Reps. Sam Graves and Rick Larsen to Receive NATA Distinguished Public Service Awards

United States Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO-6), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA-2), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, will receive NATA’s 2023 Distinguished Public Service Award.

The 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 (FAA) and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years. The bill—which moved out of the committee after a unanimous vote, then received broad bipartisan support with a 351-69 floor vote—marks a first for general aviation.

“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,” Graves says. “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 also has provisions to improve FAA efficiency and operations, grow the aviation workforce, invest in U.S. airport infrastructure, uphold safety standards, reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board, encourage innovation in aviation, and enhance the passenger experience.

“There are so many good specific provisions in there, like being able to increase AIP, the airport improvement program, to help GA airports,” Graves says, “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.”

“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,” stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna.

Congressman Rick Larsen’s district is home to the Boeing Everett Factory, the largest manufacturing building in the world by volume; as a result, he represents more Boeing employees than any other member of Congress. He also represents many of the approximately 1,700 aerospace suppliers in Washington state, from one- to two-person machine shops to national and international companies located in the area.

“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,” Larsen says. “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 says 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.

“Overall, looking at the big picture, general aviation is about $246 billion annually, and about 1 million jobs,” Larsen says. “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.