NBAA Welcomes Graves as New House GA Caucus Chair

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The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)  welcomed the announcement that U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) will serve as co-chair of the House General Aviation (GA) Caucus when the 112th Congress convenes in January 2011.

"We are pleased that Congressman Graves has agreed to serve as co-chairman of the House General Aviation Caucus in the new Congress," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "He has been a tireless advocate on behalf of general aviation during his service in the House of Representatives. As a pilot and a representative for a congressional district with rural areas that rely on general aviation, he will continue to bring a real-world perspective to his work in the caucus."

Graves will replace retiring Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-3-MI), who helped form the House GA Caucus and served as its co-chairman. Ehlers announced that he would be succeeded by Graves in co-chairing the GA Caucus during the AOPA Aviation Summit, held last week by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in Long Beach, Calif.

Graves was re-elected to a sixth term in the national elections held earlier this month. He serves on the House Aviation Subcommittee and is expected to serve as chairman of the House Committee on Small Business in the next Congress.

Graves's Democratic counterpart on the GA Caucus is expected to be named in the near future; the position is currently held by Rep. Alan Boyd (D-2-FL), who will not be returning in the new Congress.

The House GA Caucus has over 120 members, making it among the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers in the House and Senate formed GA Caucuses in 2009, to inform members and staff about the importance of GA to the nation's economy and transportation system.

It is expected that the Senate General Aviation Caucus will continue to be led by Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) in the new Congress. There are currently 31 members of the Senate GA Caucus. To see a current state-by-state listing of Senate/House GA Caucus members, visit www.nbaa.org/advocacy/ga-caucus.

Graves has twice been featured in NBAA's bimonthly Member publication, Business Aviation Insider.