Jefferson Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 27, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has secured $5.29 million for Tuskegee University’s Aviation and Aero Technology Program in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

This congressionally directed spending aims to support the growth of Tuskegee University’s newly established flight school degree program, which seeks to address a nationwide shortage of pilots. Senator Britt had previously obtained federal funding in Fiscal Year 2024 to help launch the program.

“From the Tuskegee Airmen to Tuskegee University’s new, 21st-century flight school degree program, Tuskegee has cemented itself as the past, present, and future of aviation excellence and innovation,” said Senator Britt. “Tuskegee’s degree program will empower generations of students to reach new heights while showing the world the cutting-edge ingenuity and exemplary capability of our state. To ensure this program can reach even more students, I was proud to secure an additional federal investment of $5.29 million in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations legislation. I’ll continue to work to get this important funding over the finish line.”

“Tuskegee University is grateful for Sen. Britt’s ongoing support for our aviation program,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “As North America faces a pilot shortage of about 130,000 in the next 20 years, our new degree program will prepare aviators to serve their country through the U.S. Air Force or the commercial aviation industry, which is in need of rebuilding pilot programs to meet demand. With our recent SACSCOC accreditation approval of the Aviation Science degree with flight training and Sen. Britt’s help, we will once again – as the Tuskegee Airmen did for World War II – help the nation solve its challenge. Tuskegee University remains the only HBCU that provides all military services on campus, preparing a standard of excellence that serves this nation domestically and abroad.”

The FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Overall, Senator Britt secured $14.415 million in education- and workforce development-related congressionally directed spending in the Committee-passed FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Previously, Senator Britt secured $6.7 million in congressionally directed spending as part of enacted FY24 appropriations legislation for Tuskegee University to start its new flight school degree program. After visiting the university in March 2024, Senator Britt has continued working with the school to secure additional federal funding for creating more opportunities for students.

---