89–008 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 111–543 

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OF THE UNITED STATES MAKE TO KEEP THE TRAVELING PUBLIC SAFE AND THE AIRSPACE OF THE UNITED STATES RUNNING EFFICIENTLY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

JULY 15, 2010.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 1401] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the resolution (H. Res. 1401) expressing gratitude for 

the contributions that the air traffic controllers of the United 

States make to keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of 

the United States running efficiently, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the resolution as amended be agreed 

to. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following: 

That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses gratitude for the contributions that the air traffic controllers of 

the United States make to keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of 

the United States running efficiently; 

(2) commends air traffic controllers for the calm and professional manner in 

which they handle air traffic, day and night, throughout the year; 

(3) acknowledges the heroic actions, dedication, and quick and skilled decisionmaking that air traffic controllers employ to help avert many accidents and 

tragedies; and 

(4) encourages greater investment in the modernization of the air traffic control system of the United States so that air traffic controllers have the resources 

and technology needed to better carry out their mission, both in the air and on 

the ground, as air travel continues to grow. 

Amend the preamble to read as follows: 

Whereas air traffic controllers dedicate themselves to the protection of the flying 

public; 

Whereas air traffic controllers react to dangerous and complex situations on a daily 

basis, doing so in a calm and professional manner; 

Whereas air traffic controllers work all day long and all year long, including holidays, to provide services to aircraft in their assigned airspaces; 


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Whereas, due to the highly stressful and demanding nature of the job and the total 

concentration required, air traffic controllers are required to take regular 30- 

minute breaks, work in shifts, and retire by the age of 56; 

Whereas air traffic controllers perform courageous acts every day; 

Whereas, on January 1, 2009, air traffic controller Kristin Danninger at the Madison, Wisconsin, Tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control (‘‘TRACON’’) facility directed a new pilot back on course and above minimum altitude who had 

been stuck in the clouds in a small aircraft with zero visibility, successfully 

using her knowledge of local geography to point out a highway that led the pilot 

to the appropriate runway; 

Whereas, on March 29, 2009, air traffic controller Troy Decker at the Salt Lake 

Center facility guided a Piper Aztec aircraft with an engine fire to a safe landing in Butte, Montana, providing detailed weather reports for several possible 

landing options; 

Whereas, on April 12, 2009, air traffic controllers Jessica Anaya, Lisa Grimm, Nathan Henkels, Dan Favio, Brian Norton, and Carey Meadows at the Miami Center facility and the Fort Myers Tower and TRACON facility guided to safety a 

twin-engine King Air aircraft after the pilot died in-flight, assisting Doug White, 

an individual with limited private pilot experience in smaller aircraft, to locate 

the positions of controls and switches on the aircraft and to navigate the hightraffic area of southern Florida; 

Whereas, on June 28, 2009, air traffic controller Ron Chappell at the Southern California TRACON facility issued a traffic advisory to a jet aircraft landing at Los 

Angeles after viewing another target on his radar screen that was at an unknown altitude and approaching the jet, circumstances that bore a similarity to 

a 1986 mid-air collision over Cerritos, California; 

Whereas, on July 5, 2009, air traffic controller Louis Ridley at the Potomac 

TRACON facility assisted a Velocity aircraft stuck above a cloud layer to navigate through perilous mountain terrain with limited fuel remaining and, while 

doing so, reassured the pilot, gave detailed flight and weather information, determined the best airport for a safe approach and landing, and even had his 

wife, Carolyn, greet the pilot after the pilot landed in Culpeper, Virginia; 

Whereas, on October 9, 2009, air traffic controllers Kevin Plante and Christopher 

Presley in Portland, Maine, helped guide an aircraft that had become stuck in 

rapidly deteriorating weather conditions by employing, with daylight waning 

and the aircraft near mountainous terrain, a road map to direct the pilot to 

Portland using several highways, lakes, and towns as guides; 

Whereas, on November 14, 2009, air traffic controller Jessica Hermsdorfer at the 

Kansas City Tower and TRACON facility calmly helped guide back to the airport an Airbus 319 aircraft that had hit multiple birds and experienced engine 

trouble, directing other aircraft out of the way and assisting the stricken flight 

to land safely; 

Whereas, on December 7, 2009, air traffic controllers Natasha Hodge and Douglas 

Wynkoop at the Dallas TRACON facility worked as a team to assist a confused 

and disoriented pilot of an experimental aircraft, redirecting other aircraft in 

the area and suggesting an approach into Navy Fort Worth for the pilot, which 

resulted in a successful landing; 

