EAA Participates in GA Town Hall in Tarkio, Missouri

On Saturday, July 8, in Tarkio, Missouri, the Wingnuts Flying Circus and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) hosted their General Aviation Town Hall as part of the 19th annual Tarkio Air Show and Fly-In. EAA CEO/Chairman Jack Pelton was a part of the large panel whose discussion focused on FAA reauthorization. Moderated by Rep. Graves, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the panel included Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA)- Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, Rouzer (R-NC), Davids (D-KS), Nehls (R-TX), and Crawford (R-AR), along with the presidents and CEOs of most of the major general aviation associations including AOPA, GAMA, HAI, and NBAA as well as a number of other industry dignitaries.

Chairman Graves set the stage for the panel, highlighting how the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently passed H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (FAA reauthorization), which includes the first general aviation specific title, with a unanimous 63-0 vote. The bill is expected to be taken up by the full house next week. Pelton thanked Chairman Graves for his leadership and also thanked all of the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for listening to the issues and concerns of our community by holding events such as this one, as well as a number of general aviation specific hearings and addressing them in H.R. 3935. Pelton also took the opportunity to reflect on how those in attendance at last year’s event listened and that most of the issues brought up by the GA associations are included in the House bill, including the expansion of BasicMed, MOSAIC, as well as many others.