STEVEN M. PALAZZO 4•• DISTRICf. MISSISSIPPI HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMfiTEE SUBCOMMITT'EE ON SEA POWER AND PROJECTION FORCES ASSISTANT REPUBLICAN WHIP 

# ([ongress of tbe ilnlteb !etates**~otme** 

# of**~rtientatibes1** Dasl)ington, J)Qt 

### 20515-2404 SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS HOUSE SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN. SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE AND AERONAUTICS June 

### 6, 2012



### The Honorable Ray Lahood Secretary 

### U.S

. Department ofTransportation 1200 

### New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590-0001


### Dear Secretary Lahood: SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION



### _c 

### 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 GPT restore air 

### service to/from key Florida markets. Leisure and business customers from these markets are crucial to the recovery and sustainability ofthe MS Gulf Coast economy which 

### has been deeply impacted in past years by Hurricane Katrina, the GulfofMexico oil spill and 

### the nationwide economic downturn.
Due to the declining levels of overall airline competition and the loss of Gulfport-Biloxi's only low-cost carrier in March of 2011, 

### the Mississippi Gulf Coast 

### tourism industry is missing much needed tourism revenue. As 

### a result 

### 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 Gulf Coast region and 

### businesses are hampered by a decline in nonstop flights 

### and increasing air 

### fares.
The 

### Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is aggressively pursuing new air 

### service in 

### an effort to 

### restore the vital link to Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or other Florida cities. The ultimate goal is to target carriers with a base, hub, or focus 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 every possible consideration.

Sincerely,

# ~~#ty-- Steven M. Palazzo Member ofCongress

WASWNGIJ)N PC; 331 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINCl W

ASHINOTON. DC 2051 S PHONE: (102) 2ll-Sn2

FAX : (202) 225-1074 

## S10-120621-011 GULfPORT · 1325 2STH AVENUE GULFPORT , MS 39$01 PHON£: (228) 864-7670

FAX : (228) 864--3099 HA1TJESB!!RG; 641 MAIN STitEET, Sl1rTE 142

HATTIESBURG. MS 39401

PHONE: (601) 582-3246

FAX: (601)**S82 34~2**  www.palazzo

.bouse.gov rASCAGO!U.A' 3118 PASCAGOULA STREET SUITE 181 PASCAGOULA

. MS 39S67 PHONE : (228) 202-8104

FAX: (228) 202-8105 LA1J1W.; IS14 WI On! STREET

. SUITE 3 lAUREl., MS 39440 PHONE: (601) 423-9711 FAX : (601) 428-9704flU loEF: F

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Mi MED SERVI CE S Ci>J- H l N G.**•· IOU** **it~• :>**  ; \I JD ur:C AU ;, r- r:,\ I P.S ( : Or..it.:c n(L SCIE UC[ i\ f",JD**T;-Vi.USf'Ui\r!-"\ T!** **Or ~** 



### The Honorable Ray LaHood 

# · Il nitnl**~t Jl.Ts** **!?,c atr** **U.SH ir~** **TO N.**  DC 2051( 1



### June 

### 5, 2012

Secretary, U

. S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, SW Washington, D

.C. 20590-0001

Dear Ray, 

### I would like to express my support for Gulfport-Biloxi lntemational Airp01t (GPT)'s application for a Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant. Funding from the U

. S

. Department ofTransportation in the amount of$950,000 will help to restore vital air service between Gulfport and key Florida locations. Leisure and business customers from these markets are crucial to 

### the recovery and sustainability of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy. 

### My state has been deeply impacted 

### in past years by HutTicane Katrina and the Gulf of Mexico 

### oil spill as well as the nationwide financial downturn. The loss of OPT's only low-cost air catTier in 2011 and decreasing airline competition also have contributed to a loss of revenue for the region's tourism industry. The Small Conmmnity Air Service Development Program is critical to providing a 

### link between Mississippi and the targeted Florida market.
l hope that you will give Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport 's application every consideration. Should additional information 

### be required from my office, please contact Bevin Wilkinson of my staff 

### at (228) 604-2383.
With best wishes, 

### I am



### RFW/BW



# s 10- • 120613-020**,._ ,-·** **-:~ :·n** **;, .** **-~~** 5 2}**1-Z·S~~iV** iJZ8i**7~2-S. OJ** THA D C OCHR/\N 

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. DC 2051 0

- 2 40 2

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary of Transportation June 9, 2012

U.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, 

## sw washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary LaHood: CO MMITTEE**r)~l t'** **f·P IPf** **·~** T l() f

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.
COM MITTEE ON ;>
. GriCUl Tl !fl E nU Tr:ITI0' 1• M· iD rOG l:S TP. ; CO MMITTEE ON

R U L ES AND ADMI NISTRATION

It has come to my attention that the Gulfport-Biloxi lnternational Ai rport has app l ied co your office for .Small Communir::y Air Service Development Program grant funds. I understand that the grant wil l be used to restore air service to/from key Florida markets

. As you know, the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been deeply impacted in recent years by Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

. Additionally, the declining levels of overall airline competition and the loss of Gulfport-Biloxi's only low-cost carrier in March of 2011 dictate that the Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism industry partners find other avenues to provide much needed tourism revenue. The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is aggressively pursuing new air service in an effort to restore the vital link to Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or othe r Florida cities. I am confident that you will give every possible consideration to awarding a Small Community Air Service Development Grant to this airport, as these funds will be important in finalizing an agreement with a targeted air carrier.
As a courtesy to me, I would appreciate the attachment of this letter of support to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport's application in file. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,

# ;:??~ /THAD COCHRAN

United States Senator
TC/mbm



### S10-120615-00-I