STRATFORD – Questioning why the U.S. Navy chose to outsource 36 percent of the work on the next generation of Marine One helicopters to a European consortium with a questionable safety record, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today requested Navy Secretary Gordon England meet with the Connecticut congressional delegation. DeLauro cited the legal requirements, technical aspects, and security requirements of the bid – all of which Sikorsky met.

“Secretary Young’s comments on Friday appeared to suggest that the technical aspects of the competition, including the efficiency, speed and safety records of the aircraft, especially the questionable safety record of the European bid, were not as important as the speed at which a helicopter could be produced,” wrote DeLauro. “If true, this acquisition strategy is short-sighted and deeply flawed.”

On behalf of the delegation, DeLauro requested Secretary England meet this week to discuss the reasons for the Navy’s selection.

Sikorsky has manufactured the Marine One in Stratford, Connecticut for the last half-century. Every president since President Eisenhower has flown in an American-made Sikorsky. The VH-92, a premier, state-of-the-art helicopter, won the 2002 Collier Award for greatest achievement in aerospace because it is safer, can carry more and operate more efficiently. In contrast, Canada and the United Kingdom grounded their fleets of EH-101s this summer after one British helicopter crashed and cracks in the tail rotor were discovered in several others.

“In awarding this contract not to Sikorsky but Lockheed Martin—a company that has never been in the business of making helicopters—the Administration has shown that it has no faith in American business or American workers,” said DeLauro. “By outsourcing American jobs, American tax dollars and American technology, this decision has far-reaching implications.”

The Marine One Made in America Act, to be introduced tomorrow by DeLauro, will require the Secretary of the Navy to procure helicopters under the VH-3D presidential helicopter fleet replacement program that are wholly manufactured in the United States. Additionally, the legislation will require the Secretary of the Navy to terminate any contract entered into after December 31, 2004 that does not meet this requirement.

“With a competition that is critical to U.S. defense acquisition policy, ‘Made in America’ should still mean something,” concluded DeLauro.

The full text of the letter follows.

January 31, 2005

The Honorable Gordon R. England

Secretary of the Navy

1000 Navy Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20350-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I write with surprise and disappointment that the Navy has selected a European consortium, led by the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica, to construct the next generation of “Marine One” helicopters, and we request a meeting this week to discuss the reasons for the Navy’s selection. As we have previously said, we believe Sikorsky’s all-American bid was far superior; however, we believe that this outcome has serious consequences for U.S. defense acquisition policy.

I understand that both bids for the Navy’s VH-3D Presidential helicopter replacement program met the requirements set forth by the Navy, and each bid met all applicable legal requirements. The reason stated by Assistant Secretary Young for giving the contract to Finmeccanica was that it was more likely to meet production schedule at a lower cost, but this analysis runs counter to the analysis of the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation, who, in his non-concurrence with the VXX acquisition strategy, stated that the testing schedule is “not executable” and violates the “fly before buy” concept.

Secretary Young’s comments on Friday appeared to suggest that the technical aspects of the competition, including the efficiency, speed and safety records of the aircraft, especially the questionable safety record of the European bid, were not as important as the speed at which a helicopter could be produced. If true, this acquisition strategy is short-sighted and deeply flawed.

Finally, the Navy’s contract award announcement states that thirty-six percent of the work on this contract will be performed overseas. This surprisingly large amount of work done abroad creates serious doubts about the security of such an important project. As you know, individuals working on the Marine One program must meet so-called “Yankee White” security requirements. It is my understanding that “Yankee White” clearance cannot be given to an individual unless they have unquestionable loyalty to the United States and can demonstrate a complete absence of any foreign influence over the individual or the individual’s family. It is difficult to see how workers in England and Italy will satisfy these requirements.

This issue is of great importance to my colleagues in the Connecticut delegation. Therefore, I request a meeting with you this week, at which you should expect all members of the Connecticut congressional delegation. Thank you for your immediate attention to this request.