Sacramento, CA – Today Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) spoke in favor of Senate Resolution 19 (SR 19), a resolution proclaiming March 23 – 27 as California Aerospace Week, on the California State Senate floor.  Allen, a co-author of the measure, is Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Defense and Aerospace.  To watch his remarks, click here.

Allen’s Senate District 26 encompasses the Westside and South Bay of Los Angeles County.  The South Bay has been called the “brain trust” of the aerospace industry, originating innovations in aerospace research such as weather forecasting, wireless and long distance telecommunications, computer joysticks, water filters, the artificial heart and the electric car.  The industry employs tens of thousands of south Bay residents in high-skilled, quality jobs.

Senator Allen’s district also is home to the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, the only active duty military base in the LA area, which develops and sustains military space systems, including GPS, satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, and space-based infrared systems.

Statewide, the aerospace industry employs over 200,000 Californians directly, and supports more than half a million jobs in related fields.

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