U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar announced today a $4,416,530 grant for the Laredo International Airport. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Aviation Administration.

The grant is divided into two awards: $3.2 million in discretionary funds which will be used to rehabilitate Runaway 14/32 and $1,216,530 in entitlement funds. The entitlement funds will be used to acquire runaway protection zones, to rehabilitate general aviation apron phases 5 and 6, and to upgrade passenger terminal automation and security access systems.

“I congratulate City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, Council Member for District 5 Johnny Rendon, Airport Director Jose Luis Flores, and city staff for working hard to secure these funds,” Congressman Cuellar said, “This grant is an indication of the great working relationship between the local and federal government. As one of the nation’s largest inland ports, the City of Laredo has room for growth, and these funds will help increase cargo and passenger traffic.”

The Laredo International Airport ranks eighth in the United States in shipments to and from Latin America.

“The City of Laredo appreciates the constant efforts of Congressman Cuellar to ensure adequate funding is available for continued operation of our airport, especially to enhance, improve and expand air service to and from Laredo,” said Mayor Raul G. Salinas, “Laredo’s unique position as the gateway to Mexico, as well as one of the leading inland trade ports in the country, means that we need to have an airport that can handle a high volume of passenger and cargo traffic.  This grant will help us to achieve that goal.”

 “For the past several years, the City of Laredo has been working with our federal partners, including Congressman Cuellar and the Federal Aviation Administration, to improve our airport.  This grant shows their commitment to help make our airport one of the leading airports in South Texas and Northern Mexico,” said Council Member Johnny Rendon, District 5, in whose district the airport lies.

For more information on federal grants, feel free to contact the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar at 1-877-780-0028 or visit www.cuellar.house.gov.

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business,

and Agriculture Committees in the 110^th Congress. Accessibility to constituents, education, health care and economic development are his priorities.