Norman D. Dicks: “Mr. Chairman, the F-22 is the Air Force's No. 1 priority. I think this has been an outstanding program. My only concern…”

“Mr. Chairman, the F-22 is the Air Force's No. 1 priority. I think this has been an outstanding program. My only concern about it, frankly, is quite the contrary of my good friend from Wisconsin. I think we are going at this program too slowly and we are going to wind up spending more money on it because we are dragging it out. Mr. Chairman, to cut this program this significantly this year would delay it even further and completely disrupt this R&D program. This plane will give us stealth capability and the highest military capability for the future. Our committee is just as concerned as anyone about long-range power projection and tac air, and we have ordered a study to look at these two issues. I am prepared to wait and see what the outcome of the study is, but I urge my colleagues to stay with the committee, support the F-22. This is an outstanding program and the Air Force's No. 1 priority.”