[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6074-H6078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1401) expressing gratitude for the
contributions that the air traffic controllers of the United States
make to keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of the United
States running efficiently, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1401
Whereas air traffic controllers dedicate themselves to the
protection of the flying public;
Whereas air traffic controllers react to dangerous and
complex situations on a daily basis, doing so in a calm and
professional manner;
Whereas air traffic controllers work all day long and all
year long, including holidays, to provide services to
aircraft in their assigned airspaces;
Whereas, due to the highly stressful and demanding nature
of the job and the total concentration required, air traffic
controllers are required to take regular 30-minute breaks,
work in shifts, and retire by the age of 56;
Whereas air traffic controllers perform courageous acts
every day;
Whereas, on January 1, 2009, air traffic controller Kristin
Danninger at the Madison, Wisconsin, Tower and Terminal Radar
Approach Control (``TRACON'') facility directed a new pilot
back on course and above minimum altitude who had been stuck
in the clouds in a small aircraft with zero visibility,
successfully using her knowledge of local geography to point
out a highway that led the pilot to the appropriate runway;
Whereas, on March 29, 2009, air traffic controller Troy
Decker at the Salt Lake Center facility guided a Piper Aztec
aircraft with an engine fire to a safe landing in Butte,
Montana, providing detailed weather reports for several
possible landing options;
Whereas, on April 12, 2009, air traffic controllers Jessica
Anaya, Lisa Grimm, Nathan Henkels, Dan Favio, Brian Norton,
and Carey Meadows at the Miami Center facility and the Fort
Myers Tower and TRACON facility guided to safety a twin-
engine King Air aircraft after the pilot died in-flight,
assisting Doug White, an individual with limited private
pilot experience in smaller aircraft, to locate the positions
of controls and switches on the aircraft and to navigate the
high-traffic area of southern Florida;
Whereas, on June 28, 2009, air traffic controller Ron
Chappell at the Southern California TRACON facility issued a
traffic advisory to a jet aircraft landing at Los Angeles
after viewing another target on his radar screen that was at
an unknown altitude and approaching the jet, circumstances
that bore a similarity to a 1986 mid-air collision over
Cerritos, California;
Whereas, on July 5, 2009, air traffic controller Louis
Ridley at the Potomac TRACON facility assisted a Velocity
aircraft stuck above a cloud layer to navigate through
perilous mountain terrain with limited fuel remaining and,
while doing so, reassured the pilot, gave detailed flight and
weather information, determined the best airport for a safe
approach and landing, and even had his wife, Carolyn, greet
the pilot after the pilot landed in Culpepper, Virginia;
Whereas, on October 9, 2009, air traffic controllers Kevin
Plante and Christopher Presley in Portland, Maine, helped
guide an aircraft that had become stuck in rapidly
deteriorating weather conditions by employing, with daylight
waning and the aircraft near mountainous terrain, a road map
to direct the pilot to Portland using several highways,
lakes, and towns as guides;
Whereas, on November 14, 2009, air traffic controller
Jessica Hermsdorfer at the Kansas City Tower and TRACON
facility calmly helped guide back to the airport an Airbus
319 aircraft that had hit multiple birds and experienced
engine trouble, directing other aircraft out of the way and
assisting the stricken flight to land safely;
Whereas, on December 7, 2009, air traffic controllers
Natasha Hodge and Douglas Wynkoop at the Dallas TRACON
facility worked as a
[[Page H6075]]
team to assist a confused and disoriented pilot of an
experimental aircraft, redirecting other aircraft in the area
and suggesting an approach into Navy Fort Worth for the
pilot, which resulted in a successful landing;
Whereas, on December 20, 2009, air traffic controllers Todd
Lamb at the Anchorage Center facility and Michael Evans at
the Fairbanks Flight Service Station ensured a safe landing
for a Cessna aircraft that was experiencing smoke in the
cockpit, as Mr. Evans was able to assist the pilot in
locating a narrow dirt trail which was the only safe landing
spot in the area and Mr. Lamb helped a second aircraft locate
the downed plane's position;
Whereas approximately 15,600 Federal air traffic
controllers, in airport traffic control towers, terminal
radar approach control facilities, and air route traffic
control centers, guide planes through the airspace of the
United States;
Whereas approximately an additional 1,250 civilian contract
controllers and more than 9,000 military controllers also
provide air traffic services;
Whereas, from fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2009,
according to the Federal Aviation Administration (``FAA'')
