[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H804-H805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LAKELAND LINDER REGIONAL AIRPORT

  (Mr. ROSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for 
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
  Unfortunately, with the pending sequester, the Federal Aviation 
Administration announced that they may close 238 control towers, 
including the tower at my local airport.
  Lakeland Linder Regional Airport hosts the annual 6-day Sun 'n Fun 
fly-in that celebrates aviation and is the second-largest event of its 
kind in the world. This Sun 'n Fun fly-in is also the second largest 
convention in the State of Florida. It provides a $50 million economic 
impact to the region

[[Page H805]]

each year. The potential closure of the tower is unacceptable.
  As we know, President Obama initially proposed the sequester in 2011. 
I voted against its creation, and I voted twice to replace its 
arbitrary cuts. Americans deserve real solutions and genuine 
accountability. Improper payments by the Federal Government exceeded 
$115 billion in 2011. Surely, the President would be willing to address 
those improper payments before allowing the sequestration cuts to take 
place.

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