On the recordApril 26, 2018
I thank Ranking Member DeFazio and Chairman Shuster. Our families have some history, but I also appreciate your friendship and leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 4. My amendment will ensure that the FAA studies alternative ways to measure sound over a period of time, such as actual noise sampling, to properly capture the experience of those on the ground. I offer this amendment for my constituents in Carmel Valley to Capitola to Santa Cruz. Those are people who lived in communities that were once quiet until the FAA NextGen changed the routes over their houses back in 2015. Their health, their sleep, their pets, their well- being were all affected by the sound of jet engines, air brakes, and landing gear. I appreciate the work that FAA has done to get us close to quieter skies in my community, as well as the Select Committee on these issues and their work with the FAA. However, like many Members who have districts who have faced these types of airplane noise concerns, I believe that the existing day-night level 65-decibel standard is out of date, out of touch, and inadequate to measure the amount of sound pollution impacting our communities. My amendment would ensure not just alternative ways, but proper ways to study noise sampling. I appreciate the committee for including this amendment en bloc.
