Senate Floor Battle over C-17

Senate Floor Battle over C-17: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Tuesday introduced an amendment on the Senate floor during debate on the Senate’s version of the 2010 defense spending bill that would strip the $2.5 billion added to it by members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to buy 10 C-17s that the Obama Administration did not request and doesn’t want. "We neither need nor can afford," these C-17s, said McCain. CongressDaily reported Wednesday that his measure would redirect those funds to the military's operations and maintenance accounts to boost readiness. Countering McCain, appropriations committee chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who pushed for the add-on, argued that it would be unwise to shut down the C-17 production line prematurely before the Pentagon has made far-reaching decisions on its airlift fleet. As of late Wednesday, no floor vote had occurred. (See also Associated Press’ Sept. 30 report.)

10/1/2009

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.