Lawmakers in Olympia approved an aerospace package that will ensure the new Boeing 777X and composite wing will be built in Washington state. The package will maintain and create thousands of family-wage jobs and ensure the world’s best airplanes continue to be built by Washington workers.
Speaking in support of the workforce training measure (HB 2088), Rep. Mike Sells (D-Everett) highlighted the importance of a well-trained workforce.
“The future ain’t what it used to be,” Sells stated in quoting Yogi Berra on the House floor. “The days of riveting planes together are over. Today’s aerospace businesses need workers with new high-tech skills and training.”
Governor Inslee called the Legislature into special session on Thursday to approve the package, which includes:
- An extension of existing aerospace tax preferences from 2024 to 2040 (SB 5952),
- Funding for an additional 1,000 aerospace training slots in our community and technical colleges,
- Funding for training current composite wing fabricators,
- Funding to help streamline the large facility permitting process, and
- Capital investments to complete the Renton Aerospace Training Center and the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center.
“We are committing to a long-term, genuine, and authentic marriage between aerospace, the people of Washington, the tens of thousands of families that work in the aerospace industry,” Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle) stated. “The return on investment for the public is unquestioned. This is sound fiscal policy.”
While Boeing is seen as the biggest beneficiary of today’s legislative action, Rep. Larry Springer (D-Kirkland) reminded his fellow lawmakers that more than one thousand other businesses will benefit too.
“This will have a positive effect on the 1,350 other aerospace industries in Washington state,” Springer said. “Those 1,350 businesses are in 34 of Washington’s 39 counties and over 100 of them employ fewer than five people.”
“Ensuring that we have a competitive workforce is the best investment I can imagine making in our economic future,” Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Media) stated on his website. “It’s our core responsibility as a state.”
The Legislature is expected to adjourn Sine Die this evening to officially end the special session.