Graves & Larsen to Receive Distinguished Service Awards

United States Congressman Sam Graves (Republican-Missouri), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and Congressman Rick Larsen (Democrat, Washington State), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, will receive the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) 2023 Distinguished Public Service Award.

Subject award recognizes the collaborative work of the congressmen in passing the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration as well as aviation-safety and infrastructure programs for the next five-years. The bill—which moved out of the committee after a unanimous vote and received broad bipartisan support with a 351-69 vote on the House floor—marks a first for general aviation.

Congressman Graves stated: “It’s extraordinarily humbling to be recognized by an industry that I care so much about for the things that I have done to try to help the industry. The thing I'm most proud of is the fact that we're going to have the very first ever general aviation title in the bill. That elevates general aviation to the level of other aspects of the FAA reauthorization bill, things like the airlines and passenger safety and air traffic control, just emphasizing the critical importance of this sector.”

The bill comprises provisions germane to: improving the FAA’s operations and overall efficiency, growing the aviation workforce, investment in U.S. airport infrastructure, upholding safety standards, reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board, encouraging aerospace innovation, and enhancing the air-travel experience.

Congressman Graves continued: “There are so many good specific provisions in there, like being able to increase AIP, the airport improvement program, to help GA airports, and we were able to invest in the next generation of aviators, mechanics, manufacturers, and other aviation professionals by creating the National Center for the Advancement of Aerospace. We’re addressing the ongoing shortage of Designated Pilot Examiners by requiring the FAA to establish a program to provide national coordination. Those are just a few of the things that I'm very proud of in the bill, and I’m even prouder of being able to do it on a bipartisan basis.”

NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna remarked: “Congressmen Graves and Larsen are two of the strongest allies the general aviation community has ever had on Capitol Hill. They made an unstoppable team with their shared knowledge of the delicate balance of the aviation ecosystem and commitment to creating and maintaining an alliance of bipartisanship. The congressmen represented aviation businesses well with an enhanced focus on our sector in the House FAA bill, and we are pleased to recognize their monumental efforts and achievements this November.”

Congressman Rick Larsen’s district is home to Boeing’s immense Everett assembly plant—the world’s largest manufacturing building by volume. Ergo, Larsen represents a larger number of Boeing employees than any other Congressional member. Larsen also represents many of the approximately 1,700 Washington State-based aerospace suppliers.

Larsen declared: “I'm honored to receive the award and I'm very honored to receive it with Sam Graves. NATA’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes the work that we’ve both put into developing a bipartisan approach to the bill to get a bipartisan result.”

The Washington Congressman added: “It took a lot of work to get where we got—it didn't happen by accident. And we held it together too, both in committee and then on the floor. I think it happened that way because we listened to members and let them have their say and their input. A lot of those members were able to get things in the bill that were important for their districts and their priorities. I'd like to think that's the way to get things done in Congress—it tends not to be these days—but Sam and I have really worked hard to make this committee an island of partnership in a sea of partisanship, and we hope we can continue that.”

Larsen conceded it was a top priority for him and his colleagues on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure to put general aviation at the center of the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act as they worked to pass the FAA reauthorization bill.

Larsen set forth: “Overall, looking at the big-picture, general aviation is about $246-billion annually, and about 1-million jobs. I know that in Washington State there are about 136,000 people who make up the aerospace workforce. So, I understand the role that GA has played in Washington State and my district, and I think it was a good idea to put some focus on GA. We did that a couple of ways—perhaps most significant was the increase to the Airport Improvement Program, which is tilted toward funding smaller airports. I think it is a strong signal for the general aviation community that this is a bill they can support, and we're glad to have their support."

NATA’s Industry Excellence Award recipients will be recognized during a luncheon on November 2 held in conjunction with the Association’s Aviation Business Conference at the Long Beach Westin in California.

Founded in 1940 to represent the interests of the general aviation business community before the U.S. Congress and federal, state, and local government agencies, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) comprises nearly 3,700 aviation businesses offering a broad range of services to the general aviation and airline industries as well as the U.S. military.

In addition to advocating for the aviation sector, NATA directly serves the traveling public by providing aircraft fuel; on-demand air-charter; aircraft rental, storage, and flight training; aircraft maintenance, parts sales, and line support; as well as business aircraft or fractional ownership fleet management.

FMI: www.nata.aero