U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

Of Transportation 

The Honorable Pete P. Gallego 

United States House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Gallego: 

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1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the City of Del Rio for a grant 

under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development 

Program. 

The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller 

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. 

In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded. 

On June 24, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by July 26. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely yours, 
PETEP. GALLEGO 

2.3Ro tlrsrmcr, TEXI'S 

(!tongre}js of tbe 'mtnfteb ~tate}j 

JJouse of i\epresetttatihe!i 

~sbington, :m(( 20515-4323 

June 20, 2013 

Brooke Chapman, Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development 

Office ofAviation Analysis 

U.S. Depart:tnent of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Room W86-307 

Dear Mrs. Chapman: 

431 CANNON HQUSE Orru:a; IJUIWING 

WASHIWGTQN, OC20515 

{,202)225-4511 

I write to request favorable consideration of a Small Community Air Service Development 

(SCASD) Grant application put forward by the City of Del Rio. The Queen City of the Rio 

Grande, Del Rio is a vibrant military conununity with a diversifieq economy based on busine.ss 

and commerce, tourism, and agriculture. 

As you know, I have beell a strong supportet of small regional airpotts for a long time. As a 

state legislator, I worked to increase funding for improvement of regional airports and ensure 

that smaller regional airports were not forgotten or left behind. Del Rio's was one such airport. 

Over time, several g1·ants allowed Del Rio both to build a modern air terminal and lengthen 

runways. 

Thanks to local efforts and your support; Del Rio became the only border community between 

Laredo and El Paso (some 850 miles) to offer passenger service. The recent loss of such air 

service has negatively impacted conunruuty residents. From government employee$ at 

Laughlin Air Force Base to those engaged in the international trade sector to the service 

industries relying on tourism - all have now lost a vital and convenient air link to the rest of 

Texas. 

Del Rio has over 35,000 residents. It has worked to develop a partnership with numerous 

entities (both governmental_ non-governmental and private) U1at include international, regional 

and local support for a route U1at allows service from Del Rio httemational Airport (DRT) to 

Dallas~Fort Worth International Au·port (DFW). From DFW, our area's residents and growing 

busu1esses will have access to the world. 

PHINTEO ON RECYCUO PAPER 
l l 

l 

I 

i 

To: Brooke Chapman, Associate Director 

Re: Del Rio, TX Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) Grant 

June 20,2013 

Page2 

Please·know that I strongly support the City of Del Rio's application for Smail Community Air 

Service Development Grant. I would much appreciate any consideration their applieatlcinfml 

be given. In the eva1tyou have questions. or concerns about my l'eq.uest, ple~se·t~e!:fi:e~ to 

co'rita.ct nte or Mierhael Pacheco .in my Washington, D.C., office. Mlcltael can b~:'n:!aclled at 

202.225..4511 or Michael.Pacheco@mail.house.gov . 

Pete P. Gallego 

Membffi' .. Of Congress 

PPG/mp