As your constituent, I'm writing today to let you know that I support the competitive vetting process that the U.S. Air Force followed in awarding the contract for its next generation of aerial refueling tankers. This process is a vast improvement over the originally proposed tanker lease deal with Boeing, which was crafted by members of Congress behind closed doors without any competitive review or debate in order to subsidize Boeing's 767 production line.

The original tanker deal was nothing more than a corporate welfare giveaway to one well-heeled, politically influential company. Then-Senator Phil Gramm (R-Texas) called it the worst pork-barrel handout he had seen in his 22 years on Capitol Hill.

The Air Force ranked each bid on five criteria and Northrop Grumman won over Boeing on four out of the five and tied in one category.

The tanker will be built by American workers and outfitted with sensitive technology right here at home in Mobile, Alabama.