House committee backs C-17, F-22 funding

Reuters (5/15, Wolfe) reported, "Big-dollar warplane programs run by Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp. received boosts in the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee on Wednesday," when the committee "voted to spend $3.9 billion to buy 15 Boeing C-17 cargo planes" and "recommended an additional $523 million as a down payment on 20 more Lockheed F-22 fighters." At the same time, the "panel voted...to cut $200 million, or 5.5 percent, of the $3.6 billion sought by President George W. Bush for the Future Combat Systems program in fiscal 2009." Reuters noted, "Neither the Bush administration nor the Senate Armed Services Committee had sought these aircraft, although the Air Force considers the C-17 a top 'unfunded' requirement."