House GA Caucus Grows to 184 Members

May 25, 2012

The leaders of the House General Aviation (GA) Caucus recently noted that caucus membership has grown to 184, making it one of the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives.

That figure also marks the highest level of participation in the House GA caucus in its three-year history.

“The ongoing growth in the GA Caucus demonstrates the importance of general aviation to congressional districts across the country,” said Lisa Piccione, NBAA senior vice president, government affairs. “As NBAA Members in all 50 states have contacted their legislators, we can see ever-increasing interest and awareness in Congress about the benefits of general aviation.

“As of February 2011, shortly after the 112th Congress convened, the House GA Caucus stood at 81 members,” noted Piccione. “In just over one year, more than 100 more representatives have added their names to the caucus list.”

Co-chaired by Reps. John Barrow (D-GA) and Sam Graves (R-MO), the House GA Caucus serves as an informal, bipartisan group that promotes the essential role that GA plays in local communities and the national economy.

GA caucuses were formed in 2009 to promote the importance of all general aviation, including business aviation, particularly to smaller communities. Of the approximately 19,000 small and regional airports in the U.S., only about 500 are served by commercial airlines. General aviation is a vital and necessary means of access to the entire country, especially in those areas without commercial service.

“The House GA Caucus is a powerful forum of representatives,” Piccione added. “The caucus emphasizes the critical local, regional and national contributions of general aviation, and serves to educate members of Congress and their staff about the importance of general aviation to each congressional district, as well as to the national transportation system.”

Review the complete list of representatives and senators who are members of the GA caucuses.