Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith issued the following statement.
U.S.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Homeland
Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced the award of a
$59.1 million
contract to procure Mississippi-produced Light Enforcement Helicopters
(LEH) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) contract is for the delivery of
nine LEH aircraft, with an option for a tenth helicopter. With the
option, the total contract is
valued at $65.7 million. The LEH aircraft, used for border
surveillance and law enforcement missions, will be manufactured at the
Airbus plant in Columbus.
“Illegal
activity on our borders is a continuous challenge, and these
helicopters are valuable tools used by Customs and Border Protection to
secure the border,” Hyde-Smith
said. “This contract will allow talented aircraft manufacturers in
Mississippi to play a key role in recapitalizing the LEH fleet.”
At a
Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in May,
Hyde-Smith advocated the award of existing funding to procure new
aircraft to strengthen the CBP helicopter fleet, which has been
diminished by aging airframes and accidents.
The
contract, which draws from FY2017 and FY2018 appropriations, will
entail designing, building, installing, testing, and certifying the
aircraft for CBP use.
The Department of Homeland Security approved a
similar contract in July 2018, with $45.9 million allotted to procure seven LEH produced in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle Region.
14 comments:
More government welfare for MS. Brag about winning a competitive bid in the private sector or just shut up about token government projects.
@ 10:58, it's actually not government welfare - welfare (with which you are probably well familiar) is a handout for doing nothing. In this case, a company with a manufacturing facility that employs workers in Mississippi, and that has a proven track record of building highly-capable helicopters was hired to build said helicopters for the government, for money. Do you have a problem with defense manufacturers, private industry, or just everyone for any reason? Perhaps you think the government should manufacture its own helicopters, or maybe you'd rather have folks sitting on their ass collecting a check for doing nothing, or workers in another state build these helicopters?
I bet if this RFP/Q came around and you owned a qualified manufacturing company you'd enter a bid, or perhaps you're still living in your parent's basement, there's no way to know that... Either way, please let those of us actually doing the work in this country do the work, while you sit back end enjoy the security and prosperity we provide.
What would make you happy, because it seems like that's what we're all here for...and please explain what a "token" government project is.
If I'mnot mistaken, this factory was originally built with defense funds for Israel. Basically the money was allocated for Israel but they were required to spend the funds we gave them in America. Israel wanted European helicopters so the manufacturers cut a sweatheart deal at the expense of the taxpayer. But we are their vassal so it is what it is
11:16, you are mistaken, and please take your anti-Semitic comments elsewhere.
We should not be building helicopters in MS to sell to CBP. We should buy them from the Russians, or maybe N. Korea, or even Iran.
Better yet, let's have an open border and then CBP won't even need helicopters.
Yea, that's the ticket.
//sarcasm mode off//
Jackwagon!
Foregoing a portion of taxes for a short time that otherwise would never be earned is not corporate welfare.
I guess you would be happier if Texas got the contract
1:09 Perhaps you should find a dictionary and look up what “Anti-Semitism” is and what it means. Also, you provided no proof that 11:16 is mistaken.
5:27, geez; do I have to everything around here?
I've got no problem with Israel. I wish I could visit with a full security detail.
But it is interesting that every Mississippi governor since 2003 visits the Holy Land during his administration on the taxpayer's dime to secure a bit of that foreign-aid back to Mississippi.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. I hope they are successful. The money has to be spent somewhere. Might as well be Mississippi.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/mississippi-governor-phil-bryant-arrives-in-israel/2018/11/21/
11:16 here
Not antisemite but i admit I was mistaking EADS (now Airbus) with Stark Aerospace (Israeli Aero) which is all confusing.
Need to arm those border patrol choppers with 50mm Gatling guns. Would make illegals coming across border much more interesting.
@6:21 PM - you don't need a security detail to visit Israel. I have been there nine times without any issues. It certainly is a lot safer than Jackson.
... this factory was originally built with defense funds for Israel. Basically the money was allocated for Israel but they were required to spend the funds we gave them in America. Israel wanted European helicopters so the manufacturers cut a sweatheart deal at the expense of the taxpayer.
Link? PUT UP.
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