PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSMAN BILL SHUSTER RECEIVES AOPA’S HARTRANFT AWARD

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) was recently presented with the 2014 Joseph B. Hartranft Jr. Award — one of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) highest honors — for his unparalleled work on behalf of general aviation in the U.S. Congress.

The Hartranft award is presented annually to an elected or appointed government official – whether in federal, state, local or a foreign government – who has made significant contributions to the advancement of general aviation. It is named after AOPA’s first president and former chairman of the board, “Doc” Hartranft.

Rep. Shuster is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and a member of the General Aviation Caucus.

“Rep. Shuster is a strong supporter of general aviation and a key AOPA ally in Congress,” says AOPA President Mark Baker. “He understands general aviation’s important role in our economy and national transportation system, and we’re grateful for his leadership on critical issues important to general aviation.”

Shuster’s committee this year will take up Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation. Under Shuster’s stewardship, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee expedited approval of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act and approved legislation requiring the FAA to go through the rulemaking process before implementing policy changes related to sleep disorders.

Shuster supported the aviation community when the FAA arbitrarily sought to close air traffic control contract towers during the 2013 budget sequestration battle, and he has opposed both the imposition of air traffic control fees at major aviation events and proposed per-flight FAA user fees.

Shuster represents the Ninth Congressional District in southwestern Pennsylvania and has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since 2001. His state is home to 131 public use airports – including nine in his district – that overall contribute $23.6 billion in annual revenue to Pennsylvania’s economy.