    [Senate Hearing 118-672]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                            S. Hrg. 118-672

                      NOMINATION OF PHILLIP A. WASHINGTON,
                          NOMINEE TO BE ADMINISTRATOR,
                        FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                             COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
                          SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                        ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                                 MARCH 1, 2023

                                   __________

        Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                                 Transportation

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                    Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov

                                   __________

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    60-543 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 2025

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

           SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                        ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                       MARIA CANTWELL, Washington, Chair

    AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota             TED CRUZ, Texas, Ranking
    BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii                 JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
    EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts         ROGER WICKER, Mississippi
    GARY PETERS, Michigan                DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
    TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin             JERRY MORAN, Kansas
    TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois            DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
    JON TESTER, Montana                  MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee
    KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona              TODD YOUNG, Indiana
    JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  TED BUDD, North Carolina
    BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico            ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri
    JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado          J. D. VANCE, Ohio
    RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia             SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West
    PETER WELCH, Vermont                     Virginia
                                         CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming
                       Lila Harper Helms, Staff Director
                     Melissa Porter, Deputy Staff Director
                         Jonathan Hale, General Counsel
                     Brad Grantz, Republican Staff Director
               Nicole Christus, Republican Deputy Staff Director
                         Liam McKenna, General Counsel

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page
    Hearing held on March 1, 2023....................................     1
    Statement of Senator Cantwell....................................     1
        Letter dated March 1, 2023 to Hon. Maria Cantwell and Hon.
          Ted Cruz from Pete DeFazio, Former Chairman, House
          Transportation & Infrastructure Committee..................     5
    Statement of Senator Cruz........................................     3
    Statement of Senator Hickenlooper................................     7
    Statement of Senator Wicker......................................    46
    Statement of Senator Schatz......................................    47
    Statement of Senator Moran.......................................    49
    Statement of Senator Peters......................................    50
    Statement of Senator Thune.......................................    52
    Statement of Senator Duckworth...................................    54
    Statement of Senator Budd........................................    56
    Statement of Senator Klobuchar...................................    58
    Statement of Senator Vance.......................................    59
    Statement of Senator Rosen.......................................    61
    Statement of Senator Schmitt.....................................    63
    Statement of Senator Markey......................................    65
        Research article dated March 1, 2023 from Brookings entitled,
          ``America's airports aren't ready for climate change'' by
          Adie Tomer and Caroline George.............................    66
    Statement of Senator Fischer.....................................    75
    Statement of Senator Lujan.......................................    76
    Statement of Senator Young.......................................    78
    Statement of Senator Baldwin.....................................    79
    Statement of Senator Blackburn...................................    81
    Statement of Senator Sullivan....................................    82
    Statement of Senator Welch.......................................    84
    Statement of Senator Capito......................................    86
    Statement of Senator Sinema......................................    87
    Statement of Senator Warnock.....................................    89

                                   Witnesses

    Hon. Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado..................     8
    Phillip A. Washington, Nominee to be Administrator, Federal
      Aviation Administration........................................    10
        Prepared statement...........................................    12
        Biographical information.....................................    13

                                    Appendix

    Response to written questions submitted to Phillip A. Washington
      by:
        Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    95
        Hon. Tammy Duckworth.........................................    97
        Hon. Kyrsten Sinema..........................................    97
        Hon. Ted Cruz................................................    98
        Hon. Dan Sullivan............................................   102
        Hon. Todd Young..............................................   106

                      NOMINATION OF PHILLIP A. WASHINGTON,
                          NOMINEE TO BE ADMINISTRATOR,
                        FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

                                  ----------

                            WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023

                                           U.S. Senate,
            Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., in
    room SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Maria
    Cantwell, Chairwoman of the Committee, presiding.
        Present: Senators Cantwell [presiding], Klobuchar, Schatz,
    Markey, Peters, Baldwin, Duckworth, Sinema, Rosen, Lujan,
    Hickenlooper, Warnock, Welch, Cruz, Thune, Wicker, Fischer,
    Moran, Sullivan, Blackburn, Young, Budd, Schmitt, Vance, and
    Capito.
        Also present: Senator Bennet.

               OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON

        The Chair. Good morning. The U.S. Senate Committee on
    Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order. This
    morning, we are having a hearing on the nomination of Phil
    Washington to be Administrator at the Federal Aviation
    Administration. Mr. Washington, welcome.
        Congratulations on your nomination. And I know that I think
    at least one or two of your colleagues--of our colleagues want
    to be here as well to do an introduction of you. So, you are
    very fortunate to have them, and we will call on them in a
    minute. But as we are expecting the arrival of our Ranking
    Member, I am going to go ahead and start with my opening
    statement in hopes that we can keep going this morning.
        Today, the Commerce Committee is meeting to consider the
    nomination of Phil Washington to be Administrator of the FAA.
    The safety mission of the FAA starts at the top with the
    Administrator, and I hope to hear from you, Mr. Washington,
    about your vision for making sure that the FAA is the gold
    standard in aviation safety.
        Three years ago, Congress spoke clearly on needed reforms
    in the aircraft certification process and FAA safety oversight.
    I worked with my colleague, Senator Wicker, who was the chair
    of the Committee at that time, on that important legislation.
        Today, we need a clear commitment that this legislation is
    fully implemented and that these reforms, ensuring design
    oversight, mandating safety management systems, and holding
    manufacturers accountable, are all adhered to.
        I want to especially thank the families of the 737 MAX
    tragedies for their important role in helping us craft and pass
    this landmark legislation. It is an important reminder that the
    FAA's leadership mandate extends internationally as well.
        The United States must be a strong safety voice at ICAO. We
    must raise the global safety bar on issues like pilot training
    and human factors. And the FAA Administrator must also lead a
    large, complex organization.
        The safety agency has over 45,000 employees across
    different lines of business. Day in and day out, these workers
    answer the call and are engaged in the continuous job of safety
    oversight. We also need strong leadership at the FAA to
    continue the FAA reauthorization bill this year.
        The Administration must deal with the myriad of new
    challenges presented by 21st century technology, advanced air
    mobility platforms, and manufacturing, and we also must buildup
    our national airspace system with the world--which is already
    the world's busiest, most complex, with Next Generation
    technology and operational redundancies. In addition, the
    aviation future must be sustainable.
        That means developing the capacity and infrastructure for
    sustainable aviation fuel and meeting our 2050 targets for net
    zero carbon emissions. So, Mr. Washington, you are here today
    to explain how you and your leadership can meet that vision and
    those vital requirements of the FAA.
        I am pleased that our colleagues, Senator Bennet, and
    Senator Hickenlooper, member of this committee, will be here to
    also say a few words on your behalf. But let me just say, you
    represent a great career that we much appreciate.
        Mr. Washington is a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army, where
    he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest
    noncommissioned officer rank an enlisted soldier can achieve,
    and he would be the first African American confirmed to serve
    as the FAA Administrator. This would be a landmark achievement.
    And there has never been an FAA Administrator nominee that has
    come from the enlisted ranks.
        The U.S. Army taught Mr. Washington how to get things done
    and get them done right. And indeed, the Department of Defense
    awarded him the prestigious Defense Superior Service Medal for
    exceptional service to the country.
        And after military retirement in 2000, Mr. Washington
    joined the Denver Regional District, RTD, and earned his way to
    the top of that transit agency with an annual ridership of over
    40 million people--of over 40 million.
        In Denver, Mr. Washington implemented the Nation's first
    and only 2.2 billion transit public, private partnership called
    Eagle P3 Project on time and expanding multimodal transit
    regions, and in 2015 was named CEO of Los Angeles County
    Metropolitan Authority. In Los Angeles, he oversaw a rail and
    bus network that transports 1.2 million passengers, and managed
    a budget of $9 billion, and oversaw 10,000 employees.
        He was also key in leading an expansion of L.A. Metro,
    managing approximately $20 billion in infrastructure and new
    rail connections between the Los Angeles International Airport.
    Then in 2021, he became CEO of Denver International Airport,
    the third busiest airport in the world. Now, for my Colorado
    colleagues, I am not doubting, but I did have to look that up.
    And sure enough, yes, it is true.
        You move a lot of people through that airport. So, he leads
    35,000 employees and manages $1.3 billion operating budget.
    Under his watch, he set all time passenger traffic records.
    Nearly 70 million passengers traveled through its terminals, up
    about 18 percent over 2021 and surpassing pre-COVID numbers.
        So, organizations like the American Public Transport
    Association, Airports Council, National Business Aviation
    Administration, and many other organizations, including many of
    labor organizations, also support your nomination. So, again,
    congratulations.
        Thank you for being here and look forward to having a
    chance to discuss with you the future of the FAA. I will turn
    to my colleague, the Ranking Member, Senator Cruz, for his
    opening statement.

                      STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS

        Senator Cruz. Thank you, Madam Chair. The FAA faces
    enormous challenges. It must modernize our airspace while
    safely integrating new entrants like drones. It is trying to
    keep its reputation as the gold standard for aviation safety
    while dealing with far too many close calls and operating an
    outdated air traffic control system that must safely move
    roughly 2 million passengers a day.
        To meet its mission, the FAA needs a Senate confirmed
    leader with decades of experience in aviation to make certain
    that the flying public is safe, the agency's primary
    obligation. This obligation is so important that Congress
    mandated that the FAA Administrator must, ``have experience in
    the field directly related to aviation.'' The nominee before
    us, Phil Washington, had a long and honorable career in the
    military, but he does not have any experience in aviation
    safety.
        This quite simply is a position he is not qualified for. I
    am disappointed that the Administration has chosen to treat a
    critical safety position, a position keeping our family safe,
    they have chosen to treat it as a patronage job. As a result of
    the White House playing politics with the flying public's
    safety, the FAA has lacked a Senate confirmed leader for a year
    now.
        I expect we will hear some members of this committee gloss
    over Mr. Washington's lack of aviation and aviation safety
    experience by saying he has a record of strong management of
    transit agencies. He understands busses, and isn't that good
    enough for planes? But his record demonstrates the opposite.
        The Democrat city transit agencies he has run have been
    beset by mismanagement and wasteful spending. In 2019, CBS News
    reported, Mr. Washington tried to add a $200,000 sauna to the
    L.A. Metro's employee gym after being presented with a more
    taxpayer friendly $50,000 version. He proposed this lavish
    spending as city busses, ``broke down and caught fire due to
    lack of money.''
        The New York Times reported that a Denver Rail project
    overseen by Mr. Washington ran up a $2 billion plus deficit and
    had become over 30 years behind schedule. Just last month, Mr.
    Washington and another Denver official spent more than $100,000
    on a junket to Africa to drum up support to Denver's airport.
        Government waste and delayed overbudget projects are things
    we want to change at the FAA, not continue. I am also afraid
    that Mr. Washington's record suggests that he would focus on
    virtue signaling at a time when the FAA needs to be laser
    focused on aviation safety and modernization.
        As L.A. Metro CEO he said, ``everything we do in terms of
    mobility, we look through the lens of equity.'' At the Denver
    airport, he is spending millions of dollars to build a special,
    ``hall of equity,'' and changed the contract bidding process to
    place a heavier emphasis on so-called equity and so-called
    social cultural merits.
        Safety, not political posturing needs to be paramount at
    the FAA. I also have serious concerns regarding outstanding
    allegations of misconduct going back to Mr. Washington's time
    at L.A. Metro. He was named in multiple search warrants in an
    ongoing criminal corrupt--public corruption investigation and
    was the subject of multiple whistleblower complaints.
        One whistleblower who exposed details of a politically
    connected contracting scheme claims to have been retaliated
    against by Mr. Washington. After Mr. Washington went to Denver,
    L.A. Metro settled the claims for more than a half million
    dollars. And just last month, Mr. Washington was named in a
    discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a former Denver
    airport employee.
        Mr. Washington failed to notify this committee of the
    lawsuit, one of dozens of emissions in his questionnaire,
    suggesting that he has been less than fully transparent and
    raising concerns about how he will collaborate with us as we
    work to reauthorize the FAA.
        Finally, Mr. Washington, as a retired member of the
    military, needs a waiver from both the House and the Senate to
    be eligible to serve since Federal law explicitly requires that
    the FAA Administrator be a civilian and retired members of the
    military do not, under the statute, qualify as civilians.
        On five occasions, Congress has passed legislative waivers
    so that retired military personnel could serve at the FAA. We
    would do the same for Mr. Washington if his record merited it,
    if he had experience in aviation safety. But it doesn't, and if
    Senate Democrats force this nomination through without a
    waiver, a legal cloud will hang over every single FAA action.
        Let me close with a quote, ``I have said that it is very
    important that in this day and age, when it comes to aviation,
    safety must always be our top priority. We have considered the
    nomination, the nominee's record, an ongoing case of
    whistleblower retaliation, and given all of that, it is clear
    to me that he is not the right person for the safety culture
    that we need today at the FAA.''
        Those were the words spoken about a former FAA nominee by
    the Chairwoman of this committee in 2019 about Steve Dickson
    who had 40 years of aviation experience. Mr. Washington is not
    the right nominee for this position.
        The Chair. Thank you, Senator Cruz. In my opening
    statement, I forgot to mention a letter by our former House
    colleague, Chairman Peter DeFazio, who you worked with
    extensively. I want to enter that into the record. He called
    you a strong leader with two decades of senior leadership that
    we need to help accomplish the goals of the FAA.
        [The information referred to follows:]

        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        The Chair. So, with that, I am going to turn to our
    colleagues, I think are calling on the Committee, Senator
    Hickenlooper first, and then Senator Bennet.

                 STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN HICKENLOOPER,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO

        Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you, Madam Chair. We need an
    FAA Administrator who is Senate confirmed, but also who knows
    how to get things done. An Administrator who can manage the
    complex bureaucracy at FAA and prepare for the realities of
    modern air travel today.
        Someone who can give us confidence the next time we get on
    a flight. Someone who will reassure us that we will get where
    we are going safely and not have to think about how everything
    works again. That is Phil Washington. Phil came from humble
    beginnings, and as the Madam Chair mentioned, served 24 years
    in the Army, achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the
    highest rank for enlisted servicemen.
        And, you know, Command Sergeant Major are the people that
    make things--get things done by organizing, motivating their
    troops, delivering on the mission, and holding people
    accountable. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, the
    beginning of his relationship with Colorado. You know, our
    veterans are renowned for their discipline, their leadership,
    their courage, their dedication to service.
        Phil embodies all these traits and more. When he led the
    Metro Denver's Regional Transportation District, which is by
    far the largest transit agency in the state, he put our city's
    transit system back on track. He came in when the flagship fast
    track program was over budget, was behind schedule, beset by
    problems and complications.
        When he left, three-quarters was completed or under
    construction. He next took the helm of the Los Angeles County
    Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the third largest
    transit system in the country, serving over 220 million
    passengers annually. Again, another multi-billion-dollar
    expansion, which was beset by challenges, and he got that
    sorted out.
        He is now the CEO of Denver International Airport for the
    last couple of years, the third busiest airport in the world,
    as the Madam Chair pointed out. He has transformed the
    airport's once aging infrastructure. The Great Hall Project is
    going to expand DIA's terminal capacity from 70 million
    passengers a year to 100 million passengers a year.
        That is--his program, Vision 100 will support that
    transition by the end of this decade. Phil recognizes growth is
    more than just expanding terminals and modernizing runways. He
    has launched DIA's center of equity and excellence in aviation.
    That is really the first of its kind training facility to make
    sure we can grow a diverse workforce and a small business
    pipeline in aviation that does deliver on the combined mission
    of transportation at the safest possible levels.
        He has not hesitated to act decisively again and again when
    crises strike--when a crisis strikes. We had the winter storms
    of 2022 that devastated air travel all across the country,
    damaged our economy. He immediately launched a rigorous after-
    action review between DIA and its major airline partners. This
    after-action review will identify the causes to the airline
    disruption catastrophe and prevent future incidents from
    happening again.
        That is the kind of decisive action that we need to see in
    the FAA. Phil fits the mold of several past Administrators.
    There have been questions raised as to, you know, previous
    Administrators. Jane Garvey, who was the Administrator under
    President Clinton came from the Massachusetts Department of
    Public Works and led Logan, Boston's Logan Airport.
        Marion Blakey, who served in the Bush Administration, was
    Administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety
    Administration before coming to the FAA. Michael Huerta oversaw
    the ports of New York City and San Francisco and had a senior--
    a couple of senior roles within the Department of
    Transportation before coming to lead the FAA.
        But I think Phil breaks the mold of past FAA Administrators
    in important ways. He is not an airline industry insider using
    this role as a position for the industry to be policing itself.
    The challenges facing FAA are those of managing a large,
    complex bureaucracy badly in need of modernization, and
    certainly in that respect he is no novice.
        He is the CEO of the third busiest airport in the world, as
    we have said, manages a workforce roughly of 35,000 employees,
    compared to 45,000 at FAA, so roughly the same size. And he
    took the role amidst a big expansion project that was running
    into budget challenges, scheduling challenges, before he came
    along, and he got it back on track.
        And as not to mention his experience in the Army where he
    honed his discipline and leadership skills and was recognized
    for it. He has built a reputation of coming into organizations
    filled with challenges and successfully transforming them into
    successes.
        He takes on the big, complex problems and gets results. It
    is the kind of person we want in our Federal management system.
    He is for those reasons--it is for those reasons I urge this
    committee to be thoughtful and objectively look at Phil's
    record and what it shows.
        He is the right man and nominee at the right time to lead
    this critical agency. I look forward to seeing where he can
    lead the FAA with his bold vision for the future. Thank you.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Bennet, welcome.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. MICHAEL BENNET,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO

        Senator Bennet. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair
    Cantwell, for having me, and Ranking Member Cruz, for the
    opportunity to introduce Phil Washington. It is a privilege to
    be here with my colleague John Hickenlooper.
        Phil is obviously President Biden's nominee to lead the
    Federal Aviation Administration. John Hickenlooper and I have
    known Phil for almost 20 years, going back to the days when
    John was Mayor of Denver and he graciously endured me as his
    Chief of Staff.
        We both worked closely together with Phil, who had recently
    joined Colorado's regional transportation district after an
    exceptional career that took him from his youth in a housing
    project on the South Side of Chicago to the rank of Command
    Sergeant after 24 years in the U.S. Army.
        I believe Phil's son, Phil Washington Jr., is with us this
    morning. I thank him for making the trip to Washington. Thanks
    for sharing your dad with us so he can continue to serve
    Colorado and the country. Senator Hickenlooper has already
    offered an excellent overview of Phil's experience in
    Colorado's Regional Transportation District, L.A. County's
    Transportation Authority, and Denver's International Airport.
        So instead of taking you through that again, I want to
    share my observations about Phil's specific qualifications to
    lead the FAA at this critical juncture for the agency. As this
    committee appreciates more than most, the FAA has long set the
    global standard for airline safety, but recent incidents have
    shaken the public's confidence and undermined our global
    leadership.
        This is the perfect time for a leader like Phil Washington
    who would bring a proven record for delivering results. He
    turned around RTD, he turned around transit in L.A. County. He
    is driving overdue change at DIA, and I have no doubt he would
    do the same at the FAA. I understand some members of this
    committee have argued Phil lacks direct experience in aviation.
        We just heard that argument. I am surprised by that because
    as we have heard, he currently is running the third busiest
    airport on planet Earth. He literally spends every day liaising
    with 25 airlines, managing over 30,000 employees, and
    navigating local, State, and Federal aviation policy.
        He is spearheading the most ambitious overhaul of that
    third busiest airport, the DIA, since Colorado first built the
    airport almost 30 years ago. I pointed out to the Chairwoman
    that we are very proud that DIA is the youngest airport in
    America but is 30 years old. We need to build airports in this
    country again.
        Phil could help us with that, too. He's leading an $800
    million renovation to the main hall building, 39 new gates,
    designing a seventh runway, and revamping the airport's entire
    baggage system, all with the traveling public continuing to
    make its way through the airport. Phil was also instrumental in
    developing Vision 100, a strategic plan for DIA to prepare the
    airport to process 100 million passengers a year through an
    expanded workforce infrastructure and air service network.
        So, despite suggestions to the contrary, Phil's experience
    is comparable to previous FAA nominees, like Jane Garvey and
    Michael Huerta, whom John mentioned, both of whom the Senate
    confirmed with a strong bipartisan support. Instead of focusing
    on Phil's obvious qualifications, there has been an attempt in
    recent months to distract from his record, and frankly, impugn
    his character.
        And I won't dignify that effort in my remarks. I will just
    say that the past 20 years of work has left me only with the
    highest regard for Phil's integrity and leadership. That is
    what the people of Denver believe about Phil and the people of
    Colorado do as well. And you don't have to take my word for it.
        The Mayor of Denver, Michael Hancock, is at the hearing.
    Before the Mayor asked Phil to lead the DIA, he conducted a
    thorough background check. Phil not only cleared that review,
    the Denver City Council confirmed him unanimously. They don't
    agree on anything, by the way, but they agreed on Phil.
        Senator Hickenlooper and I can tell you from experience
    that you don't get a lot of unanimous votes, as he said, from
    the City Council, and I see no reason why Phil's historic
    nomination shouldn't receive a unanimous vote from this
    committee.
        Any fair assessment of his career and of his character
    would see a nominee with integrity, drive, and a record of
    results at every institution he has led. You would make an
    outstanding Administrator for the FAA, and I wholeheartedly
    endorse his nomination. Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me a
    few minutes.
        The Chair. Thank you, Senator Bennet. Thank you to both you
    and Senator Hickenlooper for being part of today's hearing and
    endorsing, obviously, with your work experience with the Denver
    airport and Mr. Washington's leadership.
        Mr. Washington, we now turn to you. Feel free to introduce
    any family or guests with you and make your opening statement.

           STATEMENT OF PHILLIP A. WASHINGTON, NOMINEE TO BE
             ADMINISTRATOR, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

        Mr. Washington. Chair Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz, and
    members of the Committee, it is an honor to appear before you
    today as the President's nominee for Administrator of the
    Federal Aviation Administration. I want to thank President
    Biden, Secretary Buttigieg for selecting me to fill this
    important role.
        If confirmed, I look forward to working with each of you to
    strengthen our world class aviation system and make it better
    than it has ever been. I appreciate the generous introductions
    from Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper.
        I am honored today to have my Mayor here, of Denver, Mayor
    Michael Hancock. I want to thank my family of whom my only son,
    Phillip Jr., is here. I also want to thank Billy Nolan, our
    current Acting Administrator. As a man who grew up from humble
    beginnings in public housing on the South Side of Chicago, I am
    honored and humbled by this nomination.
        If confirmed, I pledge that I will work diligently to
    support the extraordinary team at the FAA. I grew up poor as an
    only son of a family of six children. My mother was a single
    parent. She worked 12 hours a day to put food on a table for
    all of us. She took me to listen and learn from the great faith
    and civic leaders who lived then and visited the City of
    Chicago in the 60s and 70s.
        This is where I realized my purpose and desire to serve
    people and be a public servant. I began my public service and
    leadership journey nearly 45 years ago when I enlisted in the
    U.S. Army to serve my country. I ultimately served for nearly
    25 years, earning the highest military enlisted rank, that of
    Command Sergeant Major, E-9.
        During my military career, I served, led, and motivated men
    and women from every corner of this great land. I honorably
    retired from the U.S. Army some 22 years ago. As a military
    veteran and leader of three large transportation organizations,
    my broad transportation, safety knowledge, and real-world
    leadership experiences provide me a unique perspective of how
    aviation and all modes of transportation should integrate into
    a seamless system.
        While serving as CEO at Denver's Regional Transportation
    District, I led the effort to connect rail to the Denver
    International Airport. As a CEO of L.A. Metro, I led the
    planning, and implementation, and completion of key
    construction milestones for a $2 billion automated people
    mover.
        That electric train system connects L.A. Metro rail and
    other facilities with the airport terminals. It will operate
    24/7 to serve approximately 30 million passengers annually,
    resulting in 117,000 fewer vehicles travel per day. I also led
    the completion of a $15 million Metrolink rail station that
    connects more neighborhoods with Hollywood Burbank Airport,
    reducing traffic congestion on Interstate 5 and residential
    roads.
        Overseeing these massive projects provide me with a great
    deal of experience managing large, complex, and challenging
    projects and organizations. My experience as CEO of the third
    busiest airport in the world, Denver International Airport with
    35,000 workers, translates well to the FAA.
        During the aviation challenges of the last several months,
    travelers through my airport have not asked me how much direct
    aviation experience I had. Instead, they asked me where was
    their luggage, and why their flight was delayed or canceled,
    and how their families would survive in my airport during rigid
    nights. We engaged with our partners. We worked as a team. We
    took care of travelers at my airport.
        The FAA is at a crossroads, an agency that must protect the
    safest era of aviation, modernize its technology, lift employee
    morale, while staffing up and maintaining its global leadership
    in aviation. Yes, we need to reinforce that we are the
    regulator for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and new
    entrants to the national airspace.
        Yes, we need to stress continuously safety as second nature
    for all FAA employees. However, to accomplish all of these
    things, we need permanent leadership at the top of the FAA to
    address the challenges that we have seen in the last several
    years. If confirmed, I will draw on a career spanning almost 45
    years to be that leader.
        The safety of the traveling public will remain my top
    priority, as it has been for me leading the third largest
    airport in the world, to large transit agencies, and men and
    women in uniform.
        If confirmed, I will be guided by the sacrifice and
    historic advocacy of the families of the 737 MAX and Colgan Air
    tragedies and perform the administrative role as I have
    performed every leadership role in my professional life, with
    accountability, integrity, transparency, respect, honesty,
    discipline, and an innovative mindset.
        I will own well-intentioned failure, and FAA employees will
    own their success. I will quicken the pace of public service
    and leave the FAA better than I found it. My hope is that the
    Committee and the full Senate will see the value of my
    leadership and multi-modal transportation experience as it
    deliberates my confirmation.
        Thank you for your consideration. I am excited about the
    opportunity to serve, and I am pleased to take your questions.
        [The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr.
    Washington follow:]

          Prepared Statement of Phillip A. Washington, Nominee to be
                 Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
        Chair Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz, and Members of the Committee.
    It is an honor to appear before you today as the President's nominee
    for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I want
    to thank President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for selecting me to
    fill this important role. If confirmed, I look forward to working with
    each of you to strengthen our world-class aviation system and make it
    better than it has ever been.
        I appreciate the generous introduction from Senators Bennett and
    Hickenlooper. I am honored to have my mayor, Denver Mayor Michael
    Hancock, here today as well. I want to thank my family, of whom my only
    son, Phillip, Jr., is here. I also want to thank Billy Nolen, our
    current Acting Administrator. As a man who grew from humble beginnings
    in public housing on the Southside of Chicago, I am honored and humbled
    by this nomination and, if confirmed, pledge that I will work
    diligently to support the extraordinary team at the FAA.
        I grew up poor as an only son of a family of six children. My
    mother was a single parent, who worked 12 hours a day to put food on
    the table for us. She took me to listen and learn from the great faith
    and civic leaders who lived in and visited the City of Chicago in the
    60s and 70s. This is where I realized my purpose and desire to serve
    people and be a public servant.
        I began my public service and leadership journey nearly 45 years
    ago when I enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve my country. I ultimately
    served for nearly 25 years, earning the highest military enlisted rank,
    that of Command Sergeant Major, E-9. During my military career, I
    served, led, and motivated men and women from every corner of this
    great land. I honorably retired from the U.S. Army some 22 years ago.
        As a military veteran and leader of three large transportation
    organizations, my broad transportation safety knowledge and real-world
    leadership experiences provide me a unique perspective of how aviation
    and all modes of transportation should integrate into a seamless
    system.
        While serving as CEO at Denver's Regional Transportation District,
    I led the effort to connect rail to Denver International Airport. As
    the CEO of LA Metro, I led the planning and completion of key
    construction milestones for a $2 billion-dollar ``Automated People
    Mover''. That electric train system connects LA Metro Rail and other
    facilities with airport terminals. It will operate 24/7 to serve
    approximately 30 million passengers annually, resulting in 117,000
    fewer vehicle miles traveled per day.
        I also led the completion of a $15 million-dollar Metrolink rail
    station that connects more neighborhoods with Hollywood Burbank
    Airport, reducing traffic congestion on Interstate 5 and residential
    roads. Overseeing these massive projects provided me with a great deal
    of experience managing large, complex, and challenging projects and
    organizations.
        My experience as CEO of the third busiest airport in the world,
    Denver International Airport with 35,000 workers, translates well to
    the FAA. During the aviation challenges of the last several months,
    travelers through my airport have not asked me how much direct aviation
    experience I had. Instead, they asked me where their luggage was, why
    their flight was delayed or canceled, and how their families would
    survive in my airport during rigid nights. We engaged with our
    partners, worked as a team, and took care of travelers at my airport.
        The FAA is at a crossroads--an agency that must protect the safest
    era in aviation, modernize its technology, lift employee morale while
    staffing up, and maintain its global leadership in aviation.
        Yes, we need to reinforce that we are the regulator for aircraft
    manufacturers, airlines, and new entrants to the national airspace.
        Yes, we need to stress continuously safety as second nature for all
    FAA employees and stakeholders.
        However, to accomplish all these things, we need permanent
    leadership at the top of the FAA to address the challenges that we have
    seen in the last several years. If confirmed, I will draw on a career
    spanning almost 45 years to be that leader. The safety of the traveling
    public will remain my top priority--as it has been for me leading the
    third largest airport in the world, two large transit agencies, and men
    and women in uniform.
        If confirmed, I will be guided by the sacrifice and heroic advocacy
    of the families of the 737 MAX and Colgan Air tragedies and perform the
    Administrator role as I have performed every leadership role in my
    professional life--with accountability, integrity, transparency,
    respect, honesty, discipline, and an innovative mindset. I will own
    well-intentioned failure, and FAA employees will own their success. I
    will quicken the pace of public service and leave the FAA better than I
    found it.
        My hope is that the Committee and the full Senate will see the
    value of my leadership and multi-modal transportation experience as it
    deliberates my confirmation. Thank you for your consideration.
        I am excited about the opportunity to serve and am pleased to take
    your questions.
                                     ______

                          a. biographical information
        1. Name (Include any former names or nicknames used):

            Phillip Anthony Washington

        2. Position to which nominated: Administrator, Federal Aviation
    Administration.
        3. Date of Nomination: January 3, 2023.
        4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses):

            Residence: Information not released to the public.
            Office: Denver International Airport, Executive Office, Airport
            Office Building, 9th Floor, 8500 Pena Blvd., Denver, CO 80249.

        5. Date and Place of Birth: January 17, 1958; Chicago, IL.
        6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your
    spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including
    stepchildren and children by a previous marriage).

            Spouse: Waltraud Washington, Wife, not employed
            Children: Monique Y. Crawford, Age 47; Phyllis E. (Washington)
            Gebre-Michael, Age 42; Patrice R. Washington, Age 35; Phillip
            A. Washington, Jr., Age 29.

        7. List all college and graduate schools attended, whether or not
    you were granted a degree by the institution. Provide the name of the
    institution, the dates attended, the degree received, and the date of
    the degree.

       aster of Arts Degree, Management, 1990, Webster University,
            St. Louis, MO
       Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, 1988, Columbia
            College, St. Louis, MO

        8. List all post-undergraduate employment, including the job title,
    name of employer, and inclusive dates of employment, and highlight all
    management-level jobs held and any non managerial jobs that relate to
    the position for which you are nominated.
    Related Managerial Experiences
       Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Denver International Airport

       CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
            Authority (LA Metro)

       CEO, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO

       Assistant General Manager, Administration, Regional
            Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO

       Command Sergeant Major/E-9, (highest non-commissioned
            military rank a soldier can attain), U.S. Army

       Chief, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Information
            Management Division, U.S. Army

       First Sergeant, U.S. Army

       Inspector General, U.S. Army

       Chief, Training and Operations Administrator, U.S. Army

       Chief Operations/Logistics Division, U.S. Army (NATO
            Alliance)

        9. Attach a copy of your resume.
        Please see Attachment #1
        10. List any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-time
    service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other
    than those listed above after 18 years of age.

       Expert Panel Member, NY Port Authority, LaGuardia Mass
            Transit Alternative Panel (2021 to present)

       Captain Biden/Harris Transportation Transition, Agency
            Review Team (2020-2021)

       USDOT Landing Team, Clinton/Kaine Campaign (was dependent
            upon Clinton/Kane win in 2016) (2016)

       Taskforce formed in 2011-2012, by Former First Lady Michelle
            Obama to provide support for military veterans transitioning to
            civilian life.

