Senate Drops F-22 Funding, But Fat Lady Hasn't Sung

Senate Drops F-22 Funding, But Fat Lady Hasn't Sung: As w

e reported Tuesday afternoon, the full Senate voted to accept the Levin-McCain amendment to cut $1.75 billion Senate defense authorizers had added to the 2010 defense policy bill to keep F-22 production running beyond the 187 Raptors approved by the Obama Administration. The vote was 58 to 40 in favor of the amendment. That, however, is not the end of the line for those who believe 187 F-22s is not sufficient to meet national security requirements. Last month, the full House approved its version of the defense policy bill, complete with funding for additional F-22s. The House and Senate now will have to work out their differences in conference. And, House defense appropriators voted to add 12 F-22s to their version of the 2010 defense spending bill. Senate defense appropriators have yet to complete their markup, but Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who heads both the panel and full committee, has been in favor of keeping the Raptor production line going, if only to provide an opportunity to shift legislation that bans overseas sales. An interesting side note (reported by Roll Call) is that 91-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who has been ill, returned to the Senate in time for Tuesday's vote, casting his in favor of more F-22s, obviously not swayed by Administration arguments or the Obama veto threat.

7/22/2009

Verbatim

Appreciative Host
"I know you're here during a difficult time. You're here through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I promise you, we will find turkeys."
—Republic of Lithuania Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, expressing his thanks to airmen of the 493rd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, Britain, who on Sept. 1, 2010, began a four-month stint with their F-15s in Lithuania to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under NATO's Baltic air policing mission.

Verbatim

Family Momentum
"In many ways, this was what the Year of the Air Force Family was all about—connecting airmen and their families with the resources they need. I have confidence the Air Force will capitalize on this strong momentum in the years ahead by continuing to improve our family support programs and ensuring people know what resources are available."
—Suzie Schwartz, wife of USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, commenting on the accomplishments of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative that concluded in July, in a statement provided to the Daily Report, Aug. 22, 2010.