there have been 94,600,000 successful flights of United
States commercial aircraft safely carrying more than
6,340,000,000 passengers;
Whereas air traffic controllers provide separation services
over the entire airspace of the United States and 24,600,000
square miles of international oceanic airspace;
Whereas, as of May 22, 2010, the FAA operated 315 air
traffic control facilities and the Air Traffic Control System
Command Center in the United States;
Whereas, in the past 5 years, the FAA has hired more than
7,500 air traffic controllers in order to meet continuously
changing traffic volumes and workload; and
Whereas air traffic controllers are facing staffing
challenges, with an aging workforce and a wave of
retirements: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses gratitude for the contributions that the air
traffic controllers of the United States make to keep the
traveling public safe and the airspace of the United States
running efficiently;
(2) commends air traffic controllers for the calm and
professional manner in which they handle air traffic, day and
night, throughout the year;
(3) acknowledges the heroic actions, dedication, and quick
and skilled decisionmaking that air traffic controllers
employ to help avert many accidents and tragedies; and
(4) encourages greater investment in the modernization of
the air traffic control system of the United States so that
air traffic controllers have the resources and technology
needed to better carry out their mission, both in the air and
on the ground, as air travel continues to grow.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Costello) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1401.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
{time} 1200
Mr. COSTELLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor of the resolution, I commend the
gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, for
introducing the resolution and for her leadership on this issue.
The Nation's air traffic controllers ensure the safety of
approximately 2 million aviation passengers per day, or almost 1
billion people per year, and safely guide more than 60 million aircraft
annually to their destinations. The current air traffic controller
workforce consists of approximately 15,600 dedicated and well-trained
men and women across the country and at the Air Traffic System Command
Center.
As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, I have visited
many of the air traffic control facilities, and have witnessed
firsthand the skills controllers utilize to safely separate aircraft
moving through the Nation's airspace system. These individuals display
exceptional skills, and are able to multitask and to work well under
pressure. In fact, the resolution describes nine separate incidents
where controllers have saved many lives by providing excellent service.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res.
1401, to express our gratitude for the contributions that the air
traffic controllers make to keep the traveling public safe and the
airspace of the United States running efficiently.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for the
resolution before us, and I am pleased to be a cosponsor. While I am
pleased we are considering House Resolution 1401, I am disappointed
that none of the suspensions we are considering today are Republican
bills. However, I understand that the chairman of the full committee
has scheduled three Republican bills for markup this coming Thursday.
House Resolution 1401 congratulates our Nation's air traffic
controllers for their service and their dedication to protecting the
flying public. Aviation safety is the product of many professionals in
all sectors of the industry who are performing their best at all times.
With nearly 87,000 flights operating over the United States daily,
keeping the system safe is no small feat. The hard work and commitment
of air traffic controllers play a key role in our exceptional record of
aviation safety.
Over the past decade, nearly 1 billion passengers have successfully
traveled aboard 93 million commercial flights. Thanks in part to the
commitment of air traffic controllers, our Nation's air transportation
system is the safest in the world. As air traffic demand is forecasted
to rebound and grow, it is important to sustain investments to
modernize air transportation technologies and procedures.
According to the FAA, NextGen infrastructure and procedures will
change the role of air traffic controllers, equipping them with the
tools they need to manage the anticipated growth in air traffic demand.
Air traffic controllers are an important part of improving air traffic
control efficiency through NextGen, and I welcome their input in
advancing these efforts.
I honor the hard work and dedication of our 25,000-plus air traffic
controllers, and I join in commending their service to the Nation's air
travelers. I fully support the adoption of the resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. McCarthy), who is the sponsor of this resolution.
Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar,
Chairman Costello, Ranking Member Mica, and certainly Congressman Petri
for bringing this resolution that I introduced to the floor. I want to
also thank Representative Peter King for his support as well.
Most of all, I want to thank our Nation's air traffic controllers for
keeping us all safe.
Air traffic controllers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year
long to keep the traveling public safe and to keep our Nation's
airspace running efficiently. The more than 15,600 controllers are
responsible for almost 1 billion passengers each year.
They handle dangerous and complex situations in a calm and
professional manner, oftentimes working long shifts in dark rooms and
monitoring many planes at one time. Their heroic efforts on September
11, during the miracle on the Hudson River landing of U.S. Airways
Flight 1549, and during other incidents are all well-known.
Though, what we don't hear about are the dangerous situations they
help to avert on a regular basis. I was pleased to include nine
separate success stories in this resolution, but it is not a complete
list. These types of stories happen every single day--averting
accidents and disasters in the sky and on the ground.
The controllers help to make sure that air travel runs efficiently so
that the planes avoid dangerous weather and so that families and
businessmen and -women who are traveling reach their destinations as
quickly as possible. We also must make sure that our air traffic
controllers have the resources they need to do their jobs as well as
they can.
We need to have greater investment in the modernization of the
Nation's air traffic control system, which will create jobs and have an
environmental, performance and safety benefit for all of us. As air
traffic continues to grow, air traffic controllers must have the
resources and technology needed to better carry out their mission.
I look forward to the completion of the FAA reauthorization bill, and
I want to thank the committee for all of their hard work in conference.
[[Page H6076]]
Finally, we need to make sure our air traffic facilities are well
staffed. In my State of New York, our controllers handle thousands of
flights every single day that are departing, arriving, and traveling
through the tightly packed New York airspace. I have enjoyed visiting
facilities like the New York TRAYCON, located in Westbury, New York,
which is in my district. Our air traffic facilities should be fully
staffed with experienced controllers, and the facilities should be
properly run in order to ensure the safety and welfare of the flying
public. I look forward to continuing to work with the committee and
with the FAA to make sure that this happens.
Once again, please join me in expressing gratitude to the Nation's
air traffic controllers. I urge my colleagues to support this
resolution.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
ranking Republican on the full committee, my colleague, the gentleman
from Florida, Mr. John Mica.
Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Petri and Mr. Costello do a great job in leading the Aviation
Subcommittee. They have both had the opportunity to serve in leadership
positions. As a former chair of that Aviation Subcommittee, I do thank
them for their work day in and day out to make certain that the United
States continues to have the safest skies and continues to fly the
safest flights of anywhere in the world.
Mr. Speaker, still, about two-thirds of all of the passenger flights
in the world occur in the United States of America. Some 94 million
commercial flights were handled last year by our air traffic
controllers. Again, the safety record is just unprecedented. When you
stop and think of all of the potential for human error, for something
to go wrong, and of the record we have achieved, it is remarkable.
I am sad that we don't have an FAA reauthorization bill here. I am
pleased that my legislation, which I crafted back in 2003 or 2004 and
which expired in 2007, I believe--some 3 years ago--may be on its 15th
extension this week. I knew I wrote a good bill. I didn't know, though,
it was that good to last this long, but I look forward to passing that
legislation which is so important that it sets forth the policy, the
projects, and the funding for keeping our aviation system safe and
sound.
This resolution does honor the men and women who serve as air traffic
controllers. As you know, there are 50,600 air traffic controllers--
those are Federal air traffic controllers--who operate in the towers,
in the TRAYCONS, and in other facilities that we have. In addition, we
have 1,250 civilian contract air traffic controllers. Now, that doesn't
sound like many--it's a little less than 10 percent--but we also honor
those private contract tower air traffic controllers. They serve at 250
airports. The contract towers represent 45 percent of all control
towers in the United States because they are smaller facilities, but
they are scattered in 250 locations across the country, and they handle
about 25 percent of all of the traffic.
So, on 9/11, when our air traffic controllers were doing such a great
job, the Federal air traffic controllers, we also had contract air
traffic controllers. Unfortunately, they earn less pay, but all of the
reports we have are that their safety record is equal to, if not
superior to, in performance, and there have been several studies that
have confirmed that.
