Reps. DeLauro and Wolf: No Chinese Built Marine One

Washington, DC –Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Frank Wolf (VA-10) introduced a bipartisan resolution today calling for the House of Representatives to prohibit the Presidential helicopter from being built by a Chinese state-controlled company.

The China Aviation Industry Corporation is considering a bid for the contract to replace the Marine One helicopter fleet that carries the President of the United States. This bipartisan resolution expresses the House of Representatives' sense that the new Presidential helicopter (VXX) fleet should be built using products manufactured in America; and that the Defense Department should prohibit any bid involving any entity controlled, directed or influenced by the Government of China for the presidential helicopter or any other defense system acquisition and that Congress will refuse to fund such a contract.

"I believe that the President of the United States should fly in a helicopter made in America and built by Americans. As importantly, a state-run Chinese company should not be able to bid on this or any other defense system contract as such a contract award would not only greatly jeopardize our national security interests, but also lead to the outsourcing of critical technology and high-skilled jobs," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "The economic and security implications are too great, and it is critical that Congress send an unequivocal message that the presidential helicopter program must stay in America where it belongs."

"At a time when the Chinese government is aggressively spying on the U. S., stealing valuable technology from our firms and strategically seeking to erode our manufacturing base, we must do everything we can to protect our national security interests from Chinese influence," said Congressman Wolf.