Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Congressman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) submitted a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood calling on the Department of Transportation to use unobligated funds to prevent the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers, including the tower at Broward County's North Perry Airport. The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, which Congress passed last week and President Obama signed into law earlier this week, enables Secretary LaHood to take action to save these towers, which were slated for closure due to the sequester.
80 Members of Congress--representing both parties and diverse regions of the country--signed the letter authored by Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Goodlatte.
In the letter, Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Goodlatte wrote that "maintaining service at all contract air towers is intrinsic to the authority granted in this law to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system."
"Towers like North Perry are not only essential for passengers. They're also critical for flight training, public safety, and jobs," Congresswoman Wilson added. "I am committed to saving the tower at North Perry and towers around the nation."
"Airports, communities, air traffic controllers, and pilots from across the country are very grateful for this exceptionally strong bipartisan support," said Spencer Dickerson, Executive Director of the U.S. Contract Tower Association. "We hope this will keep the 149 contract towers open and the safeguard the significant safety benefits these towers provide the American people."