[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21689]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE OF PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AVIATION 
                        DIRECTOR WILLIAM DeCOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2009

  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
the life--and mourn the passing--of Port Authority of New York and New 
Jersey (PANYNJ) Aviation Director William DeCota.
  Bill DeCota was appointed director of the world's largest aviation 
system in 1999. As Aviation Director for PANYNJ, he supervised the 
management of a diverse portfolio of airports, from international hubs 
like Laguardia and Kennedy to Teterboro, a general aviation reliever 
airport located in my congressional district in New Jersey. Before 
assuming the position of Aviation Director, Bill served PANYNJ as 
Deputy Director of Aviation, Assistant Director for Business and 
Properties, and Manager of Business and Financial Services for the 
Aviation Department.
  In all aspects of discharging his responsibilities, Bill was 
superlative. He oversaw the largest airport improvement program in the 
history of the United States, and he brought his keen expertise of 
airport congestion to bear on one of the Nation's most crowded air 
corridors. During my time in Congress, I have fought to reduce airport 
overcrowding and aircraft noise pollution, as well as increase safety 
at Teterboro and all of our national airports. In that fight, Bill was 
an ally, partner, mentor, and friend. His institutional knowledge and 
acute understanding of the difficulties faced by people living near 
airports, as well as his consistent good humor and positive outlook, 
made him indispensible. He will be sorely missed.
  In the wake of his untimely passing, Bill leaves a legacy of safer 
air travel and improved quality of life for airport neighbors. He gave 
back to the community as richly and generously in his personal life as 
he did in his career, serving--in addition to positions on a variety of 
aviation-related boards--as president of the Queens Council of the Boy 
Scouts of America.
  Madam Speaker, Bill DeCota was a public servant of the highest order; 
humble, capable and knowledgeable. I rise today to applaud his 
achievements, mourn his passing, and express my heartfelt condolences 
to his friends, family and coworkers. New Jersey, and the country, are 
poorer for having lost him.

                          ____________________