Michael Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Huerta:
I am pleased President Barack Obama recently signed legislation into law that gives the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flexibility to move money between accounts and ameliorate the sequestration's effects on air travel.
In my March 15, 2013 correspondence, I outlined the national and local economic importance of continued operation of the Federal Control Towers at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) and Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) whose funding was scheduled to be cut on June 15th. It is with this in mind that I urge you to use the new flexibility granted to you to restore funding for the Federal Control Towers and ensure the safe continuation of flights at these airports.
These airports represent more than $200 million of business revenue and more than 2500 jobs. Their closure would result in planes being diverted to already overcrowded Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), would adversely affect the controlled airspace around Camp David and reduce landing options for Air Force One.
Our job in Congress is not yet done. Sequestration still affects many important programs like Head Start and components of our social safety net. Our federal workers face furloughs and our economy is suffering due to Congress's inability to come together and compromise on a solution. I voted for this bill because I think sequestration is the wrong approach to solving our budget problems, and will continue to advocate replacing the rest of sequestration. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing air traffic, and the economic benefits it brings, return to a state of normalcy.
I appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your response on the continued operations of the Federal Control Towers.
Sincerely,
John K Delaney