For Release: Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO STATEMENT ON SECRETARY PETERS' ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEW YORK AIRSPACE PLANS

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today issued the following statement following the announcement by DOT Secretary Mary Peters and Acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell outlining actions to be taken in the New York airspace to reduce congestion and delays:

“The Aviation Subcommittee has been urging the Bush administration to take action to address the problem of congestion and delays all year, so I am pleased that the Secretary and Acting Administrator have acted on our suggestions. The FAA Reauthorization bill that passed the House this fall contains provisions that require the FAA to take action when there is evidence of overscheduling of flights. Our bill also makes the investments necessary to begin the process of modernizing our air traffic control system, which is an essential step in creating new capacity that will help alleviate congestion. The most important short-term step we can take to address the problems of congestion and delays is for the Senate to pass its FAA reauthorization bill and get a final bill enacted into law early next year.”

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