WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today released the following statement after Ford announced that its Kansas City Assembly Plant will add 1,200 new jobs and a second shift for its Transit van, bringing Ford to 6,000 hourly workers at the plant:

“Investing in the hardworking folks of Kansas City is a smart business decision by Ford. When companies invest in the Kansas City area, they continue this vibrant community’s trend of economic expansion, and send an unmistakable signal to other employers that Kansas City is the right place to create new job opportunities.”

Ford recently began production on its Ford Transit vans at the Kansas City Assembly Plant following a $1.1 billion investment that created 2,000 jobs. Ford’s plant in Claycomo, near Kansas City, consistently ranks among the most productive auto plants in the United States.

Missouri ranks among the top 10 states in automobile production. Nearly one-third of Missouri’s counties have auto industry employment concentrations that exceed the national average. Given the importance of the auto industry to Missouri’s economy, McCaskill has made advocating for auto jobs a priority since being elected to the U.S. Senate. McCaskill testified before the International Trade Commission in December 2010 and March 2012 to advocate for trade policies to protect jobs at Missouri auto part manufacturing facilities. She also wrote to the Obama Administration in November 2011 and July 2012 raising concerns about barriers Japan has imposed the keep U.S. automakers from competing in the Japanese auto market.