Merkley Statement on Decision to Reopen Tanker Deal

Boeing Contract Could Create 225 Oregon Jobs

House Speaker Jeff Merkley is praising the decision to reopen the bidding process for the $40 billion tanker contract that was awarded to European-owned Airbus in February, costing Oregon 225 jobs and $8 million.

Last month, following the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Boeing deal, Merkley immediately urged the U.S. Air Force to follow GAO recommendations and reopen the bidding process.

Today Merkley issued the following statement:

The Airbus contract was the wrong deal for our families, our workers, and our national security and I am pleased with the decision to reopen the bidding process.

American tax dollars should not be used to outsource American jobs. Furthermore, we need to invest in American manufacturers to support our military needs. America must make smart decisions that are in the best interest of our economy, our families, and our national security before we spend billions of taxpayer dollars.

We must also immediately strengthen the Buy American Act to ensure that this never happens again, and end the unfair trade agreements that have sent 70,000 Oregon jobs overseas.

In March Merkley began working with Senator Patty Murray of Washington to reverse the tanker deal and announced a plan to investigate the contract and strengthen the Buy American Act to prevent these types of mistakes in the future. [East Oregonian, 3/17/08]

Read more about the Buy American Act.

In 2003, Senator Gordon Smith cast the deciding vote for Senator John McCain's amendment to encourage outsourcing by weakening the Buy American Act and exempting the Department of Defense. The final vote in the U.S. Senate was 50-48. [Senate vote #191, 5/21/03]

Posted July 9, 2008
Press