States Association to Hold Hearing on U.S. Air Transportation Challenges

2/3/2004

From: Jennifer Keller of the Aerospace States Association, 256-782-5061

News Advisory:

On Feb. 10, Lt. Governors and top federal agency administrators will gather in Washington, D.C. to discuss the pressing issues facing the U.S. aviation transportation industry in the states. The Honorable Norm Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation will serve as the featured witness. Secretary Mineta is expected to discuss the need for a next generation air transportation system for the country.

The public hearing on the Future of Air Transportation in America will be conducted by the Aerospace States Association. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Capitol Hill in the House Science Committee Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The format of the meeting will be committee hearing style with Lieutenant Governors, ASA delegates and alternates seated at the dais, and three different panels of speakers seated at the witnesses table.

The first speaker at 8:30 am will be the Honorable Robert S. (Bob) Walker, former Congressman, chairman of the House Science Committee, and chairman Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace industry. Joining Chairman Walker will be Mike Hudson from the National Academy of Science, Committee on Aeronautics Research and Technology for Vision 2050. Following these two speakers at 9 a.m. will be Secretary Mineta.

After Secretary Mineta, a government panel consisting of the JPO Director and principals for DoD, DoC, DHS, OSTP, and NASA will present on the topic.

The final panel is a user's panel consisting of principals from Boeing, the Airports Council International, Eclipse, Federal Express, Avocet, and the General Aviation Manufactures Association.

Honorable Mary Fallin, ASA chairperson and Lt. Governor of Oklahoma, will preside at the hearing.

The Aerospace States Association (ASA) is the nation's premier aerospace advocacy organization representing the states. ASA focuses on aviation and space-related national policy development, economic advancement, scientific enrichment, and academic excellence. The organization's main thrust is to ensure that the interests of the citizens from each of the member states are represented at the federal level in each of the areas they define as crucial.

Membership in ASA is open to all U.S. states and territories. At present, over forty states maintain an active membership in ASA. Each state is represented by a governor-appointed delegate who heads the states' delegation to ASA. In most states, the Lieutenant Governor serves as the state's delegate to ASA. State delegations are chaired by the state delegate and generally consist of alternate delegates representing state agencies, commissions, organizations, industries, and community leaders with interests in economic, academic, and workforce advancement, particularly related to aviation and/or space within the state. State ASA delegations, collectively, promote the unique interests of each state in federal aerospace policy formulation and implementation.

For more information about the Aerospace States Association visit http://www.aerospacestates.us or call 256-782-5061.