Todd Tiahrt: “I am outraged tonight that we are outsourcing our national security. Today, in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on…”

“I am outraged tonight that we are outsourcing our national security. Today, in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, we heard testimony that the Department of Defense has modified the Buy American Act with a memorandum of understanding that exempts our allies in Europe from the same requirements we demand of U.S. manufacturers. The results are that in the last three major contracts, we've lost them all to European manufacturers. Marine One, the replacement of the President's helicopter, went to a foreign manufacturer. The Light Utility Helicopter went to a foreign manufacturer. Last Friday, the Air Force announced that we are going to send the air refueling tanker to a foreign manufacturer. Today, in testimony on the other side of the Capitol, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said in a subcommittee that, according to the news, the European-made A330 airframe selected for the new refueling airplane could be used to replace a fleet of air control surveillance and other special mission aircraft. That would mean 200 more aircraft and 40,000 more jobs going to Europe overseas. Mr. Speaker, we've got to stop this today. Rebid the tanker contract because we need American tankers made by American companies with American workers.”