Dale Bumpers: “this is an amendment that Senator Coats and I have been talking to other Senators about. I think it is agreed to by both…”

“this is an amendment that Senator Coats and I have been talking to other Senators about. I think it is agreed to by both sides now. It simply says, regarding the F-22 fighter plane, the day before yesterday the Air Force said they would build the F-22 fighter, 339 planes, for $43 billion. We have spent so far a little over $18 billion in research and development of that plane. Senator Coats, in the Armed Services Committee, got a provision put in that $18 billion--they have not spent that much yet but that is what is anticipated to be spent on research and development. Senator Coats put an amendment in the bill to make that a cap, $18 billion. This amendment would put a $43 billion cap on the production of 339 airplanes. As I say, that simply says exactly what the Air Force says it would take to do it. I think it is a very healthy amendment. I think it is one that serves the taxpayers well, will serve us well and the contractors well. It is a commitment they are making and we are simply codifying that in this bill. I yield the floor.”