Washington, - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives approved $11 million in funding for the construction of the new air traffic control tower at the Huntsville International Airport.

This funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2005 Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Bill which provides total funding of $89.9 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury.  Representative Cramer is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which approved this funding prior to House passage.

"The Huntsville Airport is continually improving to better meet our area's needs and the safety of its passengers," said Cramer.  "With the recently extended runway and the construction of the tower in our future, the new and improved airport will be an even stronger economic recruitment tool for North Alabama, helping to attract businesses that were previously looking elsewhere.  I'm excited about the tower's completion and the enhanced role the airport will play in our region's economic growth."

Last year, Representative Cramer secured $8 million dollars in the FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act for the air traffic control tower.

The FY 2005 Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Bill will now be sent to the Senate for its consideration.  The differences between the House and Senate must be worked out in a conference, and the agreement would then be sent to the President for his signature.