OLYMPIA – No one knows airplanes better, and no region of the world builds them better, than Washington State. That’s the message House Democrats in Olympia conveyed as news broke of a tentative deal between Boeing and its machinists’ union, leading to the announcement that Renton will be the home of the new 737 MAX.
Pointing to the economic benefits the 737 MAX project will bring to communities in Washington, and especially in South King County, House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D – Covington) was grateful for all the work and leadership shown by his fellow caucus members. “Time and time again, we’ve responded to the needs of one of our state’s greatest assets and industries – and strengthened the bonds between us. The 737 MAX is one of many of the rewards for those efforts for all of Washington.”
“This is a direct result of a true partnership and cooperative effort between the state and the private sector, which will pay off in dividends and provide good-paying jobs to hard-working Washingtonians,” said Rep. Phyllis Kenney (D – Seattle), Chair of the House Community Development & Housing committee. Kenney also sits on the Governor’s Washington Council on Aerospace.
Democratic caucus co-leader on the Pegasus Project, Rep. Larry Springer (D – Kirkland) points to the decade of work between the HDC and the aerospace community to land the 737 Dreamliner and the tanker as the reason why the MAX will be built here. “We’ve championed new investments, funding, and reforms in recent years, fostering growth and jobs in the industry.” They include:
- Workforce development scholarships and grants worth millions to train aerospace workers
- New educational state facilities providing new resources to manufacturers and workers
- Aerospace training programs through state community and technical colleges
- Streamlined permitting processes for Boeing and its aerospace manufacturing partners
- Reforms at L&I and ESD, which reduced premium rates for workers’ comp and unemployment insurance
Co-leader on the Pegasus Project, Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D – Renton) recounted some personal memories. “I’ve watched the maiden voyage of every 737 for many years from my Renton home. Many of my neighbors are proud of their work designing and building generations of Boeing planes. This is great news for Boeing, for Renton, and for the hundreds of suppliers across 29 counties in our state.
“The bottom line is, we’re building more airplanes faster and better than ever before,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Eric Pettigrew (D – Seattle). “And winning the new 737 MAX in Renton is a sign that we’ll be doing so for a long, long time.”