Whereas, on December 20, 2009, air traffic controllers Todd Lamb at the Anchorage 

Center facility and Michael Evans at the Fairbanks Flight Service Station ensured a safe landing for a Cessna aircraft that was experiencing smoke in the 

cockpit, as Mr. Evans was able to assist the pilot in locating a narrow dirt trail 

which was the only safe landing spot in the area and Mr. Lamb helped a second 

aircraft locate the downed plane’s position; 

Whereas approximately 15,600 Federal air traffic controllers, in airport traffic control towers, terminal radar approach control facilities, and air route traffic control centers, guide planes through the airspace of the United States; 

Whereas approximately an additional 1,250 civilian contract controllers and more 

than 9,000 military controllers also provide air traffic services; 

Whereas, from fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2009, according to the Federal Aviation 

Administration (‘‘FAA’’) there have been 94,600,000 successful flights of United 

States commercial aircraft safely carrying more than 6,340,000,000 passengers; 

Whereas air traffic controllers provide separation services over the entire airspace 

of the United States and 24,600,000 square miles of international oceanic airspace; 

Whereas, as of May 22, 2010, the FAA operated 315 air traffic control facilities and 

the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in the United States; 

Whereas, in the past 5 years, the FAA has hired more than 7,500 air traffic controllers in order to meet continuously changing traffic volumes and workload; and 


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Whereas air traffic controllers are facing staffing challenges, with an aging workforce and a wave of retirements: Now, therefore, be it 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H. Res. 1401, as amended, expresses gratitude for the contributions that the air traffic controllers of the United States make to 

keep the traveling public safe and the airspace of the United States 

running efficiently, and for other purposes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Air traffic controllers are responsible for ensuring the safety of 

approximately two million aviation passengers a day by providing 

separation services to aircraft operating in the national airspace 

system. Air traffic controllers react to highly complex and sometimes dangerous situations on a daily basis. Due to the highly 

stressful nature of the job, which requires total concentration, air 

traffic controllers must retire by age 56. 

There are currently more than 15,600 controllers at air traffic 

control facilities across the country and at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic System Command Center in Herndon, Virginia. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

H. Res. 1401, as amended, expresses gratitude for the contributions that U.S. air traffic controllers make to keep the traveling 

public safe and the U.S. airspace running efficiently. 

H. Res. 1401 commends air traffic controllers for the calm and 

professional manner in which they ensure separation of air traffic. 

H. Res. 1401 also acknowledges air traffic controllers’ heroic action, 

dedication, and quick and skillful decision-making, including nine 

separate incidents where controllers saved many lives. Furthermore, the resolution encourages greater investment in the modernization of the nation’s air traffic control system to ensure that 

air traffic controllers have the resources and technology needed to 

better carry out their mission as air travel continues to grow. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On May 26, 2010, Representative Carolyn McCarthy introduced 

H. Res. 1401. This resolution has not been introduced in a previous 

Congress. On July 1, 2010, the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 1401. The 

Committee adopted an amendment to the bill by voice vote with a 

quorum present. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ordered H. Res. 1401, as amended, reported favorably to the 

House by a voice vote with a quorum present. 

RECORD VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires each committee report to include the total number of 

votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to report 

and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the 

names of those members voting for and against. There were no recorded votes taken in connection with consideration of H. Res. 1401 

or ordering the resolution reported. A motion to order H. Res. 1401, 


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as amended, reported favorably to the House was agreed to by 

voice vote with a quorum present. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

With respect to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, H. Res. 1401, as amended, is a resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore does not have 

the force of law. As such, there is no cost associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2010, or any fiscal year thereafter. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and section 308(a) of 

the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee advises that 

the resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding, so no 

comparison of the total estimated funding level for the relevant 

programs to the appropriate levels under current law is required. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance goals and objectives for 

any measure that authorizes funding is required. 

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee advises that the 

resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding, so no cost 

estimate nor comparison for any measure that authorizes funding 

is required. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits, 

as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives. H. Res. 1401, as amended, does not 

contain any earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits under clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

With respect to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, H. Res. 1401, as amended, is a resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore does not have 

the force of law. As such, clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

H. Res. 1401, as amended, contains no Federal mandates. 


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PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H. Res. 1401, as amended, does not preempt any state, local, 

or tribal law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Res. 1401, as amended, makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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