Mike Levin: “I will not support the legislation to rename the Washington National Airport. This is not legislation to name an unnamed…”

“I will not support the legislation to rename the Washington National Airport. This is not legislation to name an unnamed airport or a new airport. Washington National Airport already has an appropriate name and has had that name since it opened in 1941. We should have a normal and systematic process for the naming of buildings, bridges, monuments, airports and other public facilities. The names of these landmarks should not bounce around from name to name in response to current events. Such decisions should be made in a non-political and careful manner weighing the many factors which come into play, including the concerns of local governments and authorities. There are many past Presidents, admired by millions of Americans, and others around the world, including Harry S Truman who have no monument in Washington, D.C. We have already, quite appropriately, recognized the accomplishments of President Ronald Reagan in several appropriate ways, including the new federal Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at Federal Triangle (which is the largest building in D.C.) and the Navy's newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.”