[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  AMENDING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010

  Mr. GOODWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 6102, which was received 
from the House and is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 6102) to amend the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010 to extend the 
     authority of the Secretary of the Navy to enter into 
     multiyear contracts for F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G 
     aircraft.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, the bill H.R. 6102 is an important bill. 
Based on authority provided in two acts, the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and the Department of Defense 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, the Navy and contractor team 
negotiated a multiyear contract for purchasing F/A-18E/F and E-18G 
aircraft.
  The Secretary of Defense approved the Navy's request to sign such a 
contract. The Secretary also provided the necessary certifications 
required by title 10, United States Code. The independent cost 
estimators within the Department of Defense, the office of Cost 
Analysis and Program Evaluation, or CAPE, agreed with the Navy's 
estimate that the multiyear contract would save an estimated $590 
million. Unfortunately, the Navy and the contractor team were unable to 
conclude negotiations by the deadlines set forth in the two acts 
authorizing and appropriating funds for the multiyear contract.
  We should not let these savings slip through our fingers just because 
the Navy and contractors were not as prompt as the Congress envisioned 
when we passed the two acts last year. This bill would allow the Navy 
and the taxpayer to achieve those savings by authorizing the Navy to 
sign a multiyear contract for the F/A-18E/F and E-18G program despite 
having missed those deadlines.
  I urge that the Senate pass this bill immediately.
  Mr. GOODWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be read the third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table; that any statements relating thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 6102) was ordered to be read the third time, was read 
the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________