United States Representative Barbara Comstock: 19 Regional Lawmakers Urge No Changes To Reagan Natio

Bipartisan coalition cites balance between regional airports: Reagan National, Dulles International, and Thurgood Marshall BWI

As Congress continues consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation, appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and a potential infrastructure package, a bipartisan coalition of 19 regional members of Congress today urged their colleagues not to further overburden operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by adding more flight traffic. In their letter, the members point out that when Congress established the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in 1986, it was charged with operating, promoting, and protecting Reagan National and Dulles International together as primary airports serving the metropolitan Washington area, in addition to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The delegation notes that maintaining current rules will allow Dulles and BWI to continue to grow and serve long-haul destinations, while also not subjecting space-constrained National Airport to additional traffic that could overwhelm parking and baggage facilities and have negative impacts on neighboring communities.

The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Don Beyer (D-VA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), A. Don McEachin (D-VA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Anthony Brown (D-MD), John Delaney (D-MD), Evan Jenkins (R-WV), Alex Mooney (R-WV), David McKinley (R-WV), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

"Maintaining operational stability has also achieved balance … so that the broader interests of the region are better served," the congressional representatives wrote. "Our airports enable Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia to access the global economy in ways that create jobs and opportunities for the region. Part of the rationale for the relocation of major corporate headquarters such as SAIC, Hilton Hotels, Nestle USA, and Volkswagen of America is the connectivity our regional aviation system provides."