Jon Runyan: “I would like to thank the chairman of the committee for allowing me to bring this forward. Congress has a responsibility…”

“I would like to thank the chairman of the committee for allowing me to bring this forward. Congress has a responsibility to see that funds are spent appropriately by the Department of Defense to support missions and provide for our national security. The Department has been using foreign-owned aircraft to carry equipment in and out of Afghanistan, totaling over $140 million year- to-date. These missions could have been completed by American carriers. American carriers are regulated by the FAA and have a much better safety record than foreign airlines. And U.S. government dollars go to develop U.S. jobs. The U.S. government specifically designated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, or CRAF, to supplement national security air transport needs through partnership with private U.S.-based airlines. The program allows civilian airlift capability to integrate with military command structures on short notice. Using foreign-owned aircraft is not only disadvantageous for our military carriers but also for U.S. commercial airlines that have dedicated aircraft to CRAF. It removes the incentive for American carriers to hire American workers and use American mechanics and suppliers, and ultimately harms a vital national security program. This amendment requires that the Department of Defense use American- owned and operated aircraft whenever possible to move cargo and passengers.…”