Senators Still Split On Support For The Project

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) received confirmation from U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew that the Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by Congress Tuesday will continue funding for the Joint Strike Fighter F136 alternative engine. The CR maintains government funding through March 4th at FY2010 levels.

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-IL)

The competitive engine, the F136, is being developed by General Electric (GE) in Evendale. Proponents for a sole sourced, non-competitive engine had incorrectly argued that a CR would not require the administration to fund the program in previous drafts of the spending bill.

“This is good news for GE Aviation workers in Evendale and good news for Ohio. Continued federal funding means that Ohio workers can continue building an engine that is good for our military and good for Southwest Ohio’s economy,” Brown said. “Every two seconds of every single day, a GE engine lifts a plane into the air. And today, the work Evendale employees do is as important as ever. As we rebuild our economy, we are renewing our focus on American manufacturing.”

F136 Alternate Engine

“GE Aviation is deeply gratified by the diligent work of Sen. Brown in protecting the critically important F136 competitive engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. Ensuring competing JSF engines is vital to the country,” President and CEO of GE Aviation David Joyce said.

Brown sent a letter to OMB Director Lew seeking confirmation that the Administration would follow Congress’ mandate for funding the competitive engine program under a Continuing Resolution. OMB responded that the Continuing Resolution, as drafted, would follow Congressional intent and continue the competitive engine program.

Last year, Brown helped secure $465 million in federal funds to support the creation of a competitive engine for the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) propulsion system. In April 2010, Brown visited the GE Aviation facility in Evendale to address workers and get an update on the development of the Joint Strike Fighter F136 competitive engine.

In July 2009, Brown urged support for the program on the Senate floor. The F-35 program will develop and deploy the fifth-generation strike fighter aircraft to meet the operational needs of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and their allies. The F-35 employs cutting-edge technologies including synthetic aperture radar integration techniques, advanced target recognition, and advanced capabilities in its resistance to jamming, maintainability, and logistic support. Brown and some other members of Congress maintain that the engine competition for the F-35 saves money and improves our national security.

Senator Joe Lieberman

But Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said in a statement that the engine should have been stripped from the CR. “It is unconscionable that while the Air Force and Navy struggle to sustain their essential programs under the constraints of a continuing resolution, the administration could be forced to waste one more dollar on this unnecessary second engine for the Joint Strike Fighter," Lieberman wrote. "I will continue to fight to terminate the alternate engine during the term of the CR and when the Senate considers a measure to fund the government for the rest of 2011.

“The representations made in Director Lew’s letter to Senator Brown contradict OMB’s own guidelines about funding programs under a continuing resolution and is inconsistent with the strong opposition of President Obama and Secretary Gates to this second engine. I will ask Director Lew to reconsider based upon those guidelines.”

Pratt & Whitney, which is building the F135 engine, is headquartered in Lieberman's home state of Connecticut.

FMI: www.senate.gov