they reminded lawmakers that if they can't build weapons for egypt, all those small town suppliers from lima, ohio to oxford, michigan will get buried. >> joe with company x has made this particular piece of a tank for 20 years and that's what he does. he's very good at it. but if i don't give them an order for six months, i'm not sure what's going to happen to old joe and his workforce. >> reporter: jim colby used to control the purse strings on egypt. he heard that pitch year after year. and it worked. >> the contractors have a vested interest in keeping the process going forward. >> reporter: colby says cutting the aid -- >> will end up costing the taxpayers a lot of money and getting nothing in return. >> so the aid gets cut off, taxpayers lose money. the numbers are incredible.