Press Release

     Senator Tim Hutchinson issued the following statement today after receiving an oral briefing late Wednesday from the General Accounting Office (GAO), regarding the funding process for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

     "The oral briefing I received from the GAO yesterday is, in effect, a clean bill of health for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The GAO informed me that the investigation found no impropriety. This should assure there will be no disruption in continued funding for the new airport."

     "I'm pleased the GAO's investigative process has been successfully completed and has not caused any setback in the project's construction. I'm glad to see this chapter behind us."

     "I believe there is a bright future ahead for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The extremely rapid economic growth and booming population in Northwest Arkansas is testament to the need for improved commercial air travel."

     "While there may be lessons to be learned about the FAA's funding process, I would take exception to any characterization of the steps involved in financing the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport project as less than completely legal and proper. From what I was told yesterday by GAO investigators, all statutes, criteria, rules and regulations in awarding grants in this project were followed to the letter of the law ."

     A written GAO report is expected to be issued within three weeks.

     For more information. please contact Sue Hensley in Senator Hutchinson's Washington office at (202) 224-2358.