(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Senator Patty Murray has asked the Department of Commerce to review recent assertions by Airbus – a European consortium headquartered in France – that it is a significant contributor to the United States economy.
“Our aerospace industry has been hard hit by a downturn in commercial aircraft manufacturing, a global recession and, of course, the terrible terrorist attacks on our country,” Murray said. “At the same time, Airbus has launched a flashy campaign to sell itself as a success story for our aerospace workers and industry. It is my view that a closer examination of Airbus will show that the subsidized company is doing long term harm to the U.S. aerospace industry.”
More than 800,000 workers are employed in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. aerospace industry. Washington state has a long aerospace history and currently ranks third in the nation in aerospace workers and salaries for the industry.
In her letter, Murray asked the Department of Commerce to review Airbus’ claims that the company contributes $5 billion a year to the U.S. economy, is responsible for creating 100,000 U.S. jobs, and contracts directly with 800 U.S. companies. Murray also requested that the Commerce Department comment on the Airbus assertion that America provides up to 40 percent of the content of its airliners. Finally, Sen. Murray asked Commerce for information regarding Airbus’ contribution to the U.S. economy beyond content segment of the aerospace industry.
“Airbus is welcome to do business in this country. But the time has come to take a much closer look at the company’s claims, its American business practices, and the total effect Airbus is having on the U.S. aerospace industry,” Murray said. “I look forward to a prompt reply from the Department of Commerce.”
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