{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-joins-gov-sanders-sen-boozman-break-ground-manufacturing", "WESTERMAN JOINS GOV. SANDERS, SEN. BOOZMAN TO BREAK GROUND ON MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN EAST CAMDEN", "2024-02-22", "2024", "2024-02", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "EAST CAMDEN, Ark. - Yesterday, Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) joined Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), and state and local leaders to break ground on the new R2S manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas.\n\nR2S is a joint effort between Raytheon and Rafael Advanced Defense System. The new R2S facility will produce the Tamir missile for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its variant, the SkyHunter\u00ae missile to be used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. allies.\n\n\u201cThis new facility will usher in high quality jobs for Arkansans and will be instrumental in ensuring the Natural State remains a global leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing. Investments such as this are critical in bolstering our national defense capabilities. Congratulations to R2S, Raytheon, and Rafael on this groundbreaking,\u201d said Congressman Bruce Westerman.\n\n\u201cSecuring East Camden\u2019s position as the arsenal of democracy has always been our vision,\u201d said U.S. Senator John Boozman. \u201cAfter years of hard work, I\u2019m proud to celebrate this groundbreaking and advance the vital role the community will play in our national security and supporting our allies well into the future. I will continue advocating for funding to encourage more defense industry investment in our state, help the region grow and provide well-paying jobs for Arkansans.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to join R2S for today\u2019s groundbreaking, just as it was an honor to announce this project in October and meet with company representatives last summer at the Paris Air Show,\u201d said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. \u201cThis investment will be a boon for the local economy: $63 million and 60 new jobs. More than that, our world is a whole lot less secure than it used to be, and this facility makes our country safer. Thank you to all who made this announcement possible, and thank you to the team in Camden for helping our state stand out.\u201d\n\n\u201cR2S is pleased to announce today that it\u2019s almost doubling the capital investment for the project here in Camden, Arkansas from $33 million to $63 million, and it may create up to 60 new jobs. This increase represents the commitment by both partners to support this critical project for the USMC and to our allies around the world that depend on a reliable air defense system,\u201d said Annabel Flores, Deputy President of Land & Air Defense Systems, Raytheon. \u201cNone of this could have happened without committed partners in RTX, Rafael, the United States Marine Corps, the Arkansas congressional delegation, Governor Sanders and her economic development team and the Camden community.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we mark a significant milestone in the Iron Dome program \u2013 one of the most important and advanced air defense systems in the world. The establishment of the new facility is the result of strong cooperation between Rafael and Raytheon, who joined forces about 18 years ago,\u201d said Pini Yungman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Air & Missile Defense Division, Rafael. \u201cWe have built and maintained fruitful collaboration based on the shared vision of both companies, committed to the highest level of technological innovation. The United States is a true partner; and local production, which we have aspired to for many years, will strengthen the partnership while safeguarding the interests of all sides. I am confident that we are ready for further cooperation in the future aimed at ensuring the security of the citizens of Israel and America.\u201d\n\n\u201cArkansas is a major center for aerospace and defense manufacturing, with an experienced workforce and favorable business environment that helps companies succeed,\u201d said Clint O\u2019Neal, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. \u201cCongratulations to R2S, Raytheon and Rafael on their groundbreaking in East Camden and to the local leaders for creating the conditions that give companies the confidence to grow in their community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of many months of effort by our partners to make this project a reality for our state and community,\u201d said James Lee Silliman, Executive Director of the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Development. \u201cOur team partners are to be commended for their support on the project. Many thanks are owed to those partners beginning with R2S-RTX/Rafael partnership, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, AEDC, Highland Industrial Park management, Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt and my Team Camden members.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are proud that Calhoun County will be the home of the R2S manufacturing facility,\u201d said Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt. \u201cSouth Arkansas has a long history in aerospace and defense manufacturing, and this project will build on that history. Calhoun County provides a strong workforce and great business environment for R2S\u2019s, RTX\u2019s, and Rafael\u2019s continued growth.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:21:00Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-joins-gov-sanders-sen-boozman-break-ground-manufacturing"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1580259781330824, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}