Senate Proceeding on Sep 29th, 2009 :: 3:29:10 to 3:49:10
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3:28:10 to 3:29:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

3:28:59 to 3:29:10( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: forc the 213 that we already have i'd president, that in 2002, the commander of the u.s.

3:29:11 to 3:29:33( Edit History Discussion )

transportation com that a c-17 requirement was 222 c-17's. however, the 2005 mobility capability study also raises questions about how many aircraft are required. this study, which be the basis of our strategic

3:29:34 to 3:29:57( Edit History Discussion )

airlift identified the need of between 292 and 383 strategic airlift aircraft. a modernized c-5's. in the force today we

3:29:58 to 3:30:21( Edit History Discussion )

c-5's and 205 c-17's. a total of 315 aircraft. near the bottom of the requirement level. but, mr. president, that doesn't in the last defense review in 2006, the defense depar opted to keep its total inventornear the bottom of

3:30:22 to 3:30:43( Edit History Discussion )

this requirement range with 180 although we have added c-17's since that time and c-5, the most important quadrennial report based on the

3:30:44 to 3:31:06( Edit History Discussion )

plan to modernize a with a plan to only modernize a52 c-5's, the airlift capability of the fleet is drastically diminished. in 2008, air force air mobility command expresses concern with thi plan. he testified that the plan with

3:31:07 to 3:31:27( Edit History Discussion )

52 modernized c-5's and 213 c-17's will not provide strategic airlift that we require. i would also note that these ea into account today's force structure and that is a very important point.

3:31:28 to 3:31:49( Edit History Discussion )

since that mobility study and the quadrennial review, we have transformed our army, creatin additional combat capability that requires airlift. we have increased the end strength of our marine

3:31:50 to 3:32:10( Edit History Discussion )

we have command. all of these have increased airlift needs at the same time, provisions in iraq and afghanistan are aging our air fleet beyond anticipated rate we are flying the wings off our c-17 fleet. in november of 2007, the air

3:32:11 to 3:32:33( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: force achieve of staff recommended buying 44 additional c-17's to level. on the 2009 unfunded asked for an additional 15 c-17 ai

3:32:20 to 3:33:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

3:32:34 to 3:32:54( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: objective of 248 c-17's. mr. president, our military aircraft. our forces have grown since last studies were written and our plans have been altered to cut back on our program. it seems to me that notwithstanding the plan offered by the defense department, the

3:32:55 to 3:33:17( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: country has a choice we can either agree the c-5's or we can continue to procure additional c-17's, as noted earlier. and as noted, the g.a.o. discovered a new c-17 offers grea price.

3:33:18 to 3:33:26( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: to me and to many of my colleagues, this just makes good sense. unless we act this year approve the recommendation from

3:33:27 to 3:33:47( Edit History Discussion )

this committee, we won't have a choice without the funds in this bill, the c-17 program will begin to shut i say to my colleagues, this is a critical decision and we have to be certain on our course. as the g.a.o. was noted

3:33:48 to 3:34:09( Edit History Discussion )

quote -- "careful planning is need to ensure c-17 production is not ended prematurely." that's the g.o. restarting production would be feasible -- would not be feasible or cost-effective.

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earlier this decade, on several occasions, the defense department urged the con allow it to begin to retire the oldest and it, too, the department also believed that purchasing additional c-17's was a far superior choice to meet our airlift needs.

3:34:32 to 3:34:54( Edit History Discussion )

however, each year the congress refused reti eventually the pentagon gave up trying and decided it would stuck with the unreliable c-5's. when it upgrade all the old c-5's to at least make the best of a bad

3:34:55 to 3:35:18( Edit History Discussion )

situation, the cost overruns delays in the c-5 modernization program made that decision unaffordable. and, mr. president, i would point out that the congress rectified this in the supplemental and allowed the air force to begin to retire these aged aircraft.

3:35:19 to 3:35:43( Edit History Discussion )

we know that it makes economical sense to r performing aircraft and to we're looking forward to the air force revisiting this issue in the fy 2011 renewed plan to retire the oldest c-5's

3:35:44 to 3:36:05( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: replace them with new c-17's. mr. president, in this year's budget, the secretary of defense has made some tough decisions and presented them to us. he has opted to kill the f-22, the joint strike fighter engine, the vh-71 presidential helicopter, the combat search-and-rescue helicopter,

3:36:00 to 3:37:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Daniel Inouye

3:36:06 to 3:36:26( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: and the kinetic interceptor. in the bill before the senate at this moment, we have supported these recommendations will be candid that i'm not confident that each of these recommendations is in our nation's interest. but in general, i support the

3:36:27 to 3:36:48( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: there's only one program that the vice chairman and i strongly enough to reverse the recommendation of the secretary and that is the c-17. i've explained at some length why it is cost-effective, it is capable, and it is needed and,

3:36:49 to 3:37:13( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: therefore, i urge my colleagues, mr. president, to reject the amendment of the senator from arizona cont it's in our nation's interest.

3:37:14 to 3:37:20( Edit History Discussion )

Daniel Inouye: i thank you, sir. a senator: mr. preside the presiding officer: the senator from nebraska. mr. johanns: mr. president, i ask that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without

3:37:21 to 3:37:42( Edit History Discussion )

objection. mr. johanns: mr. presint, i ask that the current amendment be set aside and that we call up amendment number 2484. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered. the clerk the clerk: the senator from nebraska, mr. johanns, proposes

3:37:43 to 3:38:03( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Johanns: an amend mr. on johanns: mr. president -- mr. johanns: mr. president, i ask that the remainder of the amendment reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. rise to present amendment 2484. actual, this is an amendment that we've -- actually, this is an amendment that we've acted on in previous propriation

3:37:45 to 3:38:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mike Johanns

3:38:04 to 3:38:25( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Johanns: in fact, this is an andment that deals with no funding for the organization acorn. in the previous interior bill, this passed in a very bipartisan way with an 85-11 vote. in the housing and transportation bill, again a very bipartisan vote, 83-7.

3:38:26 to 3:38:47( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Johanns: this is an amendment overwhelming support of this body. my comments relative to this organization are a matter of the record. mr. president, i don't feel a need to lay those out again, but i want to present this amendnt on this appropriations bill, and

3:38:48 to 3:38:52( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Johanns: we have reached an understanding

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that this can be accept by voice vote and i just want to indicate that that will be acceptable me. the presiding officer: is there further debate on the amendment? if not, all those in favor say aye. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it.

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the amendment is agreed to. mr. johanns: thank you, mr. president. i yield, and i note t of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

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quorum call: