Debbie Halvorson, the Democratic candiate in the Illinois 11th Congressional District and Senate Majority Leader voiced her strong support for working families at IAM Local 124 in Channahon, IL yesterday calling on the federal government to rebid the recent Air Force tanker contract to favor Chicago-based Boeing.
IL Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (center) pictured with IAM members
from Joliet, Bloomington and the Chicago, IL metro area
"The Bush administration should reopen this contract now," said Halvorson. "Taxpayers, the labor community, veterans and national security observers are all rightfully concerned about the prospect of shifting billions in taxpayer dollars, thousands of American jobs and or sensitive military technoligies to a company owned, in part by several foreign governments."
In his introduction of Senator Halvorson, IAM Midwest Territory Administriative Assistant Roger N. Nauyalis expressed the Machinists Union's strong support for the Boeing KC-767 as the refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force saying, "If Boeing is awarded the $35 billion contract, that would create 44,000 new jobs at more than 300 U.S. suppliers. These are 44,000 taxpayers who will be able to give back to their local communities."
Nauyalis continued saying, "Thousands of these new jobs will be Machinists Union jobs. We've been asking for help from every legislator, every Senator and anybody running for office. We expect their support."
"We shouldn't be willing to send American jobs overseas, " Halvorson said. "I'm here today because as a state senator, and as a congresswoman, I will stand will Illinois labor and business."
"I will fight for them, and will make certain that someone is looking out for our workers and companies here in Illinois."
