U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined a bipartisan and bicameral delegation from Washington state and Kansas -- led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray -- to call on Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ensure that the Air Force briefs Boeing this week on the justification for their tanker contract decision. On Friday, the Air Force announced plans to award the $40 billion contract for the next generation of tankers to the European company Airbus. The Air Force has said that they don’t plan to brief Boeing until March 12th.
The full text of the letter follows:
March 3, 2008
The Honorable Robert M. Gates Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000
The Honorable Michael W. Wynne Secretary of the Air Force 1670 Air Force Pentagon Washington, DC 20330-1670
Dear Secretary Gates and Secretary Wynne:
We write today to request your assistance in having the Air Force debrief the Boeing Company by the end of this week on their tanker decision. It is our understanding that Members of Congress and the public will not be able to access the details of the Air Force’s decision until the bidders have been debriefed. While we appreciate the attention and resources the Air Force has recently invested in the critical issue of the tanker decision, this report needs to be debriefed so the bidders, and in turn Congress and the public, can fully understand the rationale for the decision.
The Air Force made their decision, now it must start the debriefing process. If the Air Force was prepared to make the decision, then they should be able to begin the debriefing process immediately. Our understanding was that the Air Force initially planned to debrief bidders within four days of the decision; now the Air Force says it intends to wait until March 12th - nearly two weeks after the Air Force’s announcement.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and again request that the Air Force debrief Boeing by the end of the week.
Sincerely,
Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Representatives Norm Dicks (D-WA 6th), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS 4th), Adam Smith (D-WA 9th), Rick Larsen (D-WA 2nd), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA 5th)
