Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we do support this to conform with the authorization bill as passed by the Senate.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 4489 (Purpose: To reduce by $100 million the maximum amount allowed for Pentagon renovation)

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, this amendment allocates $1 million for the Air Force to assess comprehensively the implications of the service's recent decision to terminate development of a two-seat trainer variant of the F-22 advanced tactical fighter. I might state to the Senate that we have been informed that, if there was a proposal to eliminate the two-seat variant of the F-22 advanced tactical fighter, that would leave us without a training vehicle for this very sophisticated new aircraft. We are not mandating that the decision be changed. We are mandating that there be a study made of that decision with regard to safety and training problems, as well as budgetary and technical problems, and that the Appropriations Committees and the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate receive this study by February 15, 1997. The Air Force normally acquires fighter aircraft in single-seat and two-seat variants so that the latter may be used for pilot flight training. Although the twin-seat trainers cost more than the single seat aircraft, they are considered necessary for the effective and safe training of pilots in the demanding air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical environments. Should a student pilot experience difficulties, the instructor pilot can assume control of the aircraft and safely demonstrate the required procedures and maneuvers. Recently, the Air Force decided to cease development of the two-seat F-22--known as the ``F-22B''--in order to constrain costs. Mr. President, there are serious safety, operational, and training issues associated with this decision. The F-22 is the most complex fighter aircraft ever developed. The pilots flying it must be the best trained to operate and fight the aircraft safely and effectively. The loss of a single pilot in a training accident would be a tragedy and would deprive the nation of a talented Air Force officer needed to accomplish important military missions. There also are major cost, budgetary, and technical issues associated with the decision. Every F-22 fighter will cost at least $111 million to procure. The entire program will cost at least $70,092,947,000. In addition to the high cost of training a pilot, the loss of just a few F-22's in training or operational accidents caused by inferior training would more than offset the savings generated by terminating the F-22B. In retrospect, this decision may well come to be seen as penny wise and fiscally and militarily pound foolish. The amendment I am offering is intended to provide the Congress with sufficient information to enable us to fully understand the many serious implications of the Air Force decision. Congress should have the opportunity to consider, and to act on, this decision in a timely manner. The amendment mandates that the required report be submitted in classified and unclassified versions. Does this have my friend's support?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, if I can have the indulgence of the Chair, I have three small amendments that I will present. Amendment No. 4563 (Purpose: To require a study regarding the F-22 advanced tactical fighter)

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, my understanding as to the vote on the cloture motion that was filed last week, it has been temporarily set aside and could be called back by the leadership after notice to the minority; is that correct?

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator from Hawaii and I are now at liberty to proceed with the bill; is that correct?

Mr. STEVENS. When we were interrupted by the proceedings on the cloture motions last week, I had an amendment pending which had been set aside. Is that still the situation with regard to this bill?

Mr. STEVENS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask the clerk to lay before the Senate the amendment that was set aside, No. 4439.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I yield to the majority leader.

Mr. STEVENS. I appreciate the kind words of the distinguished Senator From Illinois. I am aware that Northwestern University in Evanston, IL would be well qualified to operate the Advanced Materials Intelligent Processing Center and will give this program every consideration for funding during conference of this bill. computer emergency response system

Mr. STEVENS. I want to thank the distinguished Senator from Virginia for bringing this important matter to my personal attention. I am somewhat familiar with the proposal contained in the House-passed Defense authorization bill and it sounds reasonable. I will assure the Senator from Virginia that I will work between now and the conclusion of conference on this appropriations bill to find a way to provide funding for the natural resources assessment and training delivery system improvement program that has been identified by my colleague. One possible avenue that will be explored is the Defense Legacy Program.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we are awaiting an agreement on the disposition of the final amendments of the bill. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. While we are waiting for the final agreement on the amendments, I will offer an amendment on behalf of Senators Feingold, Kohl, Bumpers, and myself. Amendment No. 4892

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, respectively we have already yielded to the Senator from Massachusetts following the Senator from North Carolina. If our request is going to be honored, I hope we will adjust this accordingly. Does the Senator from Virginia seek to speak on the same bill as the Senator from Illinois?

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send to the desk a modification of amendment No. 4582.

Mr. STEVENS. I will be delighted to discuss this matter with my colleague from North Carolina.