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Norton to Speak on Conference Call with Groups Opposing Privatization of the Air Traffic Control System, Today

January 26, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, will join advocates, who are presenting 115,000 signed petitions to Congress, on a conference call opposing privatization of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system in the next reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today, Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. Advocate groups on the conference call will discuss plans to travel to Capitol Hill to deliver a petition to Congress from 115,000 Americans who oppose the privatization of the ATC.

“An FAA reauthorization bill that includes severing and privatizing Air Traffic Control has not emerged, but, as petitions submitted today from the public demonstrate, the long suspense has understandably fed fears for public safety, loss and downgrading of middle class jobs, and increased costs passed on to passengers—unacceptable tradeoffs,” Norton said. “As a Member who once practiced constitutional law, I seriously question whether Congress can constitutionally delegate air traffic control to a private, even non-profit, entity. Yet, there is considerable frustration about the dysfunction of the current FAA, which has been repeatedly victimized by the chronic delays and cuts in the appropriations process even before the dangerous sequester cuts. We are long past due for serious discussions between Democrats and Republicans that could produce a bill that would pass both the House and Senate.”

WHO

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

Chris Bowers, Executive Campaign Director, Daily Kos

Andrea Miller, Co-Executive Director and IT Director, People Demanding Action

Susan Harley, Deputy Director, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division

Olivia Alperstein, Communications and Policy Associate, Progressive Congress

WHAT

Conference call opposing ATC privatization

WHERE

Conference Call Dial-In Number: 1-(888)-632-3382

Conference ID: AAATP

WHEN

Today

January 26, 2016

12:30 p.m.

Conference line opens at 12:15 p.m.