Date: 2011-09-13
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 2887. the Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011. I am glad to see that a clean authorization could be reached. but there are important issues that must be considered in the future. Prior to H.R. 658. the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act being sent to the Senate. I offered an amendment to establish a mandate that at the top twenty United States airports. there shall be no fewer than three air traffic controllers on duty during periods of airfield operations. I firmly believe this provision will ensure that air traffic control towers at high volume airports in this country will be appropriately staffed at all times. We have all heard the recent stories of air traffic controllers falling asleep. or being locked out of the control tower. or for whatever reason. not being able to be on the job. on duty at critical times. I submit that by simply having a codified policy that at the busiest and most critical airports we mandate there be personnel redundancy in control towers. we can make the aviation system much safer. Think about the people on planes flying across our country. They are our grandmothers. husbands. wives. and babies. They are American passengers and their lives have value. To ensure their safety we must insist that air traffic controllers are vigilant. To ensure their vigilance we must set reasonable minimum standards. After 9/11. we discovered the vital importance of protecting our domestic airspace. Air traffic controllers are part of the front line of defense to protect and ensure the safety of our air space. If they lose contact with a plane. they can alert authorities. If an air traffic controller at a major domestic and international airport is asleep at the wheel who will make that call? It is unfair to put the lives of American passengers at high volume airports at any time in the hands of one individual. who may at some point be incapacitated. Even pilots have copilots. What if the controller fell ill? What then? What would you tell those passengers on the plane? Hope for the best? We need to provide the support that air traffic controllers need in addition to the responsibility. This language I support creates a mandate. that at all times there must be a minimum of three air traffic controllers in the tower during hours of airfield operation. I commend Secretary LaHood for ordering a second air traffic controller to be on duty overnight at National Airport. However. the Secretarys action simply evidences that there is no current mandate for multiple air traffic controllers. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. most airports operate 24 hours a day with two controllers in the tower for the midnightto6 a.m. shift. The operative word is "most". we must act to create a uniform nationwide standard. verifiable and enforceable by the FAA. This legislation extends the funding for surface transportation through March. and aviation through January. As we move forward and prepare to consider this legislation in the coming months. it is my hope that my colleagues will consider these important provisions. Increasing the number of air traffic controllers on duty is a simple way to keep the American people safe. I am pleased to pass a clean extension of funding for our Nations surface transportation and aviation networks. I will continue to advocate for an increased number of air traffic controllers as Congress returns to this issue in the next session.