"These are the kinds of good-paying, stable private sector jobs which are innovative and help us build our infrastructure for long-term prosperity"

In the wake of this year's extreme tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters, today, U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) and Bennie Thompson (MS-2) sent a letter to President Obama requesting a continued investment of $1.07 billion in the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) being developed in Colorado.  Click here to view letter.

JPSS is the nation's next generation weather satellite system and will provide advanced warning about natural disaster threats approximately five days earlier than current systems.  This early warning will allow local communities, FEMA and other first responders to provide more efficient resources and protection for communities threatened by natural disasters.

The JPSS satellites are being developed by The Raytheon Company and Ball Aerospace and other aerospace companies in Colorado who employ more than 400 people in the state.  The project is at risk of losing funding because House Republicans have not passed a final Fiscal Year 2012 plan to fund the country. 

In the letter, Perlmutter stated, "These are the kinds of good-paying, stable private sector jobs which are innovative and help us build our infrastructure for long-term prosperity....Budgetary reductions require [us] to do more with less.  The timely completion of JPSS will help ensure the safety of our communities from the threat of natural disasters and do so in the most cost-effective way... and will yield tremendous savings... to other federal agencies and economic costs."

Next week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider a continuing resolution to fund the country at 2011 levels through November.  Perlmutter is asking the President to request funding to ensure completion of this important satellite system.

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