Gov. Gregoire�s statement on EADS decision to not appeal tanker decision

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement after the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company announced it will not appeal the recent tanker contract awarded to The Boeing Company:

�The decision by EADS is more proof that Boeing submitted the best proposal to the U.S. Air Force, and provides the public with more assurance that Boeing will build the most cost-effective and safest refueling tanker that best serves our military and our taxpayers. There�s no doubt Boeing and its workforce build the best planes in the world. I congratulate the 11,000 Washington aerospace workers that will play a role in manufacturing the next tanker, and look forward to seeing the first tanker come off the line.