U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, greets employees while on a tour of 767 Final Assembly at the Boeing [NYSE: BA] factory in Everett, Wash., as part of a fact-finding mission related to replacing the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet.

Murtha, who was invited to Washington state by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), also met with employees and toured the 737 and P-8A Poseidon aircraft facilities in Renton, Wash. He concluded his five-hour visit with a press conference with Seattle media at which he said, "I was so impressed by the workmanship and dedication of this Boeing work force, and their expertise in integrating systems like the P-8."