The defense appropriations bill approved by the U.S. House last week would pump more than $2 billion into the Fort Worth area. The bill was one of four that the House passed ahead of the stopgap funding measure that averted a government shutdown Saturday.
The bill includes funding for production of 86 new F-35 aircraft out of Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program supports more than 49,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Fort Worth area. The program generates $9.4 billion in annual economic impact and works with more than 17 suppliers in North Texas.
The bill also includes $675 million in funding for the creation of five CMV-22s, produced in Fort Worth by Bell. The aircraft is used by the U.S. Navy.
Nearly $1.5 billion has also been allocated for the development of Bell’s V-280, which will be the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. The program supports more than 5,100 Fort Worth and North Texas employees.
U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, chairwoman of the appropriations committee, said securing funding was crucial to the nation’s defense and defense jobs in and around Fort Worth.
“With North Texas being home to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and mission-critical defense companies, our region plays a crucial role in our national defense,” Granger said in a release. “The men and women who serve at Fort Worth’s military base defend the freedoms Americans enjoy every day. We must ensure they have the most effective, cutting-edge aircraft, including the F-35, V-22, and V-280 – all of which are made right here in Fort Worth.”
Granger said she urges the Senate to pass the bill and send it to the president to be signed into law.
“I am proud that Texas-12 is home to some of the best manufacturing jobs in the world,” Granger said. “Our local economy keeps our military strong and prepared to meet and defeat the threats we face. I am honored to represent our defense industry and our world-class workforce in Congress, and I will continue to fight to bring more opportunities to our region.”
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