On the heels of Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ (R-Ga.) impassioned plea to Defense Secretary Bob Gates to consider production of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor as part of a
“„Keeping the production line of this model aerospace program open currently requires no additional taxpayer dollars, and is not a rescue or bailout. Rather, it will allow us to maintain a healthy program that delivers considerable economic benefit while providing our Air Force with appropriate numbers of the best fighter aircraft ever made. Production of this aircraft is in jeopardy—and with it more than 95,000 American jobs, over $12 billion in national economic activity, and the superiority of America’s Air Force.