Political Quotes

“I rise today to support S. 3661, the Wright Amendment Reform Act of 2006. I'd like to thank Chairman Young, Mr. Mica, Mr. Oberstar, and Mr. Johnson for their hard work on getting legislative agreement on repealing the Wright amendment. I know there was a lot of 'give and take' on both sides to reach this legislative agreement. In particular, Ms. Johnson has been a leader on this matter and she should be commended for her hard work. Without her persistence, we would not be here today. This legislation seeks to fully repeal the Wright amendment, with several conditions. In 1979, the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth came together and reached an agreement to have one regional airport--Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, DFW--thus restricting service at other local airports. This local agreement was codified by congressional action known as the Wright amendment. The Wright amendment was a logical step when enacted in 1979. It brought stability to the north Texas air market. As a result, I have supported the Wright amendment as a way to enhance DFW's growth and development. The airport has done its part by fueling the region's economy. However, today, DFW is far from a small regional airport.”