Shelby on RESTORE Act, Airbus

MOBILE, Ala. - Alabama Senator Richard Shelby says he will be in Mobile Monday for what the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce is billing as "an exciting Economic Development Announcement that will significantly the Mobile area, State of Alabama and the entire Gulf Coast region".

During an interview with Fox 10 News anchor Bob Grip Shelby said, "I'll be coming down Sunday evening. I'll have dinner with a lot of very important people in Mobile and also people from around the world and we're anticipating a very positive announcement, but we have to wait on that announcement. We're not there yet."

A number of sources have said European jet maker Airbus plans to open an aircraft assembly plant in Mobile to build A320 passenger jets.

Shelby also praised Congressional passage Friday of the RESTORE Act, which will allocate 80 percent of the future Clean Water Act fines paid by BP and others in connection with Deepwater Horizon spill to the Gulf Coast. Shelby was a co-author of the bill in the Senate.

Shelby said, "It's a very positive development for Mobile and Baldwin counties."  He added, "We're not sure of the money yet.  I've seen a lot of numbers there, it would depend on the amounts of the fines, which will be substantial."

Representative Jo Bonner, who was one of the original cosponsors of the House bill, said “This is a banner day for the Gulf Coast...The coastal communities affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill are poised to receive long-awaited economic and environmental restoration funds."

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions said, "Enactment of the RESTORE Act has been one of my top legislative priorities, especially as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over both the Clean Water Act and the highway bill. In addition to Sen. Shelby’s efforts, I also appreciate the good work of Rep. Bonner and our other Gulf Coast colleagues in seeing this through."