USCTA Alert

May 19, 2025

We need your help ASAP!

Please contact your lawmakers today and ask them to sign letters requesting full funding for the FAA Contract Tower Program in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.  
 
House Letter: Reps. Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) are asking sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee that requests full funding for the FCT program in FY26. Their Dear Colleague may be viewed here, and their funding request letter may be viewed here. The deadline for the House letter has been extended is now today at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
 
Senate Letter: On the other side of the Capitol, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are sending a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee that requests full funding for the FCT program in FY26. A copy of the letter may be viewed here. The deadline for the Senate letter is tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. EDT.


Urgent Request: Please contact your elected officials ASAP and ask them to sign the Brownley-Johnson letter or the Wicker-Blumenthal letter. Draft talking points are below:

• On behalf of __________ Airport, I would like to thank you for supporting the FAA Contract Tower Program and ask for your continued assistance in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process.
• As you know, the Contract Tower Program is a successful and cost-effective program that enhances aviation safety at our airport and at 264 other small airports around the country. It is critical that Congress continue to invest in this critical aviation program.
• For your representative: Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) have drafted a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting full funding for the Contract Tower Program in the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
• For your senators: Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have drafted a bipartisan letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting full funding for the Contract Tower Program in the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
• I realize you receive several funding requests this time of year. But I urge you to highlight your support for our airport and for the cost-effective FAA Contract Tower Program by cosigning this important appropriations request letter.  
• At a time when Congress, the administration, and aviation stakeholders are working to enhance aviation safety, it is critical that Congress fully fund the FAA Contract Tower Program. Thank you again for supporting our airport and for considering our request.