Rick Larsen

We are grateful for this committee's leadership, and dismissal for more than a decade, of ALPA's dubious and misleading claims surrounding shortfalls in the Open Skies framework.

We want to thank members of Congress who unanimously passed landmark aviation safety legislation Public Law 111-216.

American innovation, economic growth and global leadership are impossible without the hard-working Americans that make up our nation's aerospace workforce.

American innovation, economic growth, and global leadership are impossible without the hard-working Americans that make up our Nation's aerospace and aviation workforce.

Congress has a responsibility to address these challenges to ensure we retain a robust U.S. aerospace and aviation workforce now and in the future.

It is imperative that Congress put the safety of passengers and aviation workers first.

Another reason why maybe it is a good idea to increase the authorization levels for section 625, because it is clear from the amount of applications that come in that we are hardly meeting the demand right now.

The unprecedented safety record that we've benefitted from... should serve as a testament to the life-saving benefit that it brings to the aviation industry.

Congress should build on this program's success--an idea central to Ranking Member Larsen's Aviation WORKS Act.

I understand exactly what the shortage of examiners and trainers means, and that just translates on the commercial side, as well.

This bill offers an opportunity to enhance safety, protect and empower our aviation workforce, bolster consumer protections, and stimulate innovation.

The investments we authorize and oversee in this committee promote a cleaner, greener, safer, and more accessible transportation network.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering results for communities across the country.

The robust participation from Members on both sides of the aisle as witnesses today demonstrates, as the chairman and I have said many times, that transportation is bipartisan--in fact, nonpartisan.

I would like to welcome everyone to our Member Day hearing, which is an opportunity for our House colleagues to testify.

I support expanding multimodal grant and loan programs like RAISE, INFRA, and TIFIA to work better for our ports.

Nearly 40% of the jobs in my home state of Washington are tied to international trade.

This project is big, and it can't happen without federal help.

This bill offers an opportunity to enhance safety, protect and empower our aviation workforce, bolster consumer protections, and stimulate innovation.

Ensuring that this committee continues to build on that success is essential.

We must start modernizing existing maritime workforce programs.

Our country's ports and working waterways are critical infrastructure.

I appreciate the committee's ongoing support for key surface transportation, bridge, and transit programs.

Including a diverse range of perspectives is essential to ensuring the work of this committee and that we meet the needs of people from all across the country.

We appreciate Chairman Graves (R-LA) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) for their work on the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization (AAIM) Act.