        11. List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee,
    partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any
    corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business, enterprise,
    educational, or other institution.

       Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Denver International Airport
            (2021 to present)

       CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
            Authority (LA Metro) (2015-2021)

       CEO, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO
            (2009-2015)

       Advisory Board Member, TransPro Consulting (01/2022-06/2022)
            (resigned position)

       Member, Board of Directors, Visit Denver (12/2021 to
            present)

       Chair, Equity in Infrastructure Project (04/2022 to present)

       Member, Board of Directors: Colorado Tourism Board (03/2022
            to present)

        12. Please list each membership you have had after 18 years of age
    or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable, educational,
    political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or religiously
    affiliated organization, private club, or other membership
    organization. (For this question, you do not have to list your
    religious affiliation or membership in a religious house of worship or
    institution.). Include dates of membership and any positions you have
    held with any organization. Please note whether any such club or
    organization restricts membership on the basis of sex, race, color,
    religion, national origin, age, or disability.

       Board Member and Former Chair, American Public
            Transportation Association (APTA) (2010-2016)

       Member, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials
            (COMTO) (2004 to present)

       Member, Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) (2010 to
            present)

       Member, Executive Committee, Transportation Research Board
            (2009-2015)

       Board Member, ENO Foundation (2009-2015)

       Board Member, Colorado Tourism Board (2021 to present)

       Board Member, Visit Denver (2021 to present)

        None of these organizations restrict membership on any basis.
        Note: There have been reports of my participation in a group of
    Black men, called the ``Chicken Bone.'' This is an informal group of
    men who get together occasionally to play golf and informally chat
    about things that impact the health, well-being, and future of African
    Americans in America. There is no membership in this group, and due to
    the pandemic, the group has not convened in several years. I did not
    include this in my previous questionnaire as I understood the question
    as asking for formal groups but adding in here now out of an abundance
    of caution.
        Again, I want to make clear this is an informal social group.
        13. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held a public office
    (elected, non-elected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any
    campaign has any outstanding debt, the amount, and whether you are
    personally liable for that debt. No.
        14. List all memberships and offices held with and services
    rendered to, whether compensated or not, any political party or
    election committee within the past ten years. If you have held a paid
    position or served in a formal or official advisory position (whether
    compensated or not) in a political campaign within the past ten years,
    identify the particulars of the campaign, including the candidate, year
    of the campaign, and your title and responsibilities.

       Co-Chair, Biden/Harris Policy Committee (2020)

        15. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
    organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
    entity of $200 or more for the past ten years.

       Biden for President: $1,000 (2020)

       Biden Victory Fund: $1,000 (2020)

       Campaign for LA City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas: $500
            (2021) and $500 (2020)

        16. List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary
    society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition
    for outstanding service or achievements.
        All below recognition stem from my service in the U.S. Army:

       Defense Superior Service Medal (2000)

       Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1997)

       Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award) (four different awards
            throughout my military career)

       Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) (different awards
            throughout my military career)

       Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award) (different awards
            throughout my military career)

       Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award) (seven different awards
            throughout my military career)

       National Defense Service Medal (1981)

       Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Dev Ribbon w/Numeral
            4 (different awards throughout military career)

       Army Service Ribbon (1981)

       Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award) (different award after
            each overseas tour of duty)

       Expert Marksmanship Badge w/Rifle and Hand Grenade Bars
            (1976 and ongoing throughout military career)

        Other recognition for outstanding service or achievements are
    listed below to the best of my recollection. Should any additional
    recognition items be identified, I will promptly let the Committee
    know:

       Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), U.S. DOT Secretary,
            Ray LaHood Leadership Award (2018)

       Named 2013-2014 Outstanding Public Transportation CEO in
            North America by the American Public Transportation Association
            (APTA).

       Named by National Safety Council as one of the CEOs ``Who
            Get It'' (2016)

       Public Achievement Award from Hispanic Contractors of
            Colorado (2014)

       Appointed by the Mayor of Denver in 2007 as Chair for
            Transportation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention Host
            Committee

       Emerging Leader of the Year Award, Conference of Minority
            Transportation Officials (COMTO) (2005)

       Diversity Leadership Award, (WTS) (2016)

       Lifetime Achievement Award, Transportation Diversity Council
            (2020)

       Former LA Mayor Tom Bradley Equal Opportunity Award,
            American Society of Public Administration (2017)

       Former Congressman & Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta
            Award for Exceptional Leadership, COMTO (2017)

       Outstanding Leadership Award in Economic Development, LA
            Economic Development Corporation (2018)

        17. List each book, article, column, letter to the editor, Internet
    blog posting, or other publication you have authored, individually or
    with others. Include a link to each publication when possible. If a
    link is not available, provide a digital copy of the publication when
    available.
        The following represents the most up-to-date list of publications--
    to the best of my ability. If additional publications are identified
    following submission of this questionnaire, I will promptly let the
    Committee know:

       Co-authored, with a Joanne Peterson, Chapter Eleven of book
            entitled ``Empowering the New Mobility Workforce Educating,
            Training, and Inspiring Future Transportation Professionals''

       Co-authored with Don Howard, ``A Path to Fair and Equitable
            Infrastructure Spending'' in Governing The Future of States and
            Localities

        18. List all speeches, panel discussions, and presentations (e.g.,
    PowerPoint) that you have given on topics relevant to the position for
    which you have been nominated. Include a link to each publication when
    possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of the
    speech or presentation when available.
        I have delivered numerous speeches in the course of my career.
    Please see Attachments #2 and #3 for the most up-to-date list of
    speeches and non congressional hearings I have been able to compile
    during my tenure at LA Metro and Denver International Airport--to the
    best of my ability. If additional speeches or remarks are identified
    following submission of this questionnaire, I will promptly let the
    Committee know.
        19. List all public statements you have made during the past ten
    years, including statements in news articles and radio and television
    appearances, which are on topics relevant to the position for which you
    have been nominated, including dates. Include a link to each statement
    when possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of
    the statement when available.
        Please see Attachment #4.
        20. List all digital platforms (including social media and other
    digital content sites) on which you currently or have formerly operated
    an account, regardless of whether or not the account was held in your
    name or an alias. Include the full name of an ``alias'' or ``handle'',
    including the complete URL and username with hyperlinks, you have used
    on each of the named platforms. Indicate whether the account is active,
    deleted, or dormant. Include a link to each account if possible.

       Facebook--Phil_washington76@hotmail.com (account deleted in
            2019)

       LinkedIn--pawashington117@gmail.com (account deleted in
            2022)

        21. Please identify each instance in which you have testified
    orally or in writing before Congress in a governmental or non-
    governmental capacity and specify the date and subject matter of each
    testimony.

       House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
            Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials,
            ``When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The
            Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail
            Technologies.'' May 2021.

       House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
            ``Impacts of State Owned Enterprises on Public Transit and
            Freight Rail Sectors.'' May 2019.

       House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Panel
            on Public Private Partnerships, ``Overview of Public-Private
            Partnerships for Highway and Transit Projects,'' March 2014.

        22. Given the current mission, major programs, and major
    operational objectives of the department/agency to which you have been
    nominated, what in your background or employment experience do you
    believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment to the position for
    which you have been nominated, and why do you wish to serve in that
    position?
        I want to lead the effort to provide the safest, most efficient
    aviation system in the world. My experience of running the 3rd busiest
    airport in the world, and it being the state's largest economic engine
    with an annual economic impact of $33.5 billion, translates well to the
    FAA. In both my current and past positions, I have faced many of the
    same challenges the FAA is currently experiencing, i.e., safety,
    regulatory and oversight, contract and grant fund management,
    information/cyber security, financial management, safety management
    systems, innovation and research, HR management, and new entrants and
    technology (e.g., airspace/drone/new entrants management). I believe
    given my strong management background and experience, I can
    successfully address challenges like these at FAA.
        My knowledge and real-world experience of modal transportation
    infrastructure systems, operations, safety, physical and cybersecurity,
    military systems, community engagement, human capital development,
    logistics, and leadership/management experience in all modes of
    transportation give me a unique perspective of how transportation
    systems should integrate into a seamless system. I also led the Biden-
    Harris Transportation Transition Team that reviewed the entire U.S.
    Department of Transportation. During that review, we interviewed
    hundreds of people about the challenges facing the Department and
    specifically the FAA and offered solutions. Many of those challenges
    persist today. That work, along with my experience leading very large
    transportation organizations, provide me with a unique perspective of
    the FAA and how to improve the agency.
        I desire to serve in this position because I would bring a new
    perspective to FAA along with a uniquely responsive and safety-focused
    mindset in engaging with Congress, the Administration, the Secretary,
    the many FAA Stakeholders, and to the public. If confirmed, I will
    further expand the Department's partnership with workers, communities
    of color, the airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, the military,
    labor, and aviation regulatory bodies around the world, and all
    communities impacted by FAA operations. If confirmed, I am committed to
    bringing all stakeholders and partners together to further impress upon
    them the importance of the FAA safety mission.
        23. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to
    ensure that the department/agency has proper management and accounting
    controls, and what experience do you have in managing a large
    organization?
        Safety is, and always will be, my top responsibility and priority
    if given the honor to be confirmed as the next Administrator of the
    FAA. Additionally, I bring a superior track record of expert internal
    organizational and fiscal management to the FAA. I will lean on my
    decades-long record of leadership, management, and oversight of
    billion-dollar budgets, thousands of employees, and massive project and
    program oversight. My financial and management leadership and oversight
    experience of three of the largest infrastructure programs in America,
    Denver International Airport's massive airport rehabilitation/
    renovation program, Los Angeles County's Measure M, and the Regional
    Transportation District of Denver's FasTracks programs, allow me to
    bring unique management and accounting controls experience to the
    position.
        I have been a CEO of three of the largest infrastructure
    organizations in this country. I have earned the highest non-
    commissioned officer rank possible in one of the largest and most
    respected institutions in the world, the United States Army. I have led
    all of these organizations by leading from the front, making tough
    decisions and standing by them, exhibiting integrity and displaying
    total transparency, empathy, honesty, core beliefs, and having a high
    degree of emotional intelligence that has allowed me to effectively
    lead and motivate those in my charge.
        24. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the
    department/agency, and why?

       Safety Oversight. Specifically, the FAA's oversight of
            aircraft certification processes. I strongly believe the FAA
            must enhance the oversight of the aircraft certification
            process through implementation of the bipartisan Aircraft
            Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. We must continue
            to rebuild the FAA's image in the wake of the two tragic 737
            MAX jet crashes. If confirmed, I will lead that effort
            worldwide and believe my reputation in the transportation
            industry will help the United States do just that

       Modernizing New Systems. I am closely monitoring the
            disruptions caused by the recent outage of FAA's Notice to Air
            Missions (NOTAM) system and look forward to tackling this
            matter if confirmed.

            The En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system is a
            foundational NextGen system that will improve the efficiency of
            the Nation's airspace system. However, technical issues and
            delays have hindered the FAA's efforts to replace ERAM's
            original computer hardware to effectively modernize its system
            software. Modernizing NextGen systems to introduce new
            capabilities and become more efficient in our efforts to
            maintain a safe airspace is a must. On a recent visit to the
            Denver International Airport control tower, I spoke with
            controllers who shared their frustrations with me that much of
            the Nation's NextGen systems have not been installed or fully
            implemented. Their perception is that there are constant starts
            and stops in implementation of the new systems. If confirmed, I
            am committed to fixing this problem.

       Airspace and Technology Integration. Given all the new
            aviation entrants and emerging technologies, it will be
            critically important that there be a safe integration of manned
            and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System
            with proper regulatory oversight from the FAA. Safe integration
            of new entrants, while allowing for technological innovation,
            will be tricky, but doing both are essential.
                       b. potential conflicts of interest
        1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
    agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
    clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement
    accounts, such as a 401(k) or pension plan.
        My arrangements are fully described in Part 3 of my Public
    Financial Disclosure Report.
        2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal,
    to maintain employment, affiliation, or practice with any business,
    association, or other organization during your appointment? If so,
    please explain. No.
        3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
    relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
    the position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will
    resolve each potential conflict of interest.
        In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with
    the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of Transportation's
    Designated Agency Ethics Official to identify any potential conflicts
    of interest. Any potential conflicts of interest will continue to be
    resolved in accordance with the terms of an ethics agreement that I
    have entered into with the Department's Designated Agency Ethics
    Official and that has been provided to this Committee. I am not aware
    of any potential conflicts of interest.
        4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
    transaction which you have had during the last ten years, whether for
    yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
    any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
    position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will resolve
    each potential conflict of interest.
        In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with
    the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of Transportation's
    Designated Agency Ethics Official to identify any potential conflicts
    of interest. Any potential conflicts of interest will continue to be
    resolved in accordance with the terms of an ethics agreement that I
    have entered into with the Department's Designated Agency Ethics
    Official and that has been provided to this Committee. I am not aware
    of any potential conflicts of interest.
        5. Identify any other potential conflicts of interest, and explain
    how you will resolve each potential conflict of interest.
        In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with
    the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of Transportation's
    Designated Agency Ethics Official to identify any potential conflicts
    of interest. Any potential conflicts of interest will continue to be
    resolved in accordance with the terms of an ethics agreement that I
    have entered into with the Department's Designated Agency Ethics
    Official and that has been provided to this Committee. I am not aware
    of any potential conflicts of interest.
        6. Describe any activity during the past ten years, including the
    names of clients represented, in which you have been engaged for the
    purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or
    modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and
    execution of law or public policy.
        In my previous position as CEO of LA Metro, I helped the Mayor of
    Los Angeles lead the successful effort to pass a new half-cent sales
    tax ballot measure in LA County. The measure is expected to generate
    $120 billion in the first 40 years and build 40 major transportation
    projects, create 778,000 jobs, and provide $133.3 billion in total
    economic impact.
                                c. legal matters
        1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics,
    professional misconduct, or retaliation by, or been the subject of a
    complaint to, any court, administrative agency, the Office of Special
    Counsel, an Inspector General, professional association, disciplinary
    committee, or other professional group? If yes:

      a.  Provide the name of court, agency, association, committee, or
            group;

      b.  Provide the date the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
            personnel action was issued or initiated;

      c.  Describe the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
            personnel action;

      d.  Provide the results of the citation, disciplinary action,
            complaint, or personnel action.
        No. Please see, however, response to Questions #2 and #3 on
    lawsuits in which I have been named in my official capacity.
        2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by
    any Federal, State, or other law enforcement authority of any Federal,
    State, county, or municipal entity, other than for a minor traffic
    offense? If so, please explain.
        When my questionnaire was first submitted to the Committee in
    August 2022, I mentioned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
    Department reportedly opened an investigation into a procurement
    between LA Metro and a nonprofit called ``Peace Over Violence.'' This
    procurement was in process prior to my employment with LA Metro in
    March 2015, with the contract awarded in September 2015. Media reports
    indicated that a search warrant was allegedly issued in conjunction
    with that investigation. However, I was never contacted or questioned
    by the Sheriff's Office about this case, nor was a search warrant ever
    executed to the best of my knowledge. My understanding is that the
    matter has been resolved, and I am not aware of any findings of
    wrongdoing against me or LA Metro.
        Following submission of the questionnaire, in September 2022, a
    search warrant was served on Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
    related to the Peace Over Violence contract. I am not the subject of
    the search warrant. My name is mentioned, along with several other
    names, in a search for records, but no search was ever executed on me
    or my property, nor have I been questioned on this matter.
        In addition, in my previous roles at LA Metro and Denver RTD, I
    have been named in several lawsuits in my official capacity. Please see
    Attachment #5 for the most up-to-date list as compiled by LA Metro,
    which handles these cases on behalf of LA Metro officials, and a search
    run via Westlaw and PACER. If additional lawsuits are identified
    following the submission of this questionnaire, I will promptly let the
    Committee know.
        I am happy to answer any questions the Committee may have on these
    matters.
        3. Have you or any business or nonprofit of which you are or were
    an officer ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency
    proceeding, criminal proceeding, or civil litigation? If so, please
    explain.
        See answer to Question #2 referencing legal proceedings in
    Attachment #5.
        I am happy to answer any questions the Committee may have on these
    matters.
        4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
    contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
    offense? If so, please explain. No.
        5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual
    harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or
    any other basis? If so, please explain.
        While CEO of LA Metro, an employee in LA Metro alleged wrongful
    hiring of employees of color. The allegation was deemed unsubstantiated
    by the LA Metro Office of Inspector General, and the LA Metro Board of
    Directors determined the allegation to not have merit. A related
    Federal case by the Plaintiff was dismissed for lack of prosecution.
        While CEO of Denver RTD, a prose complaint was filed against RTD
    and several named parties, including me, alleging discrimination on the
    basis of race and disability related to a claim of injury. The case was
    ultimately dismissed.
        I am happy to answer any questions the Committee may have on these
    matters.
        6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
    favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in
    connection with your nomination. None.
                         d. relationship with committee
        1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with
    deadlines for information set by congressional committees, and that
    your department/agency endeavors to timely comply with requests for
    information from individual Members of Congress, including requests
    from members in the minority? Yes.
        2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can
    to protect congressional witnesses and whistleblowers from reprisal for
    their testimony and disclosures? Yes.
        3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested
    witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with
    firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the Committee? Yes.
        4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
    constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
    reasonably requested to do so? Yes.
                                     ______

                        Resume of Phillip A. Washington
    Transportation infrastructure, operations, community engagement,
    security, human capital development, information technology, and
    leadership/management experience in all modes of transportation. Highly
    effective executive oversight of active transportation-expansion
    projects totaling $20+ billion. Distinguished U.S. Army military
    career, including assignment in Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe and the
    NATO Alliance, retiring after 24+ years at the pinnacle of the Non-
    commissioned officer ranks, that of Command Sergeant Major, E-9. In
    2020, appointed Captain 2020/2021 Biden/Harris Transportation
    Transition, Agency Review Team.
                            PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
                          DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
                               JULY 2021-PRESENT
    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)
    Nominated by Denver Mayor, Michael Hancock, and unanimously confirmed
    by the Denver City Council as CEO in July 2021. DIA was the world's 3rd
    busiest airport in 2021 and is Colorado's largest economic engine with
    an annual economic impact of $33.5 billion. The airport has 30,000
    total badged employees with 25 air carriers and additional concession
    locations of more than 190,000 square feet of concession space.

       Spearheading the effort to build one of a kind and first
            ever Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation. Designed to
            answer the President's call outlined in Executive Order 13985
            and the Justice 40 Initiative.

       Leading the effort to renovate the massive DIA airport
            terminal, build 39 additional gates, design and build a seventh
            runway, construct a new baggage system, and a complete revamp
            of Asset Management System, concentrating on Predictive Asset
            Management System vs. simply Age-based system.

       Created and building Aviation Career Pathway Program that is
            concentrating on young people in communities of color and
            underserved communities.
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LA METRO)
                              MARCH 2015-MAY 2021
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
    Unanimously selected CEO of LA Metro by the LA Metro Board of Directors
    on March 12, 2015. Led the largest ever modern public works program in
    North America. Oversaw one of the Nation's largest transportation
    agencies that managed an annual budget of $8.0 billion and transports
    1.2 million boarding passengers (Pre COVID) on an average weekday and
    leading transportation planning, construction, and programing for the
    country's most populous county.

       Led the effort for a new half-cent sales tax ballot measure
            that was passed by voters with a 71.15 percent approval.
            Measure M will generate $120 billion in the first 40 years and
            build 40 major transportation projects in the first 40 years,
            create 778,000 jobs, and provide $133.3 billion in economic
            impact.

       Implemented zero-based budgeting and the Risk Allocation
            Matrix (saving $300 million dollars per year). Developed and
            implemented the first asset management plan and program
            (condition-based asset management program will lead to millions
            of dollars in savings each year).

       Created and oversaw country's first ever Pre-development
            Agreement (PDA) which will bring expertise and creativity of
            the private sector to the country's most challenging corridor,
            The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project.

       Led LA County transportation operations in the midst of the
            COVID-19 Pandemic.

       Led nation's largest effort to electrify entire ground fleet
            and facilities of LA Metro, i.e., charging stations, etc.

       Created a new Transit-Oriented Community Development
            Program/land policy that aims to determine how transit
            development can be community-focused with minimal displacement
            of community residents in urban areas, most of whom are low
            income.

       Developed and implemented an Equity Framework that requires
            the organization to apply equity measures to all programs and
            initiatives, including planning and construction.
           Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, Colorado
                              July 2000-March 2015
    Built impressive 15-year internationally recognized achievement,
    innovation and advancement with this eight-county, 2,340 square mile
    unified transportation authority named by U.S. News and World Report in
    2011 as No. 1 in public transportation in the U.S.
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) May 2009-March 2015
    Unanimously selected by a 15-member Board of Directors to lead the
    Regional Transportation District, one of the most dynamic transit
    agencies in North America. Strong leadership of all District operations
    and expansions serving population of 2.8 million with daily boardings
    of 328,000, annual boardings of 101.0 million on total budget
    appropriation of $2.7 billion.

       Led FasTracks expansion and build-out of 122 miles of new
            commuter and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service,
            21,000 new parking spaces and redevelopment of the historic
            Union Station Transit Terminal complex, which opened five
            months ahead of anticipated completion.

       Led first-of-its-kind $2.2 billion-dollar transit Public
            Private Partnership (Eagle P3 Project) that opened in April
            2016 on time and under budget. Also, formulated innovative
            financing strategies lauded locally and nationally allowing RTD
            to build more transportation infrastructure than previously
            thought or envisioned.

       Executed the largest one-time Federal Full-Funding Grant
            Agreement ($1.3 billion) in RTD history.

       Created and directed a FasTracks Internal Savings Account to
            pool funds from internal sources to generate up to $300 million
            by 2017--resulting in fund pool to build the first 13-mile
            portion of the 18.5 mile north Metro Rail Line and to complete
            the U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project.

       Resolved two multi-million-dollar railroad agreements (with
            Union Pacific and Burlington Northern), paving the way for
            build-out of two vital commuter rail lines.

       Implemented safety and training protocols leading to a 40
            percent decrease in preventable bus accidents while improving
            agency performance to consistently nearly 90 percent on-time
            bus and rail service and 96 percent ADA on time performance.

       Named 2013-2014 Outstanding Public Transportation CEO by the
            American Public Transportation Association.

       Spearheaded completion of RTD's West Rail Line eight months
            ahead of schedule and under budget, with project named ``Most
            Significant Construction Project in 2012'' by the Associated
            General Contractors of America.

       Invited to testify before U.S. Congress on innovative
            transportation financing techniques and workforce initiatives.

       Negotiated an unprecedented Win-win 5-year Collective
            Bargaining Agreement, the first of its length in RTD history.
    Assistant General Manager, Administration July 2000-May 2009
    Selected from a competitive group of top-level executives based upon
    strong leadership, managerial, operational, financial and
    administrative abilities to direct major activities of Finance, Human
    Resources, Materials Management (Procurement), Information Technology,
    Treasury and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Excelled in all areas
    of responsibility.

       Versed in all transportation agency functions, i.e.,
            multimodal and fixed guideway systems, financing programs
            through grants and other revenue sources, FTA rule making and
            discretionary funding programs and requirements, customer
            service, public relations, safety, transit operations and
            maintenance and planning.

       Assigned oversight of a $620 million-dollar total budget
            appropriation that included an operating budget of $400 million
            and a capital budget of $220 million dollars.

       Key member of senior executive team responsible for
            organization selected as 2003 and 2008 Number #1 transit agency
            in North America.

       Named key member of 2003, 2006 and 2009 (Chief Negotiator)
            management negotiating teams that resulted in successfully
            negotiated collective bargaining agreements with the
            Amalgamated Transit Union #1001.

       Guided redesign and improvement of all agency communication
            systems.

       Contributed key role in implementing and managing RTD's $7.8
            billion dollar, twelve-year FasTracks expansion program for
            high quality transit service and facilities in the Denver metro
            region.

       Appointed oversight for implementing and managing agency
            performance measures resulting in improvements in every
            significant functional area.

       Spearheaded implementation of new $17.5 million dollar
            Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) system to replace agency's
            25-year old Legacy computer systems. Brought project in ahead
            of schedule and $750,000 under budget.
                                   U.S. Army
                              June 1976-July 2000
    Command Sergeant Major (highest non-commissioned military rank
    possible) June 1998-July 2000 (Promoted ahead of peers to every
    military enlisted rank)
    Western Sector, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, Aurora, CO
       Top Non-commissioned officer responsible for an organization
            processing 270,000 applicants annually from all services for
            service in the Armed Forces.

       Ensured compliance with policies pertaining to operations
            and administration, performance, transportation, discipline,
            safety, management and training, and fiscal oversight.

       Prepared military soldiers to reenter civilian life through
            counseling and ensuring transition services.

       Acted as organization's Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff.

       Designed innovative methods to improve the military
            recruiting processes for the entire Western part of the United
            States, resulting in all armed services meeting their
            recruiting goals for the period.
    Chief, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Information Management
            Division August 1995-May 1998
    U.S. Army Europe, 5th Signal Command, Heidelberg, Germany
       Performed in cornerstone of the U.S. Army Europe's busiest
            division as key player in every command project and function in
            support of troops during the three-year period.

       Guided planning, management and successful establishment of
            a viable military communications system during the initial
            phase of the U.S. military peace-keeping operation in
            Southeastern Europe.

       Developed a communications matrix resulting in an annual
            European-wide savings of nearly $500,000.

       Planned and hosted several U.S. Army Europe allied, foreign
            country military-to-military partnership visits.

       Coordinated and implemented transportation operations in
            Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe's largest divisions.
    First Sergeant/Senior Enlisted Advisor April 1993-August 1995
    U.S. Army Tank Command, Warren, MI
       Top enlisted soldier for a unit with over 300 combat-ready
            soldiers assigned and a budget of $100 to $150 million.

       Responsible for the health, morale, discipline, welfare,
            operations and training of all soldiers entrusted to my care.

       Guided successful design, implementation, and fielding of
            several major U.S. Army weapons systems.

       Appointed oversight for all transportation operations for
            the Command.
    Inspector General April 1990-April 1993
    HQ, U.S. Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany
       Selected for prestigious assignment at Headquarters, U.S.
            Army in Europe.

       Identified and resolved systemic operational challenges and
            adverse trends throughout U.S. Army Europe.

       Provided prudent advice, training, assistance, and
            counseling to soldiers, commanders, family members,
            whistleblowers, and Department of Defense civilians.

       Supported OPERATION Desert Storm and recommended many money-
            saving proactive measures that were adopted throughout the
            European theater of military operation.
    Chief, Training Instructor and Operations Administrator September 1986-
            March 1990
    Readiness Group: Sheridan, Fort Sheridan, IL
       Served as principal active-Army trainer/operations
            administrator to Reserve component soldiers throughout 7-state
            Midwest region.

       Developed and presented instructional material to more than
            25,000 soldiers annually. Prepared them for wartime logistical
            operations.

       Successfully maintained two demanding positions, both
            requiring excellence in time management, operational,
            administrative and leadership skills.
    Chief, Human Capital Division March 1986-September 1988
    Readiness Group Sheridan, Fort Sheridan, IL
       Served all HR Division functions for a 300-person
            organization including training, logistics, compensation,
            retention, and employee relations.

       Developed personnel accountability procedures and incentives
            that reduced absenteeism and tardiness.

       Created a rigorous physical fitness and smoking-cessation
            program resulting in reduced down time.

       Cornerstone of the unit.
    Chief, Operations/Logistics Division, NATO January 1982-February 1986
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Oberammergau, Germany
       Emerged as key player in organization's most demanding
            division by mastering nine different functional areas that
            educated and trained current and developing NATO operations,
            strategy, policy, doctrine, and procedures.

       Spearheaded procurement, logistics, and safety programs for
            the division.

       Coordinated transportation and operations for top NATO
            diplomats and VIPs.

       Managed all logistics and acted as U.S. military liaison for
            host nation activities.
                                   EDUCATION
       Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education, Senior
            Executive in State and Local Government, 2018

       Master of Arts, Management, Webster University, St. Louis,
            MO-1990

       Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Columbia College,
            St. Louis, MO-1988

       Graduate of numerous military and civilian courses focusing
            on leadership and a vast array of other disciplines, i.e.,
            warfighting, finance, safety, transit and aviation operations,
            planning, procurement, intelligent transportation systems,
            customer service, information technology, and media relations.

       Graduate of Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP),
            Transit Executive Leadership Program, 2004.

       Graduate of National Transit Institute's (NTI) Senior
            Transit Leadership Program, 2004. Selected in 2007 by the
            Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) as one of a 12-
            member team from around the United States to participate in the
            Federal Transit Administration funded International Transit
            Studies Program to study and report on transportation
            operations in Canada and Europe.

       Certified by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as
            a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).
                                 HONORS INCLUDE
       Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), U.S. Department of
            Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood Leadership Award (2018).

       Named 2013-2014 Outstanding Public Transportation CEO/
            Manager in North America by the American Public Transportation
            Association (APTA) and named Chair of APTA 2014-2015.

       Chosen by the National Safety Council as one of the CEOs
            ``Who Get It''--an honor bestowed on CEOs who demonstrate
            leadership in safety at the highest levels. Invited to White
            House by U.S. Department of Transportation to participate in
            discussion of U.S. Army soldier credentialing and licensing
            (2013 & 2014).

       Testified before U.S. House Committee on Transportation and
            Infrastructure and awarded by White House in July 2012 as
            Transportation Innovators ``Champion of Change.''

       Honored in January 2011 with the Public Achievement Award
            from the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado.

       Appointed by Colorado Governor in February 2009 to the State
            of Colorado's Workforce Development Council.

       Appointed by the Mayor of Denver in 2007 as Working Co-chair
            for Transportation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

       Recipient of 2007 RTD General Manager/Chief Executive
            Officer Award for Excellence in Performance.

       Appointed by the Mayor of Denver in 2006 to the City's
            Diversity in Safety Task Force. Developed strategies for
            promoting diversity in the recruitment and hiring of fire and
            police department candidates.

       Awarded 2005 ``Emerging Leader of the Year Award'' by the
            Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

       Awarded 2005 Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS), Colorado
            Chapter, Diversity Leadership Award.

