[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1049-H1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             AIRCRAFT NOISE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Gallego) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Phoenix, I rise 
to demand an end to business as usual at the Federal Aviation 
Administration.
  In 2014, the FAA decided, without any input from civic leaders or 
members of our community, to implement new flight paths for aircraft 
from Sky Harbor International Airport. The impact of this decision on 
local residents was swift and severe. Without warning, our communities 
were suddenly exposed to constant, deafening aircraft noise.
  As they run businesses, raise families, and struggle to sleep at 
night, Phoenix residents must now contend with the incessant roar of 
planes passing overhead. Simply put, the new flight paths have deprived 
the Arizonans I represent of the peace and quiet they enjoyed before 
the FAA intervened.
  Unfortunately, the agency has only exacerbated this difficult 
situation by overlooking the objections of local residents and ignoring 
clear direction from Congress to reconsider these routes.

[[Page H1050]]

  When urged by the House in the 2015 omnibus to ``identify appropriate 
mitigation measures'' to address the problem of aircraft noise in 
Phoenix, the agency disregarded the will of this body and took no 
meaningful action. That is simply unacceptable. The American people 
deserve a government that is responsive to their needs and accountable 
to their elected officials.
  We have seen the same pattern of indifference repeated in cities 
across the country. But now, finally, leaders from both parties are 
demanding real reform at the FAA.
  Democrats and Republicans came together to include the language in 
the fiscal year 2016 spending bill that will require the FAA to develop 
a plan to proactively address the concerns of Americans, including 
Phoenix residents, exposed to high levels of aviation noise.
  In addition, legislation introduced earlier this month to reauthorize 
the FAA contains several key provisions that could help provide relief 
to Phoenix residents plagued by noise from passing aircraft. The bill 
will require the agency to review flight path changes if the FAA 
administrator determines that they have harmed communities in the 
vicinity of the airport.
  The measure will also compel the FAA to consider steps to mitigate 
aircraft noise-related concerns if requested to do so by a local 
community or airport operator.
  Finally, the FAA will be required to submit a report to Congress on 
how the agency intends to improve its woeful community outreach and 
engagement efforts.
  Collectively, these provisions represent an important step forward, 
but they aren't enough. Together with other members of the Quiet Skies 
Caucus, I am committed to strengthening this legislation as the process 
moves forward.
  Mr. Speaker, civic leaders, businessowners, and families in Phoenix 
have been ignored for too long. The flight paths over our city must 
change and so must the course of an agency that for too long has 
disrespected Congress and disregarded the needs of my constituents.
  Now is the time to pass legislation to ensure that local communities 
have a seat at the table when new flight paths are plotted. Let's give 
local residents the ability to appeal routes that are undermining their 
quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, on the issue of aircraft noise, the people of Phoenix 
are speaking loudly. They deserve to be heard.

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