After years of  local officials seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close St. Clair Regional Airport, today U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) and the House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow the city to close the airport once all obligations to federal taxpayers have been repaid.

“It may come as a surprise to many Missourians, but a municipality such as St. Clair cannot close an airport which it owns and operates without permission from the federal government. A few years ago local officials of St. Clair asked members of the Missouri delegation for help to facilitate authorization to close the airport. I am pleased that the House and Senate have now both passed legislation introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt to allow the city to pursue its own efforts to improve the local economy once federal taxpayers are made whole,” Luetkemeyer said. “St. Clair has been financially burdened with maintaining and operating this struggling airport year after year and closing it will allow the city to move forward with economic development plans supported by the local community. This legislation ensures the city will pay back any taxpayer dollars that were put into the airport and will transfer any salvageable airport and aviation equipment back to the state.”

Last week, the Senate passed S.2759 which would release the city of St. Clair from all restrictions, conditions, and limitations on the use of conveyance and closure of the regional airport. It would allow St. Clair to close the airport once they pay back any previously received FAA funds and transfer all salvageable equipment to the Missouri Department of Transportation for the improvement of Missouri aviation. Moreover, the city of St. Clair is very supportive of this effort, including the mayor, city council, school board, and local chamber of commerce. In addition, the Missouri Department of Transportation has indicated closure of the airport will not have an adverse impact on aviation in the state.