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Ryan Urges Fair Treatment for American Tire Makers
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, questioned Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Tuesday during a budget hearing conducted by the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Ryan, whose 13th congressional district includes parts of Akron, urged Mabus and the Navy to abandon its "anti-competitive contracting measures," which penalizes U.S. domestic tire manufacturers such as Goodyear Tire in Akron.
Existing contracts with the U.S. Navy allow foreign tire manufacturers to act as program managers for the Navy tire contract, he noted. The result of this has been that Navy contractors such as Paris-based Michelin select their own tires 98% of the time, with many of those tires imported.
“Mr. Secretary this budget environment is extremely tight,” said Ryan during the testimony. “Let us save the taxpayer some money, conduct business in a uniform way across DOD, provide competitive pricing for aviation tires, inject fairness, and allow for investment in American manufacturing.”
Ryan told Mabus that any new contracts “should prohibit any tire manufacturer from acting as a prime contractor for the management of the contract.”
He cited a letter written to Mabus March 19 by Ryan and 19 other members of Congress asking the Navy to take action in the procurement of tires for Sailors and Marines. To view a PDF of letter click here.
SOURCE: Office of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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