Press Releases
Federal Delegation to Boeing: Washington is the Best Place for the 777X
Washington, DC,
December 10, 2013
Tags:
Jobs & the Economy
Citing “miles wide and miles deep” support for aerospace manufacturing, Washington’s federal delegation today made their case in a letter to The Boeing Company to base 777X production in Washington state. The state’s delegation of two senators and 10 representatives told Boeing that when it comes to aerospace, “no state’s federal delegation can compare to our enthusiasm and commitment.” “Our state’s history of aviation excellence, our experienced workforce, our delegation’s track record of supporting the aerospace industry in the state, and our leaders’ unwavering commitment to supporting growth in aviation make Washington the right place to bring the production of the 777X and its composite wing,” the members wrote. The letter is signed by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, WA-05, Suzan DelBene, WA-01, Jaime Herrera Beutler, WA-03, Doc Hastings, WA-04, Derek Kilmer, WA-06, Jim McDermott, WA-07, Dave Reichert, WA-08, Adam Smith, WA-09, and Denny Heck, WA-10. The text of the letter follows. A PDF copy of the letter is available here. December 10, 2013 Jim McNerney, Jr. Ray Conner Dear Mr. McNerney and Mr. Conner: As The Boeing Company considers where to base production of the 777X, we want you to know that our delegation supports state and local leaders who are working to keep and bring production to Washington state. Washington is the aerospace capital of the world, and our delegation is committed to ensuring that the aerospace industry can continue to grow in Washington state. For the last century, Boeing and Washington state have been true partners. Thanks to this successful partnership, the women and men at Boeing and its suppliers in Washington state make the best airplanes in the world. While we recognize that the Boeing Company faces an increasingly competitive environment and must undertake a thorough process to determine where to place production, we are confident that a full analysis of options will show that Washington state stands apart from the competition. Regarding aerospace, no state’s federal delegation can compare to our enthusiasm and commitment. The Washington delegation voted unanimously to extend authority for the Export-Import Bank. We fought hard to make the KC-46A refueling tanker a reality. We are focused on opening new markets through trade, on investing in our skilled workforce, on building and maintaining a strong transportation infrastructure, and on prioritizing defense dollars on American products. We are the aerospace industry’s strongest allies and loudest advocates in Congress. That is why we have been focused on promoting policies that serve the aerospace industry and its workers. Our delegation leads when it matters most. We:
We are tackling the major policy challenges facing the aerospace industry in the decades to come. We are focused on:
Our state’s history of aviation excellence, our experienced workforce, our delegation’s track record of supporting the aerospace industry in the state, and our leaders’ unwavering commitment to supporting growth in aviation make Washington the right place to bring the production of the 777X and its composite wing. We are committed to continue investing in the foundation of long-term economic growth that creates jobs and opportunity in the Pacific Northwest. We accomplish this by supporting local initiatives with particular emphasis on innovation, transportation, trade, exports and manufacturing. We will continue to look for ways to expand higher education, job skills and training opportunities. Working in concert with local governments and regional economic development organizations, we identify long-range growth opportunities and provide support where appropriate. As our delegation’s support illustrates, support for aerospace manufacturing in Washington is not just statewide, it is miles wide and miles deep. Aerospace manufacturing creates jobs in every corner of the state. With senior positions on key Congressional committees, including Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Financial Services, Appropriations, Budget, Ways and Means, Veteran’s Affairs, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, Commerce and Science, Space and Technology, we are uniquely positioned to work with key stakeholders to further the aerospace industry in Washington state. We look forward to working with you and our state’s leaders to bring the 777X to Washington. Sincerely,
|