{time} 1210
They don't get as much compensation, but they do a great job, and we
recognize them too.
The final thing that I want to do in recognition today of air traffic
controllers, the unsung heroes of our military, men and women. We have
more than 9,000 military air traffic controllers.
Now, an FAA air traffic controller, the average pay is $109,000, the
base pay, I think about $160,000 with benefits. The average military
air traffic controller, their base pay is $36,964. Here are dedicated
men and women who serve, and there's 9,000 of them, who also have an
incredible safety record.
It's not just at a commercial airport. These folks are all around the
world. You saw them in Baghdad. You see them at foreign assignments,
where they've had to land and attend to aircraft in hostile conditions
and at very low wages. Each day, day in and day out, they do a great
job in representing the United States of America and serving our
military airlift needs.
So we commend all of our air traffic controllers today. We're going
to need more of them, folks. They're retiring in record numbers. I'm
told there may be 60 percent of the air traffic controllers, you know,
many came on with Ronald Reagan when he replaced all of them, and
they're aging now. They have a mandatory retirement age, and we need to
replace them.
So we salute them for their work; we welcome the new hires on board.
We've got to redouble our efforts to get the best trained, the most
qualified on the job as soon as possible, because you just don't come
on and take over New York airspace air traffic control or any of the
other congested corridors and do it overnight. It takes years of
experience. And those are the people we want to replace, these people
that have dedicated their life to safety and service.
So we salute them. And I join Members in asking for passage of this
resolution in their honor.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Bishop), a member of the subcommittee.
Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Costello for
yielding time. And I want to thank Congresswoman McCarthy for her
leadership on this issue.
I rise in support and as a cosponsor of H. Res. 1401, expressing our
gratitude for the excellent work performed by our Nation's air traffic
controllers who keep the traveling public safe.
I am proud to represent many of the Nation's nearly 16,000 air
traffic controllers. They are often the unseen heroes of our Nation's
airways. Their unique skills and training keep our travel in the United
States and around the world safe and on time.
In the New York metropolitan area, among the world's busiest regions
for air transportation, air traffic controllers work tirelessly 365
days a year to ensure that parents will see their children for
holidays, that businesses depending on air travel will continue to
thrive, and that your packages arrive on time.
Mr. Speaker, we should not overlook these men and women who are a
critical link in our domestic and international transportation network.
Indeed, they deserve our thanks. I commend them for their hard work,
and I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the
dedicated men and women who keep the flying public safe and our
airspace running efficiently, our Nation's air traffic controllers.
Approximately 15,770 Federal air traffic controllers in airport traffic
control towers, terminal radar approach control, TRACON, facilities,
and air route traffic control centers across the country monitor the
airspace of the United States and 24,600,000 square miles of
international oceanic airspace. Together with 1,250 civilian contract
controllers and more than 9,000 military controllers, they work 24
hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure that passengers and goods reach
their destinations as safely and quickly as possible.
It is a well-established fact that air traffic controllers operate in
one of the most stressful of work environments. With thousands of
flights departing, arriving, and en route at any given moment, managing
the flow of air traffic safely and efficiently is no simple task. It is
a continuous process that requires great situational awareness, total
concentration, and making split-second decisions.
While an air traffic controller's job is stressful and demanding by
nature, it is also unpredictable because of nature. Without notice,
weather conditions can change quickly. From turbulence to large storm
systems, air traffic controllers adapt to all inclement conditions in a
calm and professional manner to reroute aircraft safely.
The extraordinary service that air traffic controllers provide
becomes even more apparent when they are faced with greater
adversities. When emergency situations develop in-flight, it is up to
air traffic controllers to provide leadership and guidance. These
amazing stories have been well-documented by the media, with reports of
air traffic controllers providing life-saving navigation to pilots and,
in some cases passengers, to land their aircraft given extreme weather
conditions or mechanical failure. Thanks to the heroic actions,
dedication, and quick and skilled decision-making of air traffic
controllers, many accidents and tragedies have been averted.
