Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1339, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.

I want to thank the sponsors of this legislation for introducing this very important bill. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to form a working group with other Federal agencies to ensure that the advanced air mobility industry has the Federal backing it needs to commence operations and to succeed.

I recently had the opportunity to fly a simulated advanced air mobility, or AAM, flight and was very impressed with the technology.

In just a few short years, we may be seeing multiple companies carrying paying passengers in highly automated electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

These operations will connect cities, towns, and neighborhoods all across the country in a very safe, quiet, and environmentally friendly way.

Madam Speaker, this is a good bill and keeps the momentum going for American leadership in the advanced air mobility industry. That is why I support H.R. 1339, and I urge a ``yes'' vote today.

Madam Speaker, before I reserve, I also want to pay tribute to Holly Woodruff Lyons, our longtime Subcommittee on Aviation staff director. After nearly 20 years on the committee, Holly will be retiring at the end of this year.

It is hard to imagine the committee without Holly. Each new Republican chairman or ranking member has received the same advice from their predecessor: whatever you do, make sure Holly stays. I am sorry to say that the streak has finally ended on my watch, but her legacy will cast a long shadow in these halls for years to come.

Holly has helped shape every single piece of aviation legislation in the past two decades, and she is responsible for literally hundreds of provisions in law that have improved the lives of everyday Americans.

Holly is a consummate professional and dedicated staffer, and we will sorely miss her counsel and very much miss her wisdom.

I am personally grateful for her service to this committee, both as a pilot and a Member of Congress.

I thank her so much for dedicating her career to aviation safety and her service to the American public. She will never be a stranger around here, and I hope she and Mark make the most of their well-earned retirements. I thank her for all she has done.

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, in closing, this legislation takes an important step in preparing the Federal Government and our communities for the introduction of advanced air mobility vehicles.

Madam Speaker, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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