Lawmakers continue to round out the committee structures for the 118th Congress, including formally naming Rep. Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) as chair of the House aviation subcommittee. Graves moves over from the ranking member seat on aviation with the Republicans taking control. He worked alongside then-aviation subcommittee chair Rick Larsen (D-Washington) in the 117th Congress. Larsen has since moved into the ranking member seat for the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In accepting his new post, Graves cited a need to address the “tumultuous times” in passenger air travel and facilitate opportunities in advanced aviation technologies. “Our subcommittee will work to improve the passenger experience and help transform the FAA to facilitate the entry of new American aviation technologies into the market,” said Graves, who will be charged with spearheading FAA reauthorization legislation this year.
National Air Transportation Association (NATA) president and CEO Curt Castagna praised the selection of Graves to head the subcommittee. “Rep. Garret Graves has distinguished himself as a forward-thinking champion of the U.S. aviation industry, with proven policy expertise and an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing our membership, as well as business aviation’s immense potential for continued evolution with new technology and sustainable innovation,” Castagna said. He further noted that Graves has worked closely with NATA on several initiatives.