[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17034-17035]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        LONG RANGE STRIKE BOMBER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Knight) for 5 minutes.

[[Page 17035]]


  Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address an issue of 
critical importance to our Nation's security: the Long Range Strike 
Bomber.
  Since World War II, our defense has relied on the ability to respond 
quickly to any threats to our national security anywhere in the world. 
The bedrock of this strategy has always been the strategic bomber.
  This past week, it was announced that Northrop Grumman would be 
producing our next strategic bomber for future generations. Potential 
adversaries are deterred because only the United States possesses the 
capability to strike any target in the world with precision weapons 
within 24 hours.
  Last week, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air 
Force made the announcement that Northrop Grumman won the contract to 
build the Long Range Strike Bomber. This bomber will be produced in my 
district. The B-1, the B-2, and now the Long Range Strike Bomber will 
all follow in the same role of being built in the Antelope Valley in 
southern California.
  Congratulations to the Air Force and the men and women of Northrop 
Grumman on this contract. I have seen firsthand the work that Northrop 
Grumman employees do in support of our men and women in uniform at 
Plant 42 in my district. I am here to congratulate them on the 
opportunity to bring the expertise and commitment to the Long Range 
Strike Bomber.
  This means thousands of jobs to this country. It means thousands of 
jobs to southern California, in a much-needed area in my district where 
jobs are very scarce. Both Plant 42 and the many surrounding small 
businesses Northrop Grumman will have a contract with will have support 
in this area.
  The road that led to Tuesday's announcement was a long one paved with 
hard work by many people in our community and State. The Antelope 
Valley has long since been the home to the aerospace industry and has 
built B-1s, B-2s, all of the space shuttles, and currently builds the 
F-35. Naturally, it would be a good selection for the next bomber being 
built there.
  On any given day, the F-22, F-35, the F-16, B-1, or B-2 will be 
flying over the Antelope Valley in their test missions. I am confident 
that the Long Range Strike Bomber will help us continue this legacy, 
and I thank everyone who has helped bring its production to our 
community.
  The Air Force has called the Long Range Strike Bomber a top 
modernization priority, and there are sobering facts behind that. 
Today, only 10 percent of our Nation's bomber force is capable of 
penetrating sophisticated adversary air defense systems. The average 
age of our bomber fleet is 32 years old, with most of our bombers more 
than 45 years old. Only the B-2 stealth bomber, proudly built, 
maintained, and modernized in my district, can penetrate advanced air 
defenses; however, we only have 20 B-2s.
  Given Northrop Grumman's 35 years of expertise designing, building, 
delivering, and modernizing the B-2 stealth bomber at Plant 42, I know 
the men and women who work there are incredibly qualified to build our 
Nation's next long-range strike aircraft.

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