Air Force Tanker, New Website, and More
Op-Ed
Air Force Tanker, New Website, and More
In this issue of Norm's Newsletter:
- The Air Force Tanker Contract Award - A Flawed Decision
- Latest News on the Interior and Environment
- Military Academy Nominations 2008
- Norm Launches a Brand New Website
- House Votes: Again Rejecting Administration's Expanded Wiretap Authority
Air Force Tanker Contract Award - A Flawed Decision
On February 29th, the Air Force announced it was awarding a $35 billion air refueling tanker contract to the European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) Companythe parent company of France's Airbus--and Northrop Grumman rather than Boeing. This announcement came as a shock to many, including Norm who called the decision "regrettable," as Airbus "has consistently used unfair European government subsidies to take away jobs from American aircraft workers."
Norm has been working on replacing the Air Force's aging air refueling tankers since March 2001, and while he still hopes to achieve a timely and efficient replacement, this latest announcement has raised a number of concerns on Capitol Hill, including why Boeing wasn't given the chance to put forth a large tanker, why the Air Force stated it was looking for a mid-size tanker but ultimately decided on the much larger KC-30. The costs of acquiring, fueling, and maintaining a force of KC-30 aircrafts that are 53 percent larger and much less fuel efficient also raises concerns in regards to the overall cost of the contract to taxpayers as well as the economic impact of outsourcing a contract that would support 44,000 jobs in the U.S., including 9,000 in Washington State.
Norm has been spearheading the efforts in Congress to investigate the manner in which the contract was awarded by the Air Force, to ensure that the bidding process was fair and in the best interests of the American people. "This was a seriously flawed decision and I believe it is entirely appropriate for GAO and Congress to make a final determination regarding the best option for replacing the critical capability that aerial refueling tankers provide for the Air Force," he said. Boeing has officially filed a protest to this decision with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which will have 100 days to investigate the matter. If the GAO finds any merit to Boeing's complaints, the Air Force may reconsider its decision and hold a new competition. You can be assured that Norm will continue to take the lead on this issue as more information from the GAO's investigation becomes clear.
More Tanker News:
- Norm appeared on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight on March 13th to discuss the latest developments with the tanker contract. Watch the video...
- Norm's comments in regards to Boeing's official protest of the "Air Force's flawed and unsupportable decision." Read more
- On March 7th, Norm appeared on the PBS program NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. You can watch the video from NewsHour's website or listen to the audio file
- Norm spoke out about the Air Force's decision on NPR's On Point with Tom Ashbrook on March 4th. Listen to the interview
- Read the press release issued by Norm on the day of the announcement (February 29th).
Latest News on the Interior and Environment
Last month, Norm was honored to be the recipient of the Ansel Adams Conservation Award from The Wilderness Society for his leadership in Congress to increase environmental conservation efforts. Norm has championed initiatives on water quality, climate change, and preservation of natural resources for over 30 years. Read more
More Interior and Environment News:
- Norm is prepared to block any effort by the current Administration to lift the ban on carrying loaded weapons in national parks. Read more
- Norm led an effort to appropriate $8.37 million in Congress for National Forests in Washington and Oregon to repair the damage caused by last winter's severe storms. Read more
- The President has once again put forward a disappointing budget request for Fiscal Year 2009, which ignores our moral and treaty obligations to Native Americans, devastates the management of our National Forests and dramatically reduces funding for critical environmental and conservation priorities. Read more
Rep. Dicks Announces 2008 Military Academy Nominations
Norm has nominated 19 students from area high schools to United States military academies for the upcoming academic year. The students nominated this year are from high schools in Bremerton, University Place, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Sequim, Shelton, Elma, Olalla and Allyn. Norm recommends exceptional students from the 6th Congressional District for admission to the four service academies each year based upon academic performance, personal motivation and their determination to pursue a military career. Norm said "the military academies are critically important for developing next generation of military leaders who are highly-educated and capable of adapting our forces to the emerging threats of the 21st century."
The nominees for the classes entering the academies in the summer of 2008 are as follows (note that some students are nominated for more than one academy, and that hometown of record is listed):
NOMINEES TO THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY (WEST POINT)
- Jessica Bickford of Tacoma, Phoebe Haglin of Sequim, Brandon Isaacson of Shelton, Scott Lorette of Olalla, Moira McCormack of Tacoma, Luke Pittman of Shelton, Christine Sloan of University Place, Kristia Suriben of Bremerton.
NOMINEES TO THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
- Travis Alatalo of Allyn, Sarah Brown of Port Orchard, Rachel Cabacungan of Port Orchard, Patrick Dillow of University Place, Phoebe Haglin of Sequim, Whitney Macaulay of Sequim, John Matthews of University Place, Kristia Suriben of Bremerton, Roger Willis of Tacoma.
NOMINEES TO THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY
- Jessica Bickford of Tacoma, Sarah Brown of Port Orchard, Bryndon Ecklund of Elma, Cory Havrilak of Ocean Shores, Scott Lorette of Olalla, Luke Pittman of Shelton, Kristia Suriben of Bremerton, Taylor Youtsler of Gig Harbor, David Zhang of University Place.
NOMINEES TO THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
- Patrick Dillow of University Place, Whitney Macaulay of Sequim, Kristia Suriben of Bremerton.
Norm Launches a Brand New Website
This month, Norm launched an entirely redesigned and expanded website in order to better serve his district. You are sure to notice a number of improvements featured in the new site--most notably in the breadth of information and services available to his constituents online, at any time of day. We hope that you find his new website to be informative and timely. Some of the most notable features of the new site include detailed information on the services Norm can provide his constituents, such as help with Federal agencies, tour reservations in Washington DC, and flag requests. There is also a thorough legislative section which includes Norm's voting record, his sponsored and cosponsored legislation, and his stance on the issues.
Be sure to visit the new site to see all the improvements, and feel free to send Norm an email if you have any feedback.
House Again Rejects Administration's Expanded Wiretap Authority
On March 14th the House voted again to approve legislation that improves the nation's ability to conduct electronic surveillance against suspected foreign terrorists while preserving the requirement that the government obtain an individualized court order, based on probable cause, when targeting Americans at home or abroad. The bill that was approved by a vote of 213-to-197 strongly improves oversight of the Administration's surveillance activities. It does not, however, provide the retroactive immunity for telecom companies that the President requested, but rather it allows the courts to determine whether lawsuits should proceed. Having served as the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Norm believes the House-approved legislation strikes the right balance between the legitimate requirements of our fight against international terrorism while protecting the rights of American citizens.
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