Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced legislation that would rename Washington Dulles International Airport after former president Donald Trump.
H.R. 7845, introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-PA, would designate the airport in Chantilly as the Donald J. Trump International Airport and require all government documents to refer to it as such.
Six members of Congress joined the legislation: Chuck Fleischmann, R-TN; Paul Gosar, R-AZ; Troy Nehls, R-TX; Andy Ogles, R-TN; Barry Moore, R-AL; and Mike Waltz, R-FL.
“As millions of domestic and international travelers fly through the airport, there is no better symbol of freedom, prosperity, and strength than hearing ‘Welcome to Trump International Airport’ as they land on American soil,” Reschenthaler said in a statement.
The bill was sent to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. It’s not likely to become law — it would have to first pass the House, which has a slim Republican majority, then the Democratic-controlled Senate before getting a signature from the president.
Virginia Democrats have pushed back against the bill, including Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA, who represents Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
“Donald Trump is facing 91 felony charges. If Republicans want to name something after him, I’d suggest they find a federal prison,” Connolly said in a statement.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, also chimed in against the bill, calling it “ridiculous, but sadly real” in a social media post.
“Congress must act on pressing issues like reauthorizing the FAA and passing the national security supplemental,” Spanberger said. “Yet this is what a Member of House Republican leadership focuses on — renaming Virginia’s Dulles airport after Trump.”
The airport is currently named after John Foster Dulles, who served as secretary of state under Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The renaming of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport in 1998 caused an uproar locally. In 1981 as president Reagan fired 11,000 air traffic controllers. The renaming of the airport took place ahead of the former president’s 87th birthday.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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