Norman D. Dicks: “I rise in support of this Defense Appropriations bill. Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha have done excellent work…”

“I rise in support of this Defense Appropriations bill. Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha have done excellent work in balancing very difficult and demanding priorities. Most of all, I am very pleased that the conferees agreed to accept a Senate provision which allows the Air Force to lease new aircraft to replace the oldest of our KC-135 tankers. The issue of replacing the Air Force's tanker refueling aircraft is, in fact, very simple despite the cloud of confusion being created by its opponents. In their frenzy to condemn what they see as a special deal, they have totally lost sight of the facts. The truth is this provision is a good deal--a good deal for our armed forces and a good deal for taxpayers. First, it is important to understand that every credible defense and aviation observer agrees that it is time to replace the aging KC-135-E tanker aircraft fleet with new tankers based on the 767 aircraft.”