May 21, 2009
What’s at Issue
Representatives Allen Boyd (D-FL) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) in conjunction with general aviation industry groups including the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association, and Experimental Aircraft Association have established the General Aviation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Boyd will serve as the Chairman and Representative Ehlers as the Co-Chairman of the caucus, which is open to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives despite party affiliation and committee assignments.
Why It’s Important
The purpose of this congressional caucus is to bring Members of Congress and their staff together in support of general aviation by holding regular meetings on issues affecting the industry. Regular briefings will be held on issues such as the Large Aircraft Security Program and Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization legislation, among others. A current list of all Members of Congress who have joined the congressional caucus follows:
• Barrow, John (D-GA)
• Bartlett, Roscoe (R-MD)
• Berkley, Shelley (D-NV)
• Berry, Marion (D-AR)
• Bono Mack, Mary (R-CA)
• Boswell, Leonard (D-IA)
• Boyd, Allen (D-FL.), Co-Chair
• Burgess, Michael (R-TX)
• Carnahan, Russ (D-MO)
• Coble, Howard (R-NC)
• DeFazio, Peter (D-OR)
• Dent, Charles (R-PA)
• Duncan, John (R-TN)
• Edwards, Chet (D-TX)
• Etheridge, Bob (D-NC)
• Ehlers, Vernon (R-MI), Co-Chair
• Fallin, Mary (R-OK.)
• Graves, Sam (R-MO)
• Guthrie, Brett (R-KY)
• Issa, Darrell (R-CA)
• Kline, John (R-MN)
• Lee, Chris (R-NY)
• LoBiondo, Frank (R-NJ)
• Manzullo, Donald (R-IL)
• Miller, Candice (R-MI)
• Minnick, Walt (D-ID)
• Lynch, Stephen (D-MA)
• Loebsack, David (D-IA )
• LoBiondo, Frank (R-NJ)
• Mack, Connie (R-FL)
• Massa, Eric (D-NY)
• Moran, Jerry (R-KS.)
• Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX)
• Norton, Eleanor Holmes (D-DC)
• Oberstar, James (D-MN)
• Peterson, Collin (D-MN)
• Petri, Tomas (R-WI)
• Pomeroy, Earl (R-ND)
• Ross, Mike (D-AR)
• Salazar, John (D-CO)
• Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA)
• Schauer, Mark (D-MI)
• Shadegg, John (R-AZ)
• Tiahrt, Todd (R-KS)
• Tiberi, Patrick (R-OH)
• Upton, Fred (R-MI)
• Young, Don (R-AK)
What to Do
Contact your Members of Congress by visiting NATA’s Legislative Action Center. NATA’s Legislative Action Center provides association members with a quick and easy way to email letters directly to Members of Congress in their state.
To view an electronic copy of the Dear Colleague letter sent to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives, please click here.
NATA Position
NATA is pleased with participation from both Republican and Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, the association looks forward to more Members of Congress joining the caucus to enable NATA to reach out and educate those members and staff on important issues, especially aviation security.
Status
On May 21, 2009, NATA along with general aviation industry groups will officially kick off the General Aviation Caucus by hosting a breakfast for Caucus Chairman Allen Boyd and Co-Chairman Vernon Ehlers.
Staff Contacts:
Kristen Moore
Director, Legislative Affairs
kmoore@nata.aero
Click here to view pdf version of Action Call.