       Distinguished U.S. Army military career, having been
            promoted from the ``Secondary Zone'' or ahead of peers to each
            military rank, from E-1 to the enlisted military rank pinnacle
            of E-9 (Command Sergeant Major). After 24 years of military
            service and upon retirement, awarded the Defense Superior
            Service Medal for exceptional service to his country. Disabled
            veteran.
                                     ______

      Presentations made by Phillip A. Washington since he started at DEN

    2021

    September         Commission on the Future of Mobility, Sept. 21, 2021
                         Virtual Panel Discussion
                      Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, Sept. 22, 2021
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Conference of Minority Transportation Officials 50th
                       Anniversary Conference, Sept
                         Virtual Panel Discussion
                      Urban Land Institute Colorado Multifamily Product
                       Council, Sept. 29, 2021
                         Keynote Remarks
    October           Denver International Airport Safety Seminar, Oct. 1,
                       2021
                         Keynote Remarks
                      HDR Transcon, Oct. 25, 2021
                         Keynote Remarks
                      U.S. Travel Association Future of Travel Mobility
                       Conference, Oct. 26, 2021
                         Business Leader Panel Discussion
                      DEN AIM DEVELOPMENT and BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES,
                       Oct. 27, 2021
                         Remarks about Phil's vision for procurement
                       processes
    November          Holder FCI NAACP Ten for DEN Event, Nov. 2, 2021
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Aurora Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee
                       Breakfast, Nov. 3, 2021
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Southwest Airlines 15th Anniversary/Economic Impact
                       Event, Nov. 5, 2021
                         Remarks and Emcee Event
    December          Bessie Coleman Fly Girls and Boys Program DEN Visit
                       December 18th

    2022

    January           U.S. Conference of Mayors, Jan. 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      Colorado Consular Corps, Jan. 25, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
    February          WSP Presentation, Feb. 7, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Move Colorado Presentation, Feb. 10, 2022
                         Virtual Remarks
                      Holder-FCI--Ten 4 DEN--Heritage Christian Center
                       Event, Feb. 17, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
    March             Airport Experience Conference, March 2, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      2022 Silver Anniversary CU Real Estate Center Annual
                       Forum, March 9, 2022
                         Panel Discussion/Executive Interview
    April             American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
                       Transit CEOs Seminar, April 9, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      2022 Silver Anniversary CU Real Estate Center Annual
                       Forum, March 9, 2022
                         Panel Discussion/Executive Interview
                      American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
                       Transit CEOs Seminar, April 9, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Colorado Transportation Symposium, April 13, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
    May               HNTB Corporation Think: Infrastructure Forum Series,
                       May 3, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      Hispanic Contractors of Colorado Legislative Policy
                       Committee, May 9, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      United Airlines/DEN United Management Association
                       Fireside Chat, May 10, 2022
                         Fireside Chat
                      Squire Patton Boggs Transportation Industry Group
                       Meeting, May 12, 2022
                         Virtual Keynote Presentation
                      Aurora Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Recognition
                       Event, May 13, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      Eno Transportation--Transportation Senior Executives
                       Dinner, May 16, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      United for Infrastructure Summit, May 16, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      Innovative Infrastructure Initiative (I3), May 17,
                       2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      CityAge Executive Roundtable Discussion on
                       Infrastructure, May 18, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
    June              United Airlines Flight Training Center (FTC) Expansion
                       Groundbreaking Event, June
                         Brief Remarks
                      American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
                       Board of Directors, June 4, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      DEN Summer Intern Kickoff Welcome Remarks, June 6,
                       2022
                         Welcome Remarks
                      Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport
                       Business Diversity Conference A
                         Panel Discussion
                      Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport
                       Business Diversity Conference A
                         Panel Discussion
                      National Association of Securities Professionals 33rd
                       Annual Financial Services Con
                         Panel Discussion
                      International Women's Forum of Colorado Reception,
                       June 30, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
    July              Hensel Phelps Great Hall Project Completion Phase
                       Kickoff Meeting, July 12, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
                       Annual Conference, July 26, 20
                         Keynote Panel Discussion
    August            DEN Business Development Training Academy, Aug. 2
                         Opening Remarks
                      Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Aug. 4, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      Frontier Airlines Ground Loading Facility
                       Groundbreaking, Aug. 8, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
                      Mercantile Ribbon Cutting, Aug. 15, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
                      Transit Unplugged TV, Aug. 18, 2022
                         Podcast Interview
                      Access Denver, Aug. 23, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      American Contract Compliance Association National
                       Training Institute, Aug. 24, 20
                         Panel Discussion
                      Regis University Executive Speaker Series Fireside
                       Chat, Aug. 30, 2022
                         Virtual Keynote Remarks
                      Airports Council International, Airport Management
                       Professional Accreditation Pr
                         Keynote Remarks
    September         Burns Society, University of Denver, Sep. 1, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
                      Denver Workforce Board, Sep. 9, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      Airport of the Year Award, Airline Pilots Association,
                       Sep. 15, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
                      DEN Business Development Training Academy Graduation,
                       Sep. 27, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
    October           Move Colorado, Oct. 13, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation
                      American Public Works Association (Colorado Chapter),
                       Oct. 24, 2022
                         Keynote Remarks
    November          Airport Consultants Council Annual Conference, Nov. 8,
                       2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      DEN Leadership Academy, Nov. 22, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
                      Center for Equity and Excellence in Aviation Design
                       Reveal, Nov. 28, 2022
                         Brief Remarks
    December          Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce--State of DEN, Dec.
                       8, 2022
                         Keynote Presentation

    2023

    January           US Conference of Mayors, Jan. 19, 2022
                         Panel Discussion
                      Architecture, Engineering & Construction Panel, June
                       22, 2022

                                     ______

                                                      February 22, 2023

    Hon. Maria Cantwell,
    Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
    United States Senate,
    Washington, DC.

    Hon. Ted Cruz,
    Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                Transportation,
    United States Senate,
    Washington, DC.

    Dear Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz,

        Thank you again for your Committee's consideration of my nomination
    to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Upon
    further review, I have identified additional items to update in the
    Nominee Questionnaire:

       The attached spreadsheets include additional speeches
            (highlighted in gray) that I previously did not locate despite
            a diligent search. In addition, when available, I am including
            links. I am also providing this link with digital copies of my
            speeches and presentations given in my current position at
            Denver International Airport--https://spaces.hightail.com/
            receive/zBpXrkbch0.

       I am also attaching a list of lawsuits (all previously
            disclosed) with additional columns for descriptions and
            disposition of the cases. I also have a summary of a recent
            lawsuit in which I am mentioned in the complaint but not a
            party.

       Regarding this LinkedIn account that was inadvertently not
            disclosed--https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-washington-36ba504/
            --it has not been used in years and was created years ago based
            on an e-mail address I no longer use. As a result, I have not
            been able to deactivate this link. But again--I do not use this
            account.

       Regarding my prior employment for question 8, I am revising
            my answer, so it reads as follows:

         Please see attached Resume (Attachment 1) listing my
                employment going back to my enlistment in the U.S. Army in
                1976.

         Please note that all my assignments between 1976 to
                1982 relate to my enlisting in the U.S. Army, including
                basic training, assignment to an air defense artillery
                unit, and U.S. Army Materiel Command.

         In addition, here are specific related managerial
                experiences:

       Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Denver International
            Airport--July 2021 to present

       CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
            Authority (LA Metro)--March 2015-March 2021

       CEO, Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO--May
            2009-March 2015

       Assistant General Manager, Administration, Regional
            Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO--July 2000-May 2009

       Command Sergeant Major/E-9, (highest non-commissioned
            military rank a soldier can attain), U.S. Army--June 1998-July
            2000

       Chief, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Information
            Management Division, U.S. Army Europe--August 1995-May 1998

       First Sergeant, U.S. Army Tank Command--August 1993-August
            1995

       Inspector General, U.S. Army Europe, April 1990-April 1993

       Chief, Training and Operations Administrator, U.S. Army,
            September 1986-March 1990

       Chief, Human Capital Division, U.S. Army--March 1986-
            September 1988

       Chief Operations/Logistics Division, U.S. Army, NATO,
            January 1982-February 1986

        I have done my best to identify items in my questionnaire that need
    to be supplemented, including a review of personal files and searches
    of publicly available electronic databases. Despite my searches, there
    may be other materials I have been unable to identify, find, or
    remember. Should anything further come to light, I will promptly update
    the Committee.
        I have the utmost respect for the role of this Committee and of
    Congress in confirming Presidential nominees. I remain available to
    answer any additional questions you may have concerning my nomination.
                Respectfully,
                                         Phillip A. Washington.
                                     ______

                   Phillip A. Washington Speaking Engagements
                                 2015 and Older
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Year     Month                Organization                   Type
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2011     April      Atlanta Regional Commission          Panelist
    2011     October    C470 Transportation Summit           Speaker
    2014     October    COMTO Studio 71                      Discussion
    2015     March      2015 Legislative Conference APTA     Welcome Remarks
    2015     March      L.A. Mayor and Metro Chair Eric      Speaker
                         Garcetti announced that the Metro
                         Board has a
    2015     June       L.A. County Community College        Speaker
                         District's press event
    2015     July       Press event: Santa Monica's          Speaker
                         California Incline
    2015     August     No Double Track August 25 2015       Speaker
                         Metro Meeting
    2015     August     Zocalo Public Square                 Speaker
    2015     October    Stand Up 4 Transportation            Discussion
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   Phillip A. Washington Speaking Engagements
                               Jan. 2016-Dec. 2021
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Year     Month                Organization                   Type
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2016     January    State of the Agency                  Keynote
    2016     February   Neighborhood Integrity Initiative    Remarks
    2016     February   Transformation through               Keynote,
                         Transportation: Metro Industry       Moderator
                         Forum Conference
    82016    February   Transit Coalition Meeting with Phil  Speaker
                         Washington 04 February 2016
    2016     March      USHSR LA2015 conference              Speaker
    2016     March      VICA Welcomes Metro CEO Phil         Speaker
                         Washington for Leaders Forum at
                         Sportsmen's Lodge Mar 31, 2016
    2016     August     Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association  Speaker
    2016     September  20th Annual Global Green Awards      Award
                                                              Acceptance
    2016     September  AAae                                 Speech
    2016     September  Metro P3 Stakeholders' Meeting       Opening Remarks
    2016     October    Mobility 21                          Keynote,
                                                              panelist
    2016     October    San Gabriel Valley COG General       Keynote
                         Assembly Keynote
    82016    October    LA Chamber of Commerce: State of LA  Speaker
                         Business--Session 3: Future of LA
                         Infrastructure
    2016     November   Tami's Take--Measure M               Interview
                                                              format
    2016     November   30th Annual NAWBO-LA Leadership and  Speaker0
                         Legacy Awards Luncheon
    2017     January    State of the Agency                  Keynote
    82017    February   US HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION,      Speaker
                         WEST COAST RAIL CONFERENCE, Feb.
                         28, 2017
    2017     February   ReBuild SoCal, Thanks SCPFJ          Thank you
                                                              message
    2017     March      CU @ USC                             Discussion0
    2017     April      RAND Corporation Justice,            Keynote
                         Infrastructure, and Environment
                         Board Meeting Dinner
    82017    April      2017 West Coast Rail Conference      Keynote0
    2017     May        P3 Hub West Infrastructure           Panelist
                         Conference
    2017     June       Summit on Infrastructure and Public- Panelist
                         Private Partnerships
    2017     July       WIN-LA Launch                        Keynote, emcee
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    82018    January    Transit Unplugged                    Podcast
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    82018    June       Metro Los Angeles, State Of the      Speaker
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    2020     Jan        Employee Excellence Awards           Emcee
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    82020    Mar        Go DTLA                              Keynote0
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    2021     May        Los Angeles International Airport    Keynote
                         (LAX) Chamber of Commerce Power
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    2021     May        U.S. Army National Training Center   Keynote
                         at Fort Irwin Leadership Lecture
    2021     May        Urban Land Institute Infrastructure  Keynote
                         Forum
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                     ______

                                         Philip A. Washington Legal Proceedings
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Matter      Matter
     Matter Name    Opened      Closed      Status        Court        Docket#      Brief Description       Notes
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bell v.         9/26/03     4/22/04            CloUSDC--Distri  1:03-cv-      Employment            The parties
     Regional                                          ct of         01922-EWN-    discrimination case   filed a
     Trans                                             Colorado      CBS           against RTD.          joint
     Dist., et                                                                     Because this is an    stipulation
     al.                                                                           older case, the       of
                                                                                   pleadings were no     settlement.
                                                                                   longer accessible
                                                                                   on PACER.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jones v.        6/29/10     12/8/10            CloUSDC--Distri  1:10-cv-      Complaint against     The Court
     Regional                                          ct of         01535-REB-    RTD in which Phil     dismissed
     Transportat                                       Colorado      CBS           Washington, along     all claims
     ion                                                                           with other co-        and the
     District,                                                                     defendants, were      case with
     et al.                                                                        named involves a      prejudice.
                                                                                   customer who
                                                                                   allegedly broke his
                                                                                   pinkie finger when
                                                                                   the bus abruptly
                                                                                   stopped as he was
                                                                                   exiting the
                                                                                   vehicle. The pro se
                                                                                   plaintiff alleged
                                                                                   various race and
                                                                                   disability
                                                                                   discrimination
                                                                                   claims related to
                                                                                   the investigation
                                                                                   and denial of his
                                                                                   damages claim.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Today's IV,      6/6/16     8/31/16            CloUSDC,         2:16-cv-      APA case alleging     The
     Inc. v.                                           Central       03987-JAK-    violations of NEPA    plaintiff
     FTA, et al.                                       District of   PLA           in connection with    voluntarily
                                                       California                  LA Metro's Regional   dismissed
                                                                                   Connector Project,    its action.
                                                                                   which is a light
                                                                                   rail subway
                                                                                   extension of the LA
                                                                                   Metro's existing
                                                                                   Blue, Gold, and
                                                                                   Expo Lines in
                                                                                   downtown Los
                                                                                   Angeles.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Beverly        11/10/16     1/30/17            CloUSDC,         2:16-cv-      Allegation of         The court
     Hills                                             Central       08390-GW-SS   violations under      granted the
     Unified                                           District of                 NEPA in an attempt    defendant's
     School                                            California                  to prevent LA Metro   motion to
     District v.                                                                   from executing a      dismiss for
     Los Angeles                                                                   Full Funding Grant    lack of
     County                                                                        Agreement with FTA    subject
     Metropolita                                                                   in connection with    matter
     n                                                                             the West Side         jurisdictio
     Transportat                                                                   Subway Extension      n. The
     ion                                                                           project.              plaintiff
     Authority,                                                                                          filed an
     et al.                                                                                              appeal of
                                                                                                         the
                                                                                                         district
                                                                                                         court's
                                                                                                         decision in
                                                                                                         the Ninth
                                                                                                         Circuit
                                                                                                         (No. 17-
                                                                                                         55077).
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Price v.        6/16/17     3/23/18            CloUSDC,         2:17-cv-      An employee of the    The court
     FTA, et al.                                       Central       04489         Metropolitan          granted the
                                                       District of                 Transportation        defendants'
                                                       California                  Authority (MTA)       motions to
                                                                                   filed an action       dismiss and
                                                                                   against MTA, the      dismissed
                                                                                   County of Los         all claims
                                                                                   Angeles, FTA,         with
                                                                                   Caltrans, and         prejudice.
                                                                                   several MTA
                                                                                   employees,
                                                                                   including Mr.
                                                                                   Washington,
                                                                                   alleging harassment
                                                                                   by a supervisor and
                                                                                   discrimination.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Beverly         1/20/17     7/31/17            CloUSCOA--Ninth  17-cv-55077   Plaintiff's appeal    The parties
     Hills Unif.                                       Circuit                     of the district       filed a
     Sch. Dist.                                                                    court's decision to   stipulated
     V. Los                                                                        dismiss its action    motion to
     Angeles                                                                       for lack of subject   voluntarily
     County MTA,                                                                   matter jurisdiction   dismiss the
     et al.                                                                        in its action         appeal.
                                                                                   against LA Metro
                                                                                   alleging violations
                                                                                   of NEPA in
                                                                                   connection with LA
                                                                                   Metro's execution
                                                                                   of a Full Funding
                                                                                   Grant Agreement
                                                                                   with FTA for the
                                                                                   West Side Subway
                                                                                   Extension project.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Beverly         1/26/18     5/26/20            CloUSDC,         2:18-cv-      APA case alleging     Judgment
     Hills                                             Central       00716-GW-SS   violations of NEPA,   entered in
     Unified                                           District of                 and Sec.  4(f), and   favor of
     School                                            California                  Sec.  106 in          defendants
     District v.                                                                   connection with LA    on all of
     FTA, et al.                                                                   Metro's Purple Line   plaintiff's
                                                                                   Extension, Section    claims.
                                                                                   2 Project alignment
                                                                                   beneath Beverly
                                                                                   Hills High School
                                                                                   in Beverly Hills,
                                                                                   CA.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    City of          5/9/18    12/10/20            CloUSDC,         2:18-cv-      APA case alleging     Plaintiff in
     Beverly                                           Central       03891-GW-SS   violations of NEPA,   its
     Hills v.                                          District of                 and Sec.  4(f), and   entirety,
     FTA, et al.                                       California                  Sec.  106, and        with
                                                                                   Clean Air Act in      prejudice.
                                                                                   connection with LA
                                                                                   Metro's Purple Line
                                                                                   Extension, Section
                                                                                   2 Project alignment
                                                                                   beneath Beverly
                                                                                   Hills High School
                                                                                   in Beverly Hills,
                                                                                   CA.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Belinda         9/13/19                  Active   USDC,         2:19-cv-      In her Complaint,     LACMTA and
     Muhammad v.                                       Central       07970-JAK-    Plaintiff bus         Phillip
     LACMTA, et                                        District of   PVC           passenger alleged     Washington
     al.                                               California                  violations of 42      are no
                                                                                   U.S.C. Sec.  1983     longer
                                                                                   against LACMTA and    defendants
                                                                                   Mr. Washington.       in this
                                                                                   However, in her       action.
                                                                                   Fourth Amended        LACMTA
                                                                                   Complaint, filed on   attorneys
                                                                                   7/8/21, Plaintiff     are
                                                                                   alleges a cause of    representin
                                                                                   action under Sec.     g the
                                                                                   1983 against a        defendant
                                                                                   single defendant,     bus
                                                                                   LACMTA bus operator   operator.
                                                                                   Bretanniyia Jenkins
                                                                                   based upon
                                                                                   Defendant's alleged
                                                                                   violations of
                                                                                   Plaintiff's rights
                                                                                   under the 1st and
                                                                                   14th Amendments of
                                                                                   the U.S.
                                                                                   Constitution.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Loew v. Los     2/27/20     8/12/20            CloUSDC-Central  2:20-cv-      Jennifer Loew, now a  This case
     Angeles                                           District of   01900-VAP-    former Metro          was
     County                                            California    JEM           employee, named Mr.   dismissed
     Metropolita                                                                   Washington as a       by the
     n                                                                             defendant, among      Court for
     Transportat                                                                   others, alleging      lack of
     ion                                                                           discrimination and    prosecution
     Authority,                                                                    retaliation.          .
     et al.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        In addition, please note a small claims action by ``Cameron Lyons''
    against ``Phillip A. Washington'' was filed in Los Angeles Superior
    Court (Cas. No. 19STSC04344) on 4/16/19 and dismissed on 7/8/19 for
    lack of prosecution before hearing.
        Finally, the below complaint was filed on February 13, 2023.
    However, though mentioned within the complaint, Mr. Washington is not
    listed as a party to this case.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Juarez v.        2/13/23                    Active   USDC--Distri  1:23-cv-      This case is an    Mr.
     City and                                             ct of         00409-PAB-    employment         Washington
     County of                                            Colorado      NRN           discrimination     is not
     Denver,                                                                          and retaliation    listed as a
     Department                                                                       action under       party to
     of Parking                                                                       Title VII of the   this case.
     and                                                                              Civil Rights Act
     Transportat                                                                      of 1964 in which
     ion                                                                              Benjamin Juarez,
                                                                                      former Director
                                                                                      of Parking at
                                                                                      Denver
                                                                                      International
                                                                                      Airport,
                                                                                      alleging
                                                                                      retaliation and
                                                                                      national origin
                                                                                      discrimination.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                     ______

                                July 2021-Present
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Year      Month                         Organization
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2021          July   Luminous Wind artwork dedication
    2021     September   Commission on the Future of Mobility, Sept. 21,
                          2021
    2021     September   Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, Sept. 22, 2021
    2021     September   Conference of Minority Transportation Officials
                          50th Anniversary Conference, Sept. 28, 2021
    2021     September   Urban Land Institute Colorado Multifamily Product
                          Council, Sept. 29, 2021
    2021     September   2021 Mobility 21 Leadership in Equity Award
    2021       October   Phase 1 of the Great Hall project
    2021       October   DEN State of the Airport
    2021       October   Denver International Airport Safety Seminar, Oct.
                          1, 2021
    2021       October   HDR Transcon, Oct. 25, 2021
    2021       October   U.S. Travel Association Future of Travel Mobility
                          Conference, Oct. 26, 2021
    2021       October   DEN AIM DEVELOPMENT and BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
                          SERVICES, Oct. 27, 2021
    2021      November   Holder FCI NAACP Ten for DEN Event, Nov. 2, 2021
    2021      November   Aurora Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee
                          Breakfast, Nov. 3, 2021
    2021      November   Southwest Airlines 15th Anniversary/ Economic
                          Impact Event, Nov. 5, 2021
    2021      December   Caribou Coffee at DEN Grand Opening
    2021      December   Bessie Coleman Fly Girls and Boys Program DEN Visit
                          December 18th
    2022       January   Kabod Coffee at DEN Grand Opening
    2022       January   U.S. Conference of Mayors, Jan. 2022
    2022       January   Colorado Consular Corps, Jan. 25, 2022
    2022      February   WSP Presentation, Feb. 7, 2022
    2022      February   Move Colorado Presentation, Feb. 10, 2022
    2022      February   Holder-FCI--Ten 4 DEN--Heritage Christian Center
                          Event, Feb. 17, 2022
    2022         March   Airport Experience Conference, March 2, 2022
    2022         March   2022 Silver Anniversary CU Real Estate Center
                          Annual Forum, March 9, 2022
    2022         April   American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
                          Transit CEOs Seminar, April 9, 2022
    2022         April   Colorado Transportation Symposium, April 13, 2022
    2022           May   Grand opening of the C-East Gate Expansion area at
                          DEN
    2022           May   Equity in Infrastructure Pledge Signing, Mayor
                          Hancock
    2022           May   HNTB Corporation Think: Infrastructure Forum
                          Series, May 3, 2022
    2022           May   Hispanic Contractors of Colorado Legislative Policy
                          Committee, May 9, 2022
    2022           May   United Airlines/DEN United Management Association
                          Fireside Chat, May 10, 2022
    2022           May   Squire Patton Boggs Transportation Industry Group
                          Meeting, May 12, 2022
    2022           May   Aurora Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Recognition
                          Event, May 13, 2022
    2022           May   Eno Transportation--Transportation Senior
                          Executives Dinner, May 16, 2022
    2022           May   United for Infrastructure Summit, May 16, 2022
    2022           May   Innovative Infrastructure Initiative (I3), May 17,
                          2022
    2022           May   CityAge Executive Roundtable Discussion on
                          Infrastructure, May 18, 2022
    2022          June   United Airlines Flight Training Center (FTC)
                          Expansion Groundbreaking Event, June 1, 2022
    2022          June   American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
                          Board of Directors, June 4, 2022
    2022          June   DEN Summer Intern Kickoff Welcome Remarks, June 6,
                          2022
    2022          June   Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport
                          Business Diversity Conference Airport Directors
    2022          June   Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport
                          Business Diversity Conference Architecture, Eng
    2022          June   National Association of Securities Professionals
                          33rd Annual Financial Services Conference, June 2
    2022          June   International Women's Forum of Colorado Reception,
                          June 30, 2022
    2022          July   Hensel Phelps Great Hall Project Completion Phase
                          Kickoff Meeting, July 12, 2022
    2022          July   Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
                          Annual Conference, July 26, 2022
    2022        August   Grand opening of Mercantile Dining & Provision at
                          DEN
    2022        August   DEN Business Development Training Academy, Aug. 2
    2022        August   P3 Airport Summit--Fireside Chat
    2022        August   Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Aug. 4, 2022
    2022        August   Frontier Airlines Ground Loading Facility
                          Groundbreaking, Aug. 8, 2022
    2022        August   Transit Unplugged TV, Aug. 18, 2022
    2022        August   Access Denver, Aug. 23, 2022
    2022        August   American Contract Compliance Association National
                          Training Institute, Aug. 24, 2022
    2022        August   Regis University Executive Speaker Series Fireside
                          Chat, Aug. 30, 2022
    2022        August   Airports Council International, Airport Management
                          Professional Accreditation Program, Aug. 31,
    2022     September   Burns Society, University of Denver, Sep. 1, 2022
    2022     September   Denver Workforce Board, Sep. 9, 2022
    2022     September   Airport of the Year Award, Airline Pilots
                          Association, Sep. 15, 2022
    2022     September   DEN Business Development Training Academy
                          Graduation, Sep. 27, 2022
    2022       October   Move Colorado, Oct. 13, 2022
    2022       October   American Public Works Association (Colorado
                          Chapter), Oct. 24, 2022
    2022      November   Ed Dwight Dedication
    2022      November   Airport Consultants Council Annual Conference, Nov.
                          8, 2022
    2022      November   DEN Leadership Academy, Nov. 22, 2022
    2022      November   Center for Equity and Excellence in Aviation Design
                          Reveal, Nov. 28, 2022
    2022      December   Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce--State of DEN,
                          Dec. 8, 2022
    2023       January   US Conference of Mayors, Jan. 19, 2023
    2023      February   Anderson College of Business and Computing, Regis
                          University, Executive Speaker Series
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Type                                 Link
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Speaker             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                        videos/3399731378412
    Virtual Panel
     Discussion
    Keynote Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW Hispanic Contractors of
                         Colorado 9.22.2021
    Virtual Panel
     Discussion
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW ULI 09.29.2021V3
    Award Acceptance    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epVnpVb3U38
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.comdenverinternationalairport/
                        videos/5798255132559
    Remarks             https://www.yahoo.com/video/den-ceo-phil-washington-
                         provides-162415758.h
    Keynote Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW DEN Safety Seminar
                         10.1.2021Final
    Keynote Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW HDR TRANSCON2021
                         10.25.2021
    Business Leader     Briefing/Talking Points: PW Future of Travel
     Panel Dis           Mobility Conference 10.26.2021
    Remarks
    Keynote Remarks
    Keynote Remarks
    Remarks and Emcee   Briefing/Talking Points: Phil Washington Southwest
     Event               15th Anniversary Final
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                         videos/2650708389437
    Remarks
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                         videos/3077722372555
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW U.S. Conference of
                         Mayors 01.20.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW Colorado Consular Corps 01.25.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW WSP Presentation 02.07.2022
    Virtual Remarks     Final Presentation: PW Move Colorado 02.10.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW Holder--FCI Presentation at
                         Heritage Christian Center 02.17.2
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW Airport Experience
                         Conference Directors Panel 03.02
    Panel Discussion/   Briefing/Talking Points: PW CU Real Estate Board
     Executiv            03.09.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Final Briefing/Talking Points: PW APTA Keynote
                         04.09.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Final Presentation: PW Colorado Transportation
                         Symposium Keynote Presentation 04
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                        videos/5946029515135
    Brief Remarks       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC3Bnta5i-w
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW HNTB Think Forum
                         05.03.2022 Final
    Keynote Remarks
    Fireside Chat
    Virtual Keynote     Presentation: PW Squire Patton Boggs 05.12.2022
     Presentat           Final-3
    Keynote             Presentation: PW Aurora Chamber Armed Forces
     Presentation        Recognition Event 05.13.22
    Keynote
     Presentation
    Panel Discussion    Breifing/Talking Points: PW United for
                         Infrastructure Summit 05.16.2022 Final
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW Delivering
                         Transformative Infrastructure with the IIJA
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW CityAge Executive
                         Roundtable 05.18.2022 Final
    Brief Remarks       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF27TADQuDo
    Keynote             Presentation: PW APTA Board Meeting Presentation
     Presentation        06.04.2022
    Welcome Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW DEN Summer Intern
                         Kickoff Meeting 06.06.2022
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW ALPA Safety Forum 2020
                         Best Airport Award 09.15.2
    Panel Discussion    Briefing/Talking Points: PW AMAC Architecture
                         Engineering Construction Panel
    Panel Discussion    Breifing/Talking Points: PW NASP 06.27.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Breifing/Talking Points: PW International Womens
                         Forum of Colorado Event 06.3
    Keynote Remarks     Breifing/Talking Points: PW Hensel Phelps Great Hall
                         Completion Phase Kickoff 0
    Keynote Panel       Briefing/Talking Points: PW SCUP Annual Conference
     Discussion          07.26.2022
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                        videos/8444314115582
    Opening Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW Business Development
                         Training Academy Inaugural C
    Discussion          Briefing/Talking Points: PW P3 Airport Summit
                         08.11.2022
    Panel Discussion
    Brief Remarks       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AervM7Ny5ak
    Podcast Interview   Briefing/Talking Points: PW Transit Unplugged
                         Interview 08.17.2022
    Keynote Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW Access Denver
                         Presentation 08.23.2022
    Panel Discussion
    Virtual Keynote     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzbfVxIR7Cg
     Remarks
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW AMPAP Presentation on Vision 100
                         08.33.22
    Keynote Remarks     Briefing/Talking Points: PW Burns Society
                         Presentation 09.01.2022 Final
    Keynote             Presentation: PW Denver Workforce Development Board
     Presentation        Presentation 09.09.20
    Brief Remarks       Briefing/Talking Points: PW ALPA Safety Forum 2020
                         Best Airport Award 09.15.2
    Brief Remarks       Briefing/Talking Points: PW Business Development
                         Training Academy Inaugural C
    Keynote
     Presentation
    Keynote Remarks     Presentation: PW APWA Colorado Annual Conference
                         10.24.2022 Final
    Remarks             https://www.facebook.com/denverinternationalairport/
                        videos/4086642848007
    Panel Discussion
    Brief Remarks       Briefing/Talking Points: 2022.11.22.LeadershipDEN--
                         TalkingPoints--PAW
    Brief Remarks       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_RSvbaLFkk;
                        https://www.facebook.com/
    Keynote
     Presentation
    Panel Discussion    Breifing/Talking Points: PW US Conference of Mayors
                         91st Winter Meetings
    Keynote Remarks     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzbfVxIR7Cg
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    P3 Airport Summit--Fireside Chat
    Event Briefing Sheet
    (For Internal Use Only)

    LOGISTICS:
    Date:                     Thursday, August 11, 2022
    Time:                     1:15 to 1:45 p.m. PST [arrive @ 12:30 p.m. to
                               chat with Dale Bonner]
    Location:                 Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego--Harbor
                               Ballroom ABC 1 Market Pl., San Diego, CA
                               92101
    Event Contact:
    Staff Contact:

    EVENT DETAILS:
        You have agreed to participate in a 30-minute ``fireside chat''
    with Dale Bonner, Executive Chairman of Plenary Concessions Americas.
    Organizers hope you will share information about three topics: your
    infrastructure career, the Equity in Infrastructure Project and DEN's
    Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (as an example of a
    proactive program an airport is accomplishing). To help you organize
    your thoughts prior to the conversation with Mr. Bonner, we have
    prepared some background information on these general topics. You will
    find that information below beginning on page 4.
        You are asked to arrive about 12:30 p.m. at the Harbor Ballroom ABC
    to reacquaint yourself with Mr. Bonner and the be set up with lapel
    microphones. At about 1:10 p.m. you and Mr. Bonner will be escorted to
    the stage where there will be chairs set up for the fireside chat. Lisa
    Buglione, Executive Director of the Association for the Improvement of
    American Infrastructure, will introduce you and Mr. Bonner and the
    fireside chat will begin. At 1:45 p.m., the chat will end, and the room
    will be set for the next event which will be a panel discussion about
    the Equity in Infrastructure Project. Your fireside chat will not be
    recorded.
    ADDITIONAL MEETINGS:
        You have also agreed to participate in two follow-on, casual
    meetings to further discuss the Equity in Infrastructure Program.

       From 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., you will meet with representatives
            from the Association for the Improvement of American
            Infrastructure in the Pier room.

       From 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., you will meet with interested
            individuals from the public sector in Harbor Room G.
    ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE:
        The P3 Airport Summit is an annual gathering of a wide range of
    professionals dedicated to the use of public-private partnerships in
    constructing airport facilities. At this year's conference, you will
    find project owners and developers considering their next procurement,
    responsible for the design and build of airport facilities, and
    interested in understanding how different delivery models can address
    their project needs. Speakers include owners, operators, airlines, and
    development leaders who have helped shape policy and navigated
    partnerships from concept to completion. Also, you'll meet investors,
    policy makers, financiers, design-build professionals, and public
    representatives who are exploring partnerships and want to better
    understand the complex interactions to accelerate project delivery
    needs.
    YOUR FIRESIDE CHAT PARTNER:

        Dale Bonner is Executive Chairman of Plenary Concessions Americas.
    From 2007 to 2011, he served as California's Secretary of Business,
    Transportation and Housing and managed California's transportation
    infrastructure, business regulation, trade and foreign investment
    programs. Prior to serving as secretary, Bonner had a national law
    practice and regulated the managed healthcare and financial services
    industries as California's Commissioner of Corporations. He currently
    serves on the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners--the five-
    member body that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department. Mr. Bonner
    is a 1990 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and a 1987
    graduate of the University of Southern California, where he majored in
    political science.
    EVENT AGENDA: Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 [all times shown as PST]

    8:30-9:00 a.m.            Summit Opening Welcome and Remarks--What's New
                               in 2022? Update on Industry Trends (Harbor
                               Ballroom ABC)
    9:00-9:45 a.m.            Opening Plenary: Safety & Security--Addressing
                               Emerging Airport Risk from Cyber Security to
                               Physical and Asset Safety (Harbor Ballroom
                               ABC)
    9:45-10:30 a.m.           Morning Plenary: Safety, Security and Now
                               Sustainability: How U.S. Airports Are Getting
                               Creative to Achieve Net Zero by 2045 (Harbor
                               Ballroom ABC)
    10:30-11 a.m.             Morning Networking & Coffee Break (Expo Hall)
                               11 a.m.--Noon Concurrent Sessions
    1:15-1:45 p.m.            Afternoon Fireside Chat: Phillip Washington,
                               CEO, Denver International Airport (Harbor
                               Ballroom ABC)
    1:45-2:45 p.m.            Afternoon Plenary: Equity and Infrastructure
                               (Harbor Ballroom ABC)
    2:45-3:15 p.m.            Conversation with Andrew Levy, CEO, Avelo
                               Airlines (Harbor Ballroom ABC) 3:15--3:30
                               p.m. Networking & Coffee Break (Expo Hall)
    3:30-5:30 p.m.            Concurrent Sessions
    4:30-5:15 P.M.            Phill Washington meets with AIAI about EIP in
                               the Pier room
    5:30-6 p.m.               Phil Washington meets with public sector about
                               EIP in Harbor Room G 5:30--7:00 p.m. Opening
                               Night Networking Reception (Expo Hall)

                                     ______

    QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTED SPEAKING POINTS:
        Context: The U.S. has roughly 2800 general aviation airports, and
    just over 500 commercial airports in the National Plan of Integrated
    Airports. This Summit is about the infrastructure that supports our
    vast aviation system. Some estimate needs will exceed resources by more
    than $100 billion over the next 10 years. In this brief chat, we'll
    look at some of the challenges and opportunities with Phil Washington,
    CEO of Denver International Airport, the Nation's 3rd busiest airport
    by passenger volume.
    Career Highlights and DEN
    1. What drives your long-standing interest in transportation and
            infrastructure?

      a.  Transportation and infrastructure should be great equalizers in
            our society, providing opportunities of movement and breaking
            down barriers to build generational wealth

      b.  But too often infrastructure becomes a wall of separation and
            transportation is too often a mechanism that prevents access to
            wealth

      c.  I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, Altgeld Gardens. My
            neighborhood was separated from the rest of the city by roads,
            railroads and dumps.

      d.  You don't think that had a psychic impact on the residents forced
            to live there?

      e.  I had to fight to escape the gravity of the situation. With a
            powerful mother's help, I went on to a 24-plus-year career in
            the military and second careers leading transportation
            organizations.

      f.  I'm so passionate about transportation and infrastructure because
            I can see a pathway to generational wealth that is facilitated
            by infrastructure and supported by transportation.

