CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON
Minnesota 7th
District
http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2000
CONTACT: Bill Black 202/225-2165
HOUSE APPROVES FUNDING FOR AIRPORTS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Collin C.
Peterson (DFL-7th District) today voted in favor of a bill to release
federal funds for improving airports across the U.S.
The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, now
known as AIR-21, passed the House and will head for the President’s
signature after a months-long struggle on Capitol Hill.
Although money from AIR-21 must go through the states, Rep. Peterson
says he hopes major repairs and projects like St. Cloud’s proposed runway
expansion can get underway.
“A lot of dedicated folks worked hard
putting the implements in place to improve the St. Cloud airport as soon as
this funding became available,” said Peterson.
“The City, the airport management, the Central Minnesota
Transportation Alliance, the Area Planning Organization can all be thanked
for that,” said Peterson. “Now I hope MNDoT will move quickly to help
St. Cloud get it’s runway extended and attract more airlines to offer more
destination choices for people across the mid-state area.”
The legislation provides $3.2 billion to
improve airports in 2001 - a 64% increase over this year’s funding level.
The following two years are funded above $3.2 billion.
“With this amount of attention going
toward the nation’s airports system, everyone who flies is going to see
positive changes happening over the next few years,” said Peterson. “And because the medium and smaller airports gain funding
through AIR-21, every airport between Alexandria, Moorhead and Warroad is
going to benefit.”
AIR-21 authorizes three years of spending
for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain the nation’s air
traffic control network, provide aviation safety enforcement and run all the
FAA’s other functions. The
legislation also requires for the first time that money collected by the
federal government into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund will be used for
its intended aviation-related purposes and not held to off-set federal
deficits.
“The airports in my district
needed this bill to pass,” said Peterson.
“I’m relieved that the funding will be there to keep them
operating smoothly and allow improvements to be made.”
-30-