[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL MANUFACTURING WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2005

  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our 
nation's great manufacturing base. My colleague Rep. Gillmor introduced 
important legislation, H. Res. 16, to support National Manufacturing 
Week, congratulate manufacturers and their employees for their 
contributions growth and innovation, and recognize the challenges 
facing the manufacturing sector. I join him in applauding America's 
manufacturers.
  I especially want to highlight aviation manufacturing, the 
manufacturing sector predominant in my district, where Wichita is known 
as the Air Capital of the World. Wichita is home to 4 major aircraft 
manufacturers, numerous suppliers and other support industries. I am 
very proud of all the men and women today and in years past who have 
brought that distinction to our great city.
  According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, General 
Aviation manufacturing contributed over $6 billion to the U.S. economy 
in 2004, exporting nearly $1.5 billion. Approximately 80 percent of the 
world's GA aircraft is manufactured in the United States. The total 
U.S. aerospace manufacturing industry exports $58.5 billion in 
products--the largest net export segment of all U.S. industry.
  General Aviation Manufacturers directly employ nearly 169,000 workers 
around the country. Aircraft manufacturing workers are the highest-
paid, highest-skilled workers in the manufacturing sector. They earn an 
average wage of $47,700 annually--35 percent more than the U.S. 
average.
  In addition, for every aviation manufacturing job created in the 
U.S., three additional jobs are created in other industries. In 2002, 
the last year for which we have complete numbers, the total impact of 
civil aviation on the U.S. economy exceeded $900 billion and 11 million 
jobs. This amounts to 9 percent of the U.S. GDP. General Aviation 
contributes approximately $102 billion (or 12 percent of the total 
civil aviation contribution) and 1.3 million jobs.
  General Aviation manufacturers make aircraft for fire-fighting, law 
enforcement, scientific research, search and rescue, and agriculture. 
Currently General Aviation and aerospace employees are working on the 
future of flight: advances in propulsion, including quiet supersonic 
flight, new energy sources including hydrogen, and integrating 
satellite technology for navigational and safe flight purposes.
  Manufacturing employees across America are building our future as I 
speak. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding their hard work, 
and to commit to ensuring that our manufacturing base thrives for 
generations to come.

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