I have had the pleasure of getting to know many air traffic
controllers in and around my
[[Page H6077]]
district in South Florida, and I can personally attest to the
remarkable job they do. Air traffic controllers are motivated,
decisive, committed, and self-confident individuals who often work many
thankless hours. They are the reason that we have the safest air
traffic control system in the world, and that is why we must continue
to support them.
As we modernize our nation's air traffic control system, we must
ensure that air traffic controllers are best equipped to continue
delivering the highest levels of service to those flying within our
airspace.
Mr. Speaker, I truly appreciate the hard work that our nation's air
traffic controllers do each and every single day to keep us safe when
we fly and to guide us home. Their reputation for expertly handling
complex situations and responding to dangerous developments on a daily
basis is well-deserved.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H.
Res. 1401, as amended, introduced by the gentlewoman from New York
(Mrs. McCarthy), which expresses gratitude for the contributions that
the air traffic controllers of the United States make to keep the
traveling public safe and the airspace of the United States running
efficiently.
Our air traffic control system currently handles commercial aircraft
with more than 700 million enplanements, and the Federal Aviation
Administration, FAA, predicts that this figure will reach 1 billion by
2023. In 2010, air traffic controllers will handle 39 million terminal
radar approach control, TRACON, operations, which are forecast to grow
at an average annual rate of 1.7 percent, and to reach 54.4 million in
2030. It is also expected that 39.4 million aircraft operating under
instrument flight rules will be handled at FAA air route traffic
control centers in 2010, increasing 2.5 percent per year, and reaching
64.1 million in 2030.
Air traffic controllers provide essential services to ensure
separation between aircraft in the national airspace system. They work
in difficult and stressful situations to assist pilots with navigation
during arrival and departure from airports and while in flight, and
provide critical information and advisories during flight. Because of
the stressful environment in which they work, they must take regular
breaks and they must retire by age 56. Air traffic controllers help to
ensure the safety of approximately two million aviation passengers each
day.
H. Res. 1401 recognizes the critical work performed by air traffic
controllers seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The resolution describes
nine recent incidents in which air traffic controllers were
instrumental in ensuring the safety of flight crewmembers and
passengers. These examples demonstrate air traffic controllers' heroic
actions, dedication, and quick and skillful decision-making.
H. Res. 1401 commends air traffic controllers for the calm and
professional manner in which they perform their duties. The resolution
also encourages greater investment in modernizing the air traffic
control system to ensure that controllers have the necessary resources
and technology to better carry out their duties as air travel grows.
As we honor the nation's air traffic controllers in this resolution,
there also several provisions in the House-passed FAA reauthorization
bill--H.R. 1586, the ``Aviation Safety and Investment Act of 2010''--
that that support air traffic controllers.
H.R. 1586 creates certainty and stability for the FAA and its
unionized employee groups, including air traffic controllers, by
establishing mediation and arbitration processes for resolution of
collective bargaining impasses. The new dispute resolution process
makes it clear that labor-management disputes between FAA and its
organized employees will be resolved through a fair and equitable
process.
Under the bill, if the use of a Federal mediator in a collective-
bargaining dispute does not produce an agreement, then the issues in
controversy would be submitted to the Federal Service Impasses Panel,
which would assert jurisdiction and order binding arbitration using a
private three-member board. The bill requires the arbitration board to
make its decision within 90 days; the decision would be binding and
conclusive.
In addition, H.R. 1586 as passed by the House includes the following
provisions that will benefit air traffic controllers in the important
work they perform:
Stakeholder Involvement: Requires the FAA to establish a process for
including and collaborating with qualified employees selected by each
affected exclusive collective bargaining representative in the
planning, development, and deployment of air traffic control
modernization projects, including the Next Generation Air
Transportation System, NextGen.
Staffing Studies: Facilitates the implementation of NextGen by
requiring several studies related to the FAA's staffing needs and
assumptions with respect to air traffic controllers and other safety-
critical employees. Also requires the FAA to study training programs
for air traffic controllers.
FAA Facility Conditions: Directs the Administrator of the FAA to
convene a task force to study workplace conditions in FAA facilities.
