Mike Levin: “we support this amendment. The Secretary's certification that is involved should not be related to the mobility…”

“we support this amendment. The Secretary's certification that is involved should not be related to the mobility capability study because that will not make any recommendations for changing airlift requirements. The certification should be related to the Quadrennial Defense Review because if there are changes in the national military strategy that affect airlift requirements, those should be reflected in the QDR. If the Air Force does not buy any more C-17 aircraft after 2007, Boeing may have to close down its production line after delivering the last of 180 C-17s. That would be before we have the testing data on the C-5 upgrades because that data will not be available until 2008. Given the fact there are some risks those upgrades will not achieve the mission-capable rates the DOD expects and then make it possible for us to meet our lift requirements, this is a positive amendment. It gives some real flexibility and discretion to the Secretary of Defense. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.”