[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 174 (Tuesday, October 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E984-E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENERAL WAYNE A. DOWNING PEORIA 
                         INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DARIN LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 2025

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International 
Airport, a cornerstone of transportation and economic growth in the 
heart of Central Illinois. Since its establishment in 1950, Peoria's 
International Airport has connected our region to destinations across 
the country while embodying the innovation and community spirit that 
defines Peoria.
  Peoria's ties to aviation stretch back more than a century. From the 
Wright Brothers' exhibition flight in 1910, to Charles Lindbergh's

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mail route between St. Louis and Chicago, our region has long been part 
of America's aviation story. In 1932, 261 local businessmen came 
together to purchase land for Peoria's first airfield, laying the 
foundation for what would become one of Illinois's most important 
regional airports. Over the decades, the airport has evolved from four 
shale runways to a modern international facility. In 2008, it was 
renamed in honor of Four-Star General Wayne A. Downing, a Peoria native 
and distinguished U.S. Army leader whose legacy continues to inspire 
our community. The airport expanded further in 2016 with the dedication 
of the Ray LaHood Terminal, recognizing the former Congressman and 
Transportation Secretary's lifelong commitment to infrastructure and 
service.
  Peoria International Airport serves 12 nonstop destinations, offers 
the longest runway in Illinois outside of Chicago, and operates the 
state's only 24-hour FAA control tower beyond the Chicago area. From 
welcoming just 50,000 passengers in the 1950's to a record 689,000 
passengers in 2019, PIA has become an indispensable hub for business, 
travel, and commerce in Central Illinois.
  As we celebrate 75 years of service, we honor the vision of those who 
built and sustained this airport--leaders, workers, and community 
members whose dedication continues to strengthen our regional economy 
and connect Central Illinois to the world. I am proud to represent this 
remarkable community and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport and their 
leadership on 75 years of aviation excellence and progress.

                          ____________________