Pete Sessions: “we heard a good bit recently and there has been some discussion in the Senate about the competition for the tanker…”

“we heard a good bit recently and there has been some discussion in the Senate about the competition for the tanker aircraft that was decided by the Air Force in favor of the Northrop Grumman team. The Government Accountability Office team of lawyers--not technicians--conducted a review of the procedures utilized in that selection process, in light of 111 objections filed by the losing Boeing team. They concluded that eight objections were merited against the procedural conduct of the competition by the Air Force. Now the ball is back in the lap of the Air Force to review those objections and to take appropriate steps to make sure this is a fair and just competition. I will just say that I was committed in the beginning and throughout this process that it should be a nonpolitical decision, a decision made by the U.S. Air Force based on the criteria set out in law, based on the fact that the Congress, after an attempt had been made to carry out a sole-source lease agreement for the Boeing aircraft--after that was rejected and after great embarrassment to the Air Force and Boeing, we ordered that a bid take place. I want my colleagues to understand the posture we are in. At the end of the bid process, the Air Force concluded this: While [the] KC-767 offers significant capabilities, the overall tanker/airlift mission is best supported by the KC-30. The Northrop team.…”