This year, through Fiscal Year 2026 funding, the Representatives fought for and secured $152 million dollars to ensure the facilities at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center remain the gold standard for all operations occurring at the Center, as well as for air traffic controller recruitment, training, and equipment to ensure the next generation of air traffic controllers have the tools they need to learn how to safely conduct air traffic within the national airspace system.
Secure federal funding for the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center to keep its facilities the gold standard and support air traffic controller recruitment, training, and equipment.
Occurrences
Evidence
“This year, through Fiscal Year 2026 funding, the Representatives fought for and secured $152 million dollars to ensure the facilities at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center remain the gold standard for all operations occurring at the Center, as well as for air traffic controller recruitment, training, and equipment…”
“The twelve appropriations bills passed by the House – six of which have already been signed into law – cover the full scope of the federal government and deliver the certainty Americans rely on every day.”
“Our FY26 process is driven by the national mandate ... [and] we are decreasing spending by $45 billion compared to FY25.”
The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center ... provides critical products and services that touch all aspects of aviation... The FAA Academy provides technical and managerial training and development for our workforce and the aviation community.
Assessments
The strongest evidence says Cole and other Oklahoma representatives 'fought for and secured $152 million' in FY2026 funding for the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, explicitly for keeping facilities 'the gold standard' and supporting air traffic controller recruitment, training, and equipment. That matches the promise closely on both the facility and workforce/equipment components. Additional evidence shows Cole was in a direct position to influence appropriations as chairman and that FY2026 funding bills advanced through the appropriations process, reinforcing candidate credit. Although one committee press release is somewhat general and not every appropriations bill status is fully detailed in the record, the specific official statement claiming the funding was secured is sufficient to treat the promise as fulfilled during his current term.