## u.s. Department of

Transportation Office of the Secretary OfTransportation

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

### o 

### 12'51200 New Jersey Ave., 

### 5.e. 

## JUl 022odlll) SEP Ib I 'Washington, DC20590

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted bythe City ofDel Rio for a grant underthe 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 amaximum ,of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. Inorder to provide communities with latitude indeveloping solutions to their air service deficiencies, the,statute provides flexibility inthetypes 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 on the merits ofanyparticular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to allproposals that have been properly filed. As is ournormal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0l20 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. Iappreciate your interest in this program. , Sincerely yours,

Br eChapman Associate Director Small Community Air Service, 

# . PETE P. GALLEGO 23RD DISTRICT, TexAs 

# (lCongrtggoftbt Wnittb ~tattg 1!)ousfof l\epresfntatibes umasbington, 11lqc 20515-4323

June 20,2013

Brooke Chapman, Associate Director Small Community Air ServiceDevelopment OfficeofAviation Analysis U.S.Department ofTransportation 1200New JerseyAve., SE Washington, DC 20590 RoomW86-307 DearMrs. Chapman : 431 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (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 Riois a vibrant military community with a diversified economy based onbusiness and commerce, tourism, and agriculture. As you know, Ihave been a strong supporter ofsmall regional airports for a long time. As a state legislator, I worked to increase funding for improvement ofregional airports and ensure that smaller regional airports were not forgotten or leftbehind. DelRio's was one such airport. Over time, several grants allowed Del Rio both to build a modem air terminal and lengthen runways. Thanks to local efforts and your support, Del Riobecame 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 community residents. From government employees 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 35,000residents. It has worked to develop a partnership with numerous entities (both governmental, non-governmental and private) that include international, regional, and local support for a route that allows service from Del Rio International Airport (DRT)to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). From DFW, our area's residents and growing businesses willhave accessto the world.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER, 

# .

- To: Brooke Chapman, Associate Director

Re:DelRio,TXSmall Community Air Service Development (SCASD)Grant June 20,2013 Page 2

Please know that I strongly support the City ofDel Rio's application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant. I would much appreciate any consideration their application can be given. In the event you have questions or concerns about my request, please feel free to contact me or Michael Pacheco in my Washington, D.C., office. Michael can be reached at 202.225.4511or Michael.Pacheco@maiI.house.gov
. Sincerely,

Pete P. Gallego Member ofCongress
PPG/mp