| 01/31/2005 |
| Legislators scramble to save Sikorsky bid |
| By JOSEPH STRAW , Journal Register News Service |
|
WASHINGTON -- When the Pentagon
dropped Sikorsky’s Comanche armed reconnaissance helicopter program
one year ago, members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation
confidently pledged legislative action aimed at saving the program.
Privately, even Sikorsky officials placed long odds on the
lawmakers chances.Late Friday, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, and her colleagues likewise promised legislation targeting Pentagon spending that would effectively overturn the Navy’s choice of Lockheed Martin to build the next generation of presidential helicopters, over historical manufacturer Sikorsky. But even the eternally optimistic U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., and colleague U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., were setting low expectations. "We’re not kidding ourselves," Lieberman said just moments after the announcement. "This is not going to be easy to overturn legislatively." Dodd called the task ahead "clearly a mountain, to put it mildly." Lieberman said he would consider allying with U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a staunch advocate of "buy American" defense spending provisions. Hunter issued a statement Friday decrying the decision. "A competitive and viable American helicopter technology base remains of vital importance to U.S. national security. Therefore it is difficult to understand why we would use U.S. tax dollars to fund the further development of foreign helicopter technology," Hunter said. The Lockheed Martin aircraft, the US101, is based on the design of the Italian AgustaWestland EH101, and its drivetrain and other parts comprising 20 percent of the aircraft will be built in Great Britain and Italy. U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, in Switzerland Friday en route Iraq, where he planned to observe yesterday’s national elections, said he would request a debriefing from the Navy, which handles procurement for the Marine Corps. Lieberman and Dodd said they would ask that Secretary of the Navy Gordon England meet with the entire delegation this week to explain the decision. Should the company choose to do so, Sikorsky Aircraft has one week to receive its explanation from the Pentagon, after which it can appeal the decision to the Government Accountability Office and the General Accounting Office -- Congress’ non-partisan investigative agency. While it is highly unlikely that the GAO would find bureaucratic fault with the Pentagon’s decision-making process, Lieberman has urged that Sikorsky exercise the option. The palpable shock and anger felt by Sikorsky, Hartford-based parent United Technologies Corp., and Connecticut lawmakers was a far cry from the jocular, back-slapping tone of legislators from the southern tier of New York State, where Lockheed Martin plans to assemble the US101 in Owego. "I was a strong advocate on behalf of Team US101 and a frequent visitor to Owego for updates on the project," said U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y. "As I said to the President, I even flew on one to make personally sure it was good enough for him. He looked at me and said, ‘Boehlert, are you lobbying me?’ And I replied, ‘Yes sir -- you bet I am!’" Joseph Straw can be reached at jstraw@nhregister.com. |