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For Immediate Release:          Contact:
July 24, 2003                           Harald Stavenas (HASC)  202-225-2539
                                                Jonathan Felts (Hayes) 202-225-3715

Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today announced a deal between the Boeing Corporation and the Committee that will preserve the endangered American titanium industry - a critical component to U.S. national defense.

The deal commits Boeing to purchase the same amount of American titanium in the proposed Air Force tanker lease deal as would have been required under traditional defense procurement guidelines. 

"Without this agreement, domestic manufacturers would have potentially lost out to Russian manufacturers," said Congressman Hayes.  "This deal protects both our national security and economic security."

"The Hayes agreement is the first step in saving thousands of American jobs," said Congressman Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.  "The agreement to preserve this industry is vital to our national security.

"If the Hayes agreement had not occurred, the U.S. would become increasingly dependent on Russian titanium for our military systems," Hunter stated.  This agreement must still be approved by the House-Senate conference committee, which is currently meeting regarding H.R. 1588, the Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Authorization Act, and signed by President Bush.  "While Congressman Hayes' battle is not over yet, I am confident the House-Senate conferees and the Administration will join with us in maintaining this critical component to U.S. national security," concluded Hunter.

Congressman Hayes, a conferee to the defense bill, pledged to work to uphold the deal as it moves forward.  "This deal is critical to ensuring our domestic defense industrial base continues to be viable.  I fought to be named a conferee to this process and I am going to work as hard as I can to see this through to completion."

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