File Photo: Rosa DeLauro in her New Haven office.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) will be in Milford today to unveil legislation re-imposing and expanding sanctions on Russia’s state-owned arms dealer, and encouraging government contracts go to local companies.
DeLauro will visit Spectrum Associates of Milford around noon today to tour the plant and talk to company representatives. Spectrum gets approximately half of its work from contracts with Sikorsky, including Black Hawk helicopters, DeLauro said in a press release.
Spectrum, which is located on Plains Road, is a developer of aerospace instruments, including breakaway valves, pressure switches, indicators and hydraulic subassemblies, according to the company’s website.
However, since 2011 the Department of Defense has awarded more than $1 billion in no-bid contracts to Rosoboronexport to buy dozens of Russian helicopters for the Afghan National Security Forces.
DeLauro has led congressional opposition to the Department of Defense relationship with Rosoboronexport, and called for the contracts to be bid through a competitive process that would allow Sikorsky to compete for the business.
Spectrum Associates President Richard Meisenheimer will highlight the fact that when Sikorsky wins a contract it means more income not just for Sikorsky and its employees, but for companies like Spectrum and the workers there.