[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E851-E852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. ANN WAGNER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman McKeon and the 
Members of the House Armed Services Committee for the Committee's work 
on the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. I support 
the final bill; it is crafted thoughtfully and carefully to reflect the 
needs of the warfighter while enjoying bipartisan support from this 
body. Its passage is a testament to the Committee's leadership and hard 
work to support our men and women in uniform.
  I am particularly thankful for the support of the United States 
Navy's ``unfunded priority'' request of additional EA-18G Growlers. 
Early in the budget cycle, following the release of the 
Administration's Department of Defense budget, the Navy Chief of Naval 
Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert testified that there is a 
growing demand for electronic attack capabilities. Specifically, he 
requested 22 additional EA-18G Growlers above the President's Budget 
request to meet that demand.
  The EA-18G Growler provides the Navy and all Department of Defense 
forces with the ability to control the entire electromagnetic spectrum, 
the only aircraft in the entire inventory with that capability. With 
warfare increasingly operating within the cyber, information and 
electronic domains, there is increasing importance in not just 
understanding, but dominating the electromagnetic spectrum. For this 
reason, CNO Greenert testified why he believes that the Growler is 
essential to the warfighter. From the Committee's work, we also 
understand that the Navy is undertaking further analysis this year to 
determine the final requirement for the airborne electronic attack 
(AEA) capability.
  Without additional aircraft, the EA-18G Growler manufacturing line is 
likely to be shuttered before the Navy can fulfill its requirements for 
additional electronic attack. If this scenario is allowed to occur, the 
Department of Defense would also lose its ability to produce F/A-18E/F 
Super Hornet strike fighters, which are manufactured alongside the 
Growler in the same production line. Such a loss would affect our 
Nation's ability to surge strike fighters, meet increasing demand in 
electronic warfare, and provide competition in tactical aviation. The 
Growler program has been a model defense acquisition program, meeting 
all of its cost targets and delivering ahead of the Navy's schedule 
deadlines. Moreover, the F/A-18 and EA-18G production lines support 
60,000 jobs, including 13,000 jobs in my home state of Missouri.
  I am pleased that the Committee included support for 5 EA-18G 
Growlers above the President's Budget Request. While this overall 
increase will not meet the Navy's total unfunded priority, it 
demonstrates the Committee's position that the Growler is an essential 
resource that our Nation requires. Further, the Committee urged the 
Navy to take steps to keep the manufacturing line solvent until the 
Department can meet the basic needs of the warfighter in electronic 
attack. I will continue my work with the House Appropriations Committee 
to ensure that the Navy receives a sufficient number of Growlers to 
meet its emerging requirements and keep the manufacturing line open 
throughout Fiscal Year 2015.
  My voice is not alone in trying to support the Navy unfunded priority 
for additional Growlers. The request has strong support across 
Congress, as evidenced by a letter circulated earlier in the year that 
collected 109 House signatures in support of the Growler. This is a 
strong showing for any program, and one that received significant 
bipartisan validation. That letter is attached at the conclusion of my 
remarks.
  In closing, the Nation faces many challenges as we send our sons and 
daughters into harm's way to defend our freedom and liberty. The 
Committee's bill is always a statement about its judgment on how best 
to serve those warfighters. I am glad that they have made EA-18G 
Growlers a high priority, and I look forward to working with them over 
the course of Fiscal Year 2015.
  Additionally, I have included a support letter for the EA-18G Growler 
that I authored with Representative Lacy Clay that is signed by 109 
Members of Congress.

                                Congress of the United States,

                                   Washington, DC, April 11, 2014.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Adam Smith,
     Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Rodney Frelinghuysen,
     Chairman, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Peter Visclosky,
     Ranking Member, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, 
         Washington, DC.
       Gentlemen: It has come to our attention the Fiscal Year 
     2015 Budget Request of the President does not include funding 
     for the United States Navy F/A-18 program, which includes the 
     EA-18G Growler. If accepted by Congress, the result would be 
     the premature end to this critical production line.
       As you know, the EA-18G Growler is the Nation's only full 
     spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) and protection 
     aircraft. It provides this capability not just for the

[[Page E852]]

