Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ Amendment to Protect Jobs of Air Traffic Controllers Included in FAA Reauthorization
March 26, 2010
Last night, the House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through H.R. 1586, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. The bill funds the FAA with $53.5 billion through FY 2012, and includes important safety provisions for pilots, air traffic controllers, passengers and the environment.
H.R. 1586 includes an amendment authored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) to prohibit consolidation of the FAA's regional offices and air traffic control facilities without congressional oversight and public comment. One of the nine regional FAA offices, the Western-Pacific Regional Office, is located in Hawthorne, a city in Congresswoman Waters' district. This office serves all of Southern California, including LAX.
"LAX is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, and this bill will help to protect the safety of passengers, crew and the surrounding communities in my district," said Congresswoman Waters. "I'm especially pleased that the bill includes over $10 billion for air traffic control modernization, including accelerating NextGen's implementation, and that it includes provisions to the protect the jobs of air traffic controllers."
Congresswoman Waters has long been a champion for air traffic controllers, specifically fighting to prevent office consolidation in the Los Angeles area that would result in the loss of many local jobs. She was recently honored by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association with "Champion for Aviation Safety Award."
NextGen – the Next Generation Air Transportation System – is a plan to bring air traffic control in the U.S. from a ground operation to a satellite operation, greatly increasing the safety and security of our nation's airports and aircraft and decreasing ground and air traffic congestion. H.R. 1586 would accelerate NextGen's implementation date.
###
H.R. 1586 includes an amendment authored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) to prohibit consolidation of the FAA's regional offices and air traffic control facilities without congressional oversight and public comment. One of the nine regional FAA offices, the Western-Pacific Regional Office, is located in Hawthorne, a city in Congresswoman Waters' district. This office serves all of Southern California, including LAX.
"LAX is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, and this bill will help to protect the safety of passengers, crew and the surrounding communities in my district," said Congresswoman Waters. "I'm especially pleased that the bill includes over $10 billion for air traffic control modernization, including accelerating NextGen's implementation, and that it includes provisions to the protect the jobs of air traffic controllers."
Congresswoman Waters has long been a champion for air traffic controllers, specifically fighting to prevent office consolidation in the Los Angeles area that would result in the loss of many local jobs. She was recently honored by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association with "Champion for Aviation Safety Award."
NextGen – the Next Generation Air Transportation System – is a plan to bring air traffic control in the U.S. from a ground operation to a satellite operation, greatly increasing the safety and security of our nation's airports and aircraft and decreasing ground and air traffic congestion. H.R. 1586 would accelerate NextGen's implementation date.
###
Issues:
43rd District