Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) Legislative Alert: #07-04
The Issue: Restoring Funding for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA)
Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and urge them to provide funding for the JCA in the FY08 SASC NDAA that was removed by the HASC in the FY08 NDAA (H.R.1585).
The purpose of the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program is to procure a small cargo aircraft for both the Army and the Air Force that provides responsive, flexible, and tailored airlift for combat, humanitarian operations, and homeland defense. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the Army and Air Force on 20 Jun 06, establishing an initial joint requirement. NGAUS supports procurement of the JCA.
Members of the both House and Senate Armed Services Committees have been requesting Air Force lift capabilities studies for some time, believing the Air Force has a greater requirement for airlift than it has identified in its budget request. Those studies have not been delivered.
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) inserted language in the FY08 Defense Authorizations Bill (20 Mar 07 House Report 110-146, Section 132, page 41) prohibiting the Secretary of the Air Force or Army from obligating or expending funds for the development or procurement of the JCA until 30 days after the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) submits to Congress a series of airlift capabilities and fleet-mix analysis studies. The SECDEF must also certify that there is a valid requirement for the JCA. The restrictive language in the House version of the FY08 National Defense Authorization Act could delay the program for up to one year, adding unnecessary cost and time to the development of a much needed, validated program. For a complete analysis and summary of the reports and studies Congress is requesting related to the JCA program see our NGAUS Fact Sheet attached here.
NGAUS urges the responsible agencies to provide to the Congress final reports on all completed studies and interim reports on those studies still ongoing. Further we urge the Senate to include funding for the JCA program in the Senate Armed Services Committee and further to ensure this funding is included in the Defense Authorization conference.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS Web site at NGAUS, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives. A sample letter is included in our “Write to Congress” feature. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to Congress. Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to “Write to Congress” as well. For more in-depth information and background visit our web site at NGAUS. Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS Deputy Legislative Director at 202-454-5307 or via email: Pete Duffy.
Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and urge them to provide funding for the JCA in the FY08 SASC NDAA that was removed by the HASC in the FY08 NDAA (H.R.1585).
The purpose of the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program is to procure a small cargo aircraft for both the Army and the Air Force that provides responsive, flexible, and tailored airlift for combat, humanitarian operations, and homeland defense. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the Army and Air Force on 20 Jun 06, establishing an initial joint requirement. NGAUS supports procurement of the JCA.
Members of the both House and Senate Armed Services Committees have been requesting Air Force lift capabilities studies for some time, believing the Air Force has a greater requirement for airlift than it has identified in its budget request. Those studies have not been delivered.
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) inserted language in the FY08 Defense Authorizations Bill (20 Mar 07 House Report 110-146, Section 132, page 41) prohibiting the Secretary of the Air Force or Army from obligating or expending funds for the development or procurement of the JCA until 30 days after the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) submits to Congress a series of airlift capabilities and fleet-mix analysis studies. The SECDEF must also certify that there is a valid requirement for the JCA. The restrictive language in the House version of the FY08 National Defense Authorization Act could delay the program for up to one year, adding unnecessary cost and time to the development of a much needed, validated program. For a complete analysis and summary of the reports and studies Congress is requesting related to the JCA program see our NGAUS Fact Sheet attached here.
NGAUS urges the responsible agencies to provide to the Congress final reports on all completed studies and interim reports on those studies still ongoing. Further we urge the Senate to include funding for the JCA program in the Senate Armed Services Committee and further to ensure this funding is included in the Defense Authorization conference.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS Web site at NGAUS, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives. A sample letter is included in our “Write to Congress” feature. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to Congress. Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to “Write to Congress” as well. For more in-depth information and background visit our web site at NGAUS. Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS Deputy Legislative Director at 202-454-5307 or via email: Pete Duffy.
posted by Rosemary Welch at 5/18/2007 06:07:00 PM
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