    2. What grade would you give DEN infrastructure and why?

      a.  DEN's grade is ``incomplete.''

      b.  Just 27 years ago, Denver International Airport was America's
            next big thing. It was beautiful and ready to serve up to 50
            million annual passengers.

      c.  But in many ways, DEN is a victim of its own success.

      d.  With the exception of the impacts of COVID in 2020, we have
            surpassed 50 million annual passengers every year since 2008

          i.  That's 13 of the last 14 years that we've exceeded the
                airport's capacity

          ii.  This year, we may surpass 70 million passengers and we'll
                surely top 100 million annual passengers within 10 years

      e.  We're ``incomplete'' because we aren't ready to effectively serve
            the expected future passengers

          i.  We don't have enough gates

          ii.  TSA's security queue throughput is insufficient

          iii.  We must make improvements to the infrastructure that we
                have

          iv.  We need to prepare our workforce

          v.  We must improve across the board if we're to match the ever-
                increasing demand for our services

      e.  This is why we developed Vision 100--our strategy to bring DEN up
            to the challenge of 100 MAP
    3. Some estimate needs will exceed resources by more than $100 billion
            over the next 10 years. What is the outlook at DEN?

      a.  DEN has a lot going for it!

      b.  For one thing, we have the room to grow.

      c.  We have six runways--and are currently doing the environmental
            work required to add a seventh. And beyond that, if needed, we
            can grow to 12 runways.

      d.  Building runways is expensive but DEN isn't landlocked like some
            of our brother and sister airports. That makes it much less
            expensive for DEN to grow.

      e.  DEN's progressive vision--as described in Vision 100--creates
            alignment with our Federal partners and airline partners.
            People want to do business with DEN because we're doing
            business the right way.

          i.  Guiding principles include: equity, diversity, inclusion and
                accessibility

          ii.  We want to be the greenest airport in the world

      f.  We're working hard to bring our facilities and programs up so
            that we can successfully serve increasing numbers of passengers

          i.  We're working on a three-phased plan to improve our iconic,
                tented Jeppesen Terminal

          ii.  By the end of the year we will have added 39 new gates as
                part of our Gate Expansion Program. Oh, and we're also
                adding new restrooms, concessions and passenger conveyances
                to improve the customer experience.

          iii.  We've embarked on a process to improve our maintenance
                program. We don't have the resources to replace everything,
                we have to maintain that which we have.

    4. How will DEN and other airports benefit from the new Federal
            infrastructure bill?

      a  The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is a generational
            opportunity for airports and other organizations to benefit
            from a tremendous infusion of Federal dollars.

      b.  The Biden Administration outlined the Justice 40 Initiative which
            is a promise to deliver at least 40 percent of the overall
            benefits from Federal investment to disadvantaged communities.
            In addition, President Biden signed an executive order in June
            2021 to increase the share of diverse firms fulfilling the
            infrastructure contracts.

      c.  I would recommend airport seriously consider how they can reflect
            these policy directions in their contracting and project
            planning.

      d.  DEN is benefitting from its efforts to align with the
            administration's policies and was recently awarded the single
            largest FAA grant from the infrastructure bill.

          ii.  $60 million to replace aging infrastructure, especially the
                baggage handling system
    Equity and Inclusion
    1. What steps can we take to ensure that current and future investments
            are made on an equitable basis?
      a.  Organizations and leaders need to decide to make the needed
            changes and make a difference.

      b.  Wherever I've served I've used the leverage of my authority and
            the leverage of my organization's stature to insist upon
            equitable changes

      c.  We should expect our Federal leaders to make necessary changes
            but we don't have to wait for them to act. We can do much good
            on our own. That is a basic principle of the Equity in
            Infrastructure Project.

    2. You recently co-founded the ``Equity in Infrastructure Project.''
            What is ``the Pledge'' and how does it work?

      a.  You will learn more about the Equity in Infrastructure Project in
            the next session, but let me give you a brief overview

      b.  EIP exists to improve public contracting practices by creating
            more opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses
            (HUBs)

      c.  It will help build generational wealth and reduce the racial
            wealth gap by creating more prime, joint venture and equity
            contracting opportunities for these HUBs

      d.  I co-founded the EIP in early 2021 with John D. Porcari, former
            Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation

      e.  Initially, five First Mover agencies joined to help shape the
            Pledge, identify initial projects of interest, and prove the
            concept

          i.  Chicago Transit Authority--Dorval R. Carter, Jr., President

          ii.  Denver International Airport--Phillip A. Washington, CEO

          iii.  Port of Long Beach--Mario Cordero, Executive Director

          iv.  Metropolitan Water District of Southern California--Adel H.
                Hagekhalil, General Manager

          v.  Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)--Leslie
                S. Richards, General Manager and CEO

      f.  EIP Pledge: Starting from the baseline of their current actions
            and initiatives, by December 2025

          i.  Pledge signers will work to increase the number, size and
                percentage of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs)
                growing to prime contractors, participating in joint
                ventures or as equity participant

          ii.  They will work toward this effort by:

          1.                         Increasing the number, size and
                                      proportion of contracting
                                      opportunities going to HUBs;
          2.                         Increasing the number, size and
                                      proportion of contracting
                                      opportunities going to HUBs as prime
                                      contractors;
          3.                         Streamlining the administration of
                                      contracting with HUBs to centralize
                                      certification, improve payment time,
                                      and standardize transparent data
                                      collection;
          4.                         Increasing the amount and type of
                                      appropriate financing available to
                                      HUBs aiming to meet infrastructure
                                      contracts by working with private and
                                      public partners; and
          5.                         Expanding the number of signatories to
                                      this Pledge.

    3. With roughly 35,000 employees, DIA is the largest employer in
            Colorado. You recently established the Center of Equity and
            Excellence in Aviation. What are the goals of this new Center,
            and how will it help current and future workers from
            underserved communities prepare for careers in aviation?
      a.  The Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) is a
            first-of-its kind creation that is designed to help both our
            current and future workforces, especially young people of color
            and underserved communities

      b.  On Jan. 10, 2022, the Denver City Council approved the budget to
            create a Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation as part of
            the Great Hall Completion phase

      c.  Will be constructed on Level 4 of the Westin Denver International
            Airport, just steps from the commuter rail and the Jeppesen
            Terminal

      d.  The Center will engage, educate, empower, motivate, and provide
            opportunities for students who are under-represented and young
            people who are interested in and passionate about careers in
            aviation

      e.  The Center has three primary functions:

          i.  Deliver business and workforce development opportunities,
                which includes a training academy for small businesses

          ii.  Offer Career Pathways attract and retain an aviation talent
                pipeline--which starts with student and youth programs all
                the way to executive leadership development

          iii.  Host research and innovation efforts, enabling industry
                best practice development, fostering aviation technology
                innovation and establishing partnerships with local
                universities

      f.  It will help build a future skilled workforce and become a focal
            point for aviation knowledge and best practices

          i.  Just kicked off the first cohort of 30 businesses to attend
                our Business Development Training Academy

          ii.  The training academy was developed by contractors who've
                given feedback about their partnerships working with DEN
                and the potential for stronger outcomes with better
                preparation

          iii.  It will help coach underutilized businesses to scale up and
                be successful in their pursuits to work with DEN

      g.  Career Pathways

          i.  The Career Pathways focus begins with educational and
                empowerment programs for students in elementary through
                high school, which are designed to spark interest in the
                aviation industry

          ii.  There are also programs for employees and leaders to help
                cultivate an environment for employees to excel and become
                equipped in technical and professional skills

      h.  Research and Innovation Lab

          i.  The Research and Innovation Lab seeks to identify best
                practices in the aviation industry through research an
                innovation. It will serve as an incubator for new business
                ideas and offer ``maker space'' for students and youth to
                engage and learn (like the one at the Denver Public Library
                and other innovation style tech labs)

      i.  It takes a lot of stakeholders to make CEEA a success and to keep
            it achieving its intended goals

          i.  A combination of elected officials and industry agencies,
                partnerships in the community, DEN employees and leaders,
                as well as many other city departments are actively engaged
                to help us build and bring forth equity, diversity and
                inclusion in every facet of CEEA
    Words of Advice
    What advice would you have for someone who is in the early stages of
            their career with aspirations to be a national leader in
            infrastructure?
       Become excellent at what you do. Without excellence you
            can't gain traction in your career. My career is built on
            nearly 25 years of work in the U.S. Army. That's 9,125 days of
            getting up and doing my job. You want to know how I know I did
            good work? Because I lasted nearly 25 years. The Army has a way
            of getting rid of surplus soldiers. It's called a discharge.

       Don't be afraid to make changes. What was I qualified to do
            after 25 years in the U.S. Army? I knew how to lead teams. I
            transferred those skills to an opportunity with Denver's RTD.
            But even then, I didn't rise to CEO immediately. I worked as an
            Assistant General Manager for nine years before I was ready to
            become CEO.

       Look for ways to give back. For me, my passion is helping
            young people achieve greatness in their lives. Nothing is as
            fulfilling as preparing a young person to take over for you.
            When the days drag, it's this deeper meaning that keeps me
            moving.
                             Background Information
    Phil Washington's Infrastructure Career:
       In July 2000, accepted a job as Assistant General Manager at
            RTD in Denver

         Retired from the U.S. Army as Command Sergeant Major--
                the highest non-commissioned military rank possible

       As RTD Assistant General Manager:

         Given oversight of $620 million budget, including $400
                million operating fund and $200 million capital fund

         Implemented $7.8 billion, 12-year FasTracks expansion

       In May 2009, was named RTD CEO

         Led FasTracks build-out of 122 miles of new commuter
                and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service,
                redevelopment of historic Union Station Transit Terminal
                complex (five months ahead of schedule)

         Led first-of-its-kind $2.2 billion transit P3 that
                opened in April 2016 on time and under budget

       In March 2015, was named CEO of the Los Angeles County
            Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)

         Led effort for half-cent sales tax ballot measure that
                passed with a 71.2 percent approval--will generate $120
                billion in the first 40 years and build 40 major
                transportation projects

         Led nation's largest effort to electrify ground fleet
                and facilities

         Created a new Transit-Oriented Community Development
                Program/land policy that aims to determine how transit
                development can be community-focused with minimal
                displacement of community residents in urban areas, most of
                whom are low income

         Developed and implemented an Equity Framework that
                requires the organization to apply equity measures to all
                programs and initiatives, including planning and
                construction

       In July 2021, was named CEO of Denver International Airport

         Created Vision 100 strategy to help the airport
                prepare for the inevitable growth to 100 million annual
                passengers

         Led effort to create first-of-its-kind Center of
                Equity and Excellence in Aviation that concentrates on
                young people in communities of color and underserved
                communities

         Led efforts to develop the Great Hall Completion, the
                final phase of the Great Hall Project

         Was co-founder of the Equity and Infrastructure
                Project

         Led effort to revamp the asset management system
                concentrating on predictive asset management versus age-
                based systems

        The Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Washington. I am, you
    know, convinced that as somebody who runs the third largest
    airport, that the issues of the FAA that deal with air traffic
    controllers, deal with NextGen systems, deal with the
    integration of new entrants, that you have a very good grasp of
    those issues. You have to if you are running a large
    organization like the airport every day.
        And my sense is your history of being a manager of large
    organizations, you know, with thousands of employees also gives
    you a very good sense of some of the challenges of moving a big
    bureaucracy to address the technology issues of today. That is
    clearly any organization's challenge today, is how do you adapt
    to innovation and new technology.
        But I do want to get you on the record as it relates to the
    aviation safety bill that I mentioned, that Senator Wicker and
    I passed out of committee after response to the MAX accidents
    and the fact that we feel that industry and FAA got too cozy,
    that they moved away from the delegated engineering
    representative model in which the FAA was really in charge and
    somehow confused the people on the ground as to the level of
    oversight that was required.
        Our reforms made sure that those employees who are doing
    the certification work were directly hired, that they were able
    to communicate directly with the FAA, and that they were able
    to be removed from the FAA.
        So, I want to know, first and foremost, do you support that
    focus, and will you continue to fight to implement the
    oversight of an aggressive FAA and holding manufacturers
    accountable for their work in engineering?
        Mr. Washington. Senator, thank you for the question.
    Absolutely, yes. I think Administrator Dickson and Acting
    Administrator Nolan have done a great job of sort of foot
    stomping that we are the regulator. I will continue that. I
    will also continue the implementation of the reformat and look
    to accelerate the outstanding things that have not been
    completed. So absolutely, yes.
        The Chair. One of the things that isn't completed, and I
    think we may end up having Mr. Nolan back here to talk about
    this is, just because we want to continue to make progress and
    he is the safety lead, is that the legislation also called for
    integrated project leadership between NASA, the Air Force, and
    the FAA in making sure that novel certification, you know,
    technology that is just emerging is not lost on anybody,
    particularly the NTSB and some of the international
    organizations, that the implementation of new technology and
    human factors is something that we should be paying more
    attention to.
        So, what will you do to make sure that this particular
    mission, this, what some of us call graybeards, that the FAA is
    populated with the right technical aviation expertise, that
    that counter referencing between NASA and Air Force and others
    are implemented so that we really do have the best and
    brightest technology leads as we are going through the
    certification process?
        Mr. Washington. Well, again, thank you for the question,
    Senator. I know the FAA has been doing a number of things
    around recruiting and around making sure that compensation is
    adequate to bring folks in. I will continue that. I will, you
    know, my track record of standing up various training
    facilities and various training programs will allow me to
    attract great talent into the FAA.
        I think it is also important for us to go to every corner
    of this country looking for talent. At the Denver International
    Airport, the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation, we
    are doing just that. And my plan would be to scale that up, to
    look for the best talent in this country, to bring into FAA.
        The Chair. And what are your ideas for how to get that
    done? Given that we do have real FAA critical expertise, what
    are your ideas on how to change this?
        Mr. Washington. Well, a couple of things. I was--we were
    talking about my military career. There is something called the
    Transition Assistance Program in terms of the military. I am
    well familiar with those.
        These are programs that help soldiers get out of the
    military. I think that is an incredible source and a resource
    for great talent. I am tied into those transition assistance
    programs or TAP programs. I would start there. I would start in
    our colleges. I would start in our HBCU. I would start in
    places around the country to show people a career pathway.
        It is one thing to tell a young person, get into the
    aviation industry. It is quite another thing to show them what
    that means and show them sort of the cradle to executive
    leadership pathway. And that is what we have designed in my
    years in transportation.
        The Chair. Well, this is going to be one of the very
    biggest challenges at the FAA, is getting the right talent and
    getting them there very quickly. Senator Cruz.
        Senator Cruz. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Washington, you
    have emphasized your time as CEO of the Denver Airport, 20
    months. Have you ever flown a plane?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. No, I
    have never flown a plane.
        Senator Cruz. So, you weren't a military pilot or a
    commercial airline pilot?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. Have you ever worked for an airline?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. Have you ever worked as an air traffic
    controller?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. You ever worked for a company that
    manufactures airplanes?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. You ever worked for a company that fixes
    airplanes?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. So, for 20 months, you have been in charge of
    the Denver airport. You are in charge of the airport's
    buildings, correct?
        Mr. Washington. I am in charge of everything that goes on
    at that airport.
        Senator Cruz. OK. Well, I am not sure that's exactly right.
    You are in charge of parking at the airport, is that correct?
    How many parking spaces are there at the Denver airport?
        Mr. Washington. Thousands.
        Senator Cruz. OK. You are in charge of all the shops and
    restaurants in the airport. How many restaurants are there in
    the Denver airport?
        Mr. Washington. We have anywhere from 150 to 200 or so.
        Senator Cruz. You are in charge of coffee shops and
    clothing stores and newsstands. You are not in charge of the
    pilots, are you?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. You are not in charge of the airplane
    mechanics, are you?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. You are not in charge of the air traffic
    controllers, are you?
        Mr. Washington. No, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. You know, I look at prior FAA
    Administrators--you and I talked a couple of days ago. I
    respect your military service. I look at prior FAA
    Administrators, current Acting FAA Administrator, Billy Nolan,
    was a commercial airline pilot.
        He worked at multiple airlines and management roles. He has
    certificates in aviation safety from three different
    institutions, from the U.S. Army, Safety Center, and the U.S.
    Naval Postgraduate School. That is under President Biden.
        Administrator Steve Dickson under both Biden and Trump was
    an Air Force fighter pilot, commercial airline pilot, and
    executive at Delta Airlines. 40 years of aviation experience.
    Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell was an Air Force combat
    pilot, a commercial airline pilot, a senior official, and an
    aviation industry executive.
        Administrator Randy Babbitt was a commercial airline pilot
    for 25 years and served as the President of a labor union for
    pilots. Those are all people who know something about aviation
    and safety.
        As I look at your record, I see a record where you have got
    experience with busses, you have got experience with trains.
    Busses and trains are very different from planes. My
    understanding is this Administration previously considered you
    for the board of Amtrak.
        That could well have been a position you were qualified
    for, and you might well have received bipartisan support to
    serve in that role.
        You know, a lot of discussion, quite rightly, has focused
    on the horrific crashes of the 737 MAX that took 346 souls from
    us. Let me ask you, Mr. Washington, what is an angle of attack
    sensor?
        Mr. Washington. The angle of attack sensor is a sensor that
    is on the front of the plane that controls the tilt and the
    altitude of the plane.
        Senator Cruz. And how many of them are there on a 737 MAX?
        Mr. Washington. I believe two.
        Senator Cruz. And what systems are there, if there are
    contradictory signals from the angle of attack sensor?
        Mr. Washington. What systems are there?
        Senator Cruz. Yes.
        Mr. Washington. I would say the MCAS system, if I am not
    mistaken.
        Senator Cruz. OK. The MCAS system is responsible for the
    crashes at issue. What happens when you get a different rating
    from two different sensors?
        Mr. Washington. Can you repeat that question, Senator?
        Senator Cruz. What happens when you get a different reading
    from two different angle of attack sensors?
        Mr. Washington. Well, I think human reaction needs to take
    over if that occurs.
        Senator Cruz. So why did that not happen on the Lion Air
    and Ethiopian air flights?
        Mr. Washington. Well, Senator, I am not a pilot. I don't
    know if I can answer that particular question. But----
        Senator Cruz. Mr. Washington, I believe you, but at the end
    of the day, that is the fundamental problem. For this
    Administration to nominate someone as FAA Administrator who
    can't answer the question, why were 346 people killed in
    horrific crashes that resulted in the 737 MAX being grounded
    for a long time is striking?
        By the way, Administrator Dickson, after the FAA
    recertified the 737 MAX, he went and flew it personally.
    Listen, let me be clear, and you and I talked about this, FAA
    Administrator is a specialized position. I am not qualified to
    be FAA Administrator.
        I have no idea how to fly a plane. No one in their right
    mind would put me in charge of aviation safety because I don't
    have that experience. I suspect most of the members of this
    committee are in a similar position.
        The American people, when they think about aviation safety,
    when they think about--I played in this committee a Southwest
    Airlines and FedEx plane almost colliding at Austin's airport.
    They want an FAA Administrator who knows why those planes crash
    and knows how to fix it to keep them safe.
        And with all respect, Mr. Washington, it gives no comfort
    to the flying public that their pilot might be a transgendered
    witch but doesn't actually know how to prevent the plane from
    crashing into the ground and killing them.
        I believe your record is woefully lacking, and in fact, you
    have zero aviation safety experience, and I don't believe you
    will have the votes for confirmation, as you and I visited
    about earlier this week.
        The Chair. Senator Hickenlooper.
        Senator Hickenlooper. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr.
    Washington, I am going to switch the conversation. And just for
    the record, in my 20 years of knowing Phil Washington and
    working with him, he has a greater focus on safety in every one
    of his roles and anyone I have seen in comparable roles.
        And it is something that is instinctual within him, that it
    then creates a culture around safety. I want to talk a little
    bit about rural air service. Now, rural communities depend on
    regional air service to grow their economies and stay connected
    to the national air network. And most of the country, we have a
    network of these rural airports.
        The DOT and the FAA each have a role to ensure that airline
    operators maintain air service in rural areas across the
    country. In Colorado, this would be to communities like Pueblo
    in Alamosa, Grand Junction, Cortez, I could go down a long
    list.
        Mr. Washington, can you discuss the importance of rural
    communities maintaining access to reliable air service, and if
    confirmed, will you commit to maintaining and expanding service
    to rural communities?
        Mr. Washington. Yes. Thank you for the question, Senator. I
    definitely commit to working with rural airports. They serve a
    vital--a vitally important mode of mobility, if you will, for
    folks that live in those rural areas.
        And so, we at Denver International Airport actually deal
    with and provide assistance where we can with rural airports in
    the State of Colorado. So, we would, I would continue that as
    the Administrator as well.
        There are special things and special arrangements around
    construction and getting grant funding out to those rural,
    especially cold area airports, so they can build during the
    seasons where it is good for them to build.
        So, to answer your question, absolutely, I would provide
    assistance there.
        Senator Hickenlooper. I appreciate that. I would also like
    to posit, to present the challenge that the problems facing FAA
    are those of managing a large, complex organization, the type
    of organization you made a career out of running successfully,
    both as a Command Sergeant Major, and at RTD of L.A. Metro, and
    DIA.
        I think if we were to ask pretty much anyone who traveled
    in the last year if they want another person from the airline
    industry in charge of FAA, they would probably say they didn't.
    I don't think the airlines should be regulating themselves.
        The NOTAM system failure, the Southwest meltdown, extended
    delays and cancellations, near-misses on runways are all
    management and policy issues. Being a good pilot is not going
    to help you or anyone be the FAA Administrator that this
    country needs, that can solve these issues.
        Being able to manage a large, complex organization is. Why
    don't you talk just for a moment about the complexity of DIA
    and how you synthesize 35,000 employees, and make sure that the
    right people are in charge, and then hold them accountable.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. First
    of all, safety is the number one priority. We know that that
    is--I know that that is my top priority. I lean on a long
    record of leadership and management and oversight of billion-
    dollar projects and people.
        And so, I think that one of the first things I think about
    is creating a vision for the organization. I think about
    creating a vision for the FAA. I think about breaking down
    stovepipes. I think about providing professional development
    for the employees.
        And I have to say, I had someone ask me, you know, why do
    you provide all of this professional development for folks and
    then they might leave. And my response was, suppose I don't
    provide it and they stay. That becomes a real issue.
        So, I think, you know, the way I handle the 35,000 is to
    tell them what they can expect from me. When I walk into a job,
    that is one of the first things I do. And then I also tell them
    what I expect from them.
        And so, providing that vision, being visible, telling folks
    what you expect and what you expect from them is the start of
    providing a very, very good culture within the organization. A
    culture of ownership, I call it.
        Senator Hickenlooper. Right. And I think I will leave to
    the Committee with this observation that when Phil came on
    board at DIA, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Air travel was dramatically rebounding at the same time that
    the gate expansion was going full tilt. And I think two points.
        One, is that he was able to maintain the operational
    efficiencies at the airport in those challenging times. But
    almost more importantly, he took a massive construction project
    that was behind schedule and over budget and sorted it out in
    record time.
        If you look at the investments that this country is going
    to make in air transportation, having someone who has repeated
    examples of coming in difficult construction projects, having
    that person holding accountable the entire investment we are
    making in transportation is, I think, the right direction for
    FAA.
        The Chair. Senator Wicker. Thank you.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER WICKER,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI

        Senator Wicker. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And Mr.
    Washington, Sergeant Major Washington, thank you for being
    here. I have a great deal of respect for your service with the
    United States Military. And I say that as a veteran who didn't
    do anything, nearly what you were able to do as a Command
    Sergeant Major. You were nominated in July 2022, is that
    correct?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Wicker. And Sergeant Major, I think it is fair to
    say that you would already be in office, you would already be
    confirmed if there had not been serious bipartisan questions
    about your qualifications and your fitness for office.
        And it gives me no great pleasure to say that. This is--I
    have been chairman of this committee, I have been ranking
    member of this committee, and I have been on it for a long
    time. This is--what is going on with your nomination is not my
    idea of a good time. But it is a responsibility that I think we
    have.
        At the time of your nomination, you had this CEO position
    at Denver for about a year. Safety is the top priority of the
    FAA, and I think really on both ends of the dais, there have
    been serious questions about your expertise in that area, and
    that has been pointed out at some of the questions.
        On your resume at Denver, you cite specifically success in
    construction, a renovation program in facilities, and the
    implementation of a career pathway. Again, I don't think that
    qualifies you for this position, and in particular with what
    has been going on the last few months with regard to these near
    misses. It is very, very troubling.
        There is something, though, that Senator Cruz said that I
    am not sure I agree with. He said you might have been confirmed
    for the Amtrak board, had you been nominated for that. And that
    may be true, but we would still have had to get better answers
    to these questions about investigations and about allegations
    that are still out there about public corruption.
        You have been involved in multiple corruption
    investigations, accused of retaliating against a whistleblower
    that exposed this corruption. The investigation relates to
    involvement with a series of no-bid contracts awarded by L.A.
    Metro to a nonprofit to operate a sexual harassment hotline.
        The investigation found that the hotline cost the taxpayers
    more than $8,000 per call. Most of these calls were misdials or
    spam. The nonprofit who awarded the contract was a close friend
    and campaign donor of an L.A. County supervisor.
        The investigation is still pending and has been taken over
    just recently by the California Attorney General. And in
    addition, you have been accused of discriminating and
    retaliating against the whistleblower who received a $625,000
    settlement.
        I am not sure for any position, with those being
    unresolved, that you would have been confirmed. And again,
    this--it gives me no pleasure to say this. Just days ago, a
    lawsuit was filed by the Denver International Airport's former
    Senior Vice President of Parking, Benjamin Juarez, who left his
    post last year.
        The lawsuit alleges discriminatory pay and personnel
    practices at the airport. Again, you--there was this matter
    that Senator Cruz mentioned about the search warrant, including
    accusations of misconduct, and in seeking a record of your
    communications, and this has not yet been resolved.
        As we meet today, the California Attorney General's Office
    is still conducting this public corruption investigation. We
    need--we need a very, very qualified person in charge of the
    FAA immediately, and for the life of me, I do not understand
    why the President persists with this nomination based on so
    many questions from the corruption aspect and also the
    qualification aspect.
        And for that reason, I do think the bipartisan opposition
    will continue, sir. Thank you, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Senator Schatz.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. BRIAN SCHATZ,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII

        Senator Schatz. Thank you, Chair Cantwell. The FAA has been
    without a permanent Administrator for nearly a year, and this
    is a hatchet job. Instead of moving quickly to confirm the
    President's nominee, Republicans and their allies have tried to
    delay Mr. Washington's confirmation by attacking him, throwing
    everything they have to try and stop a qualified nominee, and
    in doing so, they are smearing a long-time public servant and
    Army veteran.
        Mr. Washington has decades of experience overseeing large,
    complex transportation organizations. He runs the Denver
    International Airport, the world's third busiest airport. He
    ran L.A. Metro, one of the largest transportation systems in
    the world.
        And he honorably served his country for 24 years, serving
    in the U.S. Army Tank Command before earning the rank of
    Command Sergeant Major, the highest noncommissioned officer
    rank an enlisted soldier can achieve.
        But he is facing a smear campaign. The people opposing his
    nomination are trying to desperately turn every aspect of his
    career into a scandal. Anyone who has been in leadership gets
    sued. I think I was sued like 2 months ago, and they named
    every member of the Congressional delegation.
        Every member--I think it was every member of the
    Legislature. Someone actually threw the summons over my fence
    and said, you have got served. I didn't know that was the thing
    they said. And I went back to my staff, many of whom are
    lawyers, and they said, what is this? And they said, well, they
    named the Governor.
        They named--this is similar. This is 17 individual
    defendants, the entire Board of Directors, and the U.S.
    Secretary of Labor. That is not a serious lawsuit and should be
    called out for what it is. It is nonsense. It is immaterial to
    these proceedings, and it is just a pretext for opposing the
    nominee's confirmation to this critical agency, because, again,
    Mr. Washington is well qualified for the job.
        During his time as CEO of DIA, the airport has seen a
    nearly 20 percent increase in passengers, substantially
    contributed to by my arrivals from HNL, DEN and every Monday.
    And before becoming CEO there, he spent 6 years as CEO of L.A.
    Metro running the transportation system in our country's
    largest metro area.
        Before that, he spent 6 years as CEO of the Denver Regional
    Transportation District, overseeing a system that serves nearly
    50 million riders annually. Mr. Washington is a skilled and
    dedicated public Administrator, with an extensive record
    showing that he knows transportation.
        And ignoring this to punish him over fake scandals is
    absurd. Mr. Washington is exactly the kind of person that we
    should want in public service. He has the experience needed to
    lead the FAA and is ready to step into this role.
        So, my question for you, Mr. Washington, is can you tell me
    how your experience at DIA is going to enable you to be a good
    FAA Administrator?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I think Denver International Airport is, of course, the third
    largest. Safety is number one at all of our airports and it
    will be for me at FAA.
        In running Denver International Airport, someone asked me
    the other day, well, what do you do when you first get up in
    the morning as the CEO of Denver International Airport? And I
    talked about reading my SITREP, if you will. And a SITREP is
    what is going on right then at that airport, and it is always
    around safety.
        And so, it is around also TSA wait times, it is around FAA
    arrival times. It is everything about that airport. We do those
    three times a day. And so, I believe that what I am doing now
    and what I have done for the last 40 years to include my
    military career is directly transferable in terms of especially
    leadership.
        Leadership is a real thing. It is a real skill. Motivating
    people, inspiring people, getting people to do what they
    otherwise may not do is a real skill. And I think when we talk
    about the FAA, we are talking about a different kind of
    organization that needs a different skill set to run it now in
    this day and time. And I think I bring that to the table.
        Senator Schatz. Thank you very much.
        The Chairman. Senator Moran.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS

