WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) issued the following statement in the wake of today’s announcement by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reopen the bidding process for a $35 million tanker contract:

“I am so pleased the Pentagon has decided to heed the decision of the Government Accountability Office and reopen bidding for the tanker contract. This is the right thing to do. I have said from the beginning that it just makes no sense for America to outsource our ability to defend our nation. With every contract we send overseas, we lose our capacity to build for our own military. This concern of outsourcing our national security remains at the forefront. It is important to get this right – for the protection of our country and America’s economy.”

The GAO last month released its decision to sustain an appeal by Boeing over the tanker contract awarded to EADS, the European Aerospace conglomerate and Northrop Grumman. In its report, the GAO said the Air Force had made a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

Secretary Gates announced today the contract to build the new tanker fleet would be re-let, with a winner expected to be announced by the end of 2008.