[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 207 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MERRY CHRISTMAS, FAA

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 22, 1995

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill 
to move the Federal Aviation Administration's [FAA] eastern regional 
office from Queens, NY, to Union County, NJ.
  As my colleagues are aware, after spending $6 million and taking over 
5 years, the FAA will implement next month its long-awaited Solberg 
mitigation plan. The FAA is proceeding to execute this plan even though 
it has virtually no support among the citizens of New Jersey or their 
elected officials.
  Judging from the answers given at a recent House Aviation 
Subcommittee hearing on the expanded east coast plan, a hearing which I 
requested, the FAA has no plan to resolve New Jersey's aircraft noise 
problem. In effect, the FAA has decided to wash its hands of my State's 
legitimate aircraft noise concerns.
  It is obvious that the FAA has lost touch with the citizens of New 
Jersey. This is why it is important that the FAA bureaucrats 
responsible for the New Jersey aircraft noise debacle work in a State 
where they can be constantly reminded of their failure. I am confident 
that after moving to the Garden State, the FAA will be able to clearly 
hear the aircraft noise problem it created. And after a few months of 
being in one of the most noise-impacted counties in the Nation, perhaps 
the FAA will become more amenable to finally solving New Jersey's 
aircraft noise problem.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of New Jersey deserve better than the FAA's 
footdragging and duplicity on this issue. I plan to attach this 
legislation to the FAA reform bill, which is ready for consideration by 
the House. In the interim, I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this 
legislation.

                          ____________________