U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Tours Fairbanks Morse Engine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin traveled to Beloit, Wisconsin where she toured Fairbanks Morse Engine, meet with employees, and highlighted her work to boost Wisconsin’s manufacturing economy.

“For decades in Wisconsin, we’ve worked to make things: paper, engines, tools, and ships. These manufacturing jobs created shared prosperity for generations and strengthened the economic security of the middle class,” said Senator Baldwin. “The hardworking men and women of Fairbanks Morse have been a pillar of that prosperity and I am grateful to President Riley and their entire team for hosting me today as I got a first-hand look at what makes them a worldwide leader. I’m proud to be Fairbanks Morse’s partner in the United States Senate as we work together to strengthen Wisconsin’s manufacturing base and build a Made in Wisconsin economy.”

“Senator Baldwin has shown a deep and continuing interest in Fairbanks Morse. Our entire workforce is very appreciative of all of her efforts on our behalf. We are delighted that Senator Baldwin took time out of her busy schedule to visit our factory today. We had a great opportunity to update her on our strategy and let her know about some of the exciting things that we are doing here – including the engines that we are building for the LPD28, an additional amphibious warship that Congress approved in the 2016 appropriations bill,” said Fairbanks Morse President Marvin Riley.

In December, Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 requiring the domestic manufacture of certain shipboard components, such as diesel engines, for the U.S. Navy’s new oiler ship, one of which will be purchased in FY16 for $674 million.

This provision (Section 8125) will help ensure a level playing field for Fairbanks Morse Engine, which has been a key supplier of superior-performance and best-value diesel engines to the U.S. Navy for decades, as well as other suppliers in America’s shipbuilding industry. This requirement, signed into law by President Obama, will provide Fairbanks Morse with an opportunity to fairly compete for propulsion work on the Navy’s new oiler program, which ultimately will include 17 ships in the fleet, constructed over the next 17 years.

“Thanks to the efforts of Senator Baldwin and the U.S. Congress, the inclusion of Section 8125 in the budget will preserve critical technical skills and expertise in the United States.  This provision supports the continued availability of skilled, middle class jobs in Wisconsin and Beloit,” said President Riley.

Last November, Senator Baldwin sent a letter to leadership of both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, urging them to include this provision in their final legislation. 

In the Senate, Senator Baldwin has joined Chris Coons (D-DE) to lead the “Manufacturing Jobs for America” (MJA) campaign, an effort to rally bipartisan support for legislation that would help manufacturers grow and create jobs. Last week she also joined the newly formed, bipartisan, Senate Competitiveness Caucus, which will foster concerted bipartisan efforts to discuss, develop, and advance policy enhancing U.S economic competitiveness.