Hartzler Votes to Give FAA Authority to Fully Restore Funding for Airport Control Towers

Statement

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) has voted to shift funds within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) budget to reinforce Congress' desire to keep the flying public safe. It will now be up to the Obama Administration to determine whether contract control towers in Columbia and elsewhere will be spared.

"We hope the Obama Administration and the FAA will see fit to use the authority they have been given to keep open the airport control towers in Columbia and more than 140 other airports across the country," said Hartzler. "The traveling public and the hard-working air traffic controllers in Columbia should not have to suffer as a result of poor spending decisions."

"I have advocated for quite some time that the FAA make smarter choices as to where to make cuts resulting from the sequester," continued Hartzler. "I would have preferred specific language requiring the FAA to keep open the contract towers, but this bill at least forces the FAA to prioritize its spending to avoid further furloughs and prevent the closure of control towers."

The bill permits the FAA to transfer $253 million from the current fiscal year to air traffic control salaries and expenses.

Congresswoman Hartzler serves on the House Budget, Agriculture, and Armed Services Committee.

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