US Senator Bob Casey say Bradford Regional Airport is a major economic engine and cutting funding to it would be detrimental to the entire region.
Essential Air Service funding is one of the cuts in the proposed federal budget, but Casey says he will fight to keep the money flowing to Bradford Regional and other smaller airports.
During a talk with community leaders at the airport on Monday he added that the EAS program does have bipartisan support.
Casey also talked about Community Development Block Grant funding, which would also be cut out of the new federal budget. He says communities have to work together to show Washington how vital it is to areas like ours.
The senator discussed the importance of infrastructure improvements — including broadband — to the entire state.
Following the meeting, Casey spoke with WESB about healthcare and says he does have hope that Congress will come up with a bipartisan bill. He also said most senators agree that the president’s plan to cut off funding subsidies to insurance companies would be disastrous.
Casey also talked to WESB about Afghanistan prior to the president’s address to the nation, saying he thinks Congress should hold hearings to better understand the challenges the US faces there.
After the speech, he said continued military operations in Afghanistan must be accompanies by a comprehensive diplomatic and development strategy including to ensure that the country is ready for Parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.