WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement calling for the renaming of McCarran International Airport:
“Southern Nevada’s international airport is a major hub for travel and tourism, bringing people from across the globe to our state. Unfortunately, the current name of this airport is after that of a man who left behind a legacy of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and bigotry,” said Senator Rosen. “I’ve made it my mission in Congress to fight back against anti-Semitism and hate in all its forms, and so, I am glad that the Clark County Commission will consider a measure – that I’ve long supported – to replace this airport’s name with one that better exemplifies Nevada’s values.”
“Senator Harry Reid would be an excellent choice in the search for a new name for this airport,” Senator Rosen continued. “He has dedicated his life to lifting our state up to new heights, helping to create the world-renowned tourism and travel destination that is Nevada.”
BACKGROUND: In 2020, Senator Rosen and Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV) led their Nevada Delegation colleagues in a letter urging Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, Speaker Jason Frierson, and Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro to replace the Patrick Anthony McCarran statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of a Nevadan who better represents the state’s values. In addition to removing the statue, the Members of the Delegation also supported local efforts to rename McCarran International Airport.
In 2017, then-Congresswoman Rosen joined Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) to call on Nevada lawmakers to replace the McCarran statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Senator Rosen also sent a letter to the Nevada State Legislature during the 2017 session in support of renaming the airport.
Senator Rosen holds the distinction of being the third female Jewish Senator in U.S. history, as well as the first former synagogue president to serve in the United States Senate. She is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism. As such, Senator Rosen has been an outspoken advocate of combating anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world. She is also a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, which has jurisdiction over our nation’s airports.
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