The House, without a vote, refused Thursday to restore funding in its proposed Defense budget to buy F-22 fighter jets the Air Force contends are needed to maintain U.S. air supremacy, the Associated Press reported.
The action came in withdrawal of an amendment that would have put $1.8 billion into the $266 billion Defense budget the House was expected to pass later in the day.
After leading witnesses to testify in support of the F-22 program, Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., withdrew his amendment in an agreement that gives the House considerable leverage in shaping the final Defense budget with the Senate.
House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., promised to carefully consider the funding in conference with the Senate, where the F-22 has strong support.
A House Appropriations Committee report said the military appears unable to control the F-22's rising costs and can maintain a fighter advantage through 2010 without it.
But the Air Force said the F-22 is crucial to its long-term defense strategy.