Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement after the defeat in the U.S. House of an amendment she wrote to stop funding for an alternate engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
 
"I’m disappointed that the House voted last night to authorize nearly half a billion dollars in wasteful spending for an unneeded and unnecessary alternate engine. Instead of putting money into this unneeded jet engine program we should be using it to reduce the deficit.  I’m afraid the vote yesterday is an example of politics as usual in Washington where powerful special interests and their lobbyists were able to push through a program that will profit them but do little to improve our national security.
 
"The fight to stop this funding isn’t over.  The Senate voted yesterday to not include funding in their version of the Defense Authorization Act and the President has made it clear he’s opposed to it.  I’m hopeful that the final version of the bill does not including funding for an alternate engine for the F-35."

Chellie supporting the cutting of funding to an alternative engine program