The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAWYER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1081 on Aug. 27, 2019.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAWYER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
______
HON. JACK BERGMAN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Sawyer International Airport upon the occasion of its 20th Anniversary. Through its outstanding service and commitment to excellence, Sawyer has become an indispensable part of Michigan's First District.
With the expansion of the U.S. Air Force following World War II, a small airstrip near Marquette, Michigan, was chosen as the site for a new base. After signing a 99-year lease on the land, the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base officially opened on May 8, 1959. For nearly 40 years, the base hosted thousands of airmen until its eventual closure in September 1995. In its place opened Sawyer International Airport, a public-use airport owned and operated by the County of Marquette. Its first incoming commercial flight landed on September 22, 1999.
Since that first flight, more than two million commercial airline passengers have been served by Sawyer, with more than a hundred thousand flyers going through the airport each year. Sawyer has also constantly worked to improve and expand over the last two decades--
shaping the airport into the first-rate option for businesses and travelers that it is today. In addition to its passenger air service, Sawyer's campus is home to over five dozen businesses with more than 1,200 employees. It should be no surprise that Sawyer was named the 2019 Airport of the Year by the Michigan Department of Transportation, while Airport Manager Duane DuRay was named Airport Manager of the Year. Day after day, Sawyer International Airport demonstrates its commitment to connecting those in the U.P. with the rest of the world, while allowing those from around the globe to visit and experience the best that Michigan has to offer.
Madam Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Sawyer International Airport for 20 years of success and service. Michiganders can take immense pride in knowing that the First District is home to such an outstanding institution. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Sawyer all the best in its future endeavors.