Rep. Van Drew urges FAA technical-center funding, lists community projects including youth center and airport upgrades

Representative Jeff Van Drew (Representative Jeff Van Drew) testified to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development that sustained federal support for aviation research and related local projects is essential to district economies and national aviation safety.

"First, I request the committee continue robust funding for the FAA Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace," Van Drew told the subcommittee, noting the center's role in aviation safety and modernization. He said the center's laboratories and infrastructure support national aviation research and urged investment in technical-center laboratories and infrastructure.

Van Drew then highlighted five community project funding requests included in his submission to the subcommittee. He described a $300,000 request for Middle Township youth development facility improvements to support after-school programming, athletic and job training; a $5.4 million request to construct an electric utility connection to a National Aviation Research and Technology Park tied to the FAA Technical Center; airport improvements at Hammonton Airport (taxiway safety, hangars and parking) for which the FAA has verified eligibility and local matching funds exist; elevation and paving of Read's Beach Road to address chronic flooding; and a project to acquire flood-prone properties along the Black Horse Pike into Atlantic City (Egg Harbor Township) with $1 million in local matching funds.

Van Drew emphasized local matches and letters from state or planning agencies supporting eligibility for state transportation improvement plans and FAA verification. He said these projects would create economic and safety benefits and that many had local and state buy-in.

Committee leadership thanked Van Drew; his full written testimony was submitted for the record.