        Senator Moran. Chairwoman, thank you. Mr. Washington, thank
    you for your presence here today. I represent a state in which
    aviation is hugely important. One of the most significant
    components of how Kansans earn a living. We are known as the
    air capital of the world.
        We manufacture general aviation, commercial aircraft,
    defense. We have many companies that are involved in air safety
    and navigation aids. And certainly, the FAA and its
    Administrator is among the most important Federal agencies and
    individuals that have a consequence to my constituents, and to
    the country in this case.
        I am often thought of as a Senator who worries and cares
    about and works on behalf of aviation because of that
    manufacturing base, and that is certainly a component. But I
    represent a state in which air travel, Kansans who fly and
    Kansans who fly from Kansas airports, matter greatly to me.
        And so, I recognize the value and importance of an airport,
    large and small. Yesterday, Kansas City celebrated the opening
    of its new airport. We are excited about that. Wichita has a
    new airport, Eisenhower. But I also represent, as was indicated
    earlier, by those who were--I think it was the Senator from
    Colorado, the importance of those small and regional airports.
        Essential air service, perhaps with the exception of
    Alaska, Kansas is the most dependent upon essential air service
    programs to make certain that our rural airports are able to
    remain available and open, and that transportation occurs.
        And we forget sometimes the importance of aviation for
    bringing a physician or a patient to a physician, to crop
    dusting, to the way, again, we earn our living in Kansas, in
    agriculture that airplane matters greatly. So, this is hugely
    important, and I have invited every FAA Administrator since I
    have been in Congress to come to Kansas and spend time with me.
        And if you are confirmed, I will make that request. The
    challenges that the FAA faces, in my view, are tremendous, and
    the leadership needs to be consistent and bold. It needs to be
    different than it has been in the sense that we have had too
    many changes too many times and we need consistency.
        I would be delighted to hear how you believe you can manage
    the magnitude of this job, and you have indicated that to some
    degree. Let me give you an example of--and tell me how you
    would handle this. The aviation industry in recovering from the
    pandemic experienced a tremendous backlog, supply chain
    problems, difficulty in getting answers from the FAA, but also
    getting--difficulty in getting parts and materials from
    suppliers.
        Throughout the pandemic, the protection of the aviation
    supply chain has been important to me and to Senator Cantwell
    in legislation, as evidenced by legislation called the Aviation
    Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program.
        So, tell me how you would handle the magnitude of the
    problems that occur when there is a crisis in this country? And
    tell me about your experience again, that allows you to lead an
    agency that has such consequences in the decisions it makes?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I guess what I think about--you talk about stability. I think
    bringing stability to the FAA is part of addressing those
    issues. And so, what I would do is put together a plan, a
    tactical plan around materials, a tactical plan around supply
    chain parts, and be--have that as a first priority for me.
        Some of the issues that we have seen around the country now
    with material cost increases and inflation and all those things
    is tied into the availability of various materials. And so,
    putting a plan together within FAA to address that is one of
    the first things that I would do.
        The other thing that I think about, you mentioned the
    subsidies. You mentioned the community----
        Senator Moran. Essential air service.
        Mr. Washington. Essential air service and those sorts of
    things. I think we need to do better. The FAA needs to do
    better with those subsidies as well. And that would be one of
    my priorities as well. But to answer your question, putting
    together a solid plan to address the role of airports, to
    address places like Kansas would be something that would be one
    of my first priorities.
        Senator Moran. Mr. Washington, I don't think it is through
    any fault of your own. You and I have not met until we shook
    hands a moment ago. And if you are interested, I would make
    certain that if you invite yourself to my office to have a
    conversation, I would accept that invitation.
        Mr. Washington. Yes, sir.
        Senator Moran. Thank you.
        The Chair. Senator Peters.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. GARY PETERS,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN

        Senator Peters. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, Mr.
    Washington, you have been nominated for a very tough job. And I
    just want to thank you for your willingness to take on this
    responsibility. Certainly, you have the experience, the
    qualifications, and may I say the leadership qualities
    necessary to lead the FAA during a very challenging time. So,
    thank you for your willingness to take on this very difficult
    task.
        Mr. Washington, I have long advocated for the FAA to
    transition away from the use of toxic PFAS, containing
    firefighting foams. And in fact, in the 2018 FAA
    reauthorization, I led the adoption of language that directed
    the FAA to no longer require the use of these foams at part 139
    airports.
        Last year, President Biden signed into law my legislation
    entitled, Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act, which allows
    airports to purchase the equipment they need to test their
    firefighting response without discharging toxic PFAS chemicals.
    Michigan airports continue to lead the way on this issue, but
    they need a strong partner in the FAA to fully transition away
    from the use of PFAS and protect our communities from further
    contamination.
        As an airport CEO, I know you have firsthand experience
    when it comes to PFAS at airports, and I would just like to
    know if confirmed, how will that experience shape your approach
    to ending these substances in aviation?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I agree this is an important issue. At Denver, we started our
    own cleanup, a voluntary clean up. We have already started
    that.
        Now, I know not everyone can do that, but we wanted to
    start for the benefit of everyone at our airport, including our
    employees. My understanding is that the new performance
    requirements for the firefighting foam was issued earlier this
    year by DOD. We would work with DOD, and I think that if
    confirmed, I would have a special relationship with the
    Department of Defense as a veteran.
        But we would work to develop a transition plan around PFAS.
    There are a number of airports that are doing this very well.
    And so, you know, perhaps there is sort of a peer-to-peer
    exchange that can occur while we are waiting on that
    alternative as well.
        And so, I would bring what we are doing at Denver and scale
    that up, because I think we are addressing the PFAS problem
    probably than--probably better than most airports around the
    country.
        Senator Peters. Right, right. Last week, I asked Acting
    Administrator Nolan about improving FAA's effort to integrate
    unmanned aerial systems into our national airspace. Communities
    in my state of Michigan are looking to take advantage of this
    cutting-edge technology and a lot of economic opportunity that
    will result from that.
        However, there are major barriers to adoption, including
    slow implementation of the provisions that my colleagues and I
    passed in the 2018 reauthorization bill. So, my question for
    you, sir, is, if confirmed, will you commit to prioritizing
    efforts to ensure that the U.S. maintains global leadership in
    advanced aviation, particularly unmanned aerial systems?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator.
    Absolutely. Absolutely, and that gets to what I think is the
    slow pace of rulemaking as well. One of my priorities is to
    streamline internally to start with internal to FAA, to
    streamline the rulemaking process.
        And so, absolutely, I agree that we need to move on this. I
    agree that we need to understand and keep pace with industry on
    unmanned aerial systems. I will do that as Administrator.
        Senator Peters. Right. Well, thank you. I chair the
    Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee here in the
    Senate, and one of my priorities is to ensure that airports
    have the tools to counter those who may use UAS as threat and
    as a domestic security risk.
        The FAA has been a partner in working to understand how
    these systems affect our airspace and transportation, but we
    are going to need to work together to protect our critical
    infrastructure from these threats.
        UAS have a lot of opportunities, but they also present
    serious threats to airspace and critical infrastructure as
    well, as you know. So, my last question is, if confirmed, will
    you commit to work with me to ensure that there is robust
    interagency coordination to counter UAS efforts?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator.
    Absolutely. And I think, I know the Biden Administration
    proposed legislation to expand authorities is out there. FAA
    has been a partner with that, and I will continue that path.
        Senator Peters. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you, Madam
    Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you, Senator Peters. Senator Thune.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN THUNE,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

        Senator Thune. Thank you, Madam Chair, for holding this
    important hearing today. It is difficult to think of a time in
    recent history when the FAA has been confronted with more
    challenges.
        On top of implementing the last FAA reauthorization and the
    certification reform bill, the agency is contending with an
    increasingly complex national airspace system, which must
    accommodate the growth in commercial space activity, and the
    integration of drones and advanced air mobility aircraft.
        Managing all these challenges while maintaining the highest
    level of safety in the world's busiest aviation system requires
    a skilled leader with extensive aviation experience. I am
    concerned that the FAA's delay in addressing these challenges
    is further setting back the modernization of the air traffic
    control system and jeopardizing aviation safety.
        Recent travel disruptions, especially those related to
    recent ATC issues and the failure of the NOTAM system in
    January, underscore the need for action. So as this committee
    begins to work on the next FAA reauthorization, it is going to
    be essential to ensure the agency a strong, capable leadership
    at the helm.
        So, I appreciate the opportunity to review Mr. Washington's
    qualifications and appreciate you being here to testify today.
    On February the 8th, Senator Warner and I introduced the
    Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act, which
    directs FAA to establish a regulatory framework for beyond
    visual line of sight UAS operations, especially since many UAS
    certification applications, through the current process, have
    languished for years.
        I believe that a clear framework for such operations is
    critical to the safety and efficiency of the NAS. And I intend
    to work with the Chair and the Ranking Member to integrate this
    legislation into the FAA reauthorization bill.
        So, my question is, if confirmed, can you describe how you
    would work to create a beyond visual line of sight regulatory
    framework and otherwise streamline the airworthiness approval
    process for UAS?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. That
    would definitely be a priority of mine. I know the FAA is doing
    work around this right now, and I will check on the progress of
    that. But I think this is very, very important to keep pace
    with industry around this issue, and also to make sure we have
    the workforce to set up that framework. I would make this a
    priority.
        I think, right now, I listened to Acting Administrator
    Nolan and he talked about 2024, being ready around 2024. I
    would want to accelerate that, and I think we can do that. In
    Los Angeles, I created what I call an Office of Extraordinary
    Innovation to do just that, to work with industry to make sure
    that we entertain and look to implement various innovative
    things.
        And I think when we talk about advanced air mobility, that
    is a perfect example for one. So, we would move that forward,
    and I commit to doing that.
        Senator Thune. And I hope--and I will just tell you, in
    drafting this bill, Senator Warner and I worked to address the
    concerns of incumbent users of the NAS, especially those
    operating at lower altitudes, such as helicopters and
    agricultural aviation, which is very important in my State.
        However, I would say there is more work that needs to be
    done at the agency to ensure the safe co-existence of UAS with
    these stakeholders. And so, I hope you will stay on top of it
    and work to get this done in a timely way.
        Let me just ask from your perspective, what should be done
    to ensure the safe coexistence of nascent beyond visual line of
    sight operations with incumbent users at low altitude? Could
    you talk a little bit about what you think ought to be the
    solution.
        Mr. Washington. Well, I think one solution is to make sure
    that the FAA itself is ready to implement that. One of my
    concerns is whether internally we are ready to take that on. I
    would want to make sure that we are. I would want to sit down
    with industry and partnering sessions to understand what the
    challenges are from their perspective, and to be ready to
    implement when they are ready and keeping track of industry.
        So, I would bring them in and sit down with them
    immediately to find out what the constraints are and what the
    challenges are and move forward that way.
        Senator Thune. And you would work with the stakeholder
    community, make sure those concerns are addressed?
        Mr. Washington. Yes. Yes, sir.
        Senator Thune. OK. All right. Well, let me go quickly here.
    Let me just, during my time as chairman of this committee, we
    considered and enacted the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and
    included prioritization of NextGen upgrades to bolster the
    Nation's air traffic control system.
        These upgrades, in addition to employing concepts such as
    dynamic airspace management, will allow the U.S. to better
    utilize existing infrastructure and increase the capacity and
    efficiency of the NAS. There has been a lot of recent, we all
    know, ATC issues at airports across the country that certainly
    highlighted the need for modernization.
        So, I know my time is up, but from your perspective, are
    there specific technology upgrades that should be prioritized
    to avoid preventable incidents like those which occurred in New
    York and in Austin?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator.
    Absolutely. I think the installation of new technology is one
    thing, but the integration of that technology is quite another
    thing.
        So, the integration and the training of FAA employees is
    quite another thing. And I think we have to think about the
    integration. A lot of the installation is already done, but I
    am concerned about the integration of that technology to use it
    to its full capacity.
        Senator Thune. Well, we need to catch up. Thank you. Thank
    you, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you, Senator Thune. Senator Duckworth.

                  STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS

        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you,
    Ranking Member Cruz, for holding today's hearing. I want to
    thank you, Mr. Washington, for your quarter century of service
    to our Nation in uniform.
        It is said that the NCO is the backbone of the army, and a
    backbone, a strong one, is exactly what you need to be FAA
    Administrator, because you all need to stand up to pressures
    from aircraft manufacturers, as well as from airlines looking
    to reduce or circumvent critical aviation safety requirements.
        There is a saying about aviation regulations, that they are
    written in blood. When deadly accidents happen, we investigate
    and adjust our regulations to ensure whatever went wrong never
    happens again, but only after blood has been shed. Following
    the deadly Colgan Air crash in 2009, which killed 50 people,
    Congress passed a law to require all commercial airline pilots
    to complete 1,500 flight hours.
        To its credit, the FAA has rejected all proposals to water
    down this key safety requirement. Sergeant Major Washington,
    when we spoke last year, we talked about my strong belief in
    the 1,500-hour rule, a belief that is not based on evidence-
    less emotion, and instead grounded in my own expertise as a
    pilot, and also as a former Commander of an Army aviation
    company where I was in charge of the training, the aviation
    training of my soldiers.
        We know how critical real world flying experience is for
    safety. Look, I accept that there will always be those who want
    to give in to the temptation to cut corners or buy into the
    false hope of a quick fix or an easy answer, especially when
    there is a critical aviation workforce shortage.
        But as Chair of the Aviation Safety subcommittee and an
    aviator, it is my responsibility to stand up for a basic safety
    principle, hours in the cockpit are hours. But spent in the
    seat, in the air cannot, cannot be replaced no matter how many
    hours you spend in a lecture hall or in a simulator.
        Experience and expertise cannot be faked. These life
    savings attributes are earned through hours of hard work and
    dedication to the craft of piloting a real aircraft in the air
    with real stakes.
        Mr. Washington, if confirmed to lead FAA, will you commit
    to defending the 1,500-hour rule and rejecting any proposal to
    weaken or water down what is really a commonsense requirement,
    that before we place the lives of commercial passengers in the
    hands of a new pilot, that pilot must first gain at least 1,500
    hours of flight time.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. If
    confirmed, I will not deviate from that standard. I agree with
    you that the 1,500-hour rule should stay in place. I have
    never, especially as a Command Sergeant Major, believed in
    lowering the standard.
        I believe in bringing people up to the standard. And that
    is very, very important. So, I would not deviate from that
    standard.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you. Simulators are important,
    simulators are good, but simulators have a reset button where
    you get to be reborn again. It is not the same as being in a
    cockpit out there in icing environments and windy environments.
        And I know you have trained many a soldier in a simulator,
    in many types of simulators. My second question for you, as we
    discussed last year, I remain concerned about the FAA's
    hesitancy to use its civil enforcement authority. There are two
    issues involving the Boeing 737 MAX that I find just stunning,
    but not in a good way.
        The first involves evidence that came to light as part of a
    Congressional investigation. And I have a graphic that is up
    here. This is an internal Boeing memo documenting plans to
    avoid using the term MCAS outside of the company and instead
    merely describe the new function as an addition to the already
    existing speed trim system. The memo suggests a motive.
        If we, and I quote, ``if we emphasize MCAS is a new
    function, there may be greater certification and training
    impact.'' Even worse, the memo says this plan to downplay the
    significance of MCAS was approved by an authorized
    representative, which was a Boeing employee that FAA
    specifically authorized to conduct certification work on behalf
    of the agency.
        This is what I mean when I say you are going to have a
    strong backbone through the pressures from the industry. Yet
    FAA never investigated this internal Boeing memo, and I am not
    aware of any FAA civil enforcement action against the
    responsible individuals. As you know, pilots' inability to
    arrest the MCAS ultimately led to two deadly MAX crashes,
    killing 346 people.
        The other issue is that apparently Boeing knew of the angle
    of attack disagree alert was inoperable on more than 80 percent
    of the 737 MAX aircraft, in direct violation of the plane's FAA
    approved type design.
        Yet Boeing did not inform the FAA, air carriers, or MAX
    pilots of this for more than a year, and not--and only did so
    after the first deadly MAX crash. Faulty angle of attack data
    was a factor in both MAX crashes, yet FAA, as it stands
    currently, does not appear to have taken any civil enforcement
    actions against Boeing for this.
        While I am pleased that the Department of Transportation's
    Inspector General is now examining FAA's handling of these
    issues, I fear this speaks to a broader reluctance at FAA to
    use its civil enforcement authority. Mr. Washington, will you
    commit to using FAA's full civil enforcement authority as
    appropriate?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. Yes, I
    think--I want to first acknowledge the role of the families in
    advocating for holding Boeing and FAA accountable. And if
    confirmed, I would do and foot stomp what has already been
    conveyed to Boeing.
        I would also reinforce to our workforce that they will
    always have the time to do what they need, and that includes
    civil enforcement.
        Senator Duckworth. I have a final question for the--I will
    submit for the record. Thank you, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Budd.

                      STATEMENT OF HON. TED BUDD,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA

        Senator Budd. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Washington,
    thanks for being here today. I have some concerns with your
    nomination. But first of all, besides that, I just want to say
    thank you for your service to our country through our military.
        You have a lot of veterans, a lot of military installations
    in our State of North Carolina and so we appreciate what you
    have done. Now, you have been nominated to lead an agency with
    authority to regulate aircraft, airspace, and airmen. The U.S.
    has some of the most complex airspace in the world.
        I mean, we have got 200--over 200,000 registered aircraft,
    more than a million pilots in our country, and over 45,000
    flights per day handled by ATC. Now, with recent issues under
    the Biden Administration, from the flight disruptions over
    Christmas, the NOTAM or the notice to air missions ground stop,
    and the recent near-miss incidents in New York, Texas, and just
    yesterday in Boston, my colleagues and I were concerned about
    the many or several parts of your background and your lack of
    aviation experience.
        Now, there are many new regulations that the FAA has issued
    or is in process of developing. Here is one for instance. The
    FAA is spending billions of dollars on its NextGen programs, as
    you are aware, to modernize the national airspace system. A key
    part of this update is moving toward GPS navigation for pilots
    and ATC.
        Now, as part of this transition, the FAA recently required
    airplanes to be equipped with an ADS-B transponder. So, Mr.
    Washington, can you quickly tell me what airspace requires an
    ADS-B transponder? Quickly, please.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. Not
    sure I can answer that question right now.
        Senator Budd. That is OK. We will just keep going. So, that
    is a pretty important part. But another question, you have said
    that your national security background, and again, I appreciate
    your military experience there, but you say that has prepared
    you for this role. OK.
        The FAA has classified airspace to meet the needs of
    airports, air traffic, and also national security. The FAA has
    also designated special use airspace over DOD bases critical to
    national security.
        So, what are the six types of special use airspace that
    protect this national security that appear on FAA charts?
    Quickly, please.
        Mr. Washington. Sorry, Senator, I cannot answer that
    question.
        Senator Budd. OK. We will just keep going, so thank you.
    Since World War II, the FAA has required pilots to have a valid
    medical certificate. I have got one. In recent years, the FAA
    has relaxed these standards through the introduction of the
    sport pilot certificate and also basic med. It has been a great
    success.
        More than 70,000 pilots in the last 6 years have used basic
    med to maintain their flying privileges. So, what are the
    limit--it comes with some limitations. So, what are the
    operational limitations of a pilot flying under basic med?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I am not a pilot, so----
        Senator Budd. But obviously you would oversee the Federal
    Aviation Administration, so any idea what those restrictions
    are under basic med, quickly?
        Mr. Washington. Well, some of the restrictions, I think,
    would be high blood pressure. Some of them would be----
        Senator Budd. It is more like how many passengers per
    airplane, how many pounds in different categories, and what
    altitude you can fly under. So, and the amount of knots, it is
    under 250 knots, so it is not--have anything to do with blood
    pressure. So, let's keep going here. Aviation, I have heard you
    talk about aviation and safety and it being a particular
    concern of yours.
        I appreciate that. Spin speed accidents are a particular
    concern for general aviation safety advocates. Accidents
    involving an unintentional stall account for nearly 25 percent
    of fatal aviation accidents.
        And these happen, it spins at low speed and low altitude,
    and they are particularly dangerous. Say, can you tell me what
    causes an aircraft to spin or to stall?
        Mr. Washington. Again, Senator, I am not a pilot, but I
    would lean on our career employees and our safety folks within
    the FAA.
        Senator Budd. OK, let's keep going. So, we have mentioned
    just recently, Senator, before me mentioned the 737 MAX issues.
    So, there are many questions surrounding the FAA's aircraft
    certification process.
        Two years ago, Congress passed a major reform package to
    address these concerns. It is now up to FAA to implement these
    laws by issuing regulations and monitoring compliance.
        Mr. Washington, what are the three aircraft certifications
    FAA requires as part of the manufacturing process? Quickly,
    please. Three aircraft certifications.
        Mr. Washington. Again, what I would say to that is that one
    of my first priorities would be to fully implement that
    certification act and report that----
        Senator Budd. Do you know the three types, Mr. Washington?
    The three types.
        Mr. Washington. No.
        Senator Budd. OK. Yes, that is type certificate, production
    certificate, airworthiness certificate. OK, all right. Let's
    just keep going and see if we can get lucky here. All right, so
    just since January, the U.S. has narrowly averted three
    aviation disasters.
        On three separate occasions, airplanes came dangerously
    close to colliding on runways at New York--excuse me, at New
    York, JFK, Austin, Bergstrom, and Boston Logan Airport. The
    Austin incident reminded me of the Tenerife accident, which is
    the deadliest aviation accident in history.
        Both the incident at Tenerife and Austin included or
    involved two planes on a runway in dense fog. The FAA's ATC
    procedures manual has separation standards. Now, I know you run
    a big airport, so you should probably know this one here. It
    has got separation standards for planes using the same runway.
        So, can you tell me what the minimum separation distance is
    for landing and departing airliners during the daytime, Mr.
    Washington?
        Mr. Washington. I don't want to guess on that, Senator. But
    it would be easy for me to find out.
        Senator Budd. Thank you. You know, the FAA is woefully
    behind on integrating unmanned aircraft standards, but are you
    familiar with the difference between Part 107 and Part 44809
    when it comes to unmanned aerial standards, unmanned drones?
    Are you familiar with the difference?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, yes.
        Senator Budd. OK. You know the difference between those
    two, Part 44809 and Part 107? Do you know the difference there?
        Mr. Washington. No, I cannot spell that out for you.
        Senator Budd. It is OK.
        The Chair. Senator, your time has expired.
        Senator Budd. Thank you. You know, the FAA can't afford to
    be led by someone who needs on the job training, and for that
    reason, I am going to be opposing your nomination. But thank
    you for your time.
        The Chair. Senator Klobuchar.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA

        Senator Klobuchar. Thank you. Well, Mr. Washington, I
    appreciate your incredible career and experience, 24-year
    veteran of the U.S. Army, rose to the rank of Command Sergeant
    Major.
        That kind of experience, you have to adapt to a lot of
    changing circumstances and I would assume make in the moment
    decisions all the time. And you work with the people around you
    to make those decisions.
        Mr. Washington. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Klobuchar. Right. And you also have been managing
    the third biggest airport in the country, is that right?
        Mr. Washington. Yes.
        Senator Klobuchar. I actually am a big fan of airports. You
    are probably familiar with Minneapolis, Saint Paul.
        Mr. Washington. Yes.
        Senator Klobuchar. We have been voted the best airport in
    the country a few times, I just want to point that out. OK, so
    let's talk about, first of all, aviation workplace. I know you
    have done a lot of work and recruiting workers, which is a
    problem in the private part of our air service, in the public
    part of our air service. Talk a little bit about how we build
    the aviation work force.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I
    think it is very, very important to do the things that I have
    been a part of for many, many years, and that is again, showing
    a career pathway.
        I talked about that a little bit earlier. I would scale
    that up for aviation. I think the need is so great in all of
    infrastructure, but especially aviation. We are building a
    center of equity and excellence in aviation that has a career
    pathway portion to that.
        And so, in addition to creating that pathway in aviation, I
    would go out and be the ``evangelist'' for aviation workforce
    opportunities all over this country. I think we need to do that
    not just for aviation, but other modes as well.
        Senator Klobuchar. All right, very good. The FAA's Contract
    Tower Program provides critical air traffic control safety
    benefits to 256 smaller airports around the country, including
    airports like Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Anoka County.
        It is a good deal for taxpayers, helps rural communities,
    supports military readiness, and national security operations.
    If confirmed, would you commit to ensuring that rural airports
    have the updated air traffic control towers and facilities they
    need to accommodate rising air traffic levels?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator.
    Absolutely. I am committed to that and would love to work with
    you on that.
        Senator Klobuchar. Very good, thank you. Passengers at
    airports experienced significant travel disruptions, as you
    know, in January, due to the outage of the U.S. notices to air
    missions, also known as NOTAM system. Senator Moran and I had a
    call with the Acting Administrator on this.
        And I lead legislation to require the FAA, which has also
    bipartisan support and has passed the House of Representatives,
    led by Representative Stauber, my colleague in Minnesota, to
    establish a task force to strengthen the resiliency and
    cybersecurity of the NOTAM system.
        We know that is not the only thing that needs to be done.
    We know there is going to be this transition to the NextGen air
    traffic control. But if confirmed, would you commit to making
    sure that we work with all stakeholders here to make sure that
    this transition works and that we do a better job.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question. Absolutely
    commit to working with stakeholders. Also commit to making
    redundancy of those systems a top priority as well.
        Senator Klobuchar. OK, very good. I think I will ask my
    remaining questions. I see my colleague, Senator Rosen, who is
    such a leader on tourism, is here. And so, I am going to, after
    the Republican questions, turn over to her. So, thank you,
    Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Vance.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. J. D. VANCE,
                         U.S. SENATOR FROM OHIO

        Senator Vance. Great. Thank you, Madam Chair. And Mr.
    Washington, thanks for being here. I want to ask just a
    threshold question here. So, this is from the L.A. Metro Equity
    Platform.
        This is a graphic that appears, I believe, on the first
    page. And I understand this is something, the equity platform
    you supported over and over again in some of your public
    comments. I would actually just, I would love for you to
    explain what this means.
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    Yes, we advocated and supported equity in a big way at L.A.
    Metro and every organization that I have been a part of. I
    think it is crucial for us to understand diversity, equity, and
    inclusion, and so what you are looking at is equity with
    everyone on a level playing field, if you will. And that is
    what we espouse at every organization that I have been in,
    especially L.A. Metro.
        Senator Vance. And what do these boxes represent, I guess.
    I mean, they are, you know, equality here. They have different
    size boxes. And then here there are different boxes here. I am
    just curious, what this is supposed to mean?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, well, that is, you know, opportunity,
    if you will. Opportunity and how you position people that may
    be less fortunate for the same opportunities that other people
    might receive.
        Senator Vance. OK. I got to say, Mr. Washington, I
    appreciate the attempt at an explanation there, but I don't
    fully understand why equality and equity are different. I would
    assume that equality of opportunity is something that we all
    believe in and agree with. I worry just in some of your public
    comments, some of the things that you said.
        You tend to take this focus of explicitly saying that
    colorblindness, of looking at people without regards to skin
    color, is somehow in and of itself discriminatory. And I was
    hoping to elucidate that a little bit by appeal to this chart
    and try to understand it a little bit better.
        But I have to be honest, and I am not trying to be rude,
    Mr. Washington, I just don't fully understand what this is
    meant to convey and how it might influence some of your
    policies. In an effort to kind of drill down to that, I just
    want to ask just a few questions here, because, you know, the
    aviation industry is maybe the single industry where aptitude
    and work safety matter more than almost anything else.
        I mean, I can't imagine, even going under the knife, I
    would probably choose having a safe pilot as more important
    than even going under the knife for a surgery. So, I just want
    to ask sort of how this this criticism of colorblindness that
    you have had in some remarks in your career intersect with how
    you think about the standards for pilots that exist in the
    aviation industry.
        So, a few just very direct questions. Do you believe that
    white, black, and latino airline pilots should be able to read,
    speak, and understand English before becoming commercial
    airline pilots?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, I do.
        Senator Vance. Great. Thank you. Do you believe white,
    black and latino airline pilots should have to hold the
    commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating as they
    currently have to do?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, I do.
        Senator Vance. Great. Do you believe that white, black, and
    latino airline pilots should have to have at least 1,500 hours
    of total flight time in order to receive an airline transport
    license?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, I do.
        Senator Vance. OK. Thank you, Mr. Washington. I appreciate
    that. And here is the reason why I ask those questions, because
    there is an inconsistency between some of the diversity,
    equity, and inclusion rhetoric on the one hand, and the fact
    that we should hold everybody to equal standards no matter
    what. I have three young children, a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old,
    and a 1-year-old.
        You know, they are--a couple of their grandparents live in
    San Diego, California, so they are on a flight a couple of
    times a year at least. I am actually totally supportive of what
    you might call a Rooney rule here.
        I absolutely believe that if we take, you know, black
    citizens or white citizens or anybody who hasn't had the same
    opportunities as everybody else, it is great to make that extra
    effort to ensure that they have the opportunity to become
    commercial airline pilots or Federal administrators or whatever
    the case may be.
        What I worry about is some of our aviation industry, some
    of the experts and some of the ideas centered around diversity,
    equity, and inclusion seem to take the idea that we should
    relax standards in an effort to promote certain groups of
    certain racial or gender categories. And I just think that is a
    terrible, terrible way to run an airline industry.
        I don't really care whether the pilot that I have, what
    their gender is, what their skin color is, I just care about
    whether they can do the job. And I hope that you are committed
    to the same exact attitude, because if we don't have safe
    airline pilots and if we relax the standards in an effort to
    get pilots of a certain skin color or a certain gender, it is
    going to be disastrous, quite literally. Thank you.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. JACKY ROSEN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA

        Senator Rosen. Thank you. Senator Cantwell has left to
    vote, and so I will recognize myself for 5 minutes to question
    the witness. And so, before I begin my questions, I do want to
    take a moment to express my condolences to the families who
    were killed in the fatal crash of a medical transport flight
    near Stagecoach, Nevada, on Friday.
        And I am so thankful for our first responders, for the
    hardworking people at the National Transportation Safety Board,
    who my team has been in touch with. We will continue to follow
    it. Our hearts go out to those families. And I would also
    briefly like to speak about concerns I have about the nominee's
    qualifications for the important position to which he has been
    nominated.
        Travel and tourism, the backbone, the backbone of Nevada's
    economy. Our airports are the gateways to everything that we
    have to offer, everything that we do. And therefore, it is
    incredibly critical that we have an FAA Administrator with deep
    experience promoting safe, efficient air travel.
        And so, I do look forward in the coming weeks to learning
    more about your record, Mr. Washington, and whether you are
    adequately prepared for the position. And so I have a number of
    important policy questions to ask. First, I am also going to
    thank you for your service to this nation, and we are indebted
    to you for that, and we thank you. And I am going to turn to my
    questions.
        One of them is about airport obstruction analysis, and I
    hope you agree, just like all of us, safety of passengers' crew
    is the most important aspect of airport operations, excuse me.
    This is equally true at Harry Reid International Airport in Las
    Vegas, which saw a record 52 million travelers in 2022.
        But our airport, like so many others across the country,
    have been left unable to raise critical safety and security
    concerns about nearby obstructions through FAA's current
    obstruction evaluation airport airspace analysis process. And I
    know it is a long title but is so important.
        We have to ensure that this obstruction analysis is robust,
    it involves all stakeholder input, and in particular takes, in
    the safety and security, those concerns of the airports
    seriously.
        And so, Mr. Washington, if confirmed, how will you ensure
    that this obstruction analysis, this process, is sufficient to
    account for major concerns about our air and ground safety
    raised by airports and at the TSA?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the questions, Senator.
    I would certainly want to work with you on that.
        I understand that the analysis that FAA uses is primarily
    focused on the air traffic impacts versus the obstruction, and
    as opposed to the security concerns, like the serious one that
    I know you advocate for.
        I appreciate you bringing it to our attention, and I would
    certainly want to work with you on that to get the details on
    traffic impacts versus obstruction.
        Senator Rosen. Thank you. I want to move to something that
    is really, again, very important as our airport, Harry Reid
    International Airport is kind of at the one end of the Las
    Vegas strip.
        And Nevada quickly emerging as the sports capital of the
    nation, we are home to the Las Vegas Raiders, the NHL's Golden
    Knights, WNBA champions, the Aces, and we hosted the NFL draft,
    we are the next host of the Super Bowl, and we are going to be
    hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in November.
        So, we are really proud of all of our sports and
    entertainment, but this also makes us a target for bad actors,
    especially when individuals are gathered around our stadiums. I
    think Allegiant Stadium is about 65,000 seats there, and the
    FAA has imposed temporary flight restrictions over stadium
    events, including for drones.
        Congress has subsequently strengthened and codified these
    requirements. However, sports leagues have been reporting
    violations of flight restrictions by drones. And so, if
    confirmed, this of course impacts the safety of everyone there,
    how will you ensure Federal policy not only continues for these
    long-standing protections for stadiums, but really keeps
    evolving with these new threats as they continue to grow?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question.
        Senator Rosen. Particularly the drones.
        Mr. Washington. Right. Thank you for that question. I would
    want to work with you on that to understand exactly what the
    issues are. There is a lot of interest in how drones will be
    integrated and how they will be used at airports around various
    Government functions and facilities.
        If confirmed, I would certainly want to work closely with
    you on that and the topic under reauthorization as well.
        Senator Rosen. The drones are increasingly growing, and
    they are getting smaller and growing in strength, so we have to
    address that. I only have a few seconds left, so I am just
    going to go quickly. Again, on drones, drones used for critical
    infrastructure inspection. There is bipartisan legislation I
    introduced with Senator Bozeman and Blumenthal authorizing $100
    million in competitive grants, allow our cities to local
    governments to purchase and operate small drones.
        They can go in and out of bridges and through tunnels and
    they can take pictures and see things that might be more
    difficult for humans to get to. So, we have been seeking
    technical assistance for some time.
        Will you commit to working with us, if confirmed, at the
    very least to provide formal FAA feedback so we can use this
    technology for safety for our critical infrastructure?
        Mr. Washington. Absolutely, Senator. Absolutely, commit to
    working with you.
        Senator Rosen. Thank you. I am going to now recognize
    Senator Schmitt for his questions.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. ERIC SCHMITT,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSOURI

