Congressman donates frequent flyer miles

Rep. John Barrow is saying hasta la vista to tens of thousands of airline miles.

The Georgia Democrat is donating the more than 79,000 frequent flyer miles he racked up during his congressional travels this year to charity, giving the coveted flying time to the Fisher House’s “Hero Miles Program.” The effort provides free airline tickets to wounded, injured and ill American soldiers and their families.

For the record, 79,000 miles is about 11 trips from Washington to Beijing, China. In a Monday statement, Barrow said, “Air travel is part of my job, and I can think of no better way to use these miles.”

Barrow, who each year donates his mileage to a charity organization, has been logging a lot of time in the skies this year. Last year, he donated more than 68,000 miles to the Fisher House and the Children’s Miracle Network. 

Now he’s pushing more lawmakers to hop aboard the mileage donation bandwagon, saying, “Rather than keeping miles for personal use, I urge my colleagues from Georgia and the surrounding communities to join me in making similar donation so that our wounded troops and their families do not have to bear expensive travel costs this holiday season.”

Photo: Flickr

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