Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman French Hill (AR02) issued the following statement after the House passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which includes his provision to spur economic growth in central Arkansas:

“I am proud of the House for delivering a path for FAA modernization and appreciative that this bill includes my provision to advance the Little Rock Port’s effort to bring more economic growth to central Arkansas by freeing up land where the FAA’s VOR cone now sits. I am grateful to Senator Boozman for his partnership in ensuring FAA accountability and to see that the Little Rock Port has the opportunity to expand its property to promote economic development and job creation. The five-year FAA bill provides long-term stability in our aviation industry, puts passenger safety first, and makes important investments in our airports here in Arkansas and across the country.

“Although my central Arkansas job-creating provision was included in this package, I am disappointed that nearly half of the bill includes provisions that have nothing to do with the FAA. The most concerning of these unrelated measures is the $1.7 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), which has a history of waste, fraud, and abuse. The House Financial Services Committee voted 53-3 on a package of bipartisan reforms for the disaster-related CDBG program. I urge Congress to consider these badly needed reforms.”

Background:

The House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 302 – FAA Reauthorization Act - is a bipartisan five-year bill that reauthorizes the FAA’s accounts, making a number of changes to FAA grant programs, and amends and expands regulations related to passenger travel.

In 2011, the Little Rock Port Authority received $10 million in public monies to expand the Port’s industrial park. The funds have allowed the Port to expand by over 600 acres. However, the existence of a VOR cone used for air traffic control has limited the economic potential of some of the purchased land. Once the VOR Cone is relocated, the Port of Little Rock will have access to this land for economic development projects.