On the recordFebruary 3, 1998
I would just cite the Federal law that contemporarily governs Washington National. It says: The Federal Government has a continuing but limited interest in the operation of the two Federally-owned airports which serve the travel and cargo needs of the entire metropolitan Washington region as well as the District of Columbia and the national seat of Government. To be candid about it, I think if it weren't for the Congress, National Airport, like many other close-in metropolitan airports, would have been closed. It is just that the Congress would never have accepted that. Of course it was funded by the Federal Government through 1987, and since that time has received appropriate grants from several Federal entities. So I believe the idea that there is not an appropriate national and Federal role here cannot be substantiated.
Source
govinfo.gov
