VIDEO RELEASE: Rooney Offers Amendment to Strike Wasteful Extra Engine Program
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Tom Rooney (Fl-16) offered an amendment on the House floor today to strike funding for the wasteful extra engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Rooney’s bipartisan amendment would save taxpayers $450 million over the next seven months, and approximately $3 billion in the years to come.
To watch Rooney’s full speech, click HERE.
Full text of the speech as prepared:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment striking funding for an extra engine for the F-35 fighter Jet to immediately save American taxpayers $450 million dollars.
“It is dubious why Congress continues to fund a program that the Air Force, Navy, the Marine Corps and Department of Defense adamantly state they do not want. Just today, Defense Secretary Gates called the program “an unnecessary and extravagant expense” and stated that this money is needed for higher priority defense efforts. As we decide which cuts to make in our defense, ones that won’t hurt our troops today, this should be at the top of the list.
“Mr. Speaker, the American people sent us here to change how Washington works. This amendment is a perfect opportunity to show your constituents that business as usual in Washington is over. I urge my colleagues to follow through with their promises, to listen to the voters on why they sent us here, and vote to strike funding for this expensive and unnecessary program. Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.”
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