PATERSON—U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s misguided attempt to auction takeoff and landing slots at Newark Liberty Airport and other regional airports:

“The Bush Administration is defying the public will, airports, airlines and even the law to impose an untested experiment that may actually increase the cost of flying for middle-class families in our metropolitan area.  I thought the Government Accountability Office was very clear last week when it concluded that the FAA lacks any authority to begin experimenting with auctions at our regional airports.  I’m appalled by the Administration’s attempt to go above the law and ramrod a flawed policy experiment onto runways in New Jersey and New York.

“As a former member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I know a thing or two about airport congestion and how directly it is impacted by the performance of America’s air traffic control system.  The right way to reduce to congestion is through an investment in modernized technology and employee training at our busiest airports.”          

On August 10, 2008, Pascrell united the entire New Jersey Congressional Delegation in a letter to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters opposing the proposal.  A copy of the letter is included as an attachment.

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