General Aviation Caucus to Have New Leadership

When Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) retires at the end of this term, he will be replaced as chairman of the House of Representatives' GA caucus by fellow Republican Sam Graves (R-Mo.). A longtime pilot, Graves is lauded by GA advocacy groups as a good choice to the lead the caucus, which Ehler helped to establish in 2009. The group now has more than 100 members, whose duties included educating fellow congressmen on aviation issues. AOPA President Craig Fuller thanked Congressman Ehlers for his service and said, "Representative Sam Graves is a longtime supporter and vocal advocate for general aviation among his congressional colleagues. We believe he is an excellent choice to succeed Congressman Vern Ehlers as the Republican co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus." Among the priorities for the caucus going forward is finally passing a long-term FAA funding package. For the last several years, the agency has been sustained by a series of temporary funding measures as long-term legislation has been stymied by a series of political logjams.