        Senator Schmitt. Thank you, Senator. Mr. Washington, how
    are you?
        Mr. Washington. Good, sir.
        Senator Schmitt. Good. The Biden Administration recently
    announced equity czars in every department, in every agency.
    These czars, of course, haven't been authorized by Congress in
    any way, shape, or form, but will implement initiatives to
    deliver radical, ``equitable outcomes.''
        This really isn't about opportunity for all Americans, but
    mandating certain outcomes and virtue signaling, and a simple
    yes or no answer would be great. Do you intend, if you are
    confirmed, to have this so-called equity czar as a member of
    your senior staff at the FAA?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I do
    think that there is a role to play for equity in organizations,
    so I would definitely look at that.
        Senator Schmitt. So, you will or you will not have this
    equity czar as a member of your senior staff, yes, or no?
        Mr. Washington. I think an equity person is necessary, yes.
        Senator Schmitt. OK. The stated mission, of course, of the
    FAA is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system
    in the world. There seems to be a real disconnect between that
    mission, what some of the FAA's current activities are, and
    quite frankly, your nomination.
        So let me recap for you just a couple of months in
    transportation, aerospace news. The first complete ground stop
    of civilian air travel since 9/11 because of a complete
    meltdown of the NOTAM system.
        A train derailment in East Palestine that is slowly
    poisoning an Ohio community. Several near-misses of civilian
    and cargo planes at the Texas--at a Texas airport and a
    California airport. And I could keep going, but I think you get
    the point. And what is the Department of Transportation and the
    FAA focused on?
        Changing the name of the NOTAM system to be, ``more
    inclusive,'' and putting time and effort into woke pet
    projects, and putting time--and also at a time where they could
    be improving our antiquated systems.
        And I will tell you right now, the folks in Missouri and
    more broadly American, the American people don't care one bit
    if people are getting a pat on the back at a conference posted
    by some DEI consultants on a name change.
        They want pilots who have the safety information, the best
    pilots in the world so the American public can travel
    efficiently and safely. Your prior record and what you have
    already testified here today shows that you will be more
    focused on aggressively pushing woke DEI projects instead of
    actually ensuring the safety and efficiency across our
    aerospace system.
        These DEI projects that you spent your time pushing are
    left wing advocates' dreams, and they are mind boggling, quite
    frankly. First, requiring all procurement proposals at the
    Denver airport to have an equity plan, and furthermore force
    those reviewing the contract proposals to, ``look for DEI
    social, cultural merits as they consider contracts.''
        And this is a yes or no question, do you intend to make FAA
    staffers, if you are confirmed, look at the social, cultural
    merits of contracts, if you are confirmed?
        Mr. Washington. Safety will always be my number one
    priority.
        Senator Schmitt. Right. But the question is, you did this
    at Denver, but are you going to require the social, cultural
    merits of contracts to be considered?
        Mr. Washington. I think that is one of the factors that we
    need to look at, along with everything else.
        Senator Schmitt. With safety? That doesn't have anything to
    do with safety.
        Mr. Washington. Senator, safety is the number one priority.
        Senator Schmitt. OK. Just last year, you wanted a Center
    for Equity and Excellence built in Denver for $40 million. This
    center would have a, quote, hall of equity for training
    sessions. Simple yes or no, Mr. Washington, do you think
    families in Denver or across the country are interested in
    spending millions and millions of dollars for halls of equity?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I
    think families in Denver are interested in safety at our
    airport, and I deliver that on a daily basis.
        Senator Schmitt. $40 million is a lot of money for halls of
    equity. You would agree with that, right? Is that really the
    most pressing issue?
        Mr. Washington. I think one of the pressing issues is to
    make sure that we have a qualified workforce for years to come.
        Senator Schmitt. I would agree with that. Your record of
    pushing DEI and woke ideologies in the transit system you
    worked at is alarming. Last year, the Biden Administration
    pushed a budget that listed as its priorities for the FAA in
    this order, first, climate change, second, increasing equity,
    then investments in safety and modernization.
        This emphasis matters. The Fiscal Year 2023 FAA budget had
    over $700--or I am sorry, $570 million for equity. And then
    another $760 million for climate change projects to meet global
    standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
        Simple yes or no, if confirmed as the FAA Administrator, do
    you intend to use taxpayer dollars to prioritize equity and
    climate change over safety?
        Mr. Washington. I am going to follow the law, Senator.
        Senator Schmitt. Well, that is not the law because Congress
    certainly hasn't voted on that. So, are you going to prioritize
    those two as the President has indicated he would like to?
        Mr. Washington. Safety will be number one for FAA.
        Senator Schmitt. OK. And let me just--let me just close
    with this. I will tell you that the folks of Missouri aren't
    interested in spending billions on halls of equity. They don't
    want decisions made on social, cultural merits.
        They don't want a half a billion dollars spent on undefined
    equity projects. They don't want a woke globalist ideological
    agenda thrust upon them by unelected bureaucrats at the FAA.
    And so, this is our only opportunity to speak for them because
    you are not elected. They want safety, they want reliability,
    they want affordability.
        And I am concerned the FAA has lost its way, and your track
    record seems to indicate that you are much, much in line with
    this prioritization of diversity, equity, inclusion, climate
    change over safety, and that is very concerning to me.
        The Chair. Senator Markey.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD MARKEY,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS

        Senator Markey. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr.
    Washington. During Mr. Washington's 24-year career in the
    United States Army, he achieved the rank of Command Sergeant
    Major. No one, no one understands safety better than a Command
    Sergeant Major.
        That is what they exist for, to protect all of the people
    who work for them and everyone that those people are trying to
    protect. And that is the job that Mr. Washington is being
    considered for, and I have no doubt that he understands exactly
    what his job will be, to make safety number one.
        Because his training shows that he has got the background.
    He served as the Chief of Operations for the Logistics Division
    and the Chief of the Human Capital Division, roles that require
    superlative diligence, vigilance, and commitment to detail. Mr.
    Washington has an exceptional track record of delivering major
    infrastructure projects on time and under budget in Denver and
    in Los Angeles, as a Command Sergeant Major would.
        Mr. Washington is a dedicated public servant, proven leader
    who makes the trains and the planes run safely and on time.
    There is just far too much at stake to play politics with this
    nomination, with skyrocketing flight cancellations, multiple
    near-miss collisions at airports, including one at Logan
    Airport on Monday of this week.
        We need a permanent FAA Administrator, somebody who knows
    what they are doing. And Mr. Washington is the right person for
    this job at this time. I want to turn to climate change's
    impact on the aviation industry.
        From melting runways in London to Southwest Airlines
    holiday meltdowns, climate change is significantly impacting
    our aviation system. Mr. Washington, do you agree that climate
    change poses new challenges for airlines, airports, and the
    FAA?
        Mr. Washington. Senator, yes, I do.
        Senator Markey. Just for the record, there was a report out
    just a few weeks ago that Burlington, Vermont, for example, is
    seven degrees Fahrenheit warmer today than it was in 1970. Can
    I say that? That is Burlington, Vermont, seven degrees warmer.
        You translate that all across the country in the years to
    come, that is fundamental in the risks that are going to be
    posed to the infrastructure of our airports. Just this morning,
    we saw a new Brookings research that found that airports are
    under dire threat from climate change.
        And I would like to enter this concerning research into the
    record concerning that study, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Without objection.
        [The information referred to follows:]

        Senator Markey. And that is why I am working on legislation
    to improve the resiliency of our aviation system, particularly
    at our airports, and I look forward to working with my
    colleagues on that issue. And I want to turn to, if I may,
    another issue related to airport resiliency, airport service
    workers.
        Those individuals are the unsung heroes of our aviation
    system, but they are often overworked and underpaid. Our
    airports would not function if wheelchair attendants,
    concession workers, ramp agents, and baggage handlers did not
    do their jobs.
        They are the hidden figures in ensuring that airports work.
    They are not the pilots walking through in their beautiful
    uniforms. They are just the people that show up at 4 a.m. in
    the morning to make sure that the airports function all day
    long.
        Mr. Washington, do you agree that airports service workers
    are critical to the operation and reliability of our aviation
    system?
        Mr. Washington. Senator, absolutely.
        Senator Markey. Last Congress, I introduced the Good Jobs
    for Good Airports Act, which would help ensure that airport
    service workers are paid a living wage and benefits. It is time
    we repay the sacrifices of airport service workers. We give a
    lot of Federal money, every single year to airports across this
    country.
        We just got to make sure it goes down to these workers.
    They are largely of color, they are women, and they are not
    wealthy at all, and we have to make sure that they get the
    resources they need to take care of their families the same way
    they take care of ours.
        So, Mr. Washington, we are going to work very hard to get
    you confirmed. We need you on the job right now. You spent your
    whole life getting ready for this job. You will be a superior
    FAA Administrator.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you, Senator.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Fischer.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. DEB FISCHER,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA

        Senator Fischer. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Welcome, Mr.
    Washington. First of all, thank you for your many years of
    military service. I congratulate you on those years when you
    defended this country and the citizens. Thank you, sir.
        On March 10, 2022, SkyWest filed a 90-day notice of its
    intent to terminate service at 29 essential air service
    communities. At the time, Nebraska had three communities that
    were served by SkyWest, Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff.
        The essential air service is critical for our rural
    communities. So how will you ensure that EAS communities will
    be served when regional carriers struggle to find those pilots,
    if you are confirmed?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. That
    would one--that would be one of my top priorities. I would look
    to work with you and your office on that. I think the FAA has
    done some work around EAS and the grants that are subsidized in
    that area, and I would continue that work.
        Senator Fischer. Will FAA commit to continuing issuing the
    hold in orders to ensure that carriers meet their contractual
    obligations in providing service to rural communities?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, Senator.
        Senator Fischer. SkyWest has applied for a Part 135 charter
    to help better serve these EAS communities but there is a
    backlog at FAA. Do you know what the average time is for FAA to
    process new Part 135 applications? And what would you do as an
    Administrator to address that?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for that question, Senator. One
    of the things that I want to look at is all of the timelines to
    process things like that, rulemaking all across the board. I
    think that we can improve upon that. I think that in terms of
    rulemaking, it takes far too long, even internally from what I
    have seen. And so, I will make that a priority to move those
    things along.
        Senator Fischer. You know, these applications that I
    referenced here, they are really vital to be able to get those
    out so that not just the carrier knows what is going on, but
    these small, rural communities where essential air service is
    exactly that.
        It is essential air service. And as I said, we have many of
    those acrpss the state of Nebraska. And to be able to serve not
    just people in the communities, but commerce, to keep rural
    America vital and strong, this has to be a priority. It has to
    be addressed.
        Mr. Washington. Yes. And I agree with that.
        Senator Fischer. In post pandemic travel, we have seen an
    increase in that many travelers have experienced flight
    cancellations and delays. Following these situations, we
    usually see, you know, a bunch of finger pointing between the
    airlines and air traffic control. Does the FAA have a staffing
    shortage for air traffic controllers?
        Mr. Washington. It is one of the things that I want to look
    at, Senator. One of the questions I have is what goes into the
    staffing model to determine what the headcount is? Is it being
    staffed to traffic or is it being staffed to budget?
        And I think what is input into the model determines what is
    spit out of the model in terms of the number of headcount. And
    so, I want to understand what is being input into the model. I
    don't know that now, but that will be one of the first things
    that I take a look at. I talk to air traffic controllers at my
    airport.
        There is a huge ramp up time with regard to the on the job
    training for that airport. And so, it is the same thing in
    ground transportation. You ramp up according to the service you
    want on the street. And it is the same thing with controllers
    as well.
        Senator Fischer. You know, just to note here, last year,
    FAA opened the application only one time for the general public
    to apply for those air traffic control training areas. Do you
    think that that application should be opened more often? What
    kind of changes would you specifically suggest for that?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I want
    to look at continuous openings. You--there are a lot of
    positions, you know.
        Senator Fischer. And continuous training them as well, or
    have to reach a critical mass with the applications before you
    do the training?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, I think we need to do both. I think we
    need to have a continuous recruitment. And I think we need to
    look at training year-round.
        Senator Fischer. My time is up, sir. Thank you very much.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Lujan.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. BEN RAY LUJAN,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO

        Senator Lujan. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate the time. Mr.
    Washington, thank you for being here, and thank you for your
    service, sir. My state of New Mexico is a destination to many
    coming out to get to our mountains or experience our public
    spaces, fall in love with New Mexico.
        And there are programs out there like Essential Air
    Service, as has been spoken about today, that provide critical
    connections to our rural communities as well. And this time of
    year, while many out of state state visitors are coming to ski
    up in Taos or Santa Fe or other ski areas, many are coming for
    family reasons or even national security reasons to NNSA,
    National Department of Energy Laboratories, or military
    installations, Space Satellite Operations Office.
        Now, on my way back home to New Mexico, I spend a good
    amount of time at Denver International Airport. Sometimes I
    think I spend a little too much time there, but nonetheless, it
    helps to get me home. And no hard feelings to my colleagues on
    the Committee, but our runways don't melt in New Mexico. Our
    runways don't freeze on over and things of that nature.
        So, what I want to ask is, understanding that some of these
    airlines have not brought back flights to pre-pandemic levels,
    if confirmed, what steps will you take to not only bring back
    pre-pandemic levels, but to increase service to growing
    economies like Albuquerque, other airports that are not
    experiencing the same kind of weather challenges that others in
    the region are experiencing?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I definitely would like to work with you on that. In Denver,
    you know, we--the airport was built for 50 million annual
    passengers. We had 70 million right now, and we are looking at
    100 million in the next 5 to 8 years.
        And so, this is a factor of making sure your airport can
    accommodate those increased numbers. And so, I would want to
    work with you on working with airlines to increase those. I
    mean, it is not FAA's primary sort of job.
        I mean, it is--there was a mention of Africa a little bit
    earlier, but that was a proactive way to get direct flights to
    the continent of Africa. And so many times the airport team has
    to do that themselves, to go out and sell their region in terms
    of tourism and all those things. But would love to work with
    you on that.
        Senator Lujan. I look forward to learning from you in that
    space and many others, Mr. Washington. Now there unfortunately
    is growing agreement that many air carriers do not sufficiently
    prioritize consumer protections.
        One area where some articles that I have read disturbed me
    greatly are parents of young children, and they described
    horrific stories where their children got too hot, overheated,
    heatstroke because those planes get really hot if they are
    stuck on the tarmac, for example.
        And so, while the 2010 tarmac delay rule helped immensely,
    there are still concerns that I have about occupant safety. And
    so, if confirmed, as the FAA Administrator, do you commit to
    working with me on this issue as well?
        Mr. Washington. Absolutely, Senator. You know, this is
    under the authority of the Secretary's Office, but obviously, I
    would work with you and the Secretary's Office in coordinating
    that.
        Senator Lujan. I appreciate that very much. Now, one last
    question that I have is around the commercial space industry,
    which is poised for explosive growth in the coming years,
    including Spaceport America in New Mexico, out in Sierra
    County.
        Now, the FAA and the Office of Commercial Space
    Transportation are critical in the support of this new era of
    space exploration. And while the FAA received increased funding
    in recent years to increase workforce and improve its process
    for licensing and permits, I continue to hear the lack of
    personnel employed or trained to meet the rise in commercial
    space launch and recent operations.
        If confirmed, can you commit to prioritizing hiring
    additional employees at FAA, review this, all in support of
    space commercial travel?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I can
    commit to making sure that we have the resources in place to
    meet the challenge around commercial space. And so, I commit to
    that.
        Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. And I imagine that there
    will be a bipartisan effort to work closely with you in that
    space as well. And I hope to work closely with my friends and
    colleagues, from my neighbor to the east and Texas, as well as
    other places around the United States. Madam Chair, thank you
    for this hearing, for this time. And again, Mr. Washington, I
    look forward to your confirmation.
        The Chair. Senator Young.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. TODD YOUNG,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA

        Senator Young. Welcome, Mr. Washington.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you, sir.
        Senator Young. Sir, I really appreciate your military
    service. As someone who wore the uniform for a bit of time
    myself, I really have great respect for what you accomplished
    in the military.
        I have to tell you, as we look at your nomination to serve
    in this capacity, I am quite concerned about your lack of
    aviation and aviation safety experience. And this
    Administration has been on watch and we have seen our first
    nationwide ground stop since 9/11. And this was due to problems
    with the FAA's very own system.
        So that is the organization that you have been nominated to
    lead. We have had multiple near-misses in recent months. The
    FAA's own website states that the FAA's mission is to provide
    the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, in
    the world.
        So, we need someone who can ensure that it fulfills that
    mission, the most efficient, safest aerospace system in the
    world. As you know, Federal law requires that the FAA
    Administrator, the position that you have been nominated for,
    must among other things have experience in the field directly,
    directly related to aviation.
        And I am looking at your resume. It is right here. And it
    is really impressive. So, I let the world know that the man
    before this committee is really impressive. An honorable record
    of service and without blemishes, to my knowledge. But it is
    thin by my reading, as it pertains to this direct aviation
    experience.
        You spent a lot of time in the U.S. Army. Your career was
    focused on, per your resume, logistics, HR, training, and
    operations. You weren't an army pilot. You didn't work in
    aviation units. Your very first, roughly 40 years ago, your
    very first assignment as an enlisted soldier was an air defense
    artillery unit.
        I worked with an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron when I
    was in the U.S. Marine Corps. That certainly didn't qualify me,
    to my mind, to be FAA Administrator. In recent years, you spent
    a few years as CEO of L.A. Metro Transport Authority. But they
    oversaw rail and bus transit. It doesn't--no mention here at
    least of aviation responsibilities.
        And then for the last roughly 18 months, you have been CEO
    of Denver International Airport. And I visited with CEOs of
    airports, and they vary in expertise, and accomplishment, and
    proficiency.
        And but I know that so much of that job involves ensuring
    that the tenants in that shopping area with multiple purposes,
    in addition to aviation, remain happy and that the customers
    going in and out are happy. But I am--so 18 months.
        Maybe there has been an 18-month machination in aviation
    since you have been CEO of Denver Airport. But I am going to
    give you an opportunity as so often does not happen in these
    hearings, to explain concisely, if you will, why you are
    qualified for this job, sir.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I
    think about a few things. And running ground transportation
    units. I was not a train operator either, but I was named the
    best transit--transportation, public transportation CEO in this
    country.
        I think about traits like leadership. I think about traits
    like managing. I think about traits like convening people to
    get things done. I think about what I call adaptive leadership.
    Aviation, right now, we cannot think about doing things the old
    way.
        And so, I think that a fresh perspective is needed.
    Obviously, safety is number one. And as I said earlier, leaning
    and trusting and directing our safety experts is part of the
    job. But I think that there is, my broad transportation
    knowledge and real-world leadership experience of both military
    and transportation infrastructure systems serve me well.
        Senator Young. And I have no doubt, sir, that you are in
    many respects a plug and play leader and manager. This is
    something that our senior enlisted and much of our officer
    corps, I think can correctly and accurately identify as. So, I
    want to sort of validate that for what it is worth.
        I will say that statutorily this position requires having
    experience in the field that is directly related, directly
    related to aviation. Words have meanings, statutes have
    meaning, and it is unclear at this point.
        We will continue to do homework, give you an opportunity,
    maybe after this hearing, to elaborate on what you have just
    said. It is unclear that your background, as I have laid it
    out, is directly related to aviation. So, thank you very much,
    sir.
        The Chair. Senator Baldwin.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY BALDWIN,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN

        Senator Baldwin. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Washington,
    welcome to the Committee, and thank you for both your service
    to this Nation in the military, as well as your continued
    commitment to public service.
        I want to talk a little bit about the pilot workforce and
    pilot shortages, and opportunities that may present us--be
    presented to us right now. I understand that less than 10
    percent of licensed pilots are women.
        The Women in Aviation Advisory Board released a report last
    year that included a recommendation that Congress provide
    additional financial tools for careers in aviation. In pursuit
    of that goal, I have been working on legislation that would
    raise the level of Federal student loan availability for those
    who wish to become pilots, and I plan to introduce that measure
    in coming weeks.
        But I am wondering if you believe that additional financial
    tools like student loans may help women and other
    underrepresented groups enter the aviation workforce. And also,
    given your recognition in 2017 for advancing women in
    transportation more generally, how do you plan to continue that
    important work as Administrator of the FAA?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    This has been a huge priority and passion of mine.
        During my time in Los Angeles, my 6 years there, 49 percent
    of the promotions during that time was for women. We stood up a
    Women and Girls Governing Council to understand how women
    travel and ways to improve the system as it relates to the
    traveling of women.
        And so, this has been really, really huge for me. I feel
    like I can bring a different perspective to the aviation mode
    around how to attract women and people of color.
        I do think it is very, very important that our workforce
    looks like the people that we serve. And I will do that and
    look forward to working with your office on that as well.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you. You know, I also believe that
    our Nation's military veterans will continue to play a vital
    role in our aviation workforce.
        And I will be reintroducing a bipartisan bill that I have
    with Senator Hoven called the American Aviator Act, which would
    authorize grant funding through the FAA to support training
    opportunities for veterans who are not already military pilots
    but wish to become pilots in their civilian careers.
        Given your recognition for supporting military veterans, as
    well as your background as a noncommissioned officer in the
    military, how do you plan to use those decades of leadership,
    frankly, in transportation agencies to advance the careers of
    other military veterans?
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you for the question. I would be a
    walking billboard for veterans to come into aviation. And so, I
    mentioned earlier transit assistance programs that are at every
    military base.
        And these are for veterans that are leaving service, really
    focusing on them and, or those programs. Pilots are one thing,
    but I also think about mechanics. I also think about, you know,
    those skill sets that keep the aircraft in the air. So, I would
    be huge on that. It would be a huge priority.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you for that. So, you are CEO of the
    third busiest airport in the country, if not the world. I am
    not sure which, but they were both.
        Mr. Washington. The world.
        Senator Baldwin. The world. All right. So, you know, the
    vital role that our airports play in ensuring communities, you
    know, can access national airspace. I want to talk about
    smaller airports for a second.
        I represent the State of Wisconsin, and I--would you be
    able to share your perspectives on the role that small and
    midsize airports, including most of what we have in the State
    of Wisconsin, how do we make sure that they are able to
    continue to play--well, to serve all of our communities?
        Because I worry about that when I hear of airlines leaving
    some of the smaller airports or cutting down service
    significantly.
        Mr. Washington. They play a critical role in connecting to
    the national system. They play a critical role in connecting
    small communities. I have heard the issue about cold weather
    and AIP funding after the construction season has ended. So, I
    would look for ways that the FAA can be flexible and very
    supportive in small airport locales.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Blackburn.

                  STATEMENT OF HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE

        Senator Blackburn. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And I want to
    commend you, Mr. Washington, on your--the career that you have
    had. Being a Command Sergeant Major is quite an accomplishment,
    and it is something that the FAA will probably need at this
    time, because so many people in Tennessee that I talk with feel
    like we are in an aviation crisis.
        The Chinese spy balloon, the NOTAM issues, some of the near
    misses in the air, including a flight from a JetBlue flight
    from Nashville to Boston earlier this week that escaped a near-
    miss.
        And they are really concerned about why, Secretary
    Buttigieg would prioritize environmental justice and climate
    change in his 2023 budget framework. And it seems that safety
    should be the top priority and not these other issues. And I
    know we have discussed that. Different members have discussed
    that today.
        But I want to go back to that changing the name of the
    NOTAM system from airman to mission and ask you if you think
    that was worth all of the personnel time that went into that
    and all the many documents that had to be altered to make that
    change.
        And do you feel that that was an appropriate use of the
    department's time and resources at a time when we are dealing
    with these issues that dealt with the flying public--with the
    air cargo?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. Safety
    would always be my number one priority, and I have reiterated
    that it was my number one----
        Senator Blackburn. Sir, that is not my question to you. I
    said, do you think it was appropriate? There is a time and
    place for everything, and you have to pick priorities. Should
    that be the priority? Should DEI be the priority at a time when
    people are concerned about safety in air travel?
        Mr. Washington. I was not a part of that decision, so I
    hesitate to----
        Senator Blackburn. Well, do you see it as a priority? I am
    asking your opinion. And that is a simple question. Yes or no,
    was it appropriate?
        Mr. Washington. It is a priority, but it does not overcome
    safety.
        Senator Blackburn. OK. So then let me ask you this, and you
    can just give me answers to these questions in yes or no. I
    have been concerned with, as we look at some of what has
    happened during your time at the Denver International Airport.
        Diversity, equity and inclusion was named as one of the
    airport's four guiding principles. The airport proposed reforms
    along these lines to incorporate DEI policies into its
    procurement process.
        Concerning these changes, you stated, and I am quoting,
    ``these new practices will enrich our process to identify the
    best partners to award contracts to so that across all our
    efforts and at every level, we are integrating values of
    equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and
    sustainability into our business.''
        So, yes or no, are airports racists, and is the FAA racist?
        Mr. Washington. I don't believe they are.
        Senator Blackburn. Well, thank you for that. If confirmed,
    do you plan to implement similar DEI requirements for the FAA
    procurement process?
        Mr. Washington. Not my plan right now. I want to take a
    look.
        Senator Blackburn. OK, but you can't answer me yes or no.
    See, people are concerned about safety. Do you know on the
    average how long procurement processes take for the FAA?
        Mr. Washington. I do not have that information, no.
        Senator Blackburn. OK. Do you believe that extending DEI
    provisions into this will require additional rules to a process
    that is already a very long and convoluted process?
        Mr. Washington. I do not, Senator.
        Senator Blackburn. OK. Let me talk to you for just a second
    about drones, because we are concerned about the Chinese
    military industrial complex and DJI. Have you used DJI drones
    at the L.A. Metropolitan Airport or the Denver Airport?
        Mr. Washington. No.
        Senator Blackburn. You have not. Thank you, Mr. Chairman--
    Madam Chairman. And thank you, Mr. Washington.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Sullivan.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA

        Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair. And Mr.
    Washington, thank you for being here. I want to just--I know we
    have been talking about safety and your background.
        Obviously, given all the challenges and the focus that
    everybody in the country wants in terms of safety, I like so
    many others have a deep respect for your service in the Army.
    Command Sergeant Major is really remarkable in terms of
    achievement.
        But I want you to take the opportunity to address what
    Senator Budd mentioned was your resume doesn't reflect a deep
    well of experience on aviation safety. And I think it is a fair
    criticism.
        He said, hey, we can't have on the job training on
    something so important. So, why don't you take a minute to just
    address that? I think it is an important issue for the whole
    country, and then I want to talk about Alaska.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you, Senator. I think safety is more
    than just one individual. It takes an organization. Can we
    build a safety culture within an organization? I have done that
    in every organization I have been in. I will do that at FAA.
        Safety has been my number one priority in the United States
    Army and every transportation organization I have been in. So,
    I think the question, at least in my mind, is can I build that
    culture and rebuild that culture within FAA, based on
    everything that I have done, based on how I have led men and
    women in this country, and I think the answer is yes.
        Senator Sullivan. OK. You ever been to Alaska?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, sir.
        Senator Sullivan. During the Army?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, sir.
        Senator Sullivan. OK. So, you get a sense of--well, let me
    ask you, if you are confirmed, I would like to get your
    commitment to come to Alaska very early in your tenure to see
    the unique challenges that we have in my State. Can I get you
    to commit to me on that?
        Mr. Washington. Absolutely.
        Senator Sullivan. Good. Let me just give you a little bit
    of the dynamics there in terms of aviation. We have 586,000
    square miles of land mass. Sorry, Senator Cruz, but 2 almost--
    --
        Senator Cruz. Point of personal privilege.
        Senator Sullivan. Sorry----
        [Laughter.].
        Senator Sullivan. But almost 2--over 2.4 million square
    miles of airspace. That is the Alaska area that the FAA covers.
    As you know, the FAA, and I am going to focus on domestic
    issues, but the FAA in Alaska is the entity that takes every
    flight in America that is flying to Asia and it makes sure they
    get there safely. So, our FAA guys and women, they do amazing
    work. They are the best.
        And everybody in America who has flown over, flown from
    America to Asia, has had the FAA of Alaska in their guiding
    hands. It is really important. I just want to do a shout out to
    them. We are also a state with less road miles than Connecticut
    and we are 120 times bigger. Over 250 communities in my state
    are not connected by roads. That is a whole other issue.
        So, they are connected by air or boat if they are on a
    river. So let me just go into a couple of issues that relate to
    that. Because we fly so much, in 2020, the NTSB produced a
    report that in the most recent 10-year period, there was an
    accident rate for aviation in Alaska 2.35 times higher than in
    the rest of the country.
        So, this is the challenge of air, weather, mountains,
    remote communities, but it is also very much a challenge of
    lack of aviation infrastructure. I worked with the last FAA
    Administrator to launch the FAA Alaska Aviation Safety
    Initiative, FAASI.
        Can you commit to me, if you are confirmed, to continue the
    progress we have made but we have a long way to go? On the
    issue of FAASI and Alaska safety, which as I mentioned, we have
    the worst rates of accidents in the country by far.
        Mr. Washington. Yes, Senator. Enthusiastically, look
    forward to working with you.
        Senator Sullivan. Let me ask one final question. Madam
    Chair, if I may. Weather reporting, forecast, air to ground
    comms are needed to support these remote communities for better
    and safer access.
        The FAA, until I passed a law in this committee essentially
    mandating them to do it, had not funded new automated weather
    observing system locations in Alaska than most airports in the
    lower 48 get since the 1990s.
        Again, we are this afterthought. Can I get your commitment,
    if you are confirmed, to work with me on significantly updating
    the basic aviation and weather infrastructure that most states
    in the lower 48 take for granted and we have to beg for to get
    those so my constituents can fly safely the way everybody else
    does in this country?
        Mr. Washington. I commit to that, Senator.
        Senator Sullivan. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you, Senator Sullivan. And I, too, share
    your concerns about making sure that the Alaska Transport--Air
    Transportation System is the transportation system of Alaska.
    So, appreciate that.
        Mr. Washington. Thank you.
        The Chair. Appreciate that. Senator Welch.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. PETER WELCH,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM VERMONT

        Senator Welch. Mr. Washington, I think if I were you, I
    would consider this hearing a success. You just got an
    invitation to Alaska.
        Mr. Washington. Can't beat that.
        Senator Welch. I have never been there.
        Senator Sullivan. Well, if you are up for Senate
    confirmation, you will get it.
        [Laughter.].
        Senator Welch. Well, I can always aspire. Mr. Washington,
    one of the things among your many responsibilities will be the
    implementation of the Department of Transportation's ambitious
    U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan, which has as a goal to
    achieve net zero carbon emissions in the aviation sector by
    2050. And obviously, electric aviation has to be part of that
    conversation. Can you comment on your commitment to that and
    how you would implement it?
        Mr. Washington. I am committed to that. I am committed to
    the Administration's 2050 push for that. I think there are a
    number of ways that we can get started on that. I am not saying
    FAA has not started on that, but I think we can beat 2050. And
    I would make that one of my priorities.
        At Denver International Airport, we are doing just that. We
    are plugging abandoned oil wells. We have a huge solar array,
    larger than most airports. We are doing a number of
    sustainability projects like PFAS right now. So absolutely
    commit to that.
        Senator Welch. And do you see electric airplanes as part of
    that? We have a Beta Technologies in Vermont that is doing
    extremely wonderful work with EV aviation.
        Mr. Washington. I do. I see EV as a huge part of that and I
    think we need to get started now on making sure that the
    airports have the infrastructure that these vehicles can
    actually land. Nobody talks about the facilities that are
    needed at the airports now to make sure we can accommodate
    them.
        Senator Welch. Yes, elaborate a bit on that because that is
    a very good insight. If we don't have that infrastructure, then
    we might have the vehicles, but we won't be able to recharge
    them. What is involved in that?
        Mr. Washington. Yes. Well, I think there are a number of
    things involved with it. You know, there is something called
    giga hubs, that these massive EV charging facilities that is
    being talked about right now.
        As a matter of fact, I think we are ahead of the curve on
    that, Denver International Airport, to install that, an
    installation like that in conjunction with the consolidated
    rental car facility that we want to build as well.
        Senator Welch. Thanks. And small airports in Vermont. The
    biggest airport we have is a small airport, it is in
    Burlington, and it is 100 times larger than any of the other
    airports, but those are essential.
        We also have an airport that we share in Lebanon, New
    Hampshire, that serves both local Vermont and local New
    Hampshire. Can you tell me how you are going to maintain or
    improve our confidence in the viability and sustainability of
    our small airports?
        Mr. Washington. Well, I think, one, that those smaller
    airports and midsize airports are very, very critical to,
    again, connecting rural communities.
        And so, you know, I think we can look at some of the same
    things that we are doing at larger airports, maybe at a smaller
    scale. But I think there are many ways that we can take
    advantage of new technology and maybe even pilot some of those
    at smaller airports.
        Senator Welch. Well, I am glad you said that about rural
    airports, because, you know, the models that the airlines are
    using really leave the rural America on the side, which I think
    is really bad. And what I am hearing you say is that you
    appreciate the absolute essential importance of these small
    airports to rural Vermont, but to rural America.
        Mr. Washington. Yes, sir.
        Senator Welch. And tell me what tools you would have to
    help us maintain service in our rural communities?
        Mr. Washington. Well, I think, you know, there are various
    things like pilot training that we can have at smaller
    airports. There is things like emergency medical operations
    that we can have at smaller airports to make them even more
    useful for both the FAA and the airlines.
        And so those are the kinds of things that I would look at
    to make it more viable now. You know, I understand and I
    mentioned earlier the construction season and things like that
    that we have to be concerned about when we put out the AIP
    money and that sort of thing. But I think there are
    opportunities.
        Senator Welch. Thank you very much. And I yield back, Madam
    Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Capito.

