[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  COMPETITION IS KEY FOR COST CONTROL

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. When it comes to addressing the budget, 
competition is key. This principle applies to everything from produce 
to clothing items to defense procurement.
  As the House considers the National Defense Authorization Act this 
week and an amendment impeding competition between fighter engines, it 
is important that we keep the merits of this principle in mind in order 
to continue to protect thousands of jobs and save taxpayers billions of 
dollars. History shows that competing fighter engines significantly 
reduce program costs while improving safety, reliability, and 
contractor responsiveness.
  Controlling costs, spurring innovation, and accelerating weapons 
systems readiness and performance are just a few major reasons why we 
must continue the F-136 program. Without competition, we would rely on 
a single engine, which could lead to unnecessary operational risk and 
the potential for grounding of the entire fleet if a glitch is found. 
The F-136 prevents this troubling scenario.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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