Saving American Aerospace Jobs

Senator Murray details her plan to save American aerospace jobs in a speech (Text, Audio) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Photo by David Hawxhurst). At right is Kent Hughes, director of the Wilson Center’s project on America and the Global Economy.




“Murray's remarks are the latest in a campaign she has been leading to preserve U.S. aerospace jobs.” – Reuter’s News Service.




More on Aerospace

View Original Image

Defending American Aerospace - Meeting with the new US Trade Representative

This week, Senator Murray met with United States Trade Representative (USTR) nominee, Ambassador Susan Schwab, to discuss the ongoing trade dispute concerning large civil aircraft. Ambassador Schwab, who currently serves as the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, has played a key role in elevating the issue of Airbus’ market-distorting actions during her tenure at the USTR.




During the meeting, Senator Murray thanked Ambassador Schwab for her work at the WTO to end the European aircraft manufacturer’s illegal subsidies. Senator Murray also expressed concern about rumors indicating that Airbus will seek more launch aid for the redesign of the A350, which has been widely criticized by international aviation experts, and asked that that Ambassador Schwab closely monitor the situation.




"The marketplace has rejected Airbus’ fleet. Now it looks like they will have to spend billions of European taxpayer money to recover from its arrogant investments. The United States can not sit idly by and allow the Europe to continue its subsidized slaughter of the American aerospace industry."

View Original Image

Boeing Tankers Will Help Defense & Economy

At a press conference in her Senate office, Senator Murray discusses her successful agreement which will allow the Air Force to lease 100 new Boeing 767 air refueling tankers.



America's current tanker fleet is old and outdated. With an average age of 41 years old, one-third of the fleet is unfit to fly at any given time due to mechanical failure. Each plane requires a full year of maintenance for every four years spent on duty. The agreement ensures the men and women of our military will have safe, modern equipment as they protect our country.

View Original Image

Standing Up for American Aerospace Workers

Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell joined (from left to right) Steve Leahy, Executive Director of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Mark Blondin, President of IAM 751 and Charles Bofferding, President of SPEEA to highlight the need to protect American aerospace jobs in contrast with the Paris Air Show.




"Well, it’s about 7 o’clock in the evening in Paris, but it’s a brand new day for aerospace workers here in Washington state. It’s a new day, because we are all here to stand together in support of American aerospace jobs and the best, most skilled aerospace workforce in the world – 55,000 of whom call Washington state home."




And today is a new day because of the bold action the Bush Administration and the USTR have taken in defense of our aerospace jobs by moving forward with a trade case against the EU at the World Trade Organization. We entered negotiations to avoid this move nearly six months ago – unfortunately the EU mocked our good faith efforts by moving ahead with new launch aid for the A350. I called on the Administration and Ambassadors Zoellick and Portman to move ahead with a trade case. And they have done just that. This is the right thing to do to protect American jobs and our aerospace industry well into the future."




More

View Original Image

Improving Airline Safety

Senator Murray and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey announce a new contract with the Boeing Company to create a next-generation air traffic security system.

Murray secured $25 million in last year's supplemental appropriations bill to begin developing a space-based communication, navigation and surveillance system. (07/18/02)

View Original Image

Murray Urges "No More Subsidies" for Airbus

With Airbus hemorrhaging money and looking for handouts, Senator Murray today called for the United States to send a clear message to European governments that America will not tolerate another round of job-killing subsidies to Airbus.




"If we want to lead the world in commercial aerospace, our message to Europe must be strong and clear: No more illegal subsidies to prop up Airbus. Airbus must compete in the marketplace just like everyone else," Murray said. "Every time European governments underwrite Airbus with subsidies, American workers get pink slips."




More

View Original Image

Airport Leaders Listen to Senator Murray's Address at the Annual Conference of the American Association of Airport Executives

Murray speaks at the 77th annual conference of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). The audience of more than 2,000 included airport managers, security directors, and airport operations chiefs.




Pointing to projections that more people will use air travel in coming years, Murray said that if the federal government pulls back its support, the United States will not be able to meet the new demands for capacity and will forfeit the economic benefits that come from a resurgence in air travel.




More...




