Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today in response to Boeing’s announcement that it will locate its second assembly line for the 787 jetliner in Charleston, South Carolina.

“The best aerospace workers in the world are in the Pacific Northwest.  To build the 787 anywhere else but in the Puget Sound region is a mistake.

“The Governor made a compelling case why the best place for Boeing to do business is right here in Washington state. Our state’s large, highly skilled and adaptable workforce, attractive business climate, stable and sustainable government, strong education system, robust and funded infrastructure improvement plan and the highest quality of life of any competitor should have made this decision a slam dunk for Boeing.

“Instead, it was an air ball.

“It is now clear, if it wasn’t before, that there weren’t enough training facilities we could build, or a large enough B&O tax break we could give, to keep Boeing from moving their second line to South Carolina.  The labor-management divide was just too wide to bridge.

“Despite today’s announcement, the Pacific Northwest remains the center of the aerospace industry.  I want to recognize the nearly 30,000 Boeing workers in my district who continue to build the best aerospace products in the world.  I will continue my fight to maintain and bring new good-paying jobs to the 2nd District.

Boeing is the largest private employer in the 2nd Congressional District that Larsen represents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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