Press Release

Cuellar Announces Over $972,000 for McAllen Airport

Federal funds to assist with design studies, runway rehabilitation, drainage improvements

Washington, June 2, 2010 | Eddie Zavala ((956) 725-0639)
Congressman Henry Cuellar and City of McAllen Officials today announced $972,145 for the McAllen Miller International Airport. The total amount comes from the Federal Aviation Administration. The money will be used for design studies, runway rehabilitation, drainage improvements, and wildlife hazard assessments.
Congressman Henry Cuellar and City of McAllen Officials today announced $972,145 for the McAllen Miller International Airport. The total amount comes from the Federal Aviation Administration. The money will be used for design studies, runway rehabilitation, drainage improvements, and wildlife hazard assessments.

“As an important international airport in the country -- both for cargo and passenger traffic -- I congratulate Mayor Richard Cortez, City Commission Members, and Aviation Director Phillip Brown for once again being successful in securing more federal funds,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These funds will have a tremendous impact in the hundreds of thousands of passengers that use this airport every year.”

Specifically, the funds will be used for the following projects:

$649,145:          Terminal Expansion Phase 2 Design

$171,000:          Drainage Improvements Master Plan Study

$71,250:            Runway Safety Area Study

$47,500:            Wildlife Hazard Assessment

$33,250:            Runway Rehabilitation

Last year, Congressman Cuellar announced more than $11 million in airport improvement projects for the McAllen Miller International Airport that included money for runway overlap and blast pad construction. This included $6 million in federal funds that helped repair the airport following Hurricane Dolly and also made an initial investment towards the airport’s terminal expansion.

“With $125 million that were awarded last year for the levees thanks to the Recovery Act and now more than $12 million for the McAllen Miller International Airport, we are meeting and surpassing two goals I had for the City of McAllen when I first started representing this area,” said Congressman Cuellar.”

For more information on grants, please call the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar at (956) 725-0639.  For information on Congressman Henry Cuellar, visit his website at www.cuellar.house.gov

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Oversight & Government Reform Committees in the 111th Congress.  Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.