                STATEMENT OF HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA

        Senator Capito. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you, Mr.
    Washington, for being here with us today. We have seen a number
    of troubling events, and I am sure these have been gone over in
    the commercial aviation from the ground stop to five near
    misses, one of which was just in Boston on Monday.
        And so, I have obviously, I think everybody does, I am
    certain you share the concerns over a potential disaster here.
    Do you think the workforce policies are a contributing factor
    at FAA?
        And would you commit to having the FAA workforce return in
    person 5 days a week, because our testimony from several weeks
    ago said that is not occurring right now?
        Mr. Washington. I want to understand what the, you know,
    direction of the Administration is around that. Now, I do think
    that the critical nature of FAA work, we need folks there.
        And folks are already there, those safety critical
    positions, and they have been there through the pandemic, and
    we need to not forget about them who have been there at every
    airport in the country.
        But I want to understand exactly where the FAA is on that,
    and I would look very, very closely. I am a traditionalist in
    that respect, in terms of 5 days a week.
        Senator Capito. Thank you, sir. Let me ask you this, you
    have been at the Denver airport for 2 years now?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, almost, yes.
        Senator Capito. How often do you go to the air traffic
    control tower to just see what is going on?
        Mr. Washington. Quite often, Senator.
        Senator Capito. Is that like once a week or----
        Mr. Washington. I go there, not once a week, but quite
    often throughout the year.
        Senator Capito. Have you been in a rural air traffic
    control tower to see the differences?
        Mr. Washington. I have not, Senator.
        Senator Capito. I would think in light of what the Senator
    from Vermont was talking about, I am from a small town from
    West Virginia, small state as well. The mountain states, a
    little challenging for aviation.
        So those smaller towers, I think, are exceedingly important
    to the overall safety of our air traveling public. Let me ask
    you about foreign repair stations. There is an uptick in the
    utilization of foreign repair stations for airline maintenance.
        Congress mandated that these stations are supposed to have
    the same standards as our domestic repair facilities. And
    obviously we would know how important that is. But in reality,
    they really are not.
        There are reports that some have gone years without FAA
    inspection, and that many do not even have drug or alcohol
    testing requirements. How do you see the role of foreign repair
    stations in light of the FAA?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. It is
    very, very critical. You mentioned FAA inspections being
    overdue.
        Senator Capito. Yes.
        Mr. Washington. I would want to look at that and find out
    why that is so, and make sure that we get up to date on those.
    But I think it is very, very critical that we satisfy the
    Congressional mandate in that area.
        Senator Capito. I mean, I think obviously we--I would
    wholeheartedly agree with that, even if that would mean hiring
    extra inspectors to fulfill that obligation. I think that is
    exceedingly important as well.
        In terms of, you know, there has been--some of the pushback
    on your nomination, you are well aware and I think you
    addressed it in your statement, is that you don't have--you
    know, you are not a pilot.
        You haven't had aviation experience. The last confirmed FAA
    Administrator had extensive pilot and airline experience. What
    is the one thing that you would say to sort of knock that down
    as a requirement for the job?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you, Senator. Leadership. Leadership,
    I think is the top attribute that I would point to, because I
    think if you can lead people, then you can motivate your
    experts who are--whether they are pilots, whether they are
    safety technicians. I think leadership is a key piece of not
    just FAA, but it is a key piece of everything we do, including
    the U.S. Senate.
        Senator Capito. Well, I am sure that a lot of the
    leadership skills that you have were formulated in your long
    service in our military, and I as an American am very grateful
    for that service. So, thank you for that, and thank you for
    being with us here today. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Sinema.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ARIZONA

        Senator Sinema. Thank you, Chair Cantwell. And thank you,
    Mr. Washington, for your years of public service, including 24
    years of service in the U.S. Army.
        The aviation challenges of the past months demonstrate that
    our Nation's aviation system needs steady leadership, and we
    have had acting leaders at many important FAA positions for too
    long.
        We do need a Senate confirmed Administrator. And while it
    is vitally important to have these positions filled, in my role
    as Senator to provide advice and consent, I want to ensure that
    we have the right people in these positions.
        As you know, the FAA has a $24 billion budget, about 45,000
    employees, and the responsibility to oversee the most complex
    aviation system in the world. And as we work to implement the
    bipartisan infrastructure law and pass a new FAA
    reauthorization bill, the next Administrator will have the
    responsibility to see that these laws are implemented
    effectively and appropriately.
        Now, Mr. Washington, the first criteria that I use to
    provide my advice and consent for an Executive Branch nominee
    is to determine whether or not they have the requisite
    experience to perform the role for which they have been
    nominated.
        I recognize your significant experience in the U.S. Army
    and your experience leading public transit agencies. You have
    comparatively less experience working in aviation, having
    become the CEO of Denver International Airport in June 2021.
        Aviation experience is important for this position, and as
    you know, the Federal law listing the requirements for the FAA
    Administrator states the nominee must have experience in the
    field directly related to aviation.
        If you could, describe to me your aviation experience and
    how that experience provides you the background to be an
    effective FAA Administrator?
        Mr. Washington. Well, thank you for the question, Senator.
    I point to a number of things. The first thing I point to is my
    current role. And you mentioned 20 months, 24 months, whatever.
    I think that is relevant. I think that is relevant
    understanding the massive airport that we have.
        So that is one. I think all of the things that we have been
    talking about today, safety, understanding infrastructure
    delivery methods, understanding massive projects because we are
    going to have to build more airports, more airport
    infrastructure as more and more people actually fly.
        I think about the decisionmaking we have to make. I think
    about, again, the leadership piece. I think about the airport
    perspective that I bring to the table. I think about the
    understanding of governments and how to lead folks.
        I think about the convening ability that I have with regard
    to Department of Defense, with regard to FCC on the 5G issue,
    all of these issues, I think, are relevant to the experience
    that is needed for the FAA.
        Senator Sinema. Thank you. This committee held a hearing
    last week to examine the NOTAM system, which experienced
    technical issues in January. That disruption resulted in the
    first nationwide ground stop of air travel since September 11th
    attacks.
        In turn, 1,300 flights were canceled, over 10,000 flights
    were delayed, and that disrupted air travel for tens of
    thousands of travelers. Congress asked the FAA to update the
    NOTAM system in 2012, and here we are 10 years later, only
    halfway through this one project.
        The FAA has told us that these NOTAM fixes aren't expected
    to be completed until the year 2030, 18 years after Congress
    has directed these changes. I see this NOTAM problem as one
    symptom of our slow progress on modernizing our air traffic
    control.
        We have spent lots of money and many years, but we haven't
    seen sufficient benefits to the system. The FAA needs an
    Administrator to help us improve our air traffic control and
    provide airspace users the benefits they have been promised.
    So, if confirmed to the role, what approach would you take to
    address these concerns?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for the question, Senator. I
    think some of the challenges that the FAA has is sort of a
    direct correlation to small things impacting big things. The
    fact that a file was deleted leads directly to safety, a safety
    issue.
        My work in modernizing systems both in the United States
    Army and in transportation organizations will help with that.
    Speaking of modernization of IT systems, one of my assignments
    was the noncommissioned officer in charge of the information
    management systems for all of U.S. Army Europe.
        And so, I think these small things that impact really big
    things are the things that we are going to experience in the
    aviation field going forward.
        Senator Sinema. Thank you, Chair Cantwell.
        The Chair. Thank you. Senator Warnock, are you ready? I
    know you just walked in, so I want to give you a second if you
    are not.

                  STATEMENT OF HON. RAPHAEL WARNOCK,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM GEORGIA

        Senator Warnock. Sure. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. Many
    of you have heard about the four Ps of Georgia, poultry,
    peanuts, pecans or pecans, is how we say it in Georgia, and
    peaches.
        Well, I would like to add a fifth P, planes. And with
    respect to my colleagues in North Carolina and Ohio and
    elsewhere, I would like to say that Georgia is the Nation's
    most important aviation state. Georgia is home, after all, to
    the world's busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson
    International Airport.
        The state's top export is aerospace products, which also
    happens to be the state's second largest manufacturing
    industry. So, we are proud of that in Georgia, and it is an
    industry that's responsible for an economic impact of over $57
    billion.
        Mr. Washington, as you know, the aviation industry has
    recently been plagued with a series of high-profile disruptions
    and dangerous near misses, including the NOTAM system outage,
    Southwest's holiday meltdown that made Christmas not so happy
    for a lot of folks, and close calls on runways in New York,
    Texas, and California.
        Each of these instances threatens the safety and economic
    viability of the aviation industry, the success of which many
    Georgians and Americans rely on so heavily. If confirmed as FAA
    Administrator, how will you ensure the smooth and safe
    operation of airports and airlines across the country?
        Mr. Washington. Thank you for your question, Senator.
    Running the third busiest, not the first, but the third busiest
    airport in the world, I can tell you that I am acutely aware of
    the disruptions.
        These are serious events. When this occurred, during the
    disruption, I immediately called for after action reviews
    during the disruption. And my whole career is evolved around
    safety. And so, I think we need to speed up the redundancy
    issues around NOTAM.
        I think we need to look at the other redundancy issues
    around the other systems as well and make sure we do not have
    one point of failure for these various systems. I agree with
    what the Interim Administrator called sort of a safety stand
    down just maybe a week ago.
        I think that is needed, but this would obviously be one of
    my huge priorities.
        Senator Warnock. And tell me a little bit about, the
    safety, of course, is very important. But some of the other
    issues raised by these incidents is just the issue of consumer
    protection, and how you make customers whole when these kinds
    of things occur.
        Have you--tell me about your thoughts around that and what
    will you do to improve consumer protections for air travelers,
    making the experience more predictable and enjoyable, and so
    that users of the aviation space don't--consumers don't feel
    like they have been taken for a ride that they didn't pay for?
        Mr. Washington. Right. Thank you for the question, Senator.
    I think that responsibility, of course, lies in the Secretary's
    Office, but I would work with him and the Secretary's Office to
    make sure that consumer protections were covered. I spent every
    day at my airport in Denver talking directly with travelers.
        And I mentioned in my opening statement that as I--as the
    disruption occurred during the holiday period, people didn't
    ask me did I have direct aviation experience, they asked me
    where their luggage was.
        And so, I will always be on the watch for consumer
    protection issues and working with the Secretary's Office on
    that.
        Senator Warnock. OK. In the little bit of time I have
    remaining, I want to switch topics altogether. I introduced the
    Aviation Emissions Reduction Opportunity Act and the
    Sustainable Skies Act to establish a new grant program and tax
    credits to support the production and adoption of sustainable
    aviation fuel and other low emission aviation technology.
        Do you think this is important to reduce harmful air
    pollution and move our aviation industry toward a more
    environmentally friendly future? I am glad that critical
    provisions from both of my bills were included in the Inflation
    Reduction Act.
        And while this is an important step, the widespread
    adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, there is still much
    more to be done. If confirmed, how will you work to reduce the
    emissions of the aviation sector in line with the President's
    goal of net zero emissions by 2050?
        Mr. Washington. Well, let me just say, Senator, that SAF
    could be a huge game changer. We are on the front lines at
    Denver International Airport, and other airports are doing some
    really good things too. I point to San Francisco.
        The CEO out there is doing great things around SAF. I would
    want to ramp up to administer the grants that are out there
    consistent with the Inflation Reduction Act. And I noticed the
    National Defense Authorization Act, which includes SAF pilot
    programs, is out there as well, coupled and partnered with DOD
    agencies.
        And I know that some airports, including Seattle, is moving
    toward that. We are, too. We will see who gets there first in
    terms of the pilot program that is approved by DOD.
        Senator Warnock. Thank you so much. I look forward to
    working with the FAA Administrator to promote and expand
    sustainable aviation fuels. Thank you, Madam Chair.
        The Chair. Thank you so much. I think we have heard from
    just about everybody we are going to hear from. Senator Cruz
    has a follow-up question, and then I may, depending on time,
    because we have to get to a vote, submit one or ask myself. So,
    we will just--and then we will wrap it up. Senator Cruz.
        Senator Cruz. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Washington, first
    round of questions, we had a lot of discussions about your lack
    of experience with aviation safety, but there is another
    concern that is front and center for this committee because you
    are the first nominee, I can recall who is currently entangled
    in an ongoing public corruption investigation right now, while
    your nomination is pending.
        This investigation involves an alleged pay to play
    contracting scheme that resulted in L.A. Metro giving $800,000
    in no bid contracts to a politically connected charity called
    Peace Over Violence, or POV, to run a sexual harassment hotline
    that was hardly ever used.
        A whistleblower has alleged, among other things, that when
    you were the L.A. Metro CEO, you pushed forward these
    questionable contracts in order to stay in the good graces of a
    powerful politician on the L.A. Metro board.
        Last December, you told The New York Times, ``when I
    pursued the job in Denver for the airport, much thanks to the
    credit of the Denver City Council, they looked into all of this
    and debunked it all.
        So, I would ask Congress to do the same.'' Mr. Washington,
    do you still want Congress to look into these allegations?
        Mr. Washington. I have nothing to hide, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. OK, good. Well, we are looking into them.
    Even though you say that the Denver City Council debunked it
    all, the L.A. Sheriff's Office determined that these
    allegations had merit.
        In fact, last September, the Sheriff's Office executed a
    criminal search warrant at L.A. Metro's headquarters based on
    these allegations. And you were named in that search warrant,
    not once, not twice, but numerous times.
        The search warrant authorizes the sheriff's office to seize
    e-mails and other communications between you and other
    individuals involved in the investigation. But that is not all.
    The search warrant also includes specific allegations that you
    personally engaged in misconduct.
        For example, here on page 24 of the search warrant, the
    warrant says that a witness stated that, ``although there was
    no legitimate reason for Metro to outsource such a service to
    POV in a sole source contract, the contract was pushed forward
    by CEO Philip Washington in order to remain in good graces with
    Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.''
        As a reminder, POV is a charity that received $800,000 in a
    no bid contract to run a hotline for L.A. Metro that was hardly
    ever used. And Sheila Kuehl is a powerful politician on L.A.
    Metro's board who was longtime friends with the head of POV.
        The California Attorney General's Office is now leading the
    investigation into this public corruption scheme. Mr.
    Washington, have you spoken with the California Attorney
    General's Office about the status of their investigation?
        Mr. Washington. No, I have not, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. Well, the Republican committee staff did last
    week. We reached out to the California Attorney General's
    Office to inquire on the status of the investigation.
        And the Attorney General's Office said that there is an
    ongoing criminal investigation into this matter, and the staff
    said in particular that you have a ``material involvement in
    the case,'' and that the investigation is months away from
    being completed?
        That is all bad enough, but even more amazingly, the staff
    at the Attorney General's Office told us that at that time they
    were not aware of anybody from the White House, from the FBI,
    or from the Senate who had contacted them about their ongoing
    public corruption investigation where you have material
    involvement.
        Now, that is remarkable. I understand the Chairwoman has
    subsequently spoken with the California Attorney General at his
    office. But at the time, nobody had talked to them, according
    to the AG's Office. That is remarkable.
        And it is more than a little troubling. I think it is fair
    to say, California Sheriffs, the L.A. Sheriff, and the
    California Attorney General are not Republicans. They are not
    right-wing activists with an ax to grind.
        And the fact that this corruption case is ongoing, it is
    truly remarkable that this committee is considering confirming
    a nominee in the middle of an ongoing investigation for public
    corruption.
        And I am hard pressed to think of anything more damaging to
    the FAA than not only confirming someone who is not qualified
    and has no experience in aviation safety, but second, doing so
    while a public corruption case is ongoing, which according to
    the terms of the search warrant, implicates you directly.
        And if it so happened that you ended up indicted as a
    result of this ongoing investigation, I don't know if that will
    happen or not, the investigation needs to conclude what sort of
    damage would it do to the FAA to have the Administrator
    indicted on public corruption?
        Mr. Washington. Well, a couple of things, Senator.
        Senator Cruz. And please respond to it.
        Mr. Washington. OK. Thank you. Thank you. That particular
    contract was initiated before I arrived at Metro. There has
    been no findings of wrongdoing by me. I stand by the work that
    was done in this contract to----
        Senator Cruz. Are you saying the search warrant is wrong
    when it says, these are the allegations of the search warrant
    that Philip Washington pushed it forward?
        Mr. Washington. That is wrong. That is false. I never
    talked with anyone about that, that contract. This was done
    with a delegation of authority to my department heads. But the
    allegations are false. And I talked to no one. You mentioned
    former Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. I never talked to her about the
    contract.
        Senator Cruz. But the AG investigation is not concluded. Is
    that correct?
        Mr. Washington. No one has talked to me from the AG Office.
    No one has called me from the Sheriff's Office. No one has
    contacted me about this case at all.
        Senator Cruz. Thank you.
        The Chair. Thank you. Mr. Washington, one of the things
    that keeps coming up in this discussion has been this Southwest
    Airlines outage and the fact that literally thousands of people
    were stranded over several days without any idea of what was
    going to happen next.
        For me, one of my constituents that seemed to be most
    prominent was a high school basketball coach and his wife and
    the kids, and they were down in Vegas at a tournament and they
    literally for 4 days, right around Christmas, had to figure out
    what to do next. And so, every day was a challenge.
        They felt like they had it pretty good because they
    actually went and had a place and had all the kids there and
    they celebrated Christmas together so it turned out to be a
    bonding experience for them. But several times they went back
    to the airport to find many other people just sleeping on the
    floor of the airport, trying to figure out what was going to
    happen next.
        So, in the hearing that we had on the NOTAM issue, one of
    the things that the Southwest pilots brought up is they thought
    that Southwest had lost operational control. That meant that
    the operation of what was the airline's flights, where the
    pilots were, where the pilots needed to be, they basically did
    not know.
        And one of the things that the FAA Administrator, if
    confirmed, can take action against, enforcement of the fact
    that they did not have--they had loss of control. So, what I am
    interested in knowing, I think everybody in this hearing is
    kind of--you are getting a drift here that nobody wants an
    industry person who is too cozy with industry. People want a
    new day at the FAA, and they want the FAA to make sure they are
    thinking about consumers, and as you mentioned several times,
    safety.
        So, if confirmed, would you make sure that you took
    aggressive action on making sure that either fines or their
    certificates, things of that nature were looked at? In this
    case, what we are trying to do is get Southwest to own up to
    the fact that they need to fix the system so that it doesn't
    happen again.
        So, would you be aggressive on this issue?
        Mr. Washington. Yes, I would, Senator.
        The Chair. OK. Thank you. That concludes our hearing today.
    We--Senators will have until the close of business March 6 to
    submit questions for the record.
        The witnesses will have until the close of business March
    13 to respond. And that concludes our hearing.
        [Whereupon, at 1:05 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]

                                A P P E N D I X

       Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
                             Phillip A. Washington
        Experience and Qualifications. Over your past 45 years of public
    service, you have demonstrated a strong record of leadership and
    ability to tackle complex challenges. In the U.S. Army, you rose to the
    rank of Command Sergeant Major and held leadership roles in training,
    operations, and logistics. Following your military career, you
    successfully led several large and complex safety transportation
    organizations: Denver's Regional Transportation District and Los
    Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
        Most recently, for nearly 2 years, you have served as the Chief
    Executive Officer of Denver International Airport, the third busiest
    airport in the world serving more than 70 million passengers last year.
    Senior leaders of our Nation's airports perform a critical role in
    ensuring the safety of aircraft operations at their facilities.

        Question 1. Has your role at Denver International Airport provided
    you with experience directly related to aviation safety? Please
    describe your involvement in issues related to aircraft operational
    safety during your tenure at Denver International Airport.
        Answer. As CEO of Denver International Airport, I provide
    leadership and work closely with the FAA's Air Traffic Organization,
    Office of Aviation Safety, and Office of Airports and airlines
    coordinating construction activities, severe weather event responses,
    aircraft emergencies, wildlife hazard issues, and other significant
    events that may affect the airport operations area or airspace that
    impacts airport operations. One key example was during and in the
    aftermath of the Southwest Airlines disruption in December 2022.

        Question 2. Considering the totality of your experience, how will
    you bring a fresh perspective to the FAA?
        Answer. I will bring a fresh perspective to the FAA based on my
    superior track record of expert internal organizational and fiscal
    management. I will lean on my decades-long record of leadership,
    management, and oversight of billion-dollar budgets, thousands of
    employees, and massive project and program oversight. My financial and
    management leadership and oversight experience of three of the largest
    infrastructure programs in America, Denver International Airport's
    considerable airport rehabilitation/renovation program, Los Angeles
    County's Measure M, and the Regional Transportation District of
    Denver's FasTracks programs, allow me to bring unique management and
    accounting controls experience to the position.

        Question 3. How has your experience prepared you to lead a
    bureaucracy of 45,000 employees and to motivate that workforce to
    address current and future challenges?
        Answer. I have successfully led several large and complex safety
    transportation organizations similar to the FAA. Throughout these
    experiences I have always said that I will own well intentioned failure
    and the organization's employees will own success. I am currently the
    Chief Executive Office of the third busiest airport in the world. In
    this role I lead 35,000 employees, move nearly 70 million passengers
    per year and manage a $1.2 billion operating budget. Before this role,
    I led the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
    which consisted of nearly 11,000 employees, safely moves over 225
    million passengers a year and has nearly a $9 billion operating budget.
    I also led Denver's Regional Transportation District which employs
    nearly 3,000 employees, safely moves over 49 million people a year, and
    has an annual operating budget of $675.5 million.

        Question 4. Please provide examples from your military career which
    prepared you to serve as FAA Administrator. More specifically, please
    describe specific challenges, incidents, projects, or events which
    illustrate your management and leadership qualities.
        Answer. I have earned the highest non-commissioned officer rank
    possible in one of the largest and most respected institutions in the
    world, the United States Army. During my military career, I served,
    lead, and motivated men and women from every corner of this great land.
    Among my military experiences, I served as Inspector General in U.S.
    Army Europe Headquarters. In this role, I identified and resolved
    systemic operational challenges and adverse trends throughout U.S. Army
    Europe and provided prudent advice, training, assistance, and
    counseling to soldiers, commanders, family members, whistleblowers, and
    Department of Defense civilians.

        Question 5. What specific skills or tools did you learn from your
    military career, and how would these characteristics help you to
    address current challenges at the FAA?
        Answer. One of the challenges facing the FAA is the modernization
    of its national airspace systems and other technology. Installation of
    new technology is an important first step, but integration is critical
    for success. While in the U.S. Army, I was in headquarters for U.S.
    Army Europe and worked in information management. I was the top non-
    commissioned officer in that area, and we were installing and
    integrating communications and IT equipment in all of Europe.

        Safety Vision. U.S. aviation has been through a difficult period.
    With the 737 MAX accidents, America's global leadership in aviation
    safety was called into question. Then the COVID-19 pandemic halted
    airline operations on an unprecedented scale. More recently, there have
    been a number of incidents, like the NOTAM shutdown to near-miss runway
    incursions, as discussed in the Committee's recent hearings.
    Additionally, it is clear that advanced technology adds more challenges
    and complexity.
        If there were a time for strong safety leadership at the FAA, it's
    now.

        Question 1. What is your overall vision for improving and enhancing
    safety?
        Answer. Safety will always be my top responsibility and priority.
    Externally, I will reinforce to all of FAA's regulated entities that we
    are the regulator, period. We saw what happened when lines became
    blurred and while I think the FAA has moved in the right direction in
    the last few years I will ensure we remain vigilant. Internally, if
    confirmed, one of the first things I will do at the FAA is inform every
    employee of what they can expect of me and what I expect of them in
    meeting the FAA's mission. My overall vision for improving and
    enhancing safety also includes breaking down stovepipes within the FAA
    and providing professional development.

        Question 2. What is your plan to turn this vision into action to
    ensure the U.S. makes the global gold standard for aviation safety?
        Answer. I believe that the world wants and needs our global
    leadership on aviation safety. As part of my plan, if confirmed, I
    would ensure the FAA holds itself and the entities it regulates
    accountable. I will also ensure that every FAA employee understands my
    expectations of them as well as what they can expect from me. I also
    will further expand the FAA's partnership with workers, communities of
    color, airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, the military, labor,
    and aviation regulatory bodies around the world, and all communities
    impacted by FAA operations.

        Question 3. In the 2020 Aircraft Certification Safety and
    Accountability Act (ACSAA), Congress set forth specific improvements in
    FAA's safety oversight of aircraft manufacturers. If confirmed as
    Administrator, do you commit to fully implementing these safety
    reforms, on-time and consistent with Congressional intent?
        Answer. If confirmed, I commit to fully implementing these safety
    reforms, on-time and consistent with Congressional intent, and I would
    keep Congress informed of progress in implementation.

        Question 4. Please describe how diversity, equity, and inclusion
    efforts you have championed at Denver International Airport are
    consistent with, and further to, aviation safety. If confirmed, please
    describe how you would utilize DEI to promote aviation safety at the
    FAA.
        Answer. I think it's crucial for us to understand diversity,
    equity, inclusion, and accessibility. At Denver International Airport,
    we have set up the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA)
    to promote aviation careers, business development, and innovation. Two
    of the goals of CEEA are to (1) prepare current and future employees
    for a career pathway in aviation industry, as well as create more
    opportunities for minority-, women-and veteran-owned businesses to do
    business at Denver and (2) advance aviation research and innovation
    that drives best practices with a global impact. These efforts are
    consistent with and further aviation safety. The same would be true at
    the FAA--we can translate the work at Denver's CEAA to a larger scale
    and use DEI&A to promote aviation safety.
                                     ______

      Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Duckworth to
                             Phillip A. Washington
    Topic: FAA Civil Enforcement
        Congressional investigation into the Boeing 737 MAX certification
    and crashes revealed two issues I found especially disturbing. The
    first issue was an internal Boeing memo which appeared to document an
    internal Boeing plan to avoid using the term ``MCAS'' outside of the
    company and instead describe the new system to outsiders as merely an
    addition to the already existing Speed Trim System. This plan was
    approved by an ``Authorized Representative,'' an individual who is
    specifically authorized to perform certain certification work on behalf
    of FAA. The second issue is that Boeing knew the Angle of Attack
    Disagree alert was inoperable on more than 80 percent of 737 MAX
    aircraft, which is a direct violation of the plane's FAA approved type
    design. Yet, Boeing did not inform the FAA, air carriers or MAX pilots
    of this for more than a year, and only after the first deadly MAX
    crash. I am not aware of FAA taking any civil enforcement action
    against Boeing for this.

        Question. Does the FAA need stronger civil enforcement authority to
    deter a future manufacturer from downplaying the significance of a new
    feature to avoid additional costs in the form of pilot training or
    greater certification scrutiny?
        Answer. As I stated in the hearing, I am absolutely committed to
    seeking and using civil enforcement as appropriate in the future for
    incidents. If confirmed, I will ensure manufacturers understand that
    the FAA is the regulator. I will also assess whether additional civil
    enforcement authority is necessary.
                                     ______

       Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Kyrsten Sinema to
                             Phillip A. Washington
        Contract Towers. One of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)
    most successful industry partnerships is the FAA Contract Tower
    Program. More than 250 airports are in the program, including seven in
    Arizona. This critical air traffic safety program helps maintain and
    develop air service; supports DOD flight training operations and
    military readiness; and supports pilot flight schools across the
    country. Contract towers account for approximately one third of all
    tower operations, but staffing shortages continue to be a challenge
    throughout the industry, including for contract towers.

        Question 1. What measures can the FAA and the industry undertake
    collaboratively to address staffing challenges at these towers--
    including at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the busiest contact tower in
    the Nation with over 250,000 annual operations?
        Answer. Running the third busiest airport in the world, I can tell
    you I'm acutely aware of the disruption that staffing issues in a
    control tower cause. If confirmed, one of the first things I would do
    is sit down with the Air Traffic Organization to clearly understand the
    path to ensuring staffing levels that fit the demand.

        Aircraft Noise. Aircraft noise is a persistent issue in parts of
    Arizona. I have heard from my constituents in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and
    Tempe who have been affected by aircraft noise. Many of these Arizonans
    previously lived in areas that were not under flight paths but now face
    aircraft noise, following FAA changes to flight paths. Five years ago,
    the D.C. Circuit struck down certain flight paths, determining that the
    FAA did not properly analyze the effects of flight path changes and did
    not consult nearby cities, residents, and elected officials. Despite
    the court ruling, this issue still remains a concern for many
    Arizonans.

        Question 2. What will be your approach to community outreach as the
    FAA considers flight paths in Arizona and across the country?
        Answer. I know this is a difficult issue and the people affected by
    it feel strongly. In Denver we've had the same challenges with specific
    communities being very upset about noise, especially after changes to
    flight paths. I certainly understand and would want to work with you
    and the Committee on this if confirmed. I know the agency is updating
    its noise policy which may be a place for us to partner. The agency is
    looking at how to measure noise and how to decide how much noise should
    trigger more environmental review. I think the key to all of this is
    transparency and honesty between the FAA, the airports, and the
    communities. We have to have trust between the stakeholders and the
    agency, and I think that's what has been lacking.

        Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The FAA will
    continue implementing the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by
    administering the $15 billion Airport Improvement Program, the $5
    billion Airport Terminal Program, and $5 billion for air traffic
    control infrastructure. Through BIL funding in 2022, major Arizona
    airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport received over
    $41 million and Tucson International Airport received over $6 million.

