Transportation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Gabe Woolley, R-Broken Arrow, today issued the following statement about fee increases by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. "Any fee increases from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority should be approved by the state Legislature, as this would put the power back into the hands of the people via their elected officials. "Having to pay to drive across your own home state is already frustrating enough for many Oklahomans. Citizens feeling like they are further removed from having a say in the process is perhaps even more frustrating. I do not support these turnpike fee increases or the manner in which they are determined and enforced. I am, however, encouraged to hear that there is interest among the state Legislature to hold the Turnpike Authority accountable to the people of Oklahoma. "I encourage Oklahoma state elected officials to push for any financial adjustments that impact the people of Oklahoma to be approved by the state Legislature."

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, applauded Col. Abigail Ruscetta for being named the 2024 Oklahoma Aerospace and Aviation's Woman of the Year. She was honored at the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day, held Friday at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base. Colonel Abigail L. W. Ruscetta is the 72nd Air Base Wing Commander at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), where she leads nearly 3,000 Airmen and is responsible for $5.4 billion in resources and a $311 million operating budget. The 72nd ABW enables numerous critical missions at Tinker AFB, the largest single-site employer in the state of Oklahoma. "Colonel Abigail Ruscetta exemplifies excellence in leadership and service," Miller said. "Her remarkable career and dedication to advancing aerospace and aviation are an inspiration to women across our state and beyond. I’m glad to see her recognized as Oklahoma Aerospace and Aviation's Woman of the Year and celebrate her many contributions to both Oklahoma and our nation." Ruscetta earned her commission in 1997 through the U.S. Air Force Academy. She is a graduate of the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, and earned her master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. She joined Tinker AFB in 2018 and has previously served in Germany, Korea, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Utah and Washington, D.C. Ruscetta has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal, among numerous other honors. "Colonel Abigail Ruscetta’s leadership at Tinker Air Force Base stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, both in military service and in shaping the future of aerospace and aviation in our state and nation," Stanley said. "She has left a legacy that will continue to inspire women in aviation for many years to come, and we are proud to honor her as the 2024 Oklahoma Aerospace and Aviation’s Woman of the Year." Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day began in 2017 when the Legislature passed Senate Bill 230 to officially recognize the contribution of Oklahoma women in the state’s aviation and aerospace industry. The Day is recognized on December 9, which marks the birth of the legendary Chickasaw aviator, Pearl Carter Scott. Scott, who learned to fly under famed aviator Wiley Post, became the youngest pilot in the country when she concluded her first solo flight at the age of 13.

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, has been named vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Transportation Committee. Miller, a Republican, was elected in 2018 and represents House District 81 in northwest Oklahoma City, West Edmond & Deer Creek. She currently serves as the chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, which oversees funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Department of Aeronautics and Aerospace and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. "It is both an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve as vice chair of NCSL's Transportation Committee," Miller said. "I am eager to work together with my counter parts in other States to tackle challenges and champion innovative solutions." The NCSL Transportation Committee develops policy on state-federal issues related to aviation, transit, infrastructure and other similar topics to guide NCSL's advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. While most of the committee's work is done virtually, the committee will meet once in-person during the Legislative Summit. Miller will serve a two year term as vice chair of the committee, during which time NCSL will celebrate its 50th anniversary. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.