Rep. Courtney Expresses Disappointment After Senate Kills F-22 Funding, Vows to Continue House Effort

Press Release

Rep. Courtney Expresses Disappointment After Senate Kills F-22 Funding, Vows to Continue House Effort

Congressman Joe Courtney expressed deep disappointment today after the Senate rejected additional funding for the F-22 program, which the Department of Department and the White House have been attempting to shut down. Pratt and Whitney of Connecticut produces the fighter aircraft's engines.

"The Senate vote today is deeply disappointing, strategically shortsighted and puts thousands of good-paying Connecticut jobs on the line. While the House of Representatives showed courage against a Defense Department bent on ending the F-22 program, the Senate has unfortunately struck a blow to our nation's military aircraft industrial base."

"In the House, I offered an amendment that was passed which would investigate the feasibility of selling a modified version of the F-22 to Japan, a nation that has expressed interest in purchasing a large number of the advanced fighter aircraft. Combined with the House's funding to keep the production line open, this effort will hold open the option of additional work in Connecticut, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to support the F-22 and these important provisions."

"I applaud Senator Dodd's leadership in the Senate in making a forceful argument in favor of protecting the skilled workers in Connecticut, and across the nation, who help produce the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world."

The House-passed FY2010 Defense Authorization bill (HR 2647) included $369 million to support the purchase of long lead materials for twelve additional F-22s, with Congressman Courtney voted to add during the bill's consideration in the House Armed Services Committee. The FY2010 Defense Appropriation bill, which was approved last week in subcommittee, funds this provision to keep the production line open.

In addition, Congressman Courtney championed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization bill exploring sales of the F-22 fighter aircraft to Japan. The amendment requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Air Force, to provide Congress in with an evaluation of the potential sale of the F-22 to Japan within 30 days of enactment of the defense budget. The report would detail the cost and feasibility of developing an export version of the aircraft, the strategic implications of providing the aircraft to Japan, and the impact to the aerospace and aviation industry.

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