Expanding Resources for the El Paso Airport

This week, I voted in support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization conference bill, which will help ensure our national airspace remains safe and reliable. The bill modernizes airport infrastructure and improves service for the travelling public. It passed the House by a vote of 398–23.

The FAA Reauthorization also includes a bill that I wrote to make El Paso and other small airports eligible for funds to expand aviation services. The Department of Transportation provides grants for small airports through the Small Community Air Service Development Program so they can pay costs associated with attracting new air service. When this program was first created in the 1990s, the law was written so El Paso and several other communities were ineligible for this funding. My bipartisan bill, H.R. 973, fixes the limitation on this program so that El Paso may be awarded these grants. I’m hopeful we will be able to take advantage of this funding to bring non-stop service to new locations for El Pasoans and to make travel easier for people that wish to visit our community.

Now that the FAA Reauthorization has passed the House, it is expected to pass the Senate soon and then be sent to the President to be signed into law.