Airport Alert: Senate Approves Confirmation of Pete Buttigieg to Serve As DOT Secretary
February 2, 2021
On an 86 to 13 vote, the United States Senate has just approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of Transportation. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and one-time Democratic candidate for President earned bipartisan praise during his appearance before the Commerce Committee on January 21. His nomination was approved by the committee on January 27 on a 21-3 vote.
In a letter sent today, AAAE President & CEO Todd Hauptli wasted no time in congratulating Secretary Buttigieg on his confirmation and outlining areas in which airports and the Department could work together, including COVID-19 response and recovery, airport infrastructure development, and small community air service. Specifically, Hauptli noted the following key priorities:
On an 86 to 13 vote, the United States Senate has just approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of Transportation. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and one-time Democratic candidate for President earned bipartisan praise during his appearance before the Commerce Committee on January 21. His nomination was approved by the committee on January 27 on a 21-3 vote.
In a letter sent today, AAAE President & CEO Todd Hauptli wasted no time in congratulating Secretary Buttigieg on his confirmation and outlining areas in which airports and the Department could work together, including COVID-19 response and recovery, airport infrastructure development, and small community air service. Specifically, Hauptli noted the following key priorities:
- Funding for Airports and Our Industry Partners: The airport community is seeking $17 billion in additional, flexible, federal funding for commercial service airports along with further support for general aviation airports and our industry partners, including concessionaires, to respond to and recover from the pandemic. These resources are essential to allowing airports to continue operations, enhance public health, maintain jobs, meet debt obligations, and continue necessary projects.
- Federal Share for Airport Support/FY 21 AIP Grants: Consistent with the CARES Act, any pandemic relief funding provided for airports should be 100 percent federal share. Additionally, the federal share for all Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants issued in FY21 should be 100 percent, consistent with FY20 AIP grants.
- Contract Towers: Additional resources are needed to address additional coronavirus-related costs at Contract Tower airports. We also ask for your support for passage of legislation that would provide an incentive for retired federal air traffic controllers to continue working as controllers at Contract Tower airports.
- Infrastructure Investment: We are encouraged that you, President Biden, and many in Congress have highlighted the need for a broad infrastructure package. Airport executives strongly support additional investment to prepare for the growth we expect to eventually return to the system, upgrade aging facilities, and ensure the health, safety, and security of air travelers. We urge you to ensure that any infrastructure package includes a substantial investment in airports. Notably, two of the primary sources of funding for airport infrastructure investment – local revenue from PFCs and annual AIP funding – currently provide less than half of what airports need to meet annual capital development needs.
- Small Community Air Service: We look forward to working to ensure the continued viability of commercial air service to small- and medium-sized communities. As you know, many airports across the country are struggling to attract or maintain air service as airlines reduce service levels and frequencies in response to the pandemic. To help preserve air service options for travelers in these areas, we urge additional funding to expand and improve the Essential Air Service and Small Community Air Service Development programs.
