Legislative Action Message: June 23, 2009

F-22: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

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Here at FCNL we don't often find ourselves agreeing with the Pentagon. But when Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed ending production of the F-22 fighter jet, we took it as a small but important first step toward cutting wasteful military spending.

Now the hard work begins. The high-paid lobbyists for large, private military corporations have been working overtime to restore funding for their weapons systems. Last week, defense lobbyists scored a small victory when a key House Committee approved $369 million for twelve new F-22s in the military authorization bill. This vote, which occurred in the wee hours of the morning, rejected the Pentagon's efforts to close down production of this Cold War-era aircraft, which has never been used in combat.

The full House could vote as soon as tomorrow on the military authorization bill. We anticipate that your representative will have the opportunity to vote on an amendment to cut the funding for these new weapons. Urge your representative to support amendments that would remove funding for new F-22s from the military authorization bill.

Take Action

Call your representative now, and urge him or her to support amendments that would cut funding for new F-22 fighter jets in the military authorization bill. Find talking points and a direct number to call your representative on our website.

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