{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DC7DBAC0-EF97-4CE1-8579-CC6C663B8260", "Johnson pleased to have played a key role in bringing new scheduled international air service to Milwaukee", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "OSHKOSH \u2014 Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) lauded the announcement Monday of year-round scheduled international flights from Milwaukee\u2019s General Mitchell International Airport by the Mexican carrier Volaris\u00a0after having played a key role in helping move negotiations forward.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cI am always pleased to see more options for Wisconsinites traveling for business or pleasure,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cThe cooperation between\u00a0Mitchell International, Milwaukee County and U.S. Customs and Border Protection that enabled this development will serve Wisconsin well in any future expansions of international service from Milwaukee. Wisconsin businesses benefit from better access to customers in world markets. Customs agent staffing is crucial for providing foreign travelers with direct access to Wisconsin.\u00a0I am pleased to have played a role in bringing that about.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nJohnson, who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has oversight of Customs and Border Protection. He wrote to the agency\u2019s commissioner, R. Gil Kerlikowske, in May 2016 urging that the agency cooperate with Milwaukee airport officials in arranging for customs agent staffing that would permit the flights.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIn addition, Johnson was one of five cosponsors of the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, which allows airports to reimburse Customs and Border Protection for its services, allowing cities without international air services to more readily attract it. The House version of the bill passed Congress on Saturday.\r\n\u00a0\r\nJohnson\u2019s letter to Kerlikowske can be seen here.\r\n\u00a0\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.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DC7DBAC0-EF97-4CE1-8579-CC6C663B8260"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.22595501691103, "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"}