Orrin Hatch: “today I rise as an ardent supporter of the F-22A Raptor. I am very pleased that the Armed Services Committee has…”

“today I rise as an ardent supporter of the F-22A Raptor. I am very pleased that the Armed Services Committee has modified the Department of Defense's budget request and authorized the procurement of 20 F-22s during the next fiscal year. That being said, I must express my disappointment that the committee did not include in this legislation language authorizing the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into a multiyear procurement contract to purchase 20 Raptors a year for the next 3 years. Under such a contract, the Institute for Defense Analyses estimates that we will save the taxpayer at least $225 million. Therefore, I am proud to join Senator Chambliss and cosponsor this important amendment along with Senators Inhofe, Lieberman, Bingaman, Cornyn, Thune, Bennett, Isakson, Domenici, Baucus, Dodd, Hutchison, Collins, Ben Nelson, Feinstein and Stevens. Our amendment only strengthens the procurement plan for this vital aircraft. I am also troubled that this bill does not increase above the 183 currently planned the number of F-22s that the Air Force is authorized to procure. My trepidation that our Nation will not build a sufficient number of aircraft is based on careful study of our Nation's needs and on the advice and counsel of senior Air Force officers who have been unanimous in their expert opinion that if the Air Force is to meet its responsibilities under the National Military Strategy, the Nation requires 381 Raptors.…”