Rodney Frelinghuysen: “Let me stipulate at the onset that the A-10 Thunderbolt is a tremendous aircraft. We have heard it from somebody who…”

“Let me stipulate at the onset that the A-10 Thunderbolt is a tremendous aircraft. We have heard it from somebody who piloted one, and certainly we are listening to our colleagues from the respective States that have A-10s, and they could testify, as I am sure others can, as to their value. But close air support is also provided--actually 80 percent--by other aircraft, and that has been true since 2008. The Air Force itself has recommended the retirement of the entire fleet. It is not going to happen overnight. It is not going to happen by 2019. At some point in time it is going to happen because this is not about saving millions of dollars, this is about saving billions of dollars--nearly $4 billion. And the money that we will save will allow us to procure the next generation of aircraft. {time} 2000 I understand the desire to keep an aircraft that has been doing incredible work for 30 or 40 years, but it is time we look to the future and make that investment. I am pleased to yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).”