Minnesota State Wire

Pete Stauber, Representative of Minnesota, announced that funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill will be allocated to modernize the Duluth Air Traffic Control Tower, which is the third oldest in the United States. The statement was made on X.

"A great recap of Secretary Duffy's visit to the Duluth Air Traffic Control Tower, which is the third oldest in the nation," said Peter Allen Stauber, U.S. Representative of Minnesota's 8th Congressional District (R). "With the help of the historic One Big Beautiful Bill, we are going to modernize our air traffic control system."

The Duluth International Airport’s air traffic control tower, constructed in 1952, operates with outdated systems that no longer meet current safety standards. According to Northern News Now, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Stauber toured the facility and emphasized the urgent need for replacement through recent legislation.

The average air traffic control tower in the United States is approximately 40 years old, with many radar systems at or beyond that age. The House Transportation Committee indicates that this aging infrastructure leads to increased maintenance costs and poses safety risks across the national system.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes $12.5 billion aimed at modernizing air traffic control infrastructure by funding upgrades to towers, radar, telecommunications systems, automation, and controller training. This initiative is part of a broader $31.5 billion nationwide modernization plan as reported by the House Transportation Committee.

Stauber has represented Minnesota’s 8th District since 2019. According to the Detroit Regional Chamber, he is a retired police lieutenant who serves on several committees including Transportation & Infrastructure, Small Business, and Natural Resources Committees. His focus areas include rural infrastructure, public safety, and energy policy.