One Of The Plan's Proposers Says A Goal Is To Make Aviation 'Unnecessary'

Freshman Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) made headlines Thursday with the introduction of what she calls a "Green New Deal". Among the planks in the platform, which insiders say is unlikely to ever be debated in Congress in its current form, is to make air travel unnecessary.

Ocasio-Cortez provided an updated "FAQ" to NPR following an interview on Morning Edition Thursday. Among the bullet points is "Overhauling transportation systems" to reduce emissions — including expanding electric car manufacturing, building "charging stations everywhere," and expanding high-speed rail to "a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary" in the next 10 years.

That did not sit particularly well with Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA), the chair of the House Transportation Committee's Aviation Subcommittee. Larsen represents the district where Boeing builds many of its airliners.

“I am going to do my due diligence to examine the potential impacts of the new Green New Deal resolution on Northwest Washington," Larsen (pictured) said in a  statement released to the media.

"I have a strong record of supporting robust federal investments in greener transportation to keep local economies thriving, create new jobs and foster the advancement of energy efficient technology. As Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, I also support innovation in U.S. aviation and aerospace through the development and deployment of new and greener technologies.

"However, I am not yet ready to support the new Green New Deal resolution. It is difficult to support the resolution right now when one of the lead sponsors says one of the intentions is to make air travel unnecessary.

"I cannot sell that position to the 23,000 women and men who live and work in Washington’s Second District who support the U.S. aviation economy by making the safest aircrafts and aerospace products in the world.

"There is a lot of good in the resolution, but I have a lot of questions.”

(Images from file)

FMI: larsen.house.gov, NPR