[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

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                           HON. JIM MATHESON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2002

  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, it is with concern that I rise to discuss 
the President's Executive Order to strip air traffic controllers of 
their inherently governmental function status.
  I believe first and foremost that the greatest responsibility of the 
federal government is to ensure the public's safety. Taking steps 
toward privatizing our air traffic controllers could impede our safety 
efforts. Privatizing air traffic control systems has consistently 
proven to jeopardize air safety.
  Both Great Britain and Canada have privatized their air traffic 
control systems and both have run into massive debts, increased costs 
for airlines and higher prices for consumers. The British system, that 
began operating only eleven months ago, is currently facing bankruptcy. 
Even after a government bailout of 30 million pounds, airlines are 
seeing burgeoning shortfalls of up to 80 million pounds.
  In Canada, there are many problems with the privatized system. 
Canadian air traffic controllers are preparing to strike while Air 
Canada President Robert Milton exclaimed, ``I think we have a long way 
to reach the levels of efficiency that exist in the US.''
  Mr. Speaker, why would we take steps toward privatizing America's air 
traffic controllers when we just decided it was more effective to make 
airport security screeners federal employees?
  Privatizing our air traffic control system would be a terrible step 
backward as the Administration looks to consolidate and improve the 
abilities of our national homeland defense agencies.

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