[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 62 (Monday, May 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REDUCING FLIGHT DELAYS ACT OF 2013

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                               speech of

                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1765, 
authorizing flexibility to the Secretary of Transportation for the 
purpose of transferring funds into the FAA operations budget to prevent 
additional furloughs from further slowing commercial aviation traffic.
  This is a commonsense action to ensure that understaffing at air 
traffic control centers does not compromise the safety of the flying 
public. In addition, reliable commercial aviation service underpins the 
business travel that is vital to America's economy and is especially 
critical to America's tourism industry as the summer vacation season 
approaches.
  While this is a necessary action, it is just a quick-fix and does not 
address the budget shortfall that will prevent the FAA from performing 
all the important tasks our nation expects of it. Current air travel 
delays are only one example of the counterproductive budget cuts 
included in sequestration that will harm our economy.
  And while this bill takes one small step to provide relief, others in 
our community will still feel the impact of sequestration: cancer 
patients will still find it difficult to access care because of the two 
percent Medicare reimbursement reduction, thousands of children will be 
shut out of a Head Start classroom, and seniors will struggle from 
reductions in Meals on Wheels programs. Congress must reach a long-term 
debt agreement that will replace the sequester with a more responsible 
approach to deficit reduction.
  I regret that our nation's air traffic controllers were forced to 
reduce their level of service to the flying public due to this 
unfortunate consequence of sequestration. I am privileged to represent 
many of this nation's 20,000 controllers and applaud them for working 
through this difficulty.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and thank our 
leadership for its consideration.

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