Rick Larsen: fighting for the Air Force Tanker to be built in the Pacific Northwest

I am working tirelessly to ensure the next generation of Air Force Tankers are built by the best aerospace workers in the world, right here in the northwest. I believe Boeing will build the best tanker for our men and women in uniform, but it is in a tough fight because the other bidder, Airbus, has received billions of dollars in illegal government subsidies - something the Department of Defense has so far ignored.

  • After Airbus won the initial, flawed competition, I pressed Air Force officials to ensure that there would be a new tanker competition that was fair, open, and transparent - not just a sham competition to give Airbus the contract.

  • I successfully fought for legislation that would require the Department of Defense to study the impact of the World Trade Organization rulings on the Tanker competition. The study will force the Department of Defense to state publicly how much the illegal subsidies affect the Tanker competition, something that has been ignored so far.

  • I co-sponsored an amendment to the Defense bill that will require the Secretary of Defense to consider the impact of any “unfair competitive advantage” by a bidder in the tanker competition.

I strongly believe that Washington state aerospace workers are the best in the world, and they are ready to build the best Tanker for our men and women in uniform if they are allowed to compete on a level playing field. I will continue to fight for the jobs this contract will create in the 2nd District.

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Delivering for Northwest Washington

Rick Larsen is a local guy who is committed to working on local issues. For him there is no "other Washington" – only the one we live in.

Rick's working hard for our district to make a real difference in our community. Learn more about some of the projects that that's he's working on.

Meet Rick Larsen

Rick LarsenRick Larsen has represented Washington state's 2nd Congressional District since 2000. Rick was born and raised in Arlington and his family has called Northwest Washington home for over a century. Learn more.