Airport Alert: Senate Commerce Committee Approves Buttigieg Nomination
January 27, 2021
The Senate Commerce Committee today approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg, President Biden's pick to serve as Transportation Secretary, by a vote of 21-3. The Senate may consider the nomination this week.
Buttigieg Nomination
Before today's vote, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, referred to Buttigieg as an "impressive nominee."
During his nomination hearing before the same committee last week, the former South Bend Mayor made the case for investing in infrastructure as a way to help stimulate the economy and help create good-paying jobs in an environmentally sound way.
AAAE and ACI-NA are urging Congress and the Biden Administration to provide airports with another round of coronavirus relief funding. The two airport groups are requesting $17 billion for commercial service airports, additional funding for general aviation airports and concessionaires, and a 100 percent federal share for Fiscal Year 2021 AIP grants.
House T&I Committee Rosters
On the other side of the Capitol, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) this week announced their full committee rosters for the 117th Congress.
As expected, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) will continue to chair the Aviation Subcommittee. Ranking Member Graves has not yet named the top Republicans for his subcommittees.
The entire T&I committee Democratic roster and Republican roster are available on the committee's website. New Democratic and Republican members on the full committee are listed below.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux D-(GA)
Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele (D-HI)
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA)
Rep. Marie Newman (D-IL)
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS)
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD)
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ)
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX)
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA)
House Republicans Reintroduce Early Incentive Bill
Ranking Member Graves and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) yesterday introduced H.R. 468, the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2021, a AAAE- and ACI-NA-backed bill that would allow airports to use AIP funds for early incentive payments.
The House in October approved a similar bill (H.R. 5912) that the two Republican transportation committee leaders introduced. The Senate Commerce Committee also approved a similar bill (S. 3958) in July. However, the measure was not enacted into law.
AAAE and ACI-NA began pushing for this change during consideration of the last FAA reauthorization bill. We pointed out that this option could be helpful to airports and especially those in northern tier states with short construction cycles.
The Senate Commerce Committee today approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg, President Biden's pick to serve as Transportation Secretary, by a vote of 21-3. The Senate may consider the nomination this week.
Buttigieg Nomination
Before today's vote, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, referred to Buttigieg as an "impressive nominee."
During his nomination hearing before the same committee last week, the former South Bend Mayor made the case for investing in infrastructure as a way to help stimulate the economy and help create good-paying jobs in an environmentally sound way.
AAAE and ACI-NA are urging Congress and the Biden Administration to provide airports with another round of coronavirus relief funding. The two airport groups are requesting $17 billion for commercial service airports, additional funding for general aviation airports and concessionaires, and a 100 percent federal share for Fiscal Year 2021 AIP grants.
House T&I Committee Rosters
On the other side of the Capitol, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) this week announced their full committee rosters for the 117th Congress.
As expected, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) will continue to chair the Aviation Subcommittee. Ranking Member Graves has not yet named the top Republicans for his subcommittees.
The entire T&I committee Democratic roster and Republican roster are available on the committee's website. New Democratic and Republican members on the full committee are listed below.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux D-(GA)
Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele (D-HI)
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA)
Rep. Marie Newman (D-IL)
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS)
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD)
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ)
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX)
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA)
House Republicans Reintroduce Early Incentive Bill
Ranking Member Graves and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) yesterday introduced H.R. 468, the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2021, a AAAE- and ACI-NA-backed bill that would allow airports to use AIP funds for early incentive payments.
The House in October approved a similar bill (H.R. 5912) that the two Republican transportation committee leaders introduced. The Senate Commerce Committee also approved a similar bill (S. 3958) in July. However, the measure was not enacted into law.
AAAE and ACI-NA began pushing for this change during consideration of the last FAA reauthorization bill. We pointed out that this option could be helpful to airports and especially those in northern tier states with short construction cycles.
