[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 59 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      C-17--WHAT IF NOT APPROVED?

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, in a recent briefing on the C-17, the Air 
Force offered a dire warning for the future if Congress failed to 
accept the proposed bailout. According to a briefing slide titled 
``Settlement,'' and I quote:

                         What If Not Approved?

       Return to highly contentious and nonproductive atmosphere;
       Return to focus on claims development and litigation;
       Program denied benefits of cost and quality improvement 
     elements;
       Continuation of flight test program in question;
       Progress over last four months reversed; and
       Program outlook--Dismal.

  Well, Mr. President, get ready for ``dismal,'' because the House 
Armed Services Committee forcefully rejected the proposed C-17 bailout. 
This begs the question: Why not terminate outright, if our only 
prospect is dismal?
  No one can deny the elegance of Under Secretary Deutch's political 
solution. Everyone could claim victory; no one felt the sting of 
defeat. Unfortunately for C-17 apologists, our House colleagues have 
chosen a different path. I, for one, do not look forward to squandering 
additional taxpayer dollars on a program with a prognosis like the one 
described by the Air Force for the C-17. I urge my colleagues to 
carefully consider their options when the Defense authorization bill 
comes on the floor next month.

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