{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lucas.house.gov/posts/reps-lucas-cole-bice-join-faa-administrator-bedford-in-tour-of-mike-monroney-aeronautical-center", "Reps. Lucas, Cole, Bice Join FAA Administrator Bedford in Tour of Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Frank D. Lucas", "L000491", "lucas.house.gov", "lucas", "https://lucas.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Oklahoma City, OK \u2013 Today, Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03), along with Representatives Tom Cole (OK-04) and Stephanie Bice (OK-05), joined Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford in touring the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center\u2019s Air Traffic Control Training Academy. The tour provided an overview of controller training programs and the technologies used to prepare the aviation workforce.\n\nThe tour included visits to the Tower Simulator System Lab and the En Route Automation Modernization Lab.\n\n\u201cIt was a great day in Oklahoma City with Administrator Bedford as we toured the impressive Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center,\u201d said Representative Lucas. \u201cThe innovative technology that we saw today has, and will continue to, completely change the training curriculum for future aviation experts. This will bring our nation\u2019s opportunities in aviation to new heights, and it will also enable our workforce to be equipped with more skills and services that will only further advance their careers. I\u2019m optimistic about the future of aviation, and I\u2019m proud that this innovation is occurring here in Oklahoma\u2019s third congressional district.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the Oklahoma congressional delegation, including Chairman Tom Cole, Representative Frank Lucas, Vice Chair Stephanie Bice as well as Senators Lankford and Armstrong for their strong leadership here in Oklahoma,\u201d said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. \u201cThis center is one of the crown jewels of research and development, and sustainment for the national airspace system. It all happens here. Training new air traffic controllers, technicians, and first and second level engineers. We had the most successful recruiting day in the history of the FAA for our air traffic controllers, we\u2019ve shortened the hiring process and we are getting trainees into the Academy faster than ever.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma has long been a hub for aerospace and aviation industry development,\u201d said Representative Cole. \u201cThe Center is not only a key administrative, research, and safety hub for the FAA, but it is also home to the FAA Academy, which is the only training center in the country for FAA-certified air traffic controllers. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that America\u2019s national aviation industry cannot exist without the workforce the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center produces \u2013 and that was made very clear through the advanced technology and new curriculum we saw on the tour today. I would like to thank FAA Administrator Bedford for taking the time to come out to Oklahoma, as it is critical for the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center to continue to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt was great to be alongside Administrator Bedford at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center,\u201d said Representative Bice. \u201cOn his visit, the first by an FAA Administrator in a decade, we witnessed the incredible work happening daily in Oklahoma City. I was proud to see new innovative technologies, funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill, which are helping to prepare future air traffic controllers and the next generation of professionals. Their mission is critical and the Oklahoma delegation is laser focused on providing the support they need.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-03T06:40:39Z", "2026-06-03T06:42:22Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lucas.house.gov/posts/reps-lucas-cole-bice-join-faa-administrator-bedford-in-tour-of-mike-monroney-aeronautical-center"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8982139881700277, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}