Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10), Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Rep. Brian Mast (FL-18), and Gina Zuckerman of the Cargo Airline Association made the following statement announcing Rep. Mast will be the new Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair in the 117th Congress:
“The air cargo industry is a vital part of the global economy, and without it 21st century commerce would not be what it is today. As a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I had the opportunity to work with many air cargo stakeholders and focus on related policy issues,” said Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Representative Mitchell. “That is why I co-founded the Air Cargo Caucus with Rep. Bustos. This caucus plays an important role in our work as Representatives, and while my time in Congress and as Co-Chair is coming to an end, I know the caucus is in good hands with Rep. Mast. I thank Co-Chair Bustos for being an excellent partner in this effort, as well as all the stakeholders and staff for lending their expertise.”
“I thank Representative Mitchell for his bipartisan partnership and service as Co-Chair of the Air Cargo Caucus,” said Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Representative Bustos. “It has been a pleasure working with him to create a platform for our region’s leaders to share best practices and connect with folks from across America to advance issues related to the industry. As we prepare for the next Congress, I look forward to serving alongside Representative Mast and welcome him to this new role. I am excited for what the future of this caucus can accomplish together.”
“There’s no doubt that the air cargo industry is a critical component of our local, state, and global economies. In Florida alone, the industry supports more than 625,000 jobs and creates over $4 billion in revenue. These numbers are only going to grow larger as our national and global economies expand, which is what makes the Air Cargo Caucus so important,” Representative Mast said. “Thank you to Representatives Mitchell and Bustos for entrusting me with the role of co-chair. There is a lot of work to be done, and I could not be more excited to get started!”
“We are thankful for Representative Mitchell’s leadership that enabled the Air Cargo Caucus to thrive since its formation in 2019 and look forward to working with Representative Mast as he assumes his new co-chair role” said Gina Zuckerman, Vice President of Legislative Policy for the Cargo Airline Association. “The Air Cargo Caucus is proof that a bipartisan group of Members can coalesce in support of a shared topic, and we anticipate growing its ranks in the 117th Congress as the Caucus continues to highlight the impact that air cargo plays throughout the country.”
Background:
The Air Cargo Caucus was launched in March 2019 by Rep. Mitchell and Rep. Bustos. The bipartisan House of Representatives caucus has 42 members and was formed to enhance relations with the all-cargo community, give Members the opportunity to specialize on issues impacting carriers, and allow collaboration on these issues with fellow Members of Congress. It helps educate Members and staff about the air cargo industry and the impact is has on regions, the nation, and the world.
In July 2019, Rep. Mitchell announced he would not seek reelection and that at the end of the 116th Congress he would retire from Congress.
