Cárdenas Announces Nearly $800,000 for Van Nuys Airport from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $294M for 167 California airports
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY — Today at a press conference Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) announced $763,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Van Nuys Airport to improve facilities, update technology and make flying more safe and efficient. This is the first installment of airport infrastructure grants from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed into law last year.
“Today we are seeing how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can make a real difference in communities across California,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “This new $763,000 grant will help the busiest general aviation airport in the country, Van Nuys Airport, continue to serve our communities, drive our local economy and create jobs right here in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. These are the types of investments that will help set our community up for success now and in the decades to come.”
“As the Assemblymember representing thousands of employees, travelers, and neighbors of Van Nuys Airport, I am so grateful for this significant investment and applaud the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a once-in-a-generation investment in our country,” said Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian. “These investments provide a critical opportunity to make long-overdue improvements that will help California stay competitive on a global stage and better our communities.”
“Los Angeles World Airports is defining what it means to put investments in infrastructure to work for the traveling public by reimagining our airports with modernized facilities, the latest technology and the highest levels of safety and security,” said Michael Christensen, Deputy General Manager Airports II at Los Angeles World Airports. "The bipartisan funding will allow both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) to continue delivering quality projects while creating good paying jobs that support two of our region’s most important economic engines.”
General aviation and local airports support more than 1.1 million American jobs, an economic impact of $247 billion per year, and numerous critical services, such as disaster response, law enforcement, medical transport, search and rescue and passenger and goods transport. Van Nuys Airport contributes more than $2 billion to the Southern California economy each year.
On November 15th, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included $15 billion in formula funding to help redevelop airports across the country. Projects that qualify for funding include improvements to runways and taxiways, terminal development and noise prevention. The law also includes an additional $5 billion nationally for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need.
167 airports across California will receive more than $294 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $79,278,162 for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), $7,956,710 for Bob Hope Airport (BUR) and $295,000 for Whiteman Airport. Since the start of the pandemic, air travel in California has dramatically increased. In October of 2021, nearly 14 million passengers traveled to California’s major airports, with nearly five million traveling to LAX alone.
“With these funds, we’ll help position California to not only continue to be a global economic powerhouse but a leader in airport infrastructure,” continued Congressman Cárdenas.
More information on airport funding to California can be found here.
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