Consolidation of FAA Facilities: Facilitates NextGen implementation
and the protection of employee groups by requiring the Administrator of
the FAA to convene a working group to develop criteria and make
recommendations for potential consolidation and realignment of FAA
facilities. The working group will contain members from airlines and
affected labor groups, among other interested stakeholders.
We are currently negotiating with the Senate to reach a swift
compromise on H.R. 1586. I will work to ensure that these provisions
are included in the final FAA reauthorization legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
H. Res. 1401.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and as a
cosponsor of H. Res. 1401, a resolution recognizing the important
contributions of air traffic controllers in maintaining a safe and
efficient aviation and airspace system.
Today we are honoring men and women who dedicate their professional
lives to improve aviation safety and protect the traveling public. Air
traffic controllers must perform their mission with perfection because
mistakes put lives at risk. I think they do an outstanding job.
In particular, I would like to recognize Ms. Jessica Hermsdorfer at
the Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Terminal Radar Approach
Control facility. On November 14, 2009, Ms. Hermsdorfer calmly helped
guide back to the airport an aircraft that had hit multiple birds and
experienced engine trouble, directing other aircraft out of the way and
assisting the stricken flight to land safely. Her quick actions helped
save the lives of the more than one-hundred passengers on board the
aircraft.
As a Member of Congress and as a pilot, I am proud to honor and
recognize the outstanding work of Ms. Hermsdorfer and all of our air
traffic controllers across the nation. They truly provide a valuable
public safety service.
Again, I rise in support of H. Res. 1401 and urge all of my
colleagues to do the same.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1401,
expressing gratitude for the contributions that the air traffic
controllers of the United States make to keep the traveling public safe
and the airspace of the United States running efficiently. I thank my
colleague from New York, Mrs. McCarthy, for offering this resolution.
Air traffic controllers dedicate themselves to the protection of the
flying public. Their job is important, and it is stressful and
demanding. Air traffic controllers must make split second decisions at
times when the lives of hundreds of passengers are in danger. They
perform this work professionally and in doing so provide a great
service.
My district in Southern California is home to Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX), one of the busiest airports in the world.
LAX is an economic hub for my district and for the region--it brings
people and business to Los Angeles and Southern California from all
over the country and the world. LAX is also a job creator for many of
my constituents, and this includes the men and women who serve as air
traffic controllers, working to keep passengers, aircraft, and area
residents safe.
A little more than a year ago, on June 28, 2009, an air traffic
controller at the Southern California TRACON facility--Ron Chappell--
issued a traffic advisory to a jet aircraft landing at LAX after he saw
another target on his radar screen at an unknown altitude and
approaching the jet. This response by Mr. Chappell likely averted a
deadly crash. I salute him and his fellow air traffic controllers who
work in Southern California and throughout the United States to keep us
safe.
I offered an amendment to prohibit consolidation of the Federal
Aviation Administration's regional offices and air traffic control
facilities without congressional oversight and public comment which was
included when the House reauthorized the FAA earlier this year.
I am concerned that consolidation of air traffic control offices and
facilities could have an effect on the safety of flying. In addition,
consolidation would result in the loss of many jobs, including jobs of
some of my constituents as the Western-Pacific Regional Office which
serves all of Southern California is located in Hawthorne--a city in my
district.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association recently presented
me the Champion for Aviation Safety Award for my work to protect local
jobs in Southern California and to keep passengers and the communities
surrounding LAX safe. I truly appreciate this honor and will continue
to be a strong advocate for air traffic controllers and passenger
safety.
Members of Congress are perhaps some of the most frequent flyers,
especially those of us who represent constituencies far away from
Washington. We owe air traffic controllers--as well as flight
attendants, pilots, ground crew, ticket agents, and others--a debt of
gratitude for keeping us and our fellow passengers safe, and for
keeping us moving safely and
[[Page H6078]]
quickly so that we can get back to our constituents and our families in
a timely manner.
So I am proud to rise in support of this resolution, Mr. Speaker, I
thank the gentlelady from New York for offering it.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Blumenauer). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1401, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________