Statement on the FAA Reauthorization Act and the Banning Airport
Washington D.C. – Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 includes language paving the way for the closure of the Banning Municipal Airport in Banning, California. This has been a decades-long endeavor by the City of Banning, which has subsidized the costs of the airport at over $170,000, annually. Congressman Ruiz has introduced legislation seeking to close the airport for several years, and an amendment filed by U.S. Senator Padilla was adopted into the final FAA bill passed by Congress to finally allow the City to move forward on closing the airport.
“This bipartisan bill represents a turning point for my constituents in the City of Banning that has the potential to create jobs and bring hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development to the City,” said Congressman Dr. Ruiz. “The inclusion of my legislation, H.R.8216, to close Banning Airport is a monumental win for the City of Banning and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. This closure will provide economic growth for the district by allowing the City to repurpose the airport property to bring in new investments and jobs to the region. I applaud Senator Alex Padilla for championing this effort, City of Banning Mayor Alberto Sanchez for his steadfast leadership, and Chairman Charles Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians whose tireless advocacy helped make this effort a reality.”
“I am proud to have successfully fought for legislation that will finally provide a pathway for the closure of the Banning Airport,” said U.S. Senator Padilla. “For too long, the Banning Municipal Airport has been a financial drain on the community, preventing redevelopment and economic growth. Now, after years of work, the City of Banning and Morongo Band of Mission Indians can finally unlock untapped economic opportunity blocked by the airport. This is a significant milestone for the City and Tribe — and a major step toward creating good new jobs for local residents.”
The bipartisan, bicameral Act includes robust protections that will directly impact the lives Californians, such as requiring airlines to have policies for reimbursing passengers for meals, lodging, and other costs due to a significantly delayed or canceled flight, funding for airport resilience and runway safety projects and strengthens and diversifies the U.S. aviation workforce.
“The closure the Banning Municipal Airport is a crucial step forward for our city’s economic growth and community well-being. Unfortunately, the airport lacks the necessary infrastructure and demand to remain viable and has become a financial drain on the city. The land that will become available with the closure will unlock significant economic potential for the city paving the way for transformative development and job creation in our region. Congressman Ruiz has been working tirelessly with us from the very beginning to improve the economic conditions of the city, for which we are very grateful. We’d also like to thank Senator Alex Padilla for his efforts to get Congressman Ruiz’s closure legislation included as an amendment in the Senate FAA reauthorization bill. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Chairman Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians for his unwavering support and hard work on this issue," said Mayor Alberto Sanchez.
“Repurposing the airport land offers several promising opportunities, such as commercial and industrial development coupled with opportunity to attract new businesses, thereby increasing the city’s tax base. This development would provide long-term economic benefits far surpassing those generated by the airport. On behalf of the Banning Chamber of Commerce we would like to express our gratitude.” Robert Sibole, President of the Banning Chamber of Commerce.
"On behalf of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, I want to thank Congressman Ruiz and U.S. Senator Padilla for their hard work to help close the Banning Municipal Airport so that both the Tribe and the City can pursue new economic development opportunities that will create jobs and support the regional economy as a whole." –Vice Chairman James Siva, Morongo Band of Mission Indians.