Threat Of A Presidential Veto Is Still There

The full U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a defense authorization bill for FY2011 that once again includes funding for the F136 alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. It is the 4th year in a row that the House has voted to maintain funding for the program.

The vote is in contrast with the Senate Armed Services Committee, which reported out its version of the bill without F136 funding. President Obama has again made noises about vetoing the bill should it come to his desk with the alternate engine funding intact. He made the same threat last year, but wound up signing the bill anyway.

Reuters reports that the house included $485 million next year for GE to continue to develop and test the engine, which the company has said it will offer on a fixed-price basis. Pratt & Whitney has already delivered the last of its test engines, as well as the first production lot, to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. GE contends that not having a second engine for the F35 means that Pratt & Whitney will have a monopoly on powering the JSF, which also has the potential of grounding the entire fleet should a problem be discovered with the engine. It further contends that the sole-source engine violates Pentagon acquisition rules. The House Armed Services Committee apparently agreed with GE on one point, saying in its recommendation to the full House that the sole-source engine for the F35 was a "national security issue" because the aircraft is expected to eventually make up 95% of the U.S. Tactical Fighter fleet.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that he would go so far as to recommend a Presidential veto of the 2011 defense authorization bill, which is a blueprint for spending what ever money is eventually appropriated for the defense budget.

The White House said in a statement Friday that a veto could be forthcoming. President Obama promised to veto any legislation that includes funding for an alternate engine for the F-35 joint strike fighter or more C-17 cargo jets, expressing his "strong support" for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' budget-reform effort. "As the Congress continues its work on funding bills for the Department of Defense, I want to reiterate my strong support for the reforms Secretary Gates is advancing at the Pentagon," Obama said in a written statement the White House released Friday. "He has kept me fully apprised of his efforts to reform how our military operates and bring needed efficiencies to the Department of Defense."

Obama said he stands "squarely behind" Gates' position on the second F-35 engine and the C-17 program.

In a statement, GE said the vote "... reaffirmed the Congress’ strong and long-standing commitment to the F136 program. It is a win for competition and a win for the American taxpayers. The JSF competitive engine will save $20 billion over the 30-year span of the Joint Strike Fighter program, according to the independent Government Accountability Office.

“GE is deeply gratified by the support it received from House members, and the House Armed Services Committee leadership, who voted to continue funding the competing JSF engine. These members demonstrated strong support for the core principle of acquisition reform – competition.”

FMI: http://house.gov, www.ge.com, www.whitehouse.gov