May 19, 2005

Congressman Akin Secures $65 Million for Boeing’s F-15E House Armed Services Committee Bill Now Headed to House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In a victory both for St. Louis and America’s national defense, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin succeeded in obtaining $65 million in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 passed yesterday by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to continue Boeing’s F-15E line in St. Louis.

“We were successful in obtaining substantial funding for St. Louis-related military projects in the HASC version of the FY2006 National Defense Authorization bill. The F-15 program in particular was especially rewarding considering the jeopardy in which the program was placed,” Akin said. “The F-15 line faced possible termination in 2008 and the additional funding is very encouraging when it comes to maintaining the production facilities and increasing the potential for more foreign and domestic sales beyond the 2008 timeline.”

Akin, a member of the HASC, noted that the funding level in the HASC bill for the F-15E matched funds secured in the Senate Armed Services Committee bill. These corresponding numbers greatly increase the chance of funding for the F-15 line when the bill is sent to conference committee to hammer out the differences between the House and Senate versions. The House version is expected to pass the on the floor of the House of Representative next week.

Akin, who serves on the HASC’s Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, initially had been told that funding for the F-15E would be unavailable, but over the past week he has worked to find resources that would sustain the existing F-15 line.

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