As the Senate Armed Services Committee Considers the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, Brown Pledges to Fight Elimination of Program that is Critical to Our Nation's Security
In advance of Senate Armed Services Committee consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2012, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called on the Obama Administration to support GE's announcement that it would self-fund for the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) competitive engine program (F-136).
"GE's announcement that it will self-fund the F-35 competitive engine is good news for Ohio, but it is only a first step to ensuring the continuation of the F136 engine program. The real test will come with the consideration of 2012 Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills. I challenge my colleagues who talk about long-term savings to take a hard look at the competitive engine -- which will reduce our costs in the long-run and improve our national security," Brown said. "Although the Pentagon has repeatedly ignored Congressional will and seems content to kill a program so critical to our nation's security, I will continue to fight for this vital program to save taxpayer dollars and hundreds of Ohio jobs."
Following the stop-work order for the production of the F-35 competitive engine issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) in March 2011, Brown called on the Obama Administration to fulfill its statutory obligation to continue funding the program as directed. Earlier that month, the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fully fund programs--including the F-35 program--at previous levels.
Earlier this month, Brown wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense Undersecretary Ashton Carter asking for his support following GE's announcement that they would self-fund. Brown sent a letter to OMB Director Lew in December seeking confirmation that the Administration would follow Congress' mandate for funding the competitive engine program under a Continuing Resolution. OMB responded that the Administration would follow Congressional intent and continue the competitive engine program.
In February, Brown and U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) urged Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew to reaffirm the Administration's statutory obligation to continue funding the program. Earlier this year, Brown and Leahy joined U.S. Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Jim Webb (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Scott Brown (R-MA) in writing to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) respectively, in response to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to eliminate funding for the F-35 competitive engine.
The F-35 program will develop and deploy the fifth-generation strike fighter aircraft to meet the operational needs of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and their allies. The F-35 employs cutting-edge technologies including synthetic aperture radar integration techniques, advanced target recognition, and advanced capabilities in its resistance to jamming, maintainability, and logistic support. This engine competition for the F-35 saves money and improves our national security. GE makes the competitive engine with its partner Rolls-Royce and much of the testing is done in Evendale.