U.S. Department of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary OfTransportation

The Honorable Pete P. Gallego United States House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Gallego: ... t

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Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the City ofDel Rio for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation'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 of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects 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 onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,PETEP. GALLEGO 2.3Ro tlrsrmcr,TEXI'S 

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June 20, 2013

Brooke Chapman, Associate Director SmallCommunity Air Service Development Office ofAviationAnalysis U.S. Depart:tnentofTransportation 1200 NewJerseyAve., SE Washington, DC 20590 RoomW86-307 DearMrs. 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 vibrantmilitary conununity with a diversifieq economy based onbusine.ss andcommerce, 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 thatsmaller regional airports were notforgotten orleftbehind. DelRio's was onesuchairport. 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 (bothgovernmental_ non-governmentalandprivate) U1at includeinternational, 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 willhave access to the world.

PHINTEO ON RECYCUO PAPERl l 

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# I i To: Brooke Chapman, AssociateDirector Re: Del Rio, TXSmall CommunityAir Service Development (SCASD) Grant June 20,2013 Page2

Please·know thatI strongly support the City of Del Rio's applicationfor 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 

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## at 202.225..4511 orMichael.Pacheco@mail.house.gov

.

Pete P. Gallego Membffi'

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