Recognizing National Aerospace Week
Floor Speech
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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I along with Representative Thornberry, rise to recognize the United States aerospace industry. For more than 100 years, the American aerospace industry has moved, connected, secured, and inspired the modern world with countless technologies that play a role in our daily lives. The industry has made a tremendous impact, strengthening both America's economy and national security. The aerospace and defense industry's economic presence is felt in all 50 states, representing 1.8 percent of total U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2019. And it's one of our country's best employers, supporting more than 2 million world-class workers in 2019 and providing them wages and benefits that are more than 40 percent higher than the national average. It also supports the U.S. National Defense Strategy by providing our military with the most advanced and effective platforms and systems in the world.
In keeping with industry's strong commitment to our country and its citizens, our nation's aerospace companies have answered the call to help assist with the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aerospace companies have used their unique skills and expertise to produce face shields, design and build portable ventilators, and deliver essential supplies to the front lines in effort to ensure our nation overcomes these unprecedented challenges.
While the history of the aerospace industry is filled with contributions to the technological advancement of humankind, from the development of flight to putting the first person on the moon, the future is just as bright. The industry is inspiring young Americans from diverse backgrounds to study and pursue science, technology, engineering, and math, so they can help drive future innovations. Through groundbreaking technologies like urban air mobility and planning the next great space mission to Mars, the aerospace industry is working today to build a better, safer, and more successful tomorrow.
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