WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) was today named the co-chair of the Air Cargo Caucus for the 117th Congress. Air cargo and freight carriers will play a critical role in the transportation and distribution of coronavirus vaccines. While the Food and Drug Administration considers emergency approval of these vaccines, the air cargo industry has already begun ramping up efforts to prepare for safe and efficient distribution.

“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,” Rep. 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!”

The bipartisan Air Cargo Caucus, which was launched in March 2019 by Reps. Paul Mitchell (MI-10) and Cheri Bustos (IL-17), has 42 members and serves to improve relations with the all-cargo community, better understand the issues and collaborate on new policies to support the industry nationwide. Rep. Mast will take the place of retiring Air Cargo Caucus co-chair Paul Mitchell.

“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,” Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Mitchell said. “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,” Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Bustos said. “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.”

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