[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. BRENDAN F. BOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2017

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2810) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, I would like to 
address Section 131 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2018.
  Last week, I filed amendment No. 247 on this matter; however I have 
since withdrawn the amendment given that the USAF has moved swiftly to 
replace the UH-1N fleet through an open and competitive process with 
the recent launch of the RFP.
  The UH-1N replacement program is a priority for the Air Force and for 
many members of this Congress, House and Senate. This is for good 
reason. The UH-1N accomplishes two vital national security missions--
nuclear missile security and continuity of government. Over a decade 
has passed since our Air Force identified the need to replace the aging 
Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey fleet.
  Following collaborative efforts between the Air Force and industry, 
including meetings and additional requests for information, the Air 
Force has now released its final Request for Proposal which begins the 
process of replacing the UH-1N fleet and ensuring a fair and open 
competition. Unfortunately, language contained in the H.R. 2810, the 
National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2018, threatens to 
upend this fair, competitive and open process by pushing a sole-source 
contract at the taxpayer's expense. Section 131 would allow the Air 
Force to sole-source the replacement of the UH-1N helicopter.
  Frankly, I find this language appalling. The Department of Defense's 
Better Buy Power 3.0 directive states, ``Real competition is the single 
most powerful tool available to the Department to drive productivity.'' 
The Federal Acquisition Regulations clearly articulate the importance 
of competition to satisfy cost, quality and timeliness aims. 
Competition is essential to maintaining a healthy industrial base. In 
Congress, we should be encouraging the Department of Defense to remain 
committed to competition.
  Congress has repeatedly supported and directed a fair and open 
competition for the replacement of the UH-1N; yet, the language in 
Section 131 goes against congressional and Air Force efforts to ensure 
an open and fair competition. Given the fact that responses to the RFP 
will be due prior to the FY18 NDAA's completion, changing course from a 
fair and open competition to a sole-source procurement at this time 
would limit options, create more delays, increase costs for taxpayers, 
and potentially impact mission requirements. There is also no 
justification for a sole-source contract of helicopters when multiple 
candidate aircraft, including commercial aircraft built cost 
effectively here in the United States on existing, hot production 
lines, can be leveraged in support of this mission.
  In 2016, twelve Members of Congress signed on to a letter in support 
of a UH-1N replacement competition, which was instrumental in moving 
the Air Force towards its current strategy. We must allow the Air Force 
to continue their competition to replace their UH-1N aircraft and 
accelerate their ability to field new aircraft without further delay in 
the interest of national security. We should applaud and support the 
Air Force for moving forward with replacing the fleet of UH-1N not 
force them to stop and change course. Changing course from a fair and 
open competition to a sole-source procurement would create more delays, 
increase costs, and potentially impact mission requirements.
  We cannot let this happen to the Airmen of our nation.
  I applaud the Air Force in moving forward with replacing its fleet of 
UH-1N aircraft that help ensure the security of our land-based nuclear 
forces. Taking any other path would further jeopardize this critical 
program.
  While I have withdrawn my amendment, I will be working to ensure this 
language is removed from the final bill during conference. Mr. Chair, 
replacing these assets is long overdue and I look forward to working 
with the Chairman and Ranking Member on this and other Air Force 
priorities.