Amendment Legislative Task Force to successfully push for reform of legislation known as the "Berry Amendment", which prohibited Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and suppliers at every tier from incorporating specialty metals into military parts and components unless they have been smelted in the United States.

The SMART Coalition is composed of fourteen member associations who are interested in a strong U.S. defense industrial base with access to the latest commercial technologies and products.