The decision addresses the concerns expressed by the Council in its protest resolution adopted last March. (see below)

We are extremely proud of U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt and Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback for their tenacious and unrelenting challenge of the contract award last March to Northrop Grumman Corp. and its European partner Airbus.

It also are thankful to others who joined in the protest, including the Sedgwick County Commission, the South-Central Kansas Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP), the League of Kansas Municipalities and both houses of the Kansas Legislature.

This great team effort, buoyed by thousands of emails and phone calls from average citizens, resulted in a remarkable victory on behalf of American taxpayers and our national defense interests.

By re-bidding the contract, the Department of Defense will have another opportunity to fulfill one of the country’s most pressing strategic needs in a fair and open fashion. We are confident the proposal by the Boeing Company Team will be recognized as the best value for American taxpayers and the best protection of our defense interests.

A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE
CITY OF WICHITA PERTAINING TO THE AIR-REFUELING CONTRACT AWARD BY THE U.S. AIR FORCE OVER THE BOEING COMPANY TEAM
MARCH 8, 2008

WHEREAS, an air-refueling tanker is essential to our nation’s global reach and power projection, and

WHEREAS, the KC-X Next Generation Air-refueling tanker competition will replace part of the existing KC-135 fleet, a critical military asset, and,

WHEREAS, on February 29, 2008, the Air Force awarded a $35 billion contract to the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team over The Boeing Company Team to build 179 air-refueling tankers, and,

WHEREAS, it is outrageous that the United States Air Force would outsource an essential military asset to Europe, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award is a result of an unfair competition and inequitable procurement system, and,

WHEREAS, an American tanker should be built by an American company with American workers, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal is based on the Airbus A-330 aircraft, a heavily-subsidized, European-manufactured aircraft, and,

WHEREAS, the Boeing proposal was at a competitive disadvantage due to the extensive European subsidies given to Airbus, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal supports European, not American, Aerospace workers, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal will hurt American workers by resulting in at least 19,000 fewer American jobs than the Boeing proposal, and,

WHEREAS, under the Boeing Team proposal, 3,800 jobs would be supported within the State of Kansas, including 300 to 500 jobs the Wichita KC-X Tanker finishing center, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award would force the United States to be dependent upon Europe for our national defense, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award is not in the national security interest of the United States, and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF WICHITA THAT;

1) The United States Air Force should reverse its decision to award the KC-X contract to the Northrop Grumman -European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team, and 

2) The Department of Defense should create a level playing field to ensure air competition between domestic and foreign manufacturers.

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