IN SUPPORT OF SAFETY AND INTEGRITY IN THE NATION’S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

            WHEREAS, the nation’s air traffic control system is critical to preventing collisions between aircraft in flight and on the ground, organizing and expediting the flow of traffic, and providing information and other support for pilots; and

            WHEREAS, the mandatory across-the-board cuts of the federal sequester threatened to furlough thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, shut down 149 smaller private contract towers, and eliminate the midnight shift at 72 publicly operated control towers nationwide; and

            WHEREAS, the economic and national security stability of the nation would have been compromised as a result of these impacts; and

            WHEREAS, Congress intervened and passed the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, which allowed the FAA to shift funds to prevent the furloughs and planned control tower closures; and

            WHEREAS, on May 8, the FAA announced that it had decided not pursue the elimination of midnight shifts at FAA towers for the remainder of FY13; and

            WHEREAS, on May 10, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the FAA would allow the 149 low activity contract towers originally slated for closure in June to remain open for the remainder of FY13,

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors applauds the efforts of Mayors, Congress, the Administration, and other stakeholder groups to prevent these furloughs and tower closures which would have had a truly negative impact on local aviation and jobs; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges Congress and the Administration to work towards a solution that ensures the long-   term viability of our nation’s air traffic control system, and eliminates the threat of future closures for hundreds of air traffic control towers across the country.