David Skaggs: “today's debate is not about whether there will be a monument to Ronald Reagan's Presidency; there are several, and there…”

“today's debate is not about whether there will be a monument to Ronald Reagan's Presidency; there are several, and there will likely be more. The largest Federal building in Washington bears his name, as does the newest Nimitz-class carrier in the Navy's fleet. Mr. Reagan was committed to, and perhaps best remembered for, keeping the Federal Government out of local affairs. That's what makes the renaming of this airport, over vociferous local opposition, so inappropriate. Mr. Reagan signed the bill in 1986 that put Washington National Airport under local control. Today, the Federal Government no more controls Washington National Airport than it does the airports in Denver or Los Angeles. Denver International Airport, like most major airports, was built with substantial help from the Federal Government but is operated by a local authority, accountable to the people it serves. If Congress were to attempt to rename Denver's DIA after former President Eisenhower, or LAX after John Denver, I suspect most here would adamantly oppose overriding local control. And the most devoted supporters of former President Reagan's belief in local control would lead the charge. Yet that's the precedent we would set today by passing this bill. It stands for the absurd proposition that any airport can be renamed, without regard to local opinion. Congress make a commitment to local control of Washington National Airport in 1986 under the Ronald Reagan administration.”