US allocates $2.2 billion for C-17 production

U.S. Senator Kit Bond today cheered the news that a tentative agreement on the final troops funding bill includes $2.2 billion to keep the C-17 airlift line in production. Since President Obama announced his decision to close our nation’s only large airlift line, Bond has taken the lead in reversing this dangerous gamble with our national security. “Congress’ decision to reverse the President’s dangerous budget gamble is great news and will ensure our continued ability to transport our troops and equipment anywhere in the world,” said U.S. Senator Kit Bond. “When the Boeing Union workers were in my office last month I told them not to give up hope – we were determined to restore funds for the critical C-17". As senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senators Bond and Feinstein (D-CA) have been working behind the scenes to ensure funds for the C-17 line would be included in the final bill. The troops funding bill is currently in the House-Senate conference, of which Bond is a member. Bond also worked with Senator Boxer (D-CA) to secure the support of 17 of their Senate colleagues in asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to include funding in the troops funding bill for the highly successful C-17 program. Today, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Daniel Inouye (D-HI) announced that conferees reached a tentative deal, which includes $2.2 billion for the C-17 in the final fiscal year 2009 troops funding – or supplemental defense appropriations – bill. Inclusion of these funds will be a critical victory for Bond, Feinstein, Boxer and other advocates of this essential cargo plane.