Senate committee OKs funding for 8 Boeing C-17s - St. Louis Business Journal:

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The bill appropriates $2.2 billion to buy eight additional eight C-17 planes in the 2009 fiscal which ends Sept. 30. Sen. Kit Bond, and Sen. Dianne D-California, They had pushed for 15 more "This eight is good news," said Georgew Roman, Boeing's vice presidenft of government relations andregional executive. "It validatee the importance of this product and the role and missioj it supplies our soldierwsand airmen." Roman said Boeing will seek funding for an additionalo 15 C-17s in the 2010 fiscal year supplemental appropriationss bill. "We believe there continues to be a need for this productg forthe U.S. military and as a humanitarian he said.
The C-17 program when Defense Secretary Robertg Gates proposed to end production ofthe C-17 this year afterd a remaining handful already ordered are The C-17 program employs 900 people at its Hazelwood facility, accordingt to Boeing.