Rep. Sak offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 419.

            A resolution to urge the United States Department of Defense and the United States Congress to support The Boeing Company's proposed refueling tanker aircraft in its bid for the KC-X tanker contest award.

            Whereas, The Boeing Company has been building and maintaining aerial refueling tankers for the United States Air Force for over 50 years and has more experience building tankers than any other company in the world; and

            Whereas, The Boeing tanker would continue the company's longstanding history of manufacturing in America by supporting thousands of skilled jobs nationwide. Many of these jobs are with Michigan-based suppliers in communities such as Boyne City, Grand Rapids, Hastings, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon; and

            Whereas, The Boeing Company already maintains 263 suppliers statewide that account for over $500 million worth of aerospace product purchases each year; and

            Whereas, The competitor for this contract, a partnership between Northrop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), would build their proposed tanker aircraft in France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, using $35 billion in American tax dollars; and

            Whereas, Awarding this contract to The Boeing Company would lead to production of quality, reliable, American aircraft that would best serve the military and economy; and

            Whereas, Relying on foreign suppliers for military equipment is unwise and not in the best national security interests of the country; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the United States Department of Defense and the United States Congress to support The Boeing Company's proposed refueling tanker aircraft in its bid for the KC-X tanker contest award; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.