(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, returned from the bipartisan Congressional delegation she co-led with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to the Farnborough Airshow, which provided an opportunity to showcase New Hampshire’s role in American aerospace and defense, as well as send a statement of bipartisan support for American manufacturing and international trade. The Senators also met with leaders of the new UK government, including the new Foreign Secretary David Lammy, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley and others. Photos from this trip can be found here.
“In New Hampshire, we host strong aerospace, technology and manufacturing industries that are key to both national defense and civil aviation – and the Farnborough Airshow provided the opportunity to showcase these unique capabilities and connect some of our small businesses with global industry leaders,” said Senator Shaheen, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. “Enhancing our preparedness, safeguarding our national security and investing in our defense industry must remain a bipartisan priority, which is why our Congressional delegation was so crucial to demonstrating our unity supporting global markets and ensuring America stands safe and secure for generations to come.”
Joining Senators Shaheen and Moran were U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and John Kennedy (R-LA).
In addition to meeting with members of the new UK. government, the bipartisan group of Senators helped kick off the Airshow at SENEDIA’s New England Breakfast, where Senator Shaheen highlighted New Hampshire’s robust aerospace and defense trade relationship with the United Kingdom and connected smaller regional companies with international industry leaders. Later, they attended the Greater Wichita Partnership’s Aviation and Aerospace Celebration to in support of the American aerospace industry.
On Monday, the Senators held a press conference with Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning to officially open the Farnborough Airshow and highlight the importance of the Airshow in strengthening America’s national defense and security. Afterwards, Senator Shaheen visited with New Hampshire exhibitors attending the Airshow to showcase the innovative work they’re doing in the industry. Last year, New Hampshire exported roughly $19 million in aerospace products to the United Kingdom. Twenty-two percent of all exports from the state are in the aerospace industry. Under Secretary Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s chief acquisition officer; and Dame Karen Pierce, the U.K.’s Ambassador to the United States joined Shaheen for the visit to New Hampshire’s exhibition.
New Hampshire’s Office of International Commerce featured New Hampshire exhibitors at the Airshow through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), which provides export assistance to small businesses. Senator Shaheen created the STEP program in 2010 and continues to lead action in support of STEP in Congress—including through leading efforts to advance STEP’s reauthorization out of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, which she serves as Chair. Senator Shaheen’s legislation would streamline reporting and administrative requirements of STEP, making it easier for businesses to access.
Every two years, the aerospace, aviation and defense industries are invited to Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre for the Farnborough International Airshow, where civilian and military aircraft are demonstrated to potential customers and investors in Farnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Shaheen and Moran led a bipartisan delegation to the Paris Airshow in 2023.
###
