Congress Tired Of "Gut-Level Instincts When it Comes To Billions Of Dollars"

A joint amendment to the 2008 defense authorization bill has been filed that requires an independent study of the airlift requirement of the US military.

The amendment, sponsored by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), was actually born out of congressional frustration, according to Congress Daily. Several lawmakers say they receive mixed messages about just what is needed to support the Air Force's fleet of C-5 Galaxys and C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

The amendment calls for a detailed study on just what the Air Force airlift needs actually are conducted by research and development center that is, of course, federally funded. The study would look at current and future military missions and how permanent increases in Army and Marine Corps personnel would affect airlift needs, among other things.

It sets a deadline of February 2009 for submission to Congress.

Any discussion of airlift issues usually pits C-17 supporters against the C-5 advocates with each side striving to protect its own. McCaskill, part of the C-17 camp (Boeing has facilities in her state, after all) had to work to garner support from C-5 Senators such as Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden and Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Edward Kennedy.

"This amendment will ensure that an independent study looks closely at the country's strategic airlift needs," McCaskill said. "With the investment we're making in the Future Combat System, I believe that we will find that we need more, not less, airlift capability in the future, and that includes the continued production of the C-17."

A Senate aide who is supportive of the C-5 program said Friday Congressional supporters of both aircraft want "an even-handed approach to get the real facts" and are "hopeful this will give us a really good, objective look at the key issues."

Members of Congress -- who have long received inconsistent assessments from the military about their airlift fleet -- are said to be growing weary of "four-star officers' gut-level instincts when it comes to billions of dollars," said the aide.

In its version of the authorization measure, the House of Representatives authorized 10 additional C-17s... but the Senate version adds no new planes.

FMI: www.house.gov