Senate Backs Obama On F-22 Shutdown
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Michael Bruno michael_bruno@aviationweek.com
President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates won a major legislative victory in the Senate early this afternoon when that chamber sided with their efforts to end the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor program as planned, instead of earmarking for more fighters.
Senators voted 58-40 in favor of stripping an earlier earmark from their Fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that would have specified $1.75 billion for seven Raptors. The earmark would have had to have been followed by actual appropriations from Congress - a whole other battle - but the Senate vote represented a watershed event in that it registered official opposition the earmark, which was supported by many in industry and some on Capitol Hill and in the Air Force.
"Secretary Gates appreciates the careful consideration Senators have given to this matter of national security and he applauds their bipartisan support to complete the F-22 program at 187 planes," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said shortly after the vote. "He understands that for many members this was a very difficult vote, but he believes that the Pentagon cannot continue with business as usual when it comes to the F-22 or any other program in excess to our needs. Today's vote is an important step in that direction and the Secretary looks forward to working closely with lawmakers as President Obama's budget is debated in the coming months."
Indeed, supporters of more Raptors were lobbying hard right up to the end. "As potential adversary nations are committed to producing their own fifth-generation aircraft in the immediate future to combat and impede U.S. air dominance, the current cap of 187 aircraft is an inadequate number," said retired Navy Rear Adm. Paul Kayye, president of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States.
The floor debate occupied the Senate's morning session, with passionate speeches on both sides of the issue. Specifically, senators were considering an amendment offered by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and ranking Republican John McCain (Ariz.), who sided with the President, Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as Air Force leadership. McCain repeatedly took to the floor to espouse their arguments against continuing the program, as well as the need for lawmakers to do their part to rein in government spending and counter waste, fraud and abuse.
"If not now, when?" Levin asked his colleagues. "When will we end production of a weapon system?"
But proponents of the program, led by ardent supporter Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), cited numerous earlier USAF studies and assertions that more than 187 Raptors were required to meet military needs. They further pleaded with colleagues that protecting jobs related to the Raptor was a worthwhile and prudent action, and that turning away from the leading fifth-generation fighter would send all kinds of improper or unnecessary messages to allies and adversaries alike, as well as future USAF personnel.
"The worst thing we can do is discourage those air force men," said Chambliss, who led a victorious effort over Levin and McCain in 2006 to authorize a multiyear contract for the last batch of F-22s.
The issue, how ever, is not over. The House has passed its version of the bill with a related earmark for more Raptors, and appropriators have yet to weigh in on the issue with their own bills in either chamber. Furthermore, both authorization and appropriations would have to be negotiated and finalized between the House and Senate before sending them to the White House.
There, Obama thanked the Senate for its majority support shortly after the results were announced. He also warned again that he will veto any bill that prolongs the F-22 program.
Photo credit: U.S. Navy
