"I am pleased that Secretary Gates appears to be taking the GAO’s recommendations seriously, is reopening the bidding process, and is elevating the new tanker competition to a higher level at the Pentagon.
"However, I’ve been following this issue for a number of years and I’ve learned that you have to stay on top of it every step of the way. When it comes to the Air Force’s tanker procurement process, the devil is in the details.
"There are a number of specific details that I will be looking at as this new contract process moves forward. These include any requirements set forth by the Pentagon that make the new Request for Proposal biased in any way. I will also be watching closely to ensure the Defense Department produces a full accounting of the life cycle costs of each plane, including military construction and fuel costs.
"After getting this decision so wrong, Secretary Gates was right to put new personnel in charge. I will continue to push to ensure the Secretary runs a swift, transparent and credible contest that best serves our warfighters and taxpayers."
English 
Spanish