WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker today applauded the announcement by the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) that it will open a passport production facility on the grounds of the Stennis Space Center.  A minimum of 50 jobs are expected to be created at the facility, which should be operational this spring. 

“As our economy becomes increasingly global and our interaction with nations and businesses around the world becomes more critical, the demand for secure, accessible identification has greatly increased,” Sen. Cochran said.  “I am pleased the Government Printing Office has recognized this need by choosing Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi as the future home to its new 50-employee passport printing facility.  Mississippi’s strong workforce and technological know-how make it an ideal location to produce these next generation passports.”

Sen. Wicker added: “The fifty jobs this plant will create represent another positive step forward for the Gulf Coast economy.  I am glad the U.S. government decided to look to the capable workers in South Mississippi to help fill this critical national need.” 

The Stennis facility will help the GPO meet the raising demand for passport production.  Currently, the only passport production facility is in Washington, D.C.

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