Courtney Statement on Vote to Eliminate Funding for Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine

Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to eliminate $450 million in funding for the F136 alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. The measure passed the House by a vote of 233-198, and will save up to $3 billion over the next several years. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Courtney has strongly opposed continued funding for the F136.

"Today's vote rightfully stripped funding from a wasteful special interest program that diverts precious resources from our military's true needs," said Courtney. "A large bipartisan coalition came down on the right side of fiscal responsibility while also ensuring that our military continues to have the best engine available. Despite the heated rhetoric and fierce lobbying campaign against us, we won this vote on the merits. Continuing to fund an engine that neither the President nor the Pentagon wants in this time of fiscal challenge would have been simply irresponsible."

In a hearing today on the 2012 budget request for the Department of Defense, Courtney questioned Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen on the challenges posed to the military by having two separate engine programs for the Joint Strike Fighter. Admiral Mullen responded that having two different engines would require costly duplication in maintenance, training and supply infrastructure, and that he "categorically cannot support a second engine." Secretary Gates added that many military aircraft already have single engine source, including the F/A 18 and the F-22 -- which have performed well.

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