{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ECE7BFA8-09B5-4F88-8436-912B92314654", "Heitkamp Addresses the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the New Williston Basin International Airport", "2016-10-10", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WILLISTON, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today reinforced the need to continue strong support for western North Dakota\u2019s growing community during her remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Williston Basin International Airport. The ceremony marks the beginning of construction of the region\u2019s much-needed transportation infrastructure project.\r\n\u201cThe northwest region of North Dakota has experienced rapid growth of its economy and population, putting a large demand on the area\u2019s transportation infrastructure including Williston\u2019s airport,\u201d said Heitkamp. \u201cWe have to make sure we are doing what we can support North Dakota\u2019s needs for tomorrow. Through the hard work and dedication the city of Williston and the surrounding area, we are now marking a significant step forward on a new and modern airport. The new Williston Basin International Airport is a significant investment in the region that will allow families to get to where they need to go, help small business transport their goods to market, and handle new demands of our growing communities.\u201d\r\nThe new Williston Basin International Airport will be able to accommodate the growing needs of Williston and the surrounding area.\r\nHeitkamp has been a steadfast partner and advocate for the construction of a new airport in Williston that can meet the needs of an expanding region of North Dakota. In April 2014, Heitkamp brought Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta to western North Dakota to see firsthand the impact the energy boom has had on the state. Following Huerta\u2019s visit, Heitkamp urged him to approve the construction of a new airport in Williston and fought for appropriate funding to move forward on the construction. In September 2015 the FAA invested $27 million in federal funding to support the relocation of Williston\u2019s airport and in September 2016 the FAA invested an additional $26 million for construction of the new airport.\r\nThe current airport in Williston has witnessed a significant increase in travel. Starting in 2007, the yearly enplanements at the Williston Airport have increased from 7,800 to 120,900 in 2014. This has put a large strain on the airport\u2019s infrastructure that was originally designed to accommodate 30-passenger turbo props when today it is handling 50-passenger regional jets. With the airport stretching its capacity and limiting its ability to accommodate larger planes, it severely limits the region\u2019s ability to grow and requires the construction of a new modern airport.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ECE7BFA8-09B5-4F88-8436-912B92314654"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9166579693555832, "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"}