WASHINGTON, D.C. – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato has called on the newly formed bipartisan Congressional Jobs Now! Caucus to include funding for airport infrastructure projects in the Caucus’s upcoming discussions as one way to help create jobs and promote economic growth.
“The improvement of airport infrastructure helps increase safety for the traveling public,” said Principato. “It is an investment in the future of our national transportation infrastructure system, and it creates construction jobs today while paving the way for job creation in the future.”
The FAA reported that by June all but $5 million of the $1.1 billion appropriated by the Airport Improvement Program funding included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act had been authorized to 323 projects in the United States. These projects have created positive short- and long-term effects on communities by providing local jobs and opportunities for economic growth, Principato noted.
Principato stressed that further investment in airport infrastructure would allow the industry to take a step forward in preparing for NextGen, which begins and ends at the airport.
“Though the economic slowdown has impacted the entire aviation industry, airports continue to have a responsibility to maintain our facilities to meet passenger safety, security and capacity needs today as well as into the future,” said Principato. “Airports will be on the front line in providing additional airport terminal and roadway capacity needs to take full advantage of the airfield and airspace capacity increases NextGen will provide.”
The new Jobs Now! Caucus has 161 House members. It is co-chaired by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-Mich.), and will hold its first meeting after Congress’ return from the Thanksgiving recess.
