Norman D. Dicks: “I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), our distinguished…”

“I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), our distinguished chairman. I think we agree that it is vitally important to save money in the Joint Strike Fighter Program where it is possible to do so without negatively impacting performance or schedule. The Joint Program Office and the services which will use the Joint Strike Fighter are to be commended for any efforts to identify potential reductions in program costs. As an example, the Air Force is currently in the process of validating an earlier internal study of ejection seat options for its variant of the aircraft. Would the chairman agree that if studies like this one make a sound business case that savings will result, then the Air Force's judgment about how its aircraft can be made more cost effectively equipped should be informed by that conclusion? I yield to the gentleman.”