[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6342]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 STATEMENT ON H.R. 658, THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
amendment offered by my colleagues Messrs. Garret, Engel, Andrews, and 
Himes.
  Since the publication of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 
``preferred alternative'' for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia 
Metropolitan Airspace Redesign project, I have sponsored and 
cosponsored several similar amendments that have sought to rectify this 
deeply flawed project that will increase aircraft noise over Northern 
New Jersey.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress and the New Jersey legislature, I 
have been a staunch advocate for reducing aircraft noise. I have 
attended dozens of public hearings, had meetings with officials from 
the FAA, and responded to thousands of calls from constituents whose 
lives have been affected by existing air traffic patterns and related 
noise.
  While the safety of passengers is paramount, and the vitality of the 
air transport system is important, people on the ground have a right to 
a quality of life with a minimum exposure to aircraft noise overhead.
  I understand the need for improving the efficiency of our Nation's 
aviation infrastructure to better accommodate the high demand for 
flights.
  However, the FAA has continually turned a ``deaf ear'' to the issue 
of aircraft noise, which affects all citizens on the ground, regardless 
of whether they travel by plane or not.
  Again, I have long fought against such noise increases. In 
particular, I strongly opposed the FAA's original redesign proposal in 
2005, which would have had substantial noise increases throughout the 
New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas.
  The FAA's amended plan included some noise reductions from their 
original proposal, but did not go far enough.
  Now, despite strong opposition from Members of Congress and citizens 
throughout the region, the FAA is plowing ahead with its redesign plan, 
despite its flaws with respect to increased aircraft noise exposure. 
The FAA must cease this flawed redesign plan and come back to the 
drawing board to develop a proposal that strikes the proper balance 
between airspace efficiency and preventing noise increases, as well as 
any other environmental impacts.
  I urge the FAA to carefully consider alternatives that accomplish 
this goal. We must not forget about the ``silent majority'' of 
constituents on the ground!
  I urge support for this amendment and any effort to reduce the impact 
of aircraft noise above New Jersey.

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