Kay Bailey Hutchison: “the Cornyn amendment is important because the President of the United States has refused to allow the sale of 66 F-16C/D…”

“the Cornyn amendment is important because the President of the United States has refused to allow the sale of 66 F-16C/D model aircraft to Taiwan. Taiwan is trying to modernize its air force, and it is not an issue of our not selling to Taiwan. They have bought the A/B models, so they have 145 F-16s in the earlier model, the A/B. They are trying to get the next generation of them. This is a foreign policy issue, but also a domestic issue, because these are very important sales--the 66--for the F-16 line to be continued, and the hope is that this sale will go through. It is very important so that we can continue to make them for ourselves but also sell them to our allies. Most certainly, Taiwan is an ally and has used and likes the F-16. Taiwan has also used the French Mirage, but the French Mirage has a shortage of parts for Taiwan. They are trying to consolidate, with F-16s, American jobs and American fighters. Now they are running into the roadblock of the administration. Within the next decade, Taiwan will retire 70 percent of its fighter force structure. Its F-5s have reached the end of their utility. The Mirage fighters lack parts and life cycle support, and their indigenous defense fighters are being converted to trainers. Taiwan's existing 145 F-16A/B fighters all require a midlife upgrade.…”