Washington, DC – Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), ranking member of the O&I subcommittee of the House Armed Services committee, released the following statement regarding today’s announcement of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ decision to re-compete the KC-X tanker program:

"I am encouraged by the announcement that the KC-X contract will be re-competed in light of the GAO report on significant irregularities in the Air Force’s acquisition process.

"I continue to believe that the KC-767 is the better option for our warfighters and for taxpayers—it is more survivable and has lower lifecycle costs. This is also an opportunity for the Department to rebuild confidence in the fairness, objectivity and effectiveness of its procurement process.

"I also think that, barring any significant performance or cost issues, the plane should be built by an American contractor to help preserve or domestic defense industry base. To ignore the cost to our national security of outsourcing major defense contracts would be irresponsible and costly."