Senate Committee Passes Bill to Designate YNG as Primary Airport

WASHINGTON – The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday unanimously passed legislation to designate Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport as a primary airport. 

The designation will allow the airport to access funding from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports.

The legislation, which is included as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and J.D. Vance, R-Ohio.

Former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-14th, introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Today we took a major step forward in ensuring that Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport can affordably, effectively and reliably serve the Mahoning Valley and allow visitors and businesses to easily reach Northeast Ohio,” Brown said. “With this legislation, the Youngstown Airport will be able to serve more people and provide more opportunities for the entire region’s economy to grow.” 

The Youngstown-Warren airport is the only airport that has an Air Reserve Station but does not have active commercial air service. The Air Force Reserve Command has selected Youngstown Air Reserve Station as the “preferred location” to receive eight new C-130Js that will arrive later this year. 

“The Youngstown-Warren airport is a crucial asset to the Mahoning Valley,” Vance said. “I’m hopeful new federal funding will be used to repair the airport’s runways and ensure the continuity of reliable air operations for years to come. I’ll do all that I can to ensure AIP eligibility for the Youngstown-Warren Airport is signed into law.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.