Business aviation leaders praised the selection of Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) to become the U.S. Senate majority leader in the upcoming 119th Congress. Long familiar in aviation circles, Thune has served in the Senate since 2005 and in the House of Representatives in the decade before that. He joined the Commerce Committee in 2007 and served as chair for four years until he moved into Senate leadership as whip in 2019.
However, he has continued to keep his hand in aviation matters, working behind the scenes on key issues during the most recent deliberations of the FAA reauthorization bill. NBAA pointed out his advocacy for small towns and rural areas that rely on general aviation.
“Sen. Thune is a key ally to the general aviation community,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “He understands that general aviation is essential in connecting citizens, companies, and communities in South Dakota and across the country, and that the industry plays a vital role in our nation’s economy and transportation system.”
Bolen further pointed to his advocacy for preserving general aviation access to airports and airspace and investing in aviation infrastructure, while also focusing on safety and workforce issues.
NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna agreed: “Throughout Senator Thune’s distinguished Congressional career and service on the Senate Commerce Committee, he has demonstrated a commitment to sound transportation policy, an understanding of the aviation ecosystem, and an appreciation for the value of aviation businesses. We are thrilled to see an aviation advocate step into the majority leader role at such a critical time for our industry.”
With the selection of Thune to the leadership role, the chairmanship of the Commerce Committee would next fall to Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), currently the panel’s ranking Republican, who won reelection last week. Cruz worked with current chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) to steer through the FAA reauthorization legislation and backed President Biden’s selection of Michael Whitaker for the FAA administrator’s post. However, it is not yet known whether he will choose to retain the leadership post or look for a different assignment.
Cantwell also won reelection next week but would shift to ranking Democrat on the committee with the change in Senate control.