My family and I have given much to the U.S. military.  I served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1975, as a member of the 1st Armory division, 7th Cavalry, and a member of the elite TVY Ski Patrol. My father was a career officer with the USAF and a flight engineer with the Strategic Air Command.

That’s why I have followed with great interest the debate over funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter II program and urge you to strongly fight for full funding of this project.

This is a very difficult time for all representatives as they consider budget cuts proposed for a wide variety of federal programs.  A strong national defense is one of the federal government’s prime Constitutional obligations, and I hope our representatives in Congress will keep the support of our military men and women paramount in mind when considering future budget cuts.  

The F-35 will replace a 20 year old fleet of fighter planes with aircraft that possesses the very latest technology – making them more deadly in combat, cheaper to operate over the life of the plane, and safer for our pilots.

The technology embodied in the F-35 will allow the U.S. to maintain its dominance in the area of defense technology, while making our troops – and those of our partners around the world who are participating in this project – safer and more effective in an array of battle conditions that they may encounter around the world.

I urge Senator Feinstein, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and all our representatives in Congress, to support full funding of this program that will be so crucial to the success of our military in the years to come.

-Tim Foley