Rep. Scholten Questions Transportation Sec. Duffy on FAA Tower Modernization and Domestic Manufacturing

FAA Tower Modernization at Gerald R. Ford International Airport

• ✈️ Representative Hillary Scholten highlighted that the 62-year-old air traffic control tower at Gerald R. Ford International Airport is out of compliance with federal safety and security requirements.
• 💡 The design work for the tower replacement is complete, with construction support from the state of Michigan, but federal approval and funding are needed as it is an FAA-owned facility.
• 📌 The previous FAA administrator had assured that GRR's modernization project was the second highest priority for the FAA.
• ⏳ Secretary Duffy committed to following up with specific information on the FAA's prioritization and an estimated timeline for the tower replacement.

Bolstering Domestic Road Manufacturing

• 🇺🇸 Representative Scholten introduced the bipartisan "Paving Our Way for American Industry Act" to ensure critical road marking pigments qualify as constructed material under the "Build America" provision.
• ⚠️ Currently, an estimated 96% of these specific yellow pigments used for road markings in the U.S. are sourced from foreign manufacturers, including China.
• 🤝 Secretary Duffy expressed strong support for prioritizing American businesses and communities, agreeing to look into the matter and follow up on how the committee can work with the Department of Transportation to uplift domestic manufacturers.

Broader Infrastructure and Supply Chain Goals

• 🏗️ Both Representative Scholten and Secretary Duffy acknowledged the need for significant investment in modernizing aging infrastructure, including air traffic control towers across the country.
• 🏭 A shared goal between the administration and Representative Scholten is to bring back U.S. supply chains and bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities.