As we reported in Friday’s Daily Report Online, the full House voted to keep $485 million in funding for the General Electric-Rolls Royce F136 engine, as lawmakers late Thursday defeated by 231 to 193 an amendment that would have stripped the money to sustain the F-35 competitive engine program from the House version of 2011 defense authorization bill. However, in its markup of the bill last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee did not include F136 funding. Lawmakers will decide the fate of the F136 in conference. Defense Secretary Robert Gates remains adamant that continuing only with the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine is the least costly approach and will urge President Obama to veto the defense bill if it includes the F136. (Senate Armed Services Committee markup summary) (Also see Still Swinging, above)
The U.S. military is carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions along the southern border and off the coast of Mexico using U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft as part of the Pentagon’s effort to secure the southern border at the direction of President…