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\par \par \par 					Cochran, Barbour, Wicker Comment On Northrop Grumman/EADS Contract Win\par \par 	Posted: Feb 29, 2008 05:27 PM CST\par \par Mississippi  Senator Roger Wicker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Friday  said the U.S. Air Force's decision to award its tanker contract to Northrop  Grumman/EADS will lead to up to 2,000 jobs created along the Gulf Coast.\par \par The  $40 billion contract is for 179 tankers that Northrop Grumman/EADS will build in  Mobile, Alabama.\par \par "This  announcement is a huge victory for the Gulf Coast," Senator Roger Wicker said.  "I've been a strong supporter of Northrop Grumman/EADS throughout this process  and I commend the Air Force for making what I've always believed was the right  choice for this contract."\par \par "This  decision will lead to the creation of up to 2,000 Gulf Coast jobs," Wicker  added.  "And while the tankers will be built in Mobile, the economic impact will  be felt throughout South Mississippi.  I expect suppliers and other support  businesses to locate in Mississippi and create quality jobs for our citizen."\par \par Mississippi's  senior Senator Thad Cochran said, "The selection of the EADS/Northrop Grumman  facility in Mobile, AL to produce aerial refueling tankers for the United States  Air Force is welcome news to Mobile's neighbors in Mississippi.  A project of  this magnitude will benefit the entire Gulf Coast region.  The facility will  create thousands of jobs for Americans and will bolster economic development not  only in Alabama, but also along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Mississippians will  realize sizable economic advantages because of this project."\par \par Mississippi  Governor Haley Barbour thanked Senators Cochran and Wicker for their work to  secure the project for the Gulf Coast region.\par \par "I  am very pleased by the Pentagon's decision to award this contract to Northrop  Grumman and EADS, two great corporate citizens in the State of Mississippi who  have long provided exemplary production services for the U.S. military.  Our  longstanding commitment to a regional economic development approach with our  neighbor, Alabama, has worked well, and I look forward to continuing these  collaborative efforts to promote job creation and spur economic growth in our  region.\par \par In  addition to congratulating these two companies which both have a significant  presence in Mississippi, I would like to thank Senators Thad Cochran and Roger  Wicker for their important role in securing this project for the Gulf Coast  region.  By constructing these tankers in Mobile, we will benefit from a number  of spinoff jobs as well as new suppliers, who want to take advantage of our  community college and workforce training programs."}