Authorizing Use of Passenger Facility Charges From One Airport At A Previously Associated Airport

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada for the time.

Mr. Speaker, the Inland Empire should have control of its regional airport, and local residents should have access to affordable domestic and international flights.

With that in mind, I rise in support of H.R. 4369, which would facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport from the City of Los Angeles.

While the number of flights offered at Ontario Airport has decreased, the demand for those flights has not. Industry experts estimate that 2 million passengers a year are forced to drive to Los Angeles or other regional airports due to the lack of flights and connections offered at Ontario. The region is losing up to 8,000 jobs and $400 million in yearly business activity.

As the Inland Empire continues to grow in population, it needs the Ontario International Airport to be under local control. It is a vital economic resource to our region, with the potential to serve 30 million passengers annually, and it is a conflict of interest for Los Angeles World Airports to control Ontario, a direct competitor.

On a personal note, I am ready to give up the long commute from Riverside to LAX. And in that spirit, 3 years ago I wrote a letter to Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles outlining the need to transfer control of Ontario Airport to our region. I am happy that we are finally moving forward with this legislation to ensure an arrangement that is best for the Inland Empire.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Congressman Ken Calvert and Congresswoman Norma Torres, and all the rest of our delegation from the Inland Empire of southern California, for their hard work on this issue. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. I also extend my thanks to the gentlewoman from Nevada for her support.

I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.

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