Tanker Update

On Wednesday, the Department of Defense acknowledged mistakes in the procurement process that selected EADS over the Boeing Company to build the nation’s new aerial refueling tanker and announced that the Department of Defense will re-compete the contract in an expedited process.

Rebidding the tanker competition in an expedited manner is right thing to do for our men and women in uniform who need new mid-sized tankers to replace the out-dated ones currently in use.

At first I was cautiously optimistic about the tanker rebid process. But after asking tough questions to Department of Defense officials in the House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing on Thursday, I now have growing concerns that the DoD is favoring a change of the ground rules to the benefit of a French aircraft. The House Armed Services Committee hearing raised more questions and concerns about how the Pentagon is going to ensure a level playing field for American workers to build our next tanker fleet.

It has become obvious the Pentagon's definition of a fair competition is to be bias toward a French aircraft.

In addition, DoD officials are still refusing to hold Boeing’s competitor to the same requirements as every American company, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Cost Accounting Standards. As I have been saying repeatedly, this presents a huge disadvantage for American workers and American manufacturers.

The new RFP should be ready in August, and I am eager to scrutinize it. I hope the Department will heed my concerns and produce an unbiased and fair opportunity for American workers. We must have an acquisition process that ensures a level playing field for American workers.

$2 million for the Wichita Equus Beds Project

I am very pleased the House Appropriations Committee included $2 million for the Wichita Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project (ASR) through the FY2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. This committee passed bill is now ready for consideration on the House floor.

The ASR Project will store up to 65 billion gallons of water in the dewatered portion of the aquifer and will be a critical component of the City’s Water Supply Plan. The ASR will restore the water levels of the aquifer to help meet the water supply needs of the City through 2050 as well help protect the existing water supply from salt-water contamination.

Ensuring our communities and businesses have a clean, reliable source of water for decades to come is the goal of the Equus Beds project. This $2 million will help reduce the cost to local taxpayers for completion of this critical project. I am glad I was able to help secure federal funding for such an important water project for our state. Kansas families will benefit from this water project for generations.


Energy Update

Again this week Democrats refuse to address any sort of long term solutions to bring down increasing energy and gas prices. In fact, one Democrat aide told The Hill, a Washington D.C. newspaper, "Right now, our strategy on gas prices is ‘Drive small cars and wait for the wind.’"

It’s time for Democratic Leaders to stop wasting time and face the facts. Rasmussen Reports released a new poll showing that 67 percent of Americans support oil and gas exploration in deep ocean energy zones and expect it will lower prices.

Not only is Democrat Leadership ignoring any and all energy solutions—they have also decided to halt all Appropriations Committee markups this year out of fear of facing any votes to lower gas prices by increasing energy supplies. Instead of running from the process, Democrats should just allow an up or down vote.

No answer is not a solution.

With soaring gas prices averaging above $4 a gallon, our economy needs short-term relieve and long-term diversified "all of the above" energy solutions. We can accomplish this goal by conserving energy, investing in alternative and renewable sources of energy, increasing refining capacity here in America, and allowing more of our natural resources to be used for our energy needs.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of any assistance to you or your family. You can send me a message online by clicking here or calling my Wichita office at 316.262.8992.