Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Neil Abercrombie issued this statement, following the Pentagon’s announcement today to reopen bidding for a contract to build the KC-X Air Force refueling tanker:

"Secretary Young (Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics John Young) is following through on the commitment he made to my subcommittee last month to move forward promptly with a request for proposals for a new Air Force tanker that addresses the concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office. 

"It’s been a long and bumpy road, marked by delays, increasing costs and controversy. Everyone concerned needs to remember that this is not just a competition for a contract.  It’s a matter of providing our military pilots and aircrews with the equipment they need to do their jobs.  Their lives and our national security depend on it."

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