Costello and Shimkus are particularly concerned about the loss of American jobs and the additional costs associated with choosing a plane that, because of its size, will require hundreds of millions of dollars in Air Force base upgrades to accommodate it:
“We do not support this contract being awarded to EADS and believe the Department of Defense must thoroughly explain how this contract award to EADS will meet the long term requirements of our military and not adversely affect American jobs.”
“There are national security and economic implications in this decision, and the questions we raise need to be answered,” said Costello, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Our aerospace industry is a driver of our economy and we need to be sure that we are getting the best total value for the American taxpayer.”
“After getting a thorough briefing from the Air Force, Boeing even took the unusual step of filing a protest, which brought several issues into question about the decision,” stated Shimkus. “The aerospace industry has always been one of our country’s exporting strengths; the government should not take actions to thwart that success.”
Copy of letter to Secretary Gates