Sens. Blumenthal, Durbin Visit Pratt & Whitney to Talk Fed Aerospace Funding

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate Majority Whip and Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, toured Connecticut’s aerospace manufacturers Monday, including one in Middletown.

Blumenthal and Durbin met with officials and workers at United Technologies Corporation’s Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky divisions to discuss federal issues affecting the aerospace industry in Connecticut and across the country.

“I was pleased to welcome Senator Durbin to Connecticut today, where he saw firsthand at Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky the innovation and dedicated, skilled manufacturing that is ensuring our national security and fueling economic growth up and down the supply chain," Blumenthal said after visiting Pratt & Whitney in Middletown.

As chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Durbin plays an integral role in the country's defense and aerospace industries, Blumenthal said. "I’m proud of the stellar work at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and hundreds of other Connecticut companies, making the state a true arsenal of our democracy." 

"As a result of Sen. Durbin’s support," Blumenthal said, "and the recent passage of the omnibus appropriations bill, which I fought for, these companies have renewed certainty and critically important funding.” 

Durbin said he was pleased see first-hand the work thousands of skilled workers are doing manufacturing components key to the country's national defense. 

"The innovation I saw at both companies today was impressive and I’ll keep the valuable workers and their important mission in mind as we begin work on next year’s Defense Appropriations bill," he added.

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