WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, welcomed the selection of Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) as the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee for the 113th Congress.

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"Ranking Member Larsen comes from a state with a strong aviation presence, giving him first-hand knowledge of the important role that the U.S. aviation industry plays in job creation," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "Through many years of service on the committee, he has been a leading voice on a host of transportation issues, including promoting the use of alternative fuels, stopping the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme mandates and advocating for the NextGen program to modernize our air traffic control system.  We believe he and Chairman LoBiondo will make a strong leadership team on the Aviation Subcommittee."

ABOUT A4A

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg.

SOURCE Airlines for America