WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 4, 2025… Today, House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) led a public hearing on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request with FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau serving as witness.
THUD Chairman Womack delivered the following remarks during the hearing, “Safety must remain our shared, unyielding priority. Our airspace is becoming more crowded and more complex. The infrastructure we rely on is reaching the end of its useful life. This committee must take a hard look at how we fund the maintenance and replacement of infrastructure and equipment that create the backbone of our aviation system. We must work together to ensure that all aviation can flourish, while maintaining the highest possible standards of safety and efficiency for the millions of passengers who fly every day.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4) delivered the following remarks during the hearing, “We know you need resources to ensure the safety of our national airspace, support American manufacturers and innovators, and invest in infrastructure that improves the efficiency and reliability of our aviation system. This subcommittee will support your efforts as we develop our Fiscal Year 2026 bill. This will include addressing some of our aging air traffic infrastructure that is no longer sustainable in its current form and could become an operational risk. I will reiterate what Chairman Womack stated earlier – our commitment to safety and security will be steadfast and unified.”
Chairman Womack’s full remarks as prepared are available HERE.
A video of Chairman Womack’s opening remarks is available HERE.
A video of Chairman Womack’s questions for Acting Administrator Rocheleau can be found HERE.
A full recording of the hearing is available HERE.
Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
U.S. Congressman
Steve Womack
Serving the Third District of Arkansas