Airports Council International -North America (ACI-NA) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) held a joint legislative conference in Washington D.C. last week. The two-day conference included an outstanding lineup of speakers. Although some members of Congress had to cancel their appearance due to votes on the Hill, the more than two hundred registered attendees did get to hear from Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. (Photo – From left are Vic Bird, Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Mark Brewer, Chairman, AAAE and Chris Willenborg, Chairman of NASAO.)
Joining Senator Murray were Senators Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). Attendees also heard from Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Michael McCaul (R-Tex.). FAA’s Michael Whitaker, Deputy Administrator also provided remarks.
Todd Hauptli, President and CEO of AAAE and Kevin Burke, President and CEO of ACI-NA laid out their federal policy priorities for the year and the upcoming FAA reauthorization debate.
One of the consistent messages heard throughout the conference was to get an early start on FAA re-authorization. “We’re already laying the groundwork,” said Congressman Rahall. He did stress, however, that it’s going to take all of us working together. Senator Ayotte said that they’re looking for feedback from aviation stakeholders on what they would like to see in the next re-authorization. (Photo – Sen. Patty Murray was presented with the ‘Friend of Airports’ award by ACI-NA and AAAE.)
