### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 20590

The Honorable Steven M. Palazzo U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Palazzo: July 17, 2012

Thankyou for your letter supportingthe proposal submitted by the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport 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 than4 awards Iilaybe to communities in the san1e State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects thatcan be funded.

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before.the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you thatthe Department will givefull and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed.

· As is our normal practice, I am placing a

DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact this program. ofyourletter and this record ofthis matter. I ......,.,........ in Docket your interest inSTEVEN M. PALAZZO 4,. DISTRICT. MISSISSIPPI HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITrEE SUBCOMMllTEEON SEAPOWER MID PROJECTION FORCES ASSISTANT REPUBLICAN WHIP 

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HOUSE SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN. SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE AND AERONAUTICS


### June 6, 2012 ·

TheHonorable Ray Lahood Secretary 

### U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE**Washingt~n,** 

### DC 20590-0001

Dear Secretary Lahood: SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION



### I would like to express my support for Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport's (GPT) application for the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The $950,000 grant is a critical element to helping OPTrestore air

### service to/from key Florida markets. Leisure and business customers from these markets are crucial to the recovery and sustainability ofthe MS GulfCoast economy whichhas been deeply impacted in past years by Hurricane Katrina, the GulfofMexico oil spill and the nationwide economic downturn.

Due to the declining levels ofoverall airline competition and the loss ofGulfport-Biloxi's only low-cost carrierin March of2011, the Mississippi GulfCoast tourism industryis missing much needed tourism
revenue. As aresult ofthe decline in air service, low cost fares are unavailable from Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, and other Florida markets to the Mississippi GulfCoast. Also, the Mississippi GulfCoast region and businesses are hampered bya decline in nonstop flights and increasing air fares.
The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is aggressivelypursuing new air service in 

### an effort to restore the vital link to Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, orother Florida cities. The ultimate goal is to targetcarriers with 

### abase, hub, orfocus city in the Florida market. The Small Community Air Service Development Grant is critical in finalizing an agreement with a targeted air carrier. It

### is my hope that you will give their application everypossible consideration. Sincerely,

# ~~14r- Steven M. Palazzo Member ofCongress

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