## THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 20590



### The Honorable Aaron Schock U.S. House ofRepresentatives

. Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Schock: July 17, 2012



### Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Springfield Airport Authority for a grant under the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation'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 in the same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developingsolutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting 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 that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed.

this program..:\r\liOf\1 SCHOCI<**CO~IMITTEE** ON ':'J,;ys & rv1EANS**Cc~.H.:l1TTEE** ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary 

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United States Department ofTransportation 1200NewJersey Ave, S.E. Washington D.C. 20590
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### I have been contacted by the Springfield Airport Authority regarding their application to acquire a grant award, to help recruit 

### a low cost carrier to serve their area. As explained to me, the Springfield Airport Authority would like to acquire a grant award to help a new airline offset the startup costs at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. 

### I understand that Direct Air providesvaluable low cost flights for the people ofCentral Illinois. In addition, these low cost flights

. draw attention to the daily network carriers allowing steady growth among all carriers. With the termination ofAirTran at the Bloomington Airport, Central Illinois will lose a significant amount of low cost airfare. The low cost carriers provide affordable airfare 

### to many destinations in the southwest and southeast in the United States. I understand that the Springfield Airport Authority is ready to implement a marketing and awareness plan aimed at the entire Central Illinois region. A plan is also in place to draw attention to the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport's access to the railway between Chicago and 

### St. Louis.


### 1know that

### the Springfield Airport Authority is in great hopes of receiving agrant in order to attract a low cost air carrier to replace Direct Air. I hope their request is given full and fair consideration. Please respond to my Peoria Congressional Office with the status ofthis request as well as the decision, when made.

### Than~ you for your attention tothis important application. 

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