Braley Continues Effort to Keep Dubuque Air Traffic Control Tower Open

Press Release

Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today continued his effort to prevent the closing of the Dubuque air traffic control tower, urging Congressional leaders and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to explain how current safety standards could be maintained if the tower were to close.

"My two priorities are the safety of Dubuque-area passengers, and ensuring that they maintain an appropriate level of service," Braley said. "The Department of Transportation needs to explain how closing this tower won't compromise those priorities, and until they do I'm going to do what I can to prevent it."

In a letter to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee, Braley argued that the DOT has been unable to provide proof that the closing of air traffic control towers, which could include the tower at the Dubuque airports, wouldn't compromise passenger safety. The Appropriations Committee is currently considering federal funding for the FY2015 budget.

"The Department of Transportation has yet to provide evidence for a need to close any contract air traffic control tower, or proof that such closure would not compromise the safety of our skies," Braley wrote.

Braley has consistently advocated for Iowa's air traffic control towers and fought to keep the Dubuque air traffic control tower safe from closure through fiscal year 2013.

Last April, Braley joined two Republican representatives to introduce legislation restoring funding to keep air traffic control towers open that had been slated for closure by the FAA. Braley also wrote to the FAA to protest the possible closure of the Dubuque, Waterloo, and Sioux City air traffic control towers and urging the FAA to consider alternatives to closing those towers.

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