Press Releases

U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to introduce legislation that would force the Department of Defense to take into account the billions of dollars in illegal subsidies that Airbus has received from European governments.  

“We are fighting a battle for American workers and Boeing families,” said Rep. Inslee.  “Our amendment is, as it was when the House passed it earlier this year with 410 votes, about giving American workers the opportunity to compete on a level playing field to build the next generation of air refueling tanker.  The Air Force should understand that our tax dollars will not be used to undercut American workers and reward illegal behavior.“

“The Air Force should not reward the illegal actions of European governments,” said Rep. Larsen. “If European taxpayers get a $35 billion tanker contract because they gave Airbus $5 billion in illegal subsidies, that’s a 700% return on investment, and that’s not fair to American taxpayers or American workers.  This bill will give Boeing workers – the best aerospace workers in the world - a chance to compete for the tanker contract on a level playing field.”

The Defense Level Playing Field Act (HR 6540) is identical to an amendment that was adopted to the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act by a bipartisan vote of 410-8.  However, the Senate failed to act on their version of the defense bill earlier this year, and House and Senate leaders began negotiating a new defense bill that would be stripped of controversial provisions so it could pass the House and Senate quickly.  During these negotiations, certain Senators objected to the Inslee-Larsen provision on tankers and it was removed from the bill.

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