        Question 3. If confirmed, how will you ensure BIL formula and
    discretionary grant funding is efficiently distributed to the
    appropriate recipients?
        Answer. I have years of experience in grant fund management, and I
    understand the needs of airports to access this funding. If confirmed,
    I will ensure that BIL formula and discretionary grant funding is
    efficiently distributed to the appropriate recipients in line with the
    requirements of the law. I will also commit to addressing any
    recommendations that may come from the Department of Transportation
    Office of Inspector General or other independent oversight of the BIL
    program.
                                     ______

          Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ted Cruz to
                             Phillip A. Washington
        Question 1. You are entangled in an ongoing public corruption
    investigation involving the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation
    Authority (LA Metro) and have been accused of retaliating against a LA
    Metro whistleblower. In December 2022, you told the New York Times:
    ``When I pursued the job in Denver for the airport, much to the credit
    of the Denver City Council, they looked into all of this and debunked
    it all, and so I would ask Congress to do the same.'' \1\ During your
    nomination hearing on March 1, 2023, you said ``I have nothing to
    hide'' with respect to the California Attorney General's ongoing
    investigation into this matter. At your nomination hearing, Senator
    Michael Bennet stated that before the Mayor of Denver asked you to lead
    the Denver airport ``he conducted a thorough background review'' and
    that you ``cleared that review.''
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        \1\ Mark Walker, Biden's Pick to Lead F.A.A. Faces Murky Road to
    Confirmation, New York Times (Dec. 26, 2022), https://www.nytimes.com/
    2022/12/26/us/politics/phil-washington-faa-senate-confirmation.html.

        a. Will you ask the Denver City Council, the Mayor of Denver, and
    the City of Denver to provide the Senate Commerce Committee with all of
    the materials that they acquired or prepared when looking into your
    involvement in public corruption investigation of LA Metro and the
    whistleblower allegations against you, including any e-mails between
    and among the Mayor of Denver, the Denver City Council, and/or their
    staffs?
        Answer. I have no objection to your seeking the information from
    the entities listed through appropriate channels.

        b. Will you ask the Denver City Council, the Mayor of Denver, and
    the City of Denver to provide the Senate Commerce Committee with all of
    the materials that they acquired or prepared when they conducted a
    background review of you, including any e-mails between and among the
    Mayor of Denver, the Denver City Council, and/or their staffs?
        Answer. I have no objection to your seeking the information from
    the entities listed through appropriate channels.

        Question 2. As you are aware, the California Attorney General's
    Office is investigating the series of no-bid contracts that LA Metro
    entered into with a nonprofit entity, Peace Over Violence, to operate a
    sexual harassment hotline. In your questionnaire, you noted that there
    is ``an investigation into a procurement between LA Metro and a
    nonprofit called Peace Over Violence.'' You further stated that
    ``[t]his procurement was in process prior to my employment with LA
    Metro in March 2015, with the contract awarded in September 2015.'' And
    during your March 1, 2023 nomination hearing, when I asked you about
    the ongoing investigation, you stated ``[t]hat particular contract was
    initiated before I arrived at Metro.''
        These statements give the misleading impression that the LA Metro's
    contract with Peace Over Violence for a sexual harassment hotline
    predated your time at LA Metro. Public records reveal, however, that
    the first contract between LA Metro and Peace Over Violence for the
    Sexual Harassment Off Limits Hotline, the sexual harassment hotline,
    was initiated after you became CEO of LA Metro in March 2015. A
    November 21, 2019, LA Metro Board Report, which you signed, states that
    ``[i]n December 2016,'' while you were the CEO of LA Metro, ``Metro
    approached Peace Over Violence (POV) to help address the response of
    safety and sexual harassment. Together both entities decided to create
    the Sexual Harassment Off Limits Hotline, which is 1-844-OFF-LIMITS or
    1-844-633-5464.'' \2\
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        \2\ LA Metro, Monthly Update on Transit Safety and Security
    Performance (Nov. 21, 2019), https://boardagendas.metro.net/board-
    report/2019-0786/.

        a. Do you wish to modify or retract your statement that LA Metro's
    Peace Over Violence contract for a sexual harassment hotline was
    initiated before you arrived at LA Metro in March 2015?
        Answer. No--the engagement and ultimate selection of Peace over
    Violence was initiated prior to my arrival at LA Metro. The contract
    itself was signed after I arrived.

        Question 3. As CEO of LA Metro, you repeatedly pushed LA Metro to
    pursue a fareless system, that is, a free transit system that does not
    charge fares to riders. In 2020, you went so far as to assert that ``LA
    Metro has a moral obligation to pursue a fareless system. . .'' \3\ You
    further asserted that fareless transit should be considered ``no
    different than other public programs funded by the public purse such as
    firefighting, policing and other public infrastructure that serves as a
    public right and common good.'' \4\ In other words, you think that tax
    dollars should be used to provide free transit for riders.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        \3\ Adam Hill, LA considers free public transit, ITS International,
    (Oct. 13, 2020), https://www.itsinternational.com/its17/news/la-
    considers-free-public-transit.
        \4\ Adam Hill, LA considers free public transit, ITS International,
    (Oct. 13, 2020), https://www.itsinternational.com/its17/news/la-
    considers-free-public-transit.

        a. Given your view that LA Metro ``has a moral obligation'' to
    pursue a fareless transit system, do you think it is it immoral for LA
    Metro or any other transit agency to charge fares to riders? Please
    explain.
        Answer. I do not believe it is immoral for LA Metro or any other
    transit agency to charge fares to its riders. My comments in 2020 were
    based on exploring how a fareless system could aid those hit hardest by
    the pandemic.

        b. Why should taxpayers who do not use mass transit be forced to
    pay taxes to provide free transit for people who do use mass transit?
        Answer. The LA Metro Board of Directors ultimately approved a
    fareless pilot program for students and low-income riders. The purpose
    of this test program was to provide the data to inform whether a fully
    fareless system could be possible, including insight on the question
    you raise. However, I no longer lead LA Metro as of May 2021 and have
    focused my efforts since July 2021 on safely leading the third largest
    airport in the world--Denver International Airport.

        Question 4. The FAA faces leadership challenges at the highest
    levels of the agency--with 13 acting leaders (not including the
    administrator position) out of 63.

        a. Given your lack of technical aviation expertise, how do you plan
    to hire the technical experts upon whom you will rely for technical
    advice?
        Answer. As the CEO of the third largest airport in the world, I do
    possess technical expertise related to part 139 Safety Management
    Systems and other aviation safety issues on the grounds of and in the
    vicinity of an airport. Because no FAA Administrator in recent memory
    has had technical aviation expertise in every regulatory aspect of the
    FAA, there is always a reliance by the Administrator on technical
    experts at every level of the agency, including in leadership and in
    the Administrator's front office. If confirmed, I would ensure
    frequent, direct, collaborative communication with the heads of each
    FAA line of business and staff office.

        Question 5. The FAA is responsible for ensuring a safe and
    efficient National Airspace System. To do so, the FAA certifies certain
    aircraft types and derivatives, but also relies on a variety of
    delegation authorities to manage the vast workload.

        a. A common critique of the FAA's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
    Integration Office (AUS) is that the FAA's lack of technical expertise
    in UAS is causing the agency to slow down certifying new entrants,
    which in turn causes business disruptions and hinders innovation. What
    specific steps would you take to improve the speed at which regulations
    are issued and certainty introduced for business?
        Answer. I am aware of the frustration with the regulatory process.
    As I stated in the nomination hearing, if confirmed, I would review
    current laws, regulations, policies, and guidance in place and try to
    determine inefficiencies that are within the FAA's control but would
    not violate the Administrative Procedures Act or other government
    transparency laws.

        b. The Aircraft Certification Safety and Accountability Act
    included multiple technical reforms to the Organization Designation
    Authorization (ODA) and certification processes and directed the FAA,
    through the FAA administrator, to conduct very technical rulemakings
    with aviation safety at the core of the reforms. What specific aviation
    safety background would you apply when evaluating changes to the
    certification process?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would use the aviation safety expertise
    that I have developed and put into practice daily as an airport CEO.
    Among that experience has been through close collaboration with the
    FAA, telecom companies, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers in
    addressing 5G. Airport CEOs, like myself, are following the
    airworthiness directive and certification of radio altimeter retrofits
    extremely closely so that we can predict effects on service and
    technology at airports. And, critically, I have extensive experience
    with safety management systems that precede any requirements placed on
    aircraft manufacturers.

        c. Manufacturers, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), often
    received ODA from the FAA to certify the airworthiness and safety of a
    component or system. A critical component of the aviation manufacturing
    sector is robust competition. Do you support continuing the Part
    Manufacturing Authority process?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work closely with the Aviation Safety
    Organization to review processes like this one but as a broader matter
    the way I will consider certification is through the lens of safety.
    Safety will always be the first priority to ensure the agency's
    processes keep safety for passengers, pilots and crew first.

        Question 6. Many FAA programs and systems have been undergoing
    expensive modernization projects for many years, like the NOTAM
    infrastructure or NextGen, or are due for new procurement, such as the
    FAA Enterprise Network Services Program.

        a. How will you ensure accountability on the behalf of contractors
    and services performed?
        Answer. I have successfully managed multibillion-dollar
    transportation infrastructure projects to improve the safety and
    efficiency of the traveling public for over 20 years, and I have
    overseen numerous contracts in each of my positions. I will lean on my
    decades-long record of leadership, management, and oversight of
    billion-dollar budgets, thousands of employees, and massive project and
    program oversight. If confirmed, I would look specifically at programs
    that are delayed and/or have cost overruns to determine innovative ways
    to address these inefficiencies.

        b. How will you change the environment of delays and cost overruns
    at the FAA?
        Answer. To address delays and cost overruns for programs at the
    FAA, I would empower FAA employees to think innovatively and critically
    on ways to move projects forward. This is what I did at Denver
    International Airport. When I started as CEO, Phase One of the Great
    Hall project had a projected overrun of $288 million and a potential
    two-year delay. I was able to lead DIA to swiftly develop a new
    partnership, which managed to complete that phase of the project a
    month ahead of schedule and under budget.

        Question 7. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 reduced fares and
    unleashed market forces that drove down the price of airfare, allowing
    many Americans previously unable to afford to fly to travel by plane.

        a. Do you support the continued deregulation of air travel?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would follow laws related to the Airline
    Deregulation Act of 1978.

        b. What are your thoughts on market-distorting policies at airports
    such as slots and perimeter rules?
        Answer. I am aware that Congress has set slot and perimeter rules.
    If confirmed, I would follow the laws as they relate to slots and
    perimeter rules. If confirmed, I would also work with the FAA's Air
    Traffic Organization to evaluate whether slots and perimeter rules
    affect air traffic beyond ground congestion.

        Question 8. As the CEO of the Denver International Airport you
    should have familiarity with two major Federal revenue programs for
    commercial-service airports--the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and
    the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant.

        a. Is the PFC funding regime adequate?
        Answer. With an airport capital projects backlog of $115 billion in
    planned infrastructure projects, there are many in the aviation
    community who believe the totality of airport infrastructure funding,
    of which PFC is one piece, is inadequate.

        b. Is the PFC fair?
        Answer. The policies that govern PFC are established by Congress
    and I will administer the law consistent with the program as enacted.

        c. Is AIP fair?
        Answer. The policies that govern AIP are established by Congress
    and I will administer the law consistent with the program as enacted.

        d. What needs to be done to modernize the AIP program?
        Answer. I have seen a number of proposals to modernize the AIP
    program. If confirmed, I would be committed to working with airports
    and other aviation stakeholders to gather more information and evaluate
    ideas for how to modernize.

        e. Do you foresee an opportunity to reform both programs to make
    the overall funding regime more efficient?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would be committed to working with airports
    and other aviation stakeholders to gather more information and evaluate
    ideas for how to modernize PFCs and AIP.

        Question 9. Senator Markey has introduced the Good Jobs for Good
    Airports Act, legislation that would introduce a minimum wage for
    concessionaires at airports.

        a. Do you apply a prevailing wage at Denver airport?
        Answer. The city and county of Denver, of which Denver
    International Airport is a department of, require that contractors or
    their subcontractors pay workers a prevailing wage.

        b. What would be the impact of this legislation at Denver
    International Airport where you are currently the CEO?
        Answer. Airport workers are critical to the operation and
    reliability of our aviation system. The city and county of Denver
    already require that contractors or their subcontractors pay workers a
    prevailing wage.

        Question 10. During your nomination hearing, in response to a
    question from Senator Peters about aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF),
    you stated you would work with the Department of Defense to develop a
    transition plan around PFAS.

        a. Do you think all airports should use PFAS-free fire suppressors
    like fluorine-free firefighting foam (FFFF) or dry chemical agents?

        b, If yes, would you support mandating all airports transition to
    PFAS-free solutions?

        c. Are you aware that PFAS-free foam, as currently designed is less
    effective in extinguishing a fire involving jet fuel that traditional
    foam? \5\
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        \5\ According to the National Fire Protection Association, it can
    take twice as long and require twice as much liquid to extinguish a
    liquid fuel fire using FFFF than AFFF.

                    i. If not, would you still suggest airports transition
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    to PFAS-free foam?

                    ii. If yes, how is this consistent with your insistence
                    that you prioritize safety above all else?
        Answer. The 2018 FAA Reauthorization explicitly mandated that FAA
    may not require the use of fluorinated foams 3 years after enactment.
    Subsequent National Defense Authorization Acts directed the Department
    of Defense (DOD) create a new performance standard for the firefighting
    foam which would not require the use of fluorinated chemicals. Further,
    Congress required DOD to identify a foam that meets that standard by
    this fall. It is my understanding that new performance requirements for
    firefighting foam were issued last month by DOD, and the FAA will need
    to work with DOD and airport stakeholders to develop a transition plan
    that will assist airports in transitioning to the fluorine free foam.
    Research has shown that PFAS pose health risks, in particular for
    firefighters, and if there is a safe alternative to firefighting foam
    with PFAS, then it is important for airports to adopt it. If confirmed
    I would certainly work with you and your colleagues as well as airports
    around the country during this important transition.

        Question 11. In December 2021, you introduced a change in
    procurement policy at Denver airport requiring the consideration of
    equity, diversity, and inclusion as criteria for competitive bidding.
    Would you introduce a similar change at the FAA?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would follow all laws and regulations
    related to competitive bidding and contracting.

        Question 12. At your nomination hearing, you cited your experience
    helping to bring rail and transit to airports as one of your
    qualifications for serving as FAA Administrator.

        a. Does the FAA Administrator have a responsibility to consider
    whether and to what extent airports have connections to rail and mass
    transit lines?
        Answer. It is my understanding that airports expect FAA
    Administrators to be responsive to issues they may have in seeking
    approval from the FAA for airport projects that may connect to rail and
    mass transit lines. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
    makes these types of connection projects eligible for Mega Grants.

        b. If so, how much time would you spend as FAA Administrator on the
    issue of rail and mass transit connections to airports?
        Answer. Due to the nature of the FAA's safety mission, I cannot
    predict how much time I would spend on specific issues if confirmed.

        Question 13. During your nomination hearing, Senator Baldwin asked
    you how you planned to continue your past work of ``advancing women in
    transportation.'' In response you stated, among other things, that
    during your time at LA Metro: ``We stood up a Women and Girls Governing
    Council to understand how women travel, and ways to improve the system
    as it relates to the traveling of women.''

        a. What was the purpose of this Women and Girls Governing Council
    and what did the Council do?
        Answer. WGGC was established in September 2017 to examine Metro
    policies, programs and services, as well as to make recommendations to
    the CEO. With consideration of the unique obstacles faced by women and
    girls, the council looks to find opportunities to remove barriers to
    success and expand opportunities at, within and on LA Metro.
        In the context that I was speaking of, the particular study,
    ``Understanding How Women Travel'' was and is an effort to understand
    the unique and diverse mobility needs of women in LA County. In an
    initiative led by LA Metro's Women and Girls Governing Council and
    endorsed by me, for the first time in the organization's history, the
    study explored the experiences of women traveling on our system by
    collecting and analyzing many different datasets to inform a variety of
    system planning and operational decisions.

        b. Who were the members of this Council?
        Answer. The council is comprised of a diverse group of LA Metro
    employees representing every department--union and non-union, entry-
    level to executive--that met monthly to develop recommendations to the
    CEO to help advance and empower women and girls.

        c. How did this Council study ``how women travel'' and the
    ``traveling of women''?
        Answer. Conventional methods that provide statistics about women's
    travel behavior including 1) Analysis of nine existing data sources
    from LA Metro and the National Household Travel Survey; 2) Survey of
    2,600 respondents oversampling women and transit ridership; 3) Focus
    groups that allowed for open conversation around sensitive topics and
    added nuance to our understanding of gender differences in travel.
        Innovative methods including: 1) Over 100 hours conducting
    participant observations on 19 LA Metro routes; 2) Three participatory
    workshops creatively that engaged the most loyal--and most vulnerable
    riders; 3) Three pop-up engagements that expanded our data collection
    to catch everyday riders, in the process of using LA Metro services, to
    hear what makes their ride easy or difficult.

        d. Do women travel differently than men? If so, how?
        Answer. Together, these research methods reveal rich and
    significant findings about how women travel. I have provided a link* to
    this report that organizes findings according to five themes.
        I have also provided a link to the overall WGGC effort.

      1.  Travel Behavior Trends

      2.  Safety

      3.  Access

      4.  Reliability

      5.  Convenience & Comfort

        UnderstandingHowWomenTravel_FullReport_FINAL.pdf
        https://www.metro.net/about/wggc/
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Dan Sullivan to
                             Phillip A. Washington
    Runway Length and Safety:
        For the most remote Alaskan communities with no ferry or road
    service, air travel is the only mode of transportation and the only way
    to move people and goods in and out of those communities. 82 percent of
    the communities in Alaska are not accessible by road. 251 communities
    are exclusively accessed by air.
        FAA has policy that is resulting in shorter runways throughout my
    state. In order to be eligible to reconstruct a runway using Federal
    funds (Airport Improvement Program), the FAA requires that the airport
    must have received 500 operations per year from an aircraft that needs
    that size of runway. This is forcing the State, who manages over 240
    airports, to fold to the Federal policy and rebuild airports to the
    shorter lengths.
        This is not tenable in a state where in many locations fuel oil for
    heat is flown in twice per year, requiring greater runway length and
    safety areas. Reducing runway length will at minimum restrict the
    ability to deliver heating fuel and gasoline where other options for
    transport are lacking (no highway connections, no alternative means of
    transportation).
        This also limits the ability to get freight, mail, and basic goods
    into the community--and surrounding communities. When runways are
    shortened the community is limited from acting as a hub for other
    surrounding communities. 121 operators are unable to get into hubs as
    the shortened runways limit the amount of lift length.
        This has dramatic safety implications, as not only is the runway
    itself shrinking, but the runway lighting shrinks along with it, and
    the airport is limited from receiving 121 service--operations that are
    recognized as the safest.
        This limitation is also crippling the ability of the State to
    develop new Airports for Economic Development, including runways for
    the Wasilla Airport, the Gulkana Airport, and the proposed new airport
    near the Denali National Park, as the rules do not allow you to expand
    or build airports to meet new demands unless it has already been served
    by larger aircraft.

        Question 1. Do you think it is good policy to incentivize the
    shortening of runways in areas that have complete dependency on air
    travel, and are in locations with challenging weather, and often lack
    communications and navigational aids?
        Answer. As the CEO of an airport, I understand how important
    runways are for safe aviation travel. If confirmed, I would closely
    review the FAA's policy on runway resurfacing and reconstruction and
    consider where there are any exceptions that need to apply to the
    policy based on any unique circumstances of the airport and the
    community.
    Instrument Flight Approaches
        Section 322 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 allows air
    carriers operating under Part 135 to carry out operations and
    instrument approaches in Alaska at destination airports without
    approved meteorological (METAR) observation data if area forecasts
    supplemented by noncertified local weather observations (including
    cameras and human observers) are available and an alternate airport
    with weather reporting is specified. As recognized and promoted by FAA,
    flying under IFR offers a higher level of safety and predictability to
    air service.
        The value of this language was echoed by the NTSB in the February
    2020 report on the safety of Part 135 operations in Alaska.

            ``The longstanding effort to increase instrument flight rules
            (IFR) operations in Alaska is another area that continues to
            meet with obstacles. The director of operations for an Alaska
            carrier stated that despite the increased availability of
            instrument approaches, the inability to comply with current FAA
            flight standards that are required throughout the United
            States, such as weather reporting requirements and terminal
            instrument procedures, render the approaches unusable for many
            operators. A possible remedy would be to adjust the FAA's
            flight standards for Alaska to accommodate its unique aviation
            environment, which is a risk management decision requiring
            extensive knowledge of the environment; yet such an adjustment
            has yet to even be evaluated.''

        The Advisory Circular (135-45) to provide guidance on Section 322
    undermined congressional intent by requiring unrealistic weather
    sources for locations in Alaska, including the requirement that
    carriers hire staff in the remote destination airports to launch
    balloons to determine a ceiling. This is unworkable in Alaska, and
    defeats the point of the law.

        Question 2. Please consult with FAA to provide the number of Part
    135 operators that have received approved procedures under Section 322.
        Answer. I will be happy to work with you on this, if confirmed, to
    better understand the agency's policy with respect to required weather
    data. Speaking more broadly, I agree that the agency's goal should be
    implementation of legislation consistent with Congressional intent and
    that would certainly be my goal throughout the duration of my term.

        Question 3. Are any of the air carriers in operation today?
        Answer. See above.

        Question 4. If confirmed, will you revisit the guidance associated
    with Section 322 to ensure operators are able to benefit from the
    greater flexibility and safety benefits provided by congress for
    conducting flight operations using alternative weather data sources?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work with you to address these
    concerns.
    Equity in Aviation Safety:
        There has been attention paid to this Administration's efforts to
    address transportation equity, as adverse effects--air pollution; mass
    transit disinvestment--have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown
    communities and long been overlooked in transportation.
        Our remote communities are primarily Alaska Native residents, and
    there are adverse impacts due to transportation policy that creates a
    racial disparity from the lack of Federal investment in these
    communities. From your work as Chair and Co-Founder of the Equity in
    Infrastructure Project, I am sure you will appreciate the situation.
        The most pointed example is the dependence of our residents on
    aviation, the lack of Federal investment in infrastructure and
    technology to support rural isolated communities as compared to the
    rest of the nation, and how this has translated to safety.
        A February 2020 NTSB report pointed to a recent 10-year period
    where the total accident rate in Alaska was 2.35 times higher than the
    rest of the United States. During the same period, the fatal accident
    rate in Alaska was 1.34 times higher.
        The FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (FAASI) is an FAA effort
    to respond to the February 2020 NTSB Report and the FAA Alaska Aviation
    Safety Summit from October 2020. This effort has identified safety
    improvements and investments for the Alaska Region.

        Question 5. If confirmed, will you commit to an annual update to
    the FAASI, and to include any progress made to the previously
    identified safety improvements?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to an annual update to the
    FAASI and include any progress made to previously identified safety
    improvements.

        Question 6. Will you commit that the items in the FAASI not only be
    explicitly prioritized in the budget, but incorporated into long term
    the planning by the FAA?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to finding ways to prioritize
    items in the FAASI as appropriate.
    Safety Briefing Commitment:
        As discussed above, a 2020 report issued by the National
    Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) calling for the FAA to take a more
    comprehensive approach to improving aviation safety in Alaska.
        The NTSB report points to a recent 10-year period where the total
    accident rate in Alaska was 2.35 times higher than the rest of the
    United States. During the same period, the fatal accident rate in
    Alaska was 1.34 times higher. I'm sure you agree that this is
    unacceptable.

        Question 7. Your predecessor required staff to report to him
    personally every time there was an aviation accident in my state. Will
    you commit to do the same?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to requiring staff to report to
    me personally every time there is an aviation accident in your state.
    In an effort to increase transparency and elevate safety issues, I will
    err on the side of requiring that staff personally keep me apprised of
    more aviation accidents than might otherwise be reported to the
    Administrator.
    ADS-B/Mid-Air Collisions:
        Alaska has historically been a testbed for avionics that have
    provided efficiency and safety benefits to the entire National Airspace
    System.
        The Capstone Project was a joint industry and FAA research and
    development effort to improve aviation safety and efficiency in Alaska.
    Under Capstone, the FAA provided avionics equipment for aircraft and
    the supporting ground infrastructure. The Capstone Project operated
    from 1998 to 2006, and it demonstrated a 47 percent reduction in the
    aviation accident rate of Capstone avionics equipped aircraft compared
    to non-equipped aircraft in parts of the state that did not receive
    ground based equipment and equipped aircraft.
        Our high accident rate is made up of a lot of Controlled Flight
    Into Terrain accidents and mid-air collisions--the type of accidents
    that this technology can prevent.
        Alaska laid the groundwork for the nationwide deployment of ADS-B,
    known as NextGen, now providing our national airspace system with
    efficiency through satellite-based navigation and aircraft tracking.
    The NextGen system is now a multibillion-dollar program, primarily
    through FAA's Facilities & Equipment account. Meanwhile, the majority
    of my state is without coverage and the airspace is not classed to
    require coverage--even in some congested airspace, such as Bethel.
        Section 321 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-254)
    directed FAA to conduct an evaluation of providing additional ADS-B
    ground-based transmitters along major flight routes in Alaska. In
    October 2019, aviation industry groups wrote to the FAA Surveillance
    and Broadcast Services program office supporting this initiative and
    urging additional investment in ADS-B ground stations to establish a
    Minimum Operational Network for ADS-B coverage in Alaska. They shared
    analysis supporting the Section 321 mandate that identified an
    additional 23 locations. I was pleased to see in the FAASI that the FAA
    will accelerate the deployment of ground based equipment for some of
    our high trafficked areas, and was pleased to hear of the FAA plans to
    add five sites in Fiscal Year 2023.

        Question 8. If confirmed, would you support the deployment of a
    minimum of an additional 23 ADS-B ground-based transmitters, as
    identified by the users of our NAS?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would work through the FAA's Air Traffic
    Office and Office of NextGen to engage with stakeholders to further
    accelerate deployment of ground-based equipment.
        Given that the majority of Alaska's airspace is not classified, the
    true safety benefits of additional ground based equipment remains to be
    dependent on the rate of private equipage of aircraft. While it is of
    obvious value for aircraft to improve situational awareness through
    ADS-B equipage, I caution that any large scale airspace
    reclassification would cripple mobility in my state, not be embraced by
    some pilots, and would be an unfunded mandate. However, the need for
    equipage remains.

        Question 9. Would you support the inclusion of funding in the FAA
    budget to equip private aircraft with avionics equipment and the
    supporting ground infrastructure, similar to the Capstone project that
    was in operation from 1999 to 2006?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would commit to reviewing any proposals for
    FAA to fund equipping aircraft with avionics and supporting ground
    infrastructure.
    Comms/Nav Aid Maintenance:
        The remote, mountainous terrain of Alaska presents technical
    challenges for the FAA with installing and maintaining a robust
    Communications, Navigation, Surveillance system. In the FAA's own words
    from the 2021 FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (FAASI),
    ``Maintaining the extensive Alaska National Airspace System (NAS)
    infrastructure, which consists of a mixture of old and new components,
    is a daunting task for FAA engineers and technicians.''

        Question 10. Please consult with the FAA to respond to this
    question and share what FAA is doing to address the challenges of
    maintain navigational aids and communications equipment in Alaska.
        Answer. I understand the priority this has for you and for your
    constituents in Alaska. If confirmed I will work closely with our team
    in the Alaska region and across the agency's lines of business to
    survey what we're doing to facilitate safe flight in Alaska and what we
    can do to improve in terms of equipment, processes and communication
    with stakeholders. And, as I mentioned in my Hearing, if confirmed, I
    commit to visiting the State of Alaska, as soon as possible and early
    in my term, to see for myself the aviation challenges in your state.

        Question 11. If confirmed, will commit to implementing mitigation
    methods, including the storage of more spare parts for repairs in the
    State and provide more technicians?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will commit to implementing mitigation
    methods to address the challenges posed by Alaska's terrain to
    maintaining navigational aids and communications equipment.
    Oklahoma City Registry Modernization System and Office of Aerospace
            Medicine:
        My office is constantly fielding complaints with the processing of
    aircraft registration and clearance of air medicals for pilots, and
    evidence points to bottlenecks in the FAA offices at Oklahoma City.
        In regards to the FAA's Civil Aircraft Registry in Oklahoma City,
    the FAA Reauthorization of 2018 directed many improvements, including
    the modernization and partial digitization of the registry and
    extending the duration of aircraft registration certificates from three
    to seven years. Notwithstanding these improvements, bottlenecks remain
    with reports of registration taking two to three years, during which
    time the registration of an aircraft can expire. All signs point to
    manpower as the issue, with employees working from home is frustrating
    streamlining efforts.

        Question 12. What more can be done to streamline the Registry
    Modernization System?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would look at new ways to reduce the
    backlog of aircraft registrations and timelines to process them. I
    understand the frustration, and I have extensive background in
    optimizing systems, like IT systems, to optimize performance and
    decrease bottlenecks.
        Similarly, we have seen a noticeable upticks in number of
    complaints that the Office of Aerospace Medicine in Oklahoma City is
    unable to process airman medical certifications. These delays have
    significant impacts that interfere with an individual's livelihood and
    ability to provide for their family. Our Alaska Region Flight Surgeon
    is reportedly doing a great job, but the bottleneck occurs in Oklahoma
    City, where employees are working from home.

        Question 13. What more can be done to streamline the Office of
    Aerospace Medicine without sacrificing the safety of the flying public?
        Answer. If confirmed, I would look into what type of streamlining
    within the Office of Aerospace Medicine would be appropriate to ensure
    the safety of the flying public. My understanding is that people can
    see the status of their medical certification application in real time,
    but more can be done to make the expected timeline for certification
    more predictable.

        Question 14. Are the medical standards periodically reviewed to
    ensure they are appropriate to the safe operation of aircraft?
        Answer. My understanding is that the FAA's Aerospace Medicine
    Office monitors the latest data and science to determine if adjustments
    to medical standards are necessary. If confirmed, I would ensure that
    the FAA continues to periodically review its medical standards.
    Unauthorized Drone Flights Over Critical Industry:
        You stated in your confirmation that you wanted to examine ways to
    expedite the FAA's rulemaking process, which is incredibly slow and is
    frustrating the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems into the
    national airspace system. It is also affecting the security of the NAS.
    Recently, the FAA announced that it was delaying yet again the Notice
    of Proposed Rulemaking to implement Section 2209 of the FAA Extension,
    Safety and Security Act of 2016, which will set up a process to prevent
    unauthorized drone flights over critical industry. It has been nearly
    seven years since this provision was signed into law--an extraordinary
    delay even by FAA standards. The increasing sophistication of
    commercial off-the-shelf UAS is far greater now creating a far larger
    threat to critical infrastructure than when Congress first worked to
    address this issue.

        Question 15. If confirmed, will you commit to making sure that the
    agency prioritizes the issuance of this NRPM?
        Answer. As an airport operator I understand the concern that
    critical infrastructure owners have about hazards associated with
    errant or hostile UAS. As I stated in my confirmation hearing, if
    confirmed, I would examine ways to streamline the areas of the
    rulemaking process that the FAA controls, and in accordance with the
    Administrative Procedures Act. The issuance of this NPRM would be among
    the rulemakings that I would review.
                                     ______

         Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Todd Young to
                             Phillip A. Washington
        Question 1 The FAA is responsible for the safety and efficiency of
    our National Airspace System. In that role, FAA coordinates with NORAD,
    DOD, and other national security agencies of the United States. As we
    have seen during recent incidents such as foreign air vehicles
    penetrating U.S. airspace, the U.S. response to the global pandemic,
    and the implementation of the Civil Reserve Fleet, the FAA is an active
    partner in our response to various national and international crises.
    Last month, Acting Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, David
    Boulter, said in his testimony before the House T&I Committee, ``As
    Congress has directed in section 243 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of
    2018, we continue our efforts as a global leader in aviation, and much
    of the globe is watching. . .'' The world is watching, but it no longer
    follows the FAA.

        a. If you are confirmed as Administrator of the FAA, how will you
    maintain and improve FAA's leadership abroad?
        Answer. I believe that the world wants and needs our global
    leadership on aviation safety. As part of my plan, if confirmed, I
    would ensure the FAA holds itself and the entities it regulates
    accountable. I will also ensure that every FAA employee understands my
    expectations of them as well as what they can expect from me. I also
    will further expand the FAA's partnership with workers, communities of
    color, airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, the military, labor,
    and aviation regulatory bodies around the world, and all communities
    impacted by FAA operations.

        Question 2. In January, the outage of FAA's Notice to Air Missions
    (NOTAM) system led to the first nationwide shutdown of our national
    airspace since 9/11. Outdated aviation infrastructure threatens to
    severely disrupt air travel in the United States and place the
    traveling public in danger. The FAA currently depends on a vast network
    of radars to monitor weather and air traffic, but many of these legacy
    systems have been in service for over 40 years and have become
    increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.

        a. Following completion of the feasibility assessment in 2020, what
    is the FAA's current plan for modernizing our Nation's legacy radar
    systems through the Spectrum Efficient National Surveillance Radar
    (SENSR) program?
        Answer. As the NOTAM system failure showed, the FAA needs to be
    focused on safety and modernization. Based on my airport's work with
    FAA air traffic control, I am aware that the FAA is still supporting
    some legacy systems even as it seeks to modernize the system. If
    confirmed, I would engage with the Air Traffic Office to determine in
    what stage of modernization the FAA is in and develop ways to move
    modernization forward.

                                      [all]