Funding for Elizabeth City Runway Included in FY 2021 House Appropriations Bill

Greenville, N.C. – On July 7, 2020, $25 million of funding was included in the House version of the fiscal year 2021 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill for a runway replacement at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City (Base Elizabeth City). In March, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) wrote a letter to subcommittee leadership asking for this funding to be included in the 2021 DHS appropriations legislation.

Base Elizabeth City has access to only one runway. When there are strong crosswinds on that runway, it significantly limits the number and size of aircraft that can takeoff. The funding would resurface a runway that runs in a different direction but has been out of commission since 2015. The additional runway will also help Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), which uses some facilities at Base Elizabeth City. Flight instructors at ECSU have lost many training flights per year due to not having a cross directional runway. This has negatively impacted students' ability to obtain their flight hours on time.

Murphy issued the following statement.

"I am pleased that, at my request, the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee included this important funding for Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. These federal dollars would significantly improve flight conditions by providing an alternate runway for Base Elizabeth City and students at ECSU. This project will take years to complete, so it is my hope that this provision will also be included in the Senate version of the bill and become law. Rest assured, I will work hard to make sure that is the case."

The letter Murphy sent to committee leadership can be found here.