Airports Council International-North America President Greg Principato sent a letter to the newly formed bipartisan Congressional Jobs Now! Caucus urging lawmakers to include funding for airport infrastructure projects in the Caucus’s upcoming discussions.
Principato said that the improvement of airport infrastructure not only helps increase safety for the traveling public, but it also is an investment in the future of our national transportation infrastructure system and helps creates jobs.
The FAA reported that by June all but $5 million of the $1.1 billion appropriated by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) had been authorized to 323 separate projects throughout the United States. These projects have created positive short- and long-term effects on communities by providing local jobs and opportunities for economic growth.
In addition to job creation, 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.