Roger Marshall: “Kansas is known as the air capital of the world, manufacturing up to 70 percent of the world's embedded aircraft fleet…”

“Kansas is known as the air capital of the world, manufacturing up to 70 percent of the world's embedded aircraft fleet, while creating nearly 50,000 jobs and approximately $10 billion in economic output. Growing up just outside of Wichita, I was well aware of the impact and importance the aviation industry had in my State. Today, as a U.S. Congressman, I have had the pleasure of seeing the evolution of the aerospace industry in Kansas and the continued impact this sector has on our district and the State. This week, our office is celebrating America's superiority in the aerospace sector and Kansas' role in that industry. From the manufacturing of 747s by Spirit AeroSystems, to aviation safety research at the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, to drone technology development at the Kansas State Polytechnic in Salina, communities across Kansas have benefited from the past, present, and future needs of the aerospace industry. Since the industry's inception, the United States has been a world leader in aviation research and innovation. But other countries are rapidly gaining speed. It is essential that we maintain our competitive advantage, not only for continued economic growth in Kansas but for our national security and the sustained evolution of space and science technologies.…”