[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H506-H507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AIR FORCE ONE--MADE IN FRANCE

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the name Air Force One really says it 
all, doesn't it? It's the number one plane--the most sophisticated and 
advanced piece of aviation technology, designed specifically for our 
Commander in Chief, the President of the United States. It's a national 
symbol.
  Since the inception of Air Force One, it has been made in, of all 
places, America. Now it seems that the Pentagon thinks it would be 
better for a foreign company to build the next flying White House--a 
French company at that. Well, excusez moi, but that just ought not to 
be.
  Mr. Speaker, if anything should be made in America, it ought to be 
the most important military aircraft we have. The Pentagon wants to let 
the French, the French-based Airbus, to have a crack it at it. But, au 
contraire, mon frere.
  I have filed the Air Force One Built in America Act to ensure that 
Air Force One is made in America by Americans. Outsourcing Air Force 
One is not an option. It's un-American. If the Pentagon has their way, 
au revoir, American jobs and national security. What's next? Are we 
going to replace the American apple pie with crepes?
  And that's just the way it is.

[[Page H507]]



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