THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

The Honorable Aaron Schock 

U.S. House of Representatives 

. 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. Department of Transportation'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 of 40 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 of projects that can 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 that the 

Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

this program. 
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HOUSE ADMINISTRATION 

Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

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June 14, 2012 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200New Jersey Ave, S.E. 

Washington D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

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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 

provides valuable low cost flights for the people of Central Illinois. In addition, these low cost flights . 

draw attention to the daily network carriers allowing steady growth among all carriers. With the 

termination of Air Tran 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. 

1 know that the Springfield Airport Authority is in great hopes of receiving a grant 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 of this request as well as the decision, 

when made. Than~ you for your attention to this important application. 

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Member of Congress 

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