Senate Proceeding on Oct 1st, 2009 :: 8:11:00 to 8:15:25
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8:10:37 to 8:11:02( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: aside and that my amendment number 2621 as modified at the desk be called up, please. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will the clerk: the senator from georgia, mr. chambliss, proposes an amendment number 2621 as

8:11:00 to 8:15:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Saxby Chambliss

8:11:04 to 8:11:26( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: amendment 2621. mr. chambliss: madam president, i would ask that senators bill nelson, inhofe, isakson, dodd and lieberman be added as co-sponsors. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. chambliss: madam president, this amendment is a sense of the senate amendment on a weapons system that is critical to the united states air force from an intelligence-gathering standpoint, and it has to do

8:11:27 to 8:11:47( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: with the re-engining of the joint stars weapons system. realtime intelligence is critical to our war fighters in fighting the ongoing wars in iraq and afghanistan, just as in all other military conflicts. secretary gates and our military leadership have consistently highlighted to us the importance of collecting and disseminating critical intelligence and

8:11:48 to 8:12:08( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: battleeld information to our troops on the grounds and theaters of conflict such as iraq and afghanistan. one of the most operating today is the air force's joint surillance target attack radar system also known as joint stars or j-stars.

8:12:09 to 8:12:29( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: j-stars has proven itself to be a critical asset to our military since deploying to it's one of the most highly tasked systems in our fleet today. our commanders in the field are constantly asking for j-star so they can assist its tremendous access, its tremendous i.s.r. capability to give them a

8:12:30 to 8:12:50( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: long-range view of the battlefield and detect moving targets in all weather conditions. there is no other current or programmed aircraft or weapons system that can provide the detailed, broad area ground moving target indicator and air battle management support for the war fighter than j-stars provides.

8:12:51 to 8:13:12( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: chief staff of the air force general norton schwarz has stated that the air force is an all in for the joint fight. j-stars is truly a joint platform. flown by mixed active duty air force air guard unit, it operates with an army and air force mission crew and in afghanistan also with a marine.

8:13:13 to 8:13:33( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: it also supports missions of all the military services. with o and 900 sorties flown by only a handful of airplanes over iraq and ahanistan, j-stars has directly contributed to the discovery of hundreds of i.e.d.'s. having flown with 116th air

8:13:34 to 8:13:56( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: control wing out of robbins air force base in warner robbins, georgia, i have seen firsthand the remarkable capability that j-stars can bring to the battlefield in support of our war fighters. although developed and built to figh the cold war for tracking soviet troop movements, j-stars is an integral part of today's battlefield and will be even

8:13:57 to 8:14:19( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: more relevant in the near future. j-stars needs to be modified with new engines to keep this critical asset available to better support our soldiers. air force studies show that the air frame is sound and will be useful well beyond 2050. j-stars faces limitations and operational restrictions because

8:14:20 to 8:14:41( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: the engines are the original 1960's-era engines. they have never been replaced. they are old and expensive to operate and maintain. replacing them is a safety issue as well as an operational necessity. what this sense of the senate resolution does

8:14:42 to 8:15:03( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: for the funding for the re weapons systems as they exist today, and it is my hope that in conference that the chairman and the ranking member will lsh -- will do what they can to make sure that this funding is available. i have

8:15:04 to 8:15:25( Edit History Discussion )

Saxby Chambliss: talked to senator i want way and senator aka about this. they are well aware of the value of this it has been funded in the house appropriation bill. and by adopt this go sense of the senate, it sends a -- adopting this sense of the senate, it sends a strong message to the conferees to do everything possible to make sure that the appropriate funding will be available when conference report returns to the senate.