More on Aerospace

View Original Image

Murray Delivers Speech to American Association of Airport Executives

Senator Murray tells more than 2,000 airport leaders that the White House and Congress are poised to scale back federal support for airports, modern air traffic control equipment, and security infrastructure.




Murray warned that if these cuts are enacted, they will hinder American aviation, inconvenience passengers, hurt economic development, and raise potential safety concerns. Murray also warned that inadequate support could squander America's leadership of the global aviation.




More...




More on Aerospace

View Original Image

Spokane Airport Leaders Honor Murray for Work on Aviation<br> <br>More about <a href="http://murray.senate.gov/transportation">Transportation</a>

Today, Richard Atwood and John Morrison of the Spokane International Airport presented Senator Murray with the International Northwest Aviation Council’s Roll of Honor Award for distinguished service to aviation. The Council, established in 1936, is the oldest aviation organization in North America.

The unique award features two model planes, a Boeing 737 and the Spokane Sun-God. The Spokane Sun-God was the first airplane to make a non-stop transcontinental round-trip flight in 1929. (05/07/03)

View Original Image

Murray Joins Boeing Workers at Tanker Decision Protest Rally

Senator Murray was joined by Congressman Rick Larsen, Governor Christine Gregoire and leaders from the labor community, together with Boeing workers, their families, and concerned citizens to protest the Air Force's misguided decision to award a $40 billion tanker refueling contract to Airbus.  Over 500 workers crowded into the Machinists Hall in Everett.  Senator Murray led off the rally, detailing the many reasons why we should not be outsourcing our national security capabilities, particularly at a time when our country is trending towards recession.  

Murray's Remarks

View Original Image

Improving Airline Safety

Senator Murray and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey announce a new contract with the Boeing Company to create a next-generation air traffic security system.

Murray secured $25 million in last year's supplemental appropriations bill to begin developing a space-based communication, navigation and surveillance system.

John Hayhurst, President of Boeing Air Traffic Management, points to a chart demonstrating some of the new capabilities Boeing will develop. (07/18/02)

View Original Image

Senator Murray Joins Boeing Works to Hear the Air Force's Shocking Decision to Award Airbus with the Tanker Contract

Today I stood with the men and women of Boeing in Everett as the Air Force announced that it would be outsourcing a $40 billion contract to build aerial refueling tankers to the European company Airbus. Boeing workers were shocked, angry, and wanted answers – and so do I.

Awarding this critical military contract to Airbus, a company that is heavily subsidized by European governments, is a threat to our economic, military, and trade security. At a time when families are struggling and unemployment is rising at home, it is unacceptable that we are investing in European jobs instead of creating 44,000 new jobs here. At a time when we are engaged in two wars, we need to ask ourselves whether we should place war-fighting tools and technology in foreign hands. And as we continue to compete in a global market, we need to ask why we are giving $40 billion to a company that our government has brought a World Trade Organization (WTO) illegal subsidies case against.

Details



In the days, weeks, and months ahead I will work relentlessly to get answers and will explore every option available to me to right this wrong.

Sign the Petition to Denounce the Air Force's Decision

View Original Image

Raising the Profile of the Airbus Issue

This week, Senator Murray followed up on her recent aerospace speech by meeting with the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Bob Zoellick, (RIGHT) to discuss her ongoing concerns with trade in commercial aircraft and specifically her interest in challenging the many market distorting practices utilized by Airbus to gain market share at the expense of Boeing and its Washington state employees.




Senator Murray and Ambassador Zoellick have discussed this issue on several occasions and the two vowed to continue to stay in close contact. “Ambassador Zoellick was great. He understands the Airbus issues and he knows the competitive balance in aircraft trade no longer exists. He’s working hard to help me raise the profile of the Airbus issue,” Senator Murray said.




More on Aerospace

View Original Image

Improvements for Sea-Tac International Airport

Senator Murray cuts the ribbon at the dedication ceremony for the new Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Traffic Control Tower. Senator Murray secured more than $75 million for the airport improvements in her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee and as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. Murray's Remarks

View Original Image

Speaking at Machinists and Aerospace Workers Conference

Senator Murray delivers remarks on the Air Force refueling tanker competition and the need to begin a conversation on procurement decisions and the future of the American industrial base at today’s IAMAW Legislative Conference.

 

View Original Image