WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement regarding the Secretary of Defense’s decision to rebid the Tanker contract.

 

“There must now be a real bid not a rehash; a rebid that protects our national security, shields the American taxpayer from operating and infrastructure costs, and buys a tanker that can refuel the entire fleet. I welcome this decision to rebid the tanker contract. The GAO report made it impossible for Secretary Gates to make any other decision. The American people and the American warfighter cannot afford the same Defense procurement team to make the same mistakes.

 

“The Secretary of Defense and Congress must ensure that these significant issues aren’t ignored.  The American warfighter and taxpayer expect that the Air Force will get this done fast and do it right.

 

“Congress must play a strong oversight role and I have urged the Senate Armed Services Committee to quickly hold a closed hearing to make sure the Department of Defense and Congress are fully aware of the national security issues involved. If they do not address these concerns, it’s a non-starter and I will place a hold on the nominations of the Secretary of the Air Force and ask that this information be declassified for public debate.  This issue is too important to have another whitewashed contracting process.”

 

Over the next few weeks, Cantwell will continue pushing the Air Force to follow through with the rebid process, and has asked for a briefing by Secretary Gates both on the decision and on how the Department of Defense will handle related national security concerns.

 

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