@sandiego:
The unfunded priorities list is formulated by the services. The representatives in this case are urging that the request be considered in the upcoming budget process. There is a lot of "crosstalk" between the services and Congress about what goes on the list, and whether or not it is likely to be supported by lawmakers. So it's natural that the representatives from Illinois (Boeing HQ) and Missouri (F/A-18 plant) would be all about the request, aimed at their constituencies back home. There is also pressure from OSD about what should and should not be on the list (and whether it should exist at all,) but the purpose of the exercise is to bypass DoD/OSD politics and speak directly to Congress.
What not should be lost in attempting to discredit the request is that it is the Navy's number one item - the highest priority - on the list.