SENATOR COLLINS INTRODUCES AMENDMENT TO FUND DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

March 17, 2011

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today introduced an amendment to the pending small business legislation that would adequately fund the Department of Defense for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.  Senator Collins has repeatedly urged the Senate Majority Leader to immediately bring the defense funding bill to the Senate floor, and in February introduced a similar amendment to the Patent Reform bill.

Like the House-passed Defense Appropriations bill, Senator Collins' amendment does not include funding for the alternate F-35 engine.  It also would

•    Fully fund shipbuilding at the President's budget request of $15.7 billion;
•    Restore funding for six conventional USAF F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft;
•    Transfer the procurement of Navy F-18s, 20 missile defense interceptors, Army RQ-7 UAVs, and Air Force MQ-9 UAVs from the Overseas Contingency Operations budget to the base budget.

In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Wednesday, Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, and General James Amos described the harmful effects to Navy shipbuilding programs, readiness, and the Navy's public and private workforce.  At a Senate Army Caucus event this morning, Senator Collins heard directly from Secretary of the Army John McHugh about helicopter programs that are on hold, public workers and private contractors that have already been laid off or will be laid off soon, and deferring facility improvements for our soldiers because of the CR.  Also today, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and General Norton Schwartz testified about the harmful effect the CR would have on the Air Force.

"I have received testimony from every senior leader of our military services in the last two days - and they all have the same message: our military faces a crisis if the Department has to continue to operate under two-week CR extensions," said Senator Collins.