[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.

                          ____________________