A resolution of protest signed by the Mayor and all six Council members will be shared with the delegation this week as the Council visits Washington, D.C., for the annual Congressional City Conference of the National League of Cities Sunday through Tuesday. (Text of the resolution is pasted below)

The Mayor and Council will host a lunch meeting Monday for Congressional staff members from the offices of Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback and Rep. Todd Tiahrt. Dinners at 6:30 p.m. are also scheduled with Rep. Tiahrt on Monday and Sen. Roberts on Tuesday. Sen. Brownback will receive the local officials during a 4 PM meeting in his office on Tuesday.

Along with the protest resolution, the Mayor and Council will also present the Congressional delegation and its staff with the official federal legislation agenda endorsed by the Council last week. The agenda includes requests for earmark funding support for various highway, drainage, public works and other local needs.

Resolution

A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF WICHITA PERTAINING TO THE AIR-REFUELING CONTRACT AWARD BY THE U.S. AIR FORCE OVER THE BOEING COMPANY TEAM

WHEREAS, an air-refueling tanker is essential to our nation’s global reach and power projection, and

WHEREAS, the KC-X Next Generation Air-refueling tanker competition will replace part of the existing KC-135 fleet, a critical military asset, and,

WHEREAS, on February 29, 2008, the Air Force awarded a $35 billion contract to the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team over The Boeing Company Team to build 179 air-refueling tankers, and,

WHEREAS, it is outrageous that the United States Air Force would outsource an essential military asset to Europe, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award is a result of an unfair competition and inequitable procurement system, and,

WHEREAS, an American tanker should be built by an American company with American workers, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal is based on the Airbus A-330 aircraft, a heavily-subsidized, European-manufactured aircraft, and,

WHEREAS, the Boeing proposal was at a competitive disadvantage due to the extensive European subsidies given to Airbus, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal supports European, not American, Aerospace workers, and,

WHEREAS, the Northrop Grumman - European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team proposal will hurt American workers by resulting in at least 19,000 fewer American jobs than the Boeing proposal, and,

WHEREAS, under the Boeing Team proposal, 3,800 jobs would be supported within the State of Kansas, including 300 to 500 jobs the Wichita KC-X Tanker finishing center, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award would force the United States to be dependent upon Europe for our national defense, and,

WHEREAS, the NG-EADS award is not in the national security interest of the United States, and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF WICHITA THAT;

1. The United States Air Force should reverse its decision to award the KC-X contract to the Northrop Grumman -European Aeronautic Defence and Space Team, and

2. The Department of Defense should create a level playing field to ensure air competition between domestic and foreign manufacturers.