On the recordFebruary 28, 2017
My second amendment to the SCRUB Act would protect the countless citizens, including many of my own constituents, who depend on airport noise restrictions to sleep through the night or learn uninterrupted in school. Thousands of my constituents near O'Hare International Airport benefit from these restrictions, as do the millions of people that live