Congressman Richard Hudson Honored for Strong Support of U.S. Airport Industry

March 24, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2014

 

WASHINGTON— Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) today announced that Congressman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) is the recipient of the 2014 ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award, in recognition of his support of the U.S. airport industry. Specifically, Congressman Hudson’s leadership in the House of Representatives was instrumental in advocating risk-based security programs and working with his colleagues to ensure airports weren’t immediately saddled with a decision by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to shift responsibility for monitoring exit lanes to airports.

Congressman Hudson was elected in November 2012 to represent North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District. He is the founder of a business-development and strategic-communications consultancy located in Concord, N.C., and previously was the district director for his predecessor, Congressman Robin Hayes (R).

As chairman of the House Transportation Security Subcommittee, Congressman Hudson emerged as a strong advocate of risk-based security initiatives and airports as they attempted to express their frustration regarding the TSA’s May 2013 decision to transition exit-lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Bipartisan collaboration in the House of Representatives to oppose this rule was critical in including a reversal of this decision in the December 2013 federal budget agreement, as well as paving the way for trusted-traveler and other risk-based programs.

“Congressman Hudson’s efforts to resolve the exit lane issue for airports reduced unnecessary costs for our industry, and his support of risk-based security initiatives promotes efficiencies for airports and their passengers,” said Shirley James, chair of the ACI-NA Commissioners Committee and a member of the Savannah Airport Commission.  “We are very pleased to recognize Congressman Hudson and his advocacy on behalf of airports with the 2014 ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Leadership Award.”

The ACI-NA Commissioners Congressional Reception will be held this Wednesday, March 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C.

 

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.