Rep. Clemente offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 292.
A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress and the Department of Defense to select the Boeing NewGen Tanker aircraft for the United States Air Force.
Whereas, The Boeing Company has been building and maintaining refueling tankers for the United States Air Force for 60 years, and has more experience building tankers than any other company on earth. The Boeing NewGen Tanker will be designed to meet all Air Force requirements, incorporate innovative 21st century refueling systems, and will combine a modern digital flight deck with state-of-the-art 787 aircraft features; and
Whereas, The Boeing-built tankers are safe and survivable in combat, where it counts the most. During the previous tanker competition, the Air Force concluded the Boeing tanker was significantly more survivable than the rival tanker, and that Boeing's pilot-oriented flight controls provide full combat maneuverability in all situations. The NewGen Tanker boasts a superior airframe backed by the expertise of the Boeing workforce, which is second to none; and
Whereas, Awarding the NewGen Tanker contract to Boeing would create or retain approximately 50,000 skilled jobs in the United States' high-technology aviation industry. Michigan, which already hosts a Boeing presence worth $551 million in supplier and vendor purchases, would see an estimated boost of $25 million in economic activity annually and an additional 450 jobs in 1st Tier supplier companies; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress and the Department of Defense to select the Boeing NewGen Tanker aircraft for the United States Air Force; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Secretary of Defense.