Rebuilding a Competitive Aerospace Industry

Dear friends,

As your South Bay Assemblymember, and as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace, I know how critically important the aerospace industry is for the Southern California economy.  Since World War II, the prosperity of the South Bay and Southern California was built on the foundation provided by good aerospace jobs.  However, with the end of the Cold War, the industry has lost thousands of these good jobs due to defense cutbacks, military base closures, and now sequestration. 

This Friday I will convene a hearing that will focus on what we can do to rebuild a competitive aerospace industry in the State of California.  Panelists will include representatives from Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Space X, as well as the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and others.

We need to work on attracting and retaining good aerospace jobs, especially by focusing on opportunities to expand civilian uses of aerospace technology such as commercial aviation, private space exploration, and unmanned aircraft systems.  To this end, I authored Assembly Bill 777 and Assembly Bill 927, both legislation designed to provide tax incentives to retain and grow aerospace jobs in California.

Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that California continues its long and rich history of global leadership in the aerospace industry.

Many community members have expressed interest in attending the Assembly Select Committee Informational Hearing Rebuilding a Competitive Aerospace Industry, we expect to exceed capacity. To ensure everyone interested has an opportunity to participate, we are offering a LIVE webcast of the hearing. To watch Rebuilding a Competitive Aerospace Industry this Friday, August 9, visit my website and click LIVE webcast.

Friday, August 9, 2013

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact my district office at (310) 316-2164.

Thank you.

-Al