[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 79 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING THE PRIVATIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF OUR AIR TRAFFIC 
                             CONTROL SYSTEM

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                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2002

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague, Mr. 
Blumenauer and the others, in condemning the executive order issued 
late last week which will allow our air traffic control system to be 
commercialized and privatized.
  We in Congress passed legislation strengthening our public 
transportation systems to help insure greater safety and the prevention 
of terrorism. We have recently federalized airport security and baggage 
inspection. Are we, at the same time, turning over absolutely essential 
air traffic control to the private sector, which utterly failed in 
airport security? How is this going to increase public confidence in 
air travel ?
  It is outrageous to propose actually privatizing a government service 
as essential as assuring the safe and orderly operation of the 
thousands of airline flights daily. When the private sector cannot 
perform an important and vital service adequately, it becomes essential 
that the government assure that it is performed to public expectations. 
That has become the case with air travel. It flies in the face of logic 
that any steps be taken toward dismantling the air traffic control 
system and turning functions over to the private sector.
  I have been working with and debating officials in the Administration 
on the merits of privatizing government functions. As a member of the 
House Armed Services Committee, I have been deeply concerned about the 
outsourcing of military jobs for many months. Clearly, this is another 
attempt to bring the private sector in to perform duties carried out by 
the civil service and other professionals.
  Mr. Speaker, I am not against the private sector nor making a profit. 
But there are instances where making profits should be a totally 
secondary consideration. Profit must not be the bottom line in assuring 
public air travel safety.
  Perhaps privatizing OMB would be a good next step. It might bring 
some level of common sense to the Administration.

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