In a face-to-face meeting today with Boeing CEO W. James McNerney, Jr., U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) had the opportunity to discuss many important issues to the St. Louis area and the state of Missouri including the potential for a new production facility for the company’s 777X jetliner. Luetkemeyer sent out a press release this afternoon.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Mr. McNerney in my office today to discuss among other issues the many advantages of having the 777X jetliner built in St. Louis,” Luetkemeyer said, whose district includes hundreds of Boeing workers and related suppliers. “St. Louis has a strong work ethic, history as a home to Boeing, proximity to major transportation corridors, and the presence of more than 700 Boeing suppliers already in the region. Landing this project in St. Louis would create high-paying, high-quality jobs throughout the state and provide a significant economic boost. I am pleased that Boeing will be considering Missouri as the future home of this state-of-the-art aircraft.”
In a separate letter to McNerney in support of a state-wide effort to bring the project to St. Louis, Luetkemeyer reiterated and made it clear – the region has a proven history of success when it comes to the state’s commitment to Boeing over the years.
“The St. Louis area is home to men and women who embody the unparalleled Midwestern work ethic. Additionally, St. Louis has had the opportunity to serve as a faithful home to Boeing and Boeing precursors since James McDonnell incorporated the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1939, and today is fortunate to count Boeing Defense, Space and Security as a hometown business,” Luetkemeyer wrote. “You undoubtedly recognize the talent of Missouri’s Boeing aerospace employees, and I can assure you that those individuals and our State’s broader workforce are able and ready to meet the growing demand for Boeing commercial aircraft.”
Earlier this week, Luetkemeyer and other members of the congressional delegation participated in a conference call with state officials to discuss Missouri’s current efforts to bring the 777X project to St. Louis. The group agreed to work together across party lines to enhance efforts already underway.
“We have a bi-partisan commitment from members of the Missouri congressional delegation to do everything we can, as a group and individually, to show Boeing that St. Louis would be the best possible location for its production facilities and I look forward to working in the months ahead to make this possible,” Luetkemeyer said.