     Navy but for joint forces as well. Deploying from both Navy 
     aircraft carriers and joint force land bases, it is 
     recognized as a key DoD element for our Nation's warfighting 
     capability. As the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan 
     Greenert has stated, control of the electromagnetic spectrum 
     is critical to the warfighting mission today and in the 
     future.
       Analysis demonstrates that additional Growlers would 
     increase operational mission effectiveness more than any 
     component of the Navy's carrier air wing, now and in the 
     future. Recognizing this, the Navy has submitted an `unfunded 
     priority' for 22 additional Growlers. The Growler is the only 
     DoD option for electronic attack, and limited capacity 
     significantly impacts mission effectiveness against current 
     and future threats.
       The Navy and other joint warfighters will not have the 
     opportunity to fulfill an emerging requirement, however, if 
     the F/A-18 production line is not funded in the Fiscal Year 
     2015 budget. Without additional aircraft, a shutdown decision 
     will need to be made this year. To avoid this, last year 
     Congress added $75 million in Advanced Procurement thuds for 
     the F/A-18 in the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense 
     Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Defense Appropriations Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2014--enough for 22 aircraft.
       Another critical consideration is the Nation's defense 
     industrial base for tactical aviation. Today, there are 
     multiple providers for tactical aviation, sophisticated 
     tactical radars, and strike fighter engines. With the end of 
     the F/A-18 production, however, DoD will be left with only a 
     single manufacturer in each one of these areas. This scenario 
     limits warfighting surge capacity, eliminates competition 
     that drives innovation and cost control, and imperils future 
     development programs. Moreover, the F/A-18 program supports 
     American manufacturing, including 60,000 jobs, 800 different 
     suppliers and vendors, and provides $3 billion in annual 
     economic impact.
       We ask you to support the Navy's unfunded priority of 22 
     additional EA-18G Growlers as you consider the Fiscal Year 
     2015 defense bills. If Congress does not support further 
     Growler production, we will lose the only full spectrum 
     electronic warfare aircraft production line.
       Thank you very much for your attention to this request.
           Sincerely,
       Ann Wagner; Blaine Luetkemeyer; Pat Meehan; Rodney Davis; 
     Wm. Lacy Clay; Cheri Bustos; William L. Enyart; Robert R. 
     Brady; Doug Lamborn; Paul Cook; Frank A. LoBiondo; Jason T. 
     Smith; Joseph R. Pitts; Chris Collins.
       Niki Tsongas; Carol Shea-Porter; Corrine Brown; Gerald E. 
     Connolly; Emanuel Cleaver; Matt Cartwright; Sam Graves; Adam 
     Kinzinger; Billy Long; Bill Posey; Gregg Harper; Leonard 
     Lance; Tony Cardenas; Sheila Jackson Lee.
       Grace F. Napolitano; Allyson Y. Schwartz; Grace Meng; 
     Bennie G. Thompson; Richard L. Hanna; Steve Chabot; Peter T. 
     King; David W. Jolly; Devin Nunes; Keith J. Rothfus; Michelle 
     Lujan Grisham; Louise McIntosh Slaughter; Marcia L. Fudge; 
     David Loebsack.
       Daniel Lipinski; Ann M. Kuster; George Holding; Michael K. 
     Simpson; David G. Reichert; Michele Bachmann; David G. 
     Valadao; Steve Stivers; John F. Tierney; Alan S. Lowenthal; 
     Rosa L. DeLauro; Rick Larsen; Bill Pascrell, Jr.; Robin L. 
     Kelly.
       Gary G. Miller; Rob Bishop; Tom Rice; Michael G. 
     Fitzpatrick; John J. Duncan, Jr.; Cory Gardner; Sanford D. 
     Bishop, Jr.; Colleen W. Hanabusa; Derek Kilmer; Sean Patrick 
     Maloney; Timothy H. Bishop; Steve Israel.
       Jim Bridenstine; Stevan Pearce; Jon Runyan; Scott R. 
     Tipton; Gus M. Bilirakis; Mike Rogers; John C. Carney, Jr.; 
     Daniel B. Maffei; Suzan K. DelBene; Tulsi Gabbard; Ann 
     Kirkpatrick, G.K. Butterfield.

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