Improving rail transportation should be part of every well-planned regional strategy. In the past nine years, we have seen unprecedented growth in the number of passengers and the amount of air cargo. In the year 2000, almost 700 million passengers flew in the U.S., an increase of almost 43 percent in the last nine years. Some of you who experienced a delay getting to D.C. this week or on other recent trips know what I m talking about. The aviation industry today employs more than 700,000 people.
Aviation contributes to the creation of jobs in virtually every sector of the economy.
The Administration is extremely concerned about aviation delays and congestion, and we will work with the aviation community and the Congress over the next year to develop a plan of action for improving the air traffic system. The federal government will be seeking better ways to meet the challenges of air traffic control. Applying new information and other technologies is one answer. The delays and gridlock we are experiencing worldwide are a sure sign that we need to do something to make the movement of people and goods more efficient, more innovative and, most importantly, safe. And, I appreciate President Bush's wonderful invitation to play a role in finding solutions to our transportation challenges.