Political Quotes

“Madam President, the bill H.R. 6102 is an important bill. Based on authority provided in two acts, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, the Navy and contractor team negotiated a multiyear contract for purchasing F/A-18E/F and E-18G aircraft. The Secretary of Defense approved the Navy's request to sign such a contract. The Secretary also provided the necessary certifications required by title 10, United States Code. The independent cost estimators within the Department of Defense, the office of Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation, or CAPE, agreed with the Navy's estimate that the multiyear contract would save an estimated $590 million. Unfortunately, the Navy and the contractor team were unable to conclude negotiations by the deadlines set forth in the two acts authorizing and appropriating funds for the multiyear contract. We should not let these savings slip through our fingers just because the Navy and contractors were not as prompt as the Congress envisioned when we passed the two acts last year. This bill would allow the Navy and the taxpayer to achieve those savings by authorizing the Navy to sign a multiyear contract for the F/A-18E/F and E-18G program despite having missed those deadlines. I urge that the Senate pass this bill immediately.”