Quigley, Durbin, Schakowsky, Duckworth Announce $20 Million for Noise Mitigation for O’Hare Area Homeowners
CHICAGO – U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), co-founder of the Quiet Skies Caucus, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) announced $20 million in federal funding for aircraft noise mitigation efforts near O’Hare International Airport. The funding, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will help soundproof residences with noise levels between 65 and 69 DNL.
“I am pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking steps to provide some relief to residents around O’Hare Airport by awarding new funds for residential sound proofing in the surrounding communities,” said Rep. Quigley. “I will continue working with my congressional colleagues, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the FAA to help reduce and distribute aircraft noise because I believe that O’Hare can be both a good neighbor and an economic engine for Chicago and Illinois.”
“This welcome investment by the FAA will improve the quality of life of O’Hare area residents. I am pleased by today’s announcement, and I will continue to work to bring federal resources to Chicago’s airports and the communities that surround them,” said Senator Durbin.
“I often hear concerns from constituents in the 9th Congressional District who are negatively impacted by aircraft noise from O’Hare International Airport,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “Together with Sen. Durbin, Rep. Quigley, Rep. Duckworth and other members of the Illinois delegation, I have worked hard to address these concerns, and I am pleased to see the FAA providing $20,000,000 to help additional noise mitigation efforts. This funding will help bring much needed relief.”
“I’ve spent years working to alleviate the damaging quality of life and health effects that O’Hare noise pollution has on my neighbors. Today, I’m proud to announce this infusion of federal funds which will help provide relief to countless families living in communities surrounding our state’s world-class transportation hub,” said Rep. Duckworth.
O’Hare International Airport became a part of Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District in January 2013. Since then, Rep. Quigley has met continuously with neighborhood organizations and aviation officials to discuss solutions to increased noise pollution resulting from the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP). In a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this year, Rep. Quigley pressured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta to commit to taking actions to protect residents and their property around O'Hare International Airport from aircraft noise. He and other Illinois representatives released a statement in response to the Chicago Department of Aviation’s (CDA) plans to mitigate O’Hare noise after a previous letter was sent to the organization pushing them to address practical solutions to noise complaints. Rep. Quigley joined other members of the Quiet Skies Caucus in a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with recommendations for the FAA 2015 Reauthorization Act that would help address the harmful impacts of aircraft noise on communities across the country. In May 2015, he secured language in the FY16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill mandating the FAA develop short and long-term measures to mitigate excessive airplane noise experienced by local communities around O’Hare International Airport. In Congress, Rep. Quigley helped create the Quiet Skies Caucus and introduced the Silent Skies Act to help combat aircraft noise on a national level.
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