Norton, Lynch, Quigley, and Suozzi Lead Quiet Skies Caucus Request that Community Members Be Eligible to Serve on NextGen Advisory Committee

October 26, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Quiet Skies Caucus (QSC) Co-Chairs Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Vice Chairs Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) led QSC members in sending a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg expressing disappointment that candidates from groups that represent communities living under NextGen corridors appeared to be ineligible to apply to fill current and future vacancies on the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC). The members requested that, if correct, the solicitation for nomination be reopened and that such individuals be made eligible.

"As members of the QSC, we are deeply concerned about the impact of aviation noise on the health and quality of life of our constituents," the letter said. "We believe candidates from groups representing communities that live under NextGen corridors should have been eligible for current and future NAC vacancies."

The letter follows.

October 21, 2022

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg

Secretary

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

As members of the Quiet Skies Caucus (QSC), we write to express our disappointment that candidates from groups representing communities that live under NextGen corridors appear to have been ineligible to apply to fill current and future vacancies on the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC). If our understanding is correct, we request that you reopen the solicitation for nomination and make such individuals eligible.

According to the solicitation for nomination for appointment to the NAC published in the Federal Register (2022-17680), eligible candidates had to, among other things, "currently serve as a senior executive and corporate officer in an aviation organization with equities in air traffic management and aircraft equipment modernization to provide advice on the integration and operationalization of NextGen programs and associate technologies." This would appear to exclude candidates from groups representing communities that live under NextGen corridors.

In an April 20, 2022, letter many of us sent to you, we requested that the NAC be expanded to include five seats designated for representatives of communities that live under NextGen corridors. On June 6, 2022, Federal Aviation Administration Acting Assistant Administrator for NextGen Paul Fontaine rejected that request.

As members of the QSC, we are deeply concerned about the impact of aviation noise on the health and quality of life of our constituents. We believe candidates from groups representing communities that live under NextGen corridors should have been eligible for current and future NAC vacancies. We request a response to this letter by November 3, 2022.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton Stephen F. Lynch