Fighting for the Tanker

I want to see the label “Made in America” again. The first thing we can do to “make it in America” is ensure the Air Force refueling tanker is built by the best aerospace workers in the world right here in the northwest.

I believe that Boeing will build the best tanker for our men and women in uniform.  It will also ensure thousands of manufacturing jobs for our communities – from Everett to Bellingham.

Boeing is competing for the tanker contract with Airbus. In June, the World Trade Organization ruled that Airbus has received billions of dollars in illegal government subsidies, allowing them to undercut Boeing on price and gain market share in the commercial aerospace sector.

This was a big win for trade enforcement, a big win for American aerospace jobs, and a big win for Northwest Washington.

We need to make sure that Airbus can’t use these illegal subsidies to undercut Boeing in the tanker competition.  I cosponsored an amendment to the defense bill that will require the Department of Defense to take into account the illegal subsidies Airbus has received.

This is a top-priority for me and I will continue to fight on this issue.

Boeing’s Impact on 2nd Congressional District Jobs

Direct Employment Impact:

• Boeing employs 14,001 workers in the 2nd CD
• 5,821 Boeing retirees live in the 2nd CD

Boeing Support for Independent Suppliers:

• 192 Suppliers in the 2nd CD provide parts and services to Boeing
• These suppliers received $307,807,049 in business from Boeing in the last fiscal year

Effect of Tanker Contract:

• An estimated 9,300 people in the 2nd CD employed by Boeing and its suppliers would work on the tanker contract  
• The total economic impact of the tanker contract on the 2nd CD is estimated at $540 million per year