East Hartford, CT – U.S. Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Joe Courtney (CT-2) and Chris Murphy (CT-5) joined with the International Association of Machinists to keep good-paying jobs in Connecticut. While the delegation fought to have the Defense Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives include funding for Pratt and Whitney to build 15 spare engines for F-22 and C-17 aircraft, Pratt and Whitney has raised the issue of closing their maintenance facilities in Cheshire and East Hartford.

In July, Pratt and Whitney announced that they are considering closing their overhaul and repair facilities in Cheshire (Cheshire Engine Center) and East Hartford (CT Airfoil Repair Operations) citing the economy and excess capacity in those overall departments. Despite their attempts to tie these plant closures to the economy, the Cheshire facility continues to show a profit. It is also the only facility in the Pratt & Whitney network that provides overhaul work on the C-17 engines, the F-117.

Congresswoman DeLauro stated, “Connecticut has long-built the state-of-the-art engines and helicopters that our men and women in uniform rely on to help them safely meet their mission requirements, and our workers are among the most skilled in the country. And it is imperative – for our national security, for our economy and for our domestic manufacturing base – that we do not export our technological capability to make these cutting-edge products. The Connecticut Congressional Delegation is doing its part by securing nearly $370 million for the purchase of spare engines, including for F-22s, ensuring that our current military strategy is not put at risk and that we maintain our air dominance against potential threats. Pratt and Whitney must do its part as well. Closing these plants and eliminating these highly-skilled jobs is the wrong move.”

"Here in Connecticut, we have a long history of making engines for some of the greatest planes in our military, and we have a world-class workforce at the ready to maintain that tradition. From a national security perspective, I have grave concerns that closing the Cheshire plant will leave the Air Force with diminished capacity to make repairs to engines in a timely manner. And so I will continue to work with Pratt and Whitney, the Machinists, and the Connecticut delegation to fight to keep these jobs that are vital to our nation's safety here in Connecticut," said Congressman Murphy.

“Just one week ago, I voted to keep Pratt and Whitney’s F-22 and C-17 engine production lines operating, which will preserve thousands of jobs right here in Connecticut. Keeping the existing fleets safely in the air will be made possible by the employees of Pratt and Whitney until they begin work on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to fight for these jobs and work with my colleagues in Congress to advocate for our state’s defense industrial base,” said Congressman Courtney.