Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Donald H. Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense

Dear Secretary Rumsfeld:

I am writing to urge you not to cancel the Defense Department's contract with Sodexho, Inc., the company now providing food services to the U.S. Marines.

As you may know, some members of the House of Representatives wish to terminate Sodexho's contract to feed U.S. Marines because it is the subsidiary of a company based in France. While I understand the desire to protest France's stance toward U.S. military action in Iraq, cancelling the contract won't just send a political message to the French, it could cost thousands of American jobs.

Over 8,600 people work for Sodexho in New York State alone. In Buffalo, for example, Sodexho employs 570 people at its local headquarters in Williamsville and 2,130 Western New Yorkers overall. In an area that is already experiencing economic difficulties, these employees constitute a substantial segment of the workforce. Our federal government often leads by example. I am concerned that once these local businesses learn that the Defense Department is cancelling its contract as an act of patriotism, other businesses may soon follow suit. There are better ways to send political messages to the French than to sacrifice American jobs.

I have received letters and calls from numerous constituents who work for Sodexho throughout New York State, all of whom are proud Americans who stand behind our men and women in uniform. They have been trying to provide a service to our soldiers by literally putting food on their plates. Their government should not return the favor by taking food off their tables. Sodexho also supports our military reservists and National Guard personnel called to active duty by making up their lost incomes during their deployment and providing them and their families with full benefits. It would be tragic if any of our reservists had to return home, only to learn that they were without a job because their government was caught up in a political food fight.

We should make it perfectly clear to the French government that their response to the United States is unacceptable, but we should not do so at the cost of American jobs. I am all for boycotting French imports and products or engaging in other means of peaceful disagreement, but when it comes to cutting jobs here in America, the only ones we are hurting are ourselves.

Thank you very much for your attention. If you have any questions on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator