Rep. Tony Gonzales to DOT Secretary Buttigieg: Military City USA Needs Direct Flight to Nation's Capital

During remarks to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) emphasized the importance of adding a nonstop flight from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Under federal law, direct flights to and from DCA are limited to a perimeter of 1,250 miles outside the airport, unless the federal government makes an exception.

This year as a part of the FAA Reauthorization Act, leadership from the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have come to a bipartisan agreement to add five new slots to DCA outside the 1,250-mile perimeter. San Antonio is home to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), which employs over 82,000 active-duty military members and civilian employees. Bexar County alone is home to over 159,000 veterans. DCA is minutes away from both the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol Building.

“San Antonio is home to one of the largest military populations in the nation. I know that it is critical that we equip our military personnel with the tools they need to succeed. One of those tools is travel, and we have yet to see a direct flight added from DCA to San Antonio. There are a significant number of personnel that travel back and forth from San Antonio to our nation’s capital,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales during the hearing. "It is critical that we make this as painless as possible for our men and women in uniform. Currently, there are discussions about adding a direct flight between San Antonio and DCA—I'm in full support of that.”

Click here to watch Congressman Gonzales during yesterday’s House Appropriations Committee hearing.