Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) voted against today’s Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) four-year funding reauthorization because of the inclusion of the FAA’s New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace Redesign plan.  Rep. Engel has been fighting against this plan since it became public back in 2007.  He joined Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) to introduce an amendment to require the FAA to study alternatives to the redesign to reduce delays at the four airports of the region.  It would also have prohibited the FAA from continuing the implementation of the redesign until the study is submitted to Congress. 

Despite bipartisan backing, the amendment did not receive enough support for adoption, with 120 votes.  The complete reauthorization passed the full House on Friday.  Rep. Engel spoke on the House floor in favor of his amendment – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhUAWInP6ww

“I am very disappointed that the common sense amendment I presented with Rep. Garrett did not pass, and I am even more disappointed that the full four-year reauthorization passed permitting funding for the FAA and their deeply flawed airspace redesign plan.  Nevertheless, I am continuing to seek a legislative solution to this proposal which has troubled the people of Rockland County since it was announced in 2007. 

“This flight plan was thrust upon us, with no input sought from Rockland residents who will suffer the most from additional 200-400 daily over-flights, with their increased and continual noise.  The FAA tried to sneak this past Rockland residents, and their elected representatives, by not holding public hearings in Rockland, but quietly holding them in surrounding communities.  The FAA has never acted in good faith with the people of Rockland, and that continues to this day.

“I protested the plan from the beginning, and will continue protesting the FAA's flawed strategy.  Back in 2007, I held a forum in Rockland with FAA officials and over 1,200 residents came out to speak in opposition.  Those voices are still speaking out against it.  While the courts ruled in favor of the FAA last year, I am continuing to seek a solution to this problem.

“Rockland County deserves better than to be ignored and have its way of life diminished.  If the FAA is willing to listen and truly discuss what could be done to improve flight times without requiring the people of Rockland County to shoulder the load, then I am ready to sit across from them to make it happen.

“Until then, I will continue to fight on behalf of the people of Rockland County.”

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