Washington, DC – Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), ranking member on the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee spearheaded an effort along with Representative Laura Richardson (D-CA) that gathered over 60 signatures for a letter to President Obama requesting that he reconsider the importance of the C-17 to national security.

The letter which is being sent today is as follows:

 

Dear President Obama:

 

We are writing to express our strong support for the C-17 Globemaster III airlift program and to state our disagreement with the opinion of Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the Department “complete production of the C-17 airlifter program this fiscal year.”

 

As you noted on your own website, the C-17 is the Air Force’s premier strategic transport aircraft and remains the military’s most reliable and capable airlift aircraft. It currently flies more than 80 percent of all U.S. airlift missions, while comprising only 60 percent of the airlift fleet.  The C-17 has proven capable of delivering more cargo, troops, and non-war humanitarian supplies than any other aircraft.  In 2005 alone, the C-17 was instrumental in humanitarian missions in response to the Pakistan earthquake, the tsunami in Thailand, and Gulf Coast relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.  Given its strategic capabilities, the C-17 is being used at 172 percent of its planned usage rate.

 

Discontinuing production of our nation’s premier tactical transport aircraft would be an enormous mistake and further strain our military’s future airlift capability.  Attempts to restart a closed production line of this magnitude at a time when we know more C-17s are necessary would be a grave fiscal mistake and contradicts strong bipartisan Congressional intent.

 

 In addition to compelling national security and humanitarian needs, C-17 production has a national economic impact estimated at $8.4 billion through its support of 30,000 jobs across 42 states nationwide.  With all our efforts to put America back to work through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, massive manufacturing layoffs that weaken our national security and economy are ill advised.

 

Your Administration has and continues to publicly support the C-17 as an aircraft “which provides the backbone of our ability to extend global power.”  In addition, your Administration has publicly stated its intention to “preserve our unparalleled airpower capabilities to deter and defeat any conventional competitors, swiftly respond to crises across the globe, and support our ground forces.”  This statement could not more accurately reflect the benefit of additional C-17’s.

 

We respectfully urge your support and consideration for the C-17 and we want to work with you to ensure that funding for this critical aircraft will go forward.  We have no doubt that it is in America’s national and economic security to do so.

           

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Rep. Laura Richardson

Rep. W. Todd Akin

To see a copy of this letter, please click here.

Democrats	Republicans
Rep. Danny Davis	Rep. Calvert
Rep. Napolitano	Rep. McKeon
Rep. Linda Sanchez	Rep. Rohrabacher
Rep.Michael McMahon	Rep. Shimkus
Rep. Jim Marshall	Rep. Bishop
Rep. Robert Brady	Rep. LoBiondo
Rep. Rick Boucher	Rep. Wilson
Rep. Martin Heinrich	Rep. John Carter
Rep. Eddie Johnson	Rep. Kenny Marchant
Rep. Norm Dicks	Rep. Reichert
Rep. Visclosky	Rep. Lamar Smith
Rep. Maurice Hincey	Rep. Don Young
Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay	Rep. Aaron Schock
Rep. Gene Taylor	Rep. Mary Bono Mack
Rep. Joe Courtney	Rep. Dan Burton
Rep. Cleaver	Rep. Roy Blunt
Rep. Gary Miller	Rep. Aderholt
Rep. Costello	Rep. Jo Ann Emerson
Rep. Gonzalez, Charlie	Rep. Fallin
Rep. Phil Hare	Rep. Joe Barton
Rep. Engel	Rep. McCaul
Rep. DeLauro	Rep. Sam Johnson
John Larson	Rep. Michael Conaway
Rep. Marcia Fudge	Rep. Kay Granger
	Rep. Luetkemeyer
	Rep. Ed Royce
	Rep. Jim Gerlach
	Rep. Dean Heller
	Rep. Tiahrt
	Rep. Souder
	Rep. McMorris-Rodgers
	Rep. Latta
	Rep. Judy Biggert
	Rep. Doc Hastings
	Rep. Peter King
	Rep. Henry Brown