Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Aviation Across America welcomed passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. Specifically, the organization recognized the inclusion of $30 million through 2025 for the development of sustainable fuel and technologies. The bill also authorizes $4 billion through 2025 for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund, and additionally included $3 billion out of the General Fund for the AIP for 2021, which will increase by $250 million per year up to $4 billion in 2025.
Additionally, the Moving Forward Act directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to establish a series of public service announcement campaigns during fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to raise awareness about career opportunities, and increase diversity, within the transportation and aviation sectors.
“We welcome the passage of this legislation, which will help to ensure that businesses and communities have access to the tools and services they need during this critical time, as well as invest in our future workforce, and support the needs of rural communities around the nation,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
“Our aviation system serves as a lifeline to rural America, connecting businesses, manufacturers and farms to new markets, as well supporting jobs and our food supply chain,” said Niel Ritchie, Senior Adviser for the Main Street Project. “This legislation will also help to raise awareness about opportunities within the aviation industry, as well as support access for rural communities to masks, tests, health care, and other critically needed supplies and services, which is crucial as rural America aims to recover from the impact of this unprecedented crisis.”
There are more than 5,000 airports across the country, and most scheduled airline service goes through a small portion of these airports. As a result, for thousands of communities across the country, these aircraft and airports are a literal lifeline, supporting emergency services fire-fighting, law enforcement, medical transportation, search and rescue, crop protection, powerline maintenance and pipeline inspection, and many other services. This is more important than ever as medical services have seen a 40% decline due to the recent crisis, and over 11 million Americans live in a County with no hospital.
General aviation supports more than 1.1 million American jobs, and an economic impact of $247 billion per year.
Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit coalition of over 6,000 individuals, businesses, agricultural groups, FBO’s, airports, elected officials, charitable organizations, and leading business and aviation groups that support the interests of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.
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