Issue Position: Fighting for the Air Force Tanker to be Built in the Pacific Northwest

Issue Position

I am working tirelessly to ensure the next generation of Air Force Tankers are built by the best aerospace workers in the world, right here in the northwest. I believe Boeing will build the best tanker for our men and women in uniform, but it is in a tough fight because the other bidder, Airbus, has received billions of dollars in illegal government subsidies - something the Department of Defense has so far ignored.

After Airbus won the initial, flawed competition, I pressed Air Force officials to ensure that there would be a new tanker competition that was fair, open, and transparent - not just a sham competition to give Airbus the contract.

I successfully fought for legislation that would require the Department of Defense to study the impact of the World Trade Organization rulings on the Tanker competition. The study will force the Department of Defense to state publicly how much the illegal subsidies affect the Tanker competition, something that has been ignored so far.

I co-sponsored an amendment to the Defense bill that will require the Secretary of Defense to consider the impact of any "unfair competitive advantage" by a bidder in the tanker competition.

I strongly believe that Washington state aerospace workers are the best in the world, and they are ready to build the best Tanker for our men and women in uniform if they are allowed to compete on a level playing field. I will continue to fight for the jobs this contract will create in the 2nd District.

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