[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4258-S4259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO TOBY HAUCK RETIREMENT

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, being an air traffic controller is a hard, 
often thankless job. The hours are long, the stakes are astronomically 
high, and the work is essential to millions of families across America 
who are anxious to see their loved ones. Today, I would like to salute 
one of the best who ever served in that critical job: my friend Toby 
Hauck.
  Toby is a veteran. He served 6 years in the U.S. Air Force, following 
in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom also 
served in the U.S. military. After Toby left the Air Force, he wanted 
to find a job that would allow him to continue to serve his country, 
which led him to the air traffic control. Toby rose through the ranks 
at air traffic control, eventually becoming president of the Chicago 
Air Route Traffic Control Center. For 38 years, Toby was responsible 
for keeping millions of airline passengers--including myself--safe as 
they flew in and out of Chicago.
  With what little free time he had, Toby spent it advocating for his 
fellow air traffic controllers both in Washington and Illinois as a 28-
year member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. At 
NATCA, Toby served as its Illinois State coordinator, where he pushed 
for better pay, staffing, and benefits for his coworkers. Those at 
NATCA knew Toby as simply ``the Tob''; his colleagues described him as 
someone who ``always makes time for a fist bump and a smile, greeting 
everyone he sees by name.'' In May, NATCA awarded Toby the Dale Wright 
Award for exceptional career service, which speaks not only to his 
character, but to his reputation nationwide.
  I have known Toby for many years. In 2019, he was my guest to the 
State of the Union, and he has worked diligently with me to try and 
improve the conditions for air traffic controllers in my State and 
across the country. As Toby knows, air traffic controllers have too 
often, and unfairly, been caught in the middle of government shutdowns, 
forced to continue their work--still understaffed and overworked with 
the same high stakes--but also with no paycheck. Since I have met Toby, 
during every shutdown, he has gathered a group of local controllers to 
share the real-life impacts of partisan stalemates, which include 
controllers setting up food pantries for their peers, failing to afford 
medical treatment for themselves or their families, and struggling to 
pay their bills. These stories have informed my votes and again 
highlighted how thankless, yet crucial, the work of a controller is.
  Toby is truly the best of the best, and last month, after 38 years of 
service, he retired from his job as an air traffic controller. While 
Chicago will certainly miss Toby protecting its skies, I am sure his 
wife Darla will appreciate having him home. Fortunately, Toby will not 
be leaving his advocacy for air traffic controllers behind; he will 
remain working with NATCA in an advocacy role. I hope the whole Senate 
will join me in thanking Toby for his service and congratulating him 
and Darla on this milestone.
  And there is a large list of air traffic controller priorities that 
must be tackled--especially at our Nation's and the world's busiest 
airport, found right at home in Chicago. Last year, more than 850,000 
aircraft landed or took off from O'Hare, more than any other airport in 
the world. O'Hare is central to the national aviation system and is a 
leading hub for connections. Yet the flight towers that manage its 
airspace are staffed well below the targets established by both NATCA 
and the FAA by 25 percent. That means the air traffic controllers who 
are at these towers are forced to work longer hours and additional 
shifts, taking a significant toll on their mental health.
  In a job that requires split-second and lifesaving decisions, it is 
dangerous to add more stress and fatigue into the equation. This is why 
Congress allocated $22.2 billion for the FAA for fiscal year 2026 to 
hire an additional 2,500 new air traffic controllers. I urge the FAA to 
put that investment to good use and prioritize O'Hare as new 
controllers become trained and as new technology and infrastructure 
upgrades become available.
  Ensuring that there is proper staffing at towers around Chicago will 
become even more essential as O'Hare nears the completion of its 
Terminal Area Plan project, which will increase gate capacity at O'Hare 
by roughly 25 percent. This project was designed to accommodate growth 
for airlines and ensure that O'Hare remains competitive as a world-
class airport for decades to come. I hope the FAA will give full and 
fair consideration of any requests from O'Hare to assist in this 
expansion, whether that be via requests for Federal grant funding or 
FAA resources.
  As more Americans take to the skies every day, it is our job in 
Congress to support the men and women, like Toby, who keep them safe on 
their journey. Let's show our gratitude to these public servants by 
ending the understaffing, irregular paychecks, and insufficient 
workforce investment that have plagued their work for far too long. It 
is the least we can do for the people who have dedicated their lives to 
protecting us every time we fly.

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