U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) placed a legislative “hold” today on a bill requiring the Air Force to award its next generation tanker contract to Boeing, greatly reducing the legislation’s chance at passage.

The bill, introduced yesterday by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), would require the Air Force to award the contract to Boeing or rebid the contract under terms more favorable to the Boeing proposal. The legislation would effectively overturn the Air Force’s previous selection of Northrop Grumman/EADS to build the tanker, according to a release from Sessions' office.

Senate rules empower individual members to slow the progress of legislation in the Senate. Sessions said he was holding the bill to give the Air Force time to respond and develop a way forward that served the best interest of the military.