SI 0-090831-019 

e 

US.D«partm«l1fof AssisJant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

TtansportOtlon Woshington, DC 20590 

Office C3f f he Secreiary 

of Transportation PFr 2 9 2009 

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 o 

Dear Senator Stabenow: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Capital Region 

Aiiport Authority in Lansing, Michigan, for a grant under tlie Small Community Air 

Service Development Program (Small Community Program). I am responding on behalf 

of Secretary LaHood. 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

Congress appropriated $8 million for grant awards under this program in 

Fiscal Year 2009. Under the statute, tlie U.S. Department of Transportation may use the 

funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each year, although no more than foui- may 

be to communities in the same State. In order to provide conmiunities with latitude in 

developing solutions to their air service problems, the statute provides significant 

flexibility in how die financial assistance may be used. 

On July 10. the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 28. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department, I am sure you understand diat I cannot comment on 

the merits of any particulai" proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will 

give full consideration to all the proposals that have been filed. 

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

OST-2009-0149 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest 

in this program. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and hiternational Affairs 
Si 0-090831-019 2023663675 Lino OSTW85 310 01 20 52 p m 08 

AUG. 31. 2009 12:55PM Senator Debbie Stabenow MO. M l P. 2/2 

DEBBIE STABENOW COHMITOW. 

MICHIGAN AQRICULTUie. NUTRITION. ANOFORESTRy 

BUDGET 

ENERGY U4D NATURAL RESOUnCES 

Baited FINANCE ^tato Senate 

August 31.2009 

133 HART SENATC OFFICE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2204 

The Honorable Raymond L. LaHood 

U. S, Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SW 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. Secretary, 

I am -writing in support of the Small Community Air Service Grant application being submitted 

by the Capital Region Aiiport Authority in Lansmg, Michigan. 

The Capital Region International Airport is located in Michigan's Capital City and provides 

essential air service for state government and regional businesses, The Authority will use &is 

funding to expand services by providing daily non-stop flights between Lansing and Washington 

Dulles International Airport. This will better serve the area and provide much needed ttccess to 

connections to destinations throughout the Eastern U.S. 

I am impressed by the efforts of the Capital Region Airport Authority to expand services to meet 

the needs of the community, I hope you will give their proposal your strong consideration.' 

Sincerely, 

CtMty 

Debbie Stabenow 

United States Senator 

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