The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) on Wednesday easily batted down an amendment to the 2017 defense authorization bill that would require the Defense Department to separate the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s block 4 modernization effort from the overall program of record, effectively creating a new major acquisition program.HASC lawmakers voted 41-20 to oppose the amendment, offered by Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). The vote was split primarily down party lines, although eight Democrats voted against the measure.The Defense Department plans…
