A bipartisan effort by two Southern California lawmakers has led to the creation of the California Aerospace Caucus in Congress to promote legislation that supports the region’s aerospace industry.

Reps. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, and Ken Calvert, R-Corona, announced the caucus on Sept. 12, and will serve as its co-chairs. More than two dozen other California lawmakers have joined the caucus so far, with at least half serving districts in Los Angeles County.

California’s congressional delegation hasn’t earned a reputation for working together on matters of interest to the entire state – a regular habit elsewhere, with representatives of states such as Texas standing out for such efforts.

The aerospace industry employs about 92,000 people in the private sector throughout California, according to a 2017 report from the California Manufacturing Technology Consulting Co. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. issued a report in November stating the industry employs more than 50,000 private-sector works locally.

The industry also employs significant numbers of government employees locally and statewide.