[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ADVANCED TACTICAL LASER

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, under paragraph 9 of rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, I am here by submitting a description of 
Senate amendment No. 2605 that was accepted by unanimous consent to 
H.R. 3326 as follows:
  Item: Additional User Evaluation and System Study for Advanced 
Tactical Laser (ATL)
  Request Amount: $5.0M.
  Requestor: Boeing Corporation
  Address: Boeing--SVS, 4411 The 25 Way NE #350, Albuquerque, NM 87109-
5858
  Suggested Location of Performance (major portion of the work): 
Albuquerque, NM.
  Senate amendment No. 2605 proposes to allocate up to $5 million 
consistent with the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board report entitled 
``The Airborne Tactical Laser (ATL) Feasibility for Gunship 
Operations'' to conduct additional enhanced user evaluation of the ATL 
and enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and 
development center to conduct a system analysis of integrating solid 
state laser systems onto C-130, B-1, and F-35 platforms for the purpose 
of close air support. Such system study shall estimate per unit costs 
of such laser systems as well costs to operate and maintain each 
platform with the laser system.
  Why Spending is in Interest to the Taxpayer: The Air Force Scientific 
Advisory Board report entitled ``The Airborne Tactical Laser (ATL) 
Feasibility for Gunship Operations'' made a number of recommendations 
regarding the advanced tactical laser. In addition to phasing out the 
ATL chemical laser system and transitioning to an electric laser 
system, the board recommended that additional enhanced user evaluations 
take place of the integrated laser-gunship system so that the most data 
possible can be collected of the funds spent to date on operational 
aspects of the tactical laser system regardless of laser 
characteristics. In addition, the board questioned the utility of 
placing tactical laser systems on high-speed platforms such as the F-35 
and B-1, which were not designed for low speed, long-loiter close air 
support missions and recommended a system study of the available 
platforms to understand the cost per unit of integrating the laser onto 
each platform as well as long-term operations and maintenance costs 
with each integrated system. Senate amendment No. 2605 carries out the 
recommendations of the board to get the best benefit of the taxpayer's 
dollar spent to date and into the future on tactical laser systems 
under development by the Air Force.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter dated 
October 7, 2009.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                  Washington, DC, October 7, 2009.
     Hon. Daniel Inouye,
     Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on 
         Defense, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Dirksen 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Thad Cochran,
     Vice Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on 
         Defense, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Dirksen 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Inouye and Vice-Chairman Cochran: On October 
     6th, the Senate adopted by unanimous consent Senate Amendment 
     2605, which proposes to allocate up to $5 million Consistent 
     with the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board report entitled 
     ``The Airborne Tactical Laser (ATL) Feasibility for Gunship 
     Operations'' to conduct additional Enhanced User Evaluation 
     of the ATL and enter into an agreement with a Federally 
     Funded Research and Development Center to conduct a system 
     analysis of integrating solid state laser systems onto C-130, 
     B-1 and F-35 platforms for the purpose of close air support.
       I certify that neither I nor my immediate family has a 
     pecuniary interest in this congressionally directed spending 
     item, consistent with the requirements of paragraph 9 of Rule 
     XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. I further certify 
     that I have submitted a description of the amendment in the 
     Congressional Record and on my official website, along with 
     the accompanying justification. If you have any questions, 
     contact Dr. Jonathan S. Epstein on my staff.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senator.

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