Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. COTTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to pass this measure to stop President Obama's needless furlough of air traffic controllers. Further, this legislation empowers the FAA to restore funding to 150 towers operated by private contractors around the country.

The FAA furloughs have received most of the media attention this week, but we shouldn't overlook the role these contractor-operated towers play in our Nation's aviation infrastructure in communities like Texarkana, Arkansas. These airports handle almost 30 percent of all aviation traffic, providing vital relief to some of our most congested airports.

The importance of these towers can't be overstated, which is why earlier this year I introduced legislation with 59 bipartisan cosponsors to restore the funding for these towers. I am confident the FAA will use the authority of this bill not only to end the needless furloughs, but also to restore funding for these essential contractor-operated air traffic control towers.

Again, I want to thank my colleagues for their support for this measure.

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