GDFW This Week, Volume 6, Number 39, October 12, 1992 Page: 1 of 4
[2] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
All Things Considered, We Did Great!
F-16 Wins In Congressional ShowdownLast week a local radio station said the outcome of the
1993 budget negotiations was "disappointing news for
General Dynamics."
Talk about misunderstanding! All things considered,
the F-16 program came out of its latest Congressional
budget scrape in fine condition.
The initial challenge was survival, pure and simple.
The program did survive with full funding for 24 USAF
F-16s in fiscal 1993, which will continue production into
calendar year 1995. Inclusion of F-16 funding in the new
budget defies a Senate proposal to terminate the program
after the current fiscal year.
The second priority was to obtain long-lead funding
for aircraft to be procured in fiscal 1994. This was an
even tougher problem than 1993 funding, for several
reasons.
This time a year ago the Air Force was planning to
stop procurement after fiscal 1993. The President's 1993
budget request reflected this intention, by calling for pro-
gram termination after one more year of purchases. So,
when the Air Force changed its position in mid-1992 and
announced that it would like to continue F-16 procure-
ment through the decade, wheels had already been set in
motion to stop the program after next year.
The House Armed Services Committee came to the
rescue by including long-lead procurement money for 24
aircraft in 1994 in its version of the '93 budget. Publicannouncements by Air Force officials, in support of con-
tinued F-16 production, provided a turning point in the
effort to save the program. Then, when the full Senate
voted to cancel the F-16 after 1992, the stage was set for
a war of will between the House and Senate positions.
More than 5,000 letters written to members of
Congress by employees, union leaders, F-16 suppliers
and others played a crucial "grassroots" role at that stage
of the game. Rep. Pete Geren, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen and
other members of the Texas congressional delegation
worked diligently on behalf of the Fighting Falcon.
Understanding the Outcome
Congressional negotiators have said the F-16 decision
was the most contentious issue in this year's budget
debate, prompting more discussion than even the B-2,
C-17 and Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The com-
promise bill reached by a House-Senate conference
committee provides funding for 24 F-16s in 1993, which
is very good news.
Long-lead funding for F-16s in 1994 apparently
became the sticking point in the negotiations. The final
authorization bill includes $68 million that could be used
for long-lead funding. Such use of the money will be
delayed until two studies are completed: 1) a study of
military roles and missions to be conducted for the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and 2) a study of Tactical Aircraft
(Continued on Bock )EPA Honors GD And FW Employees For Ozone Protection...see inside
::
yb
M;
y fi F
F G
b m
x- : >.Jk,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
General Dynamics Corporation. Fort Worth Division. GDFW This Week, Volume 6, Number 39, October 12, 1992, periodical, October 12, 1992; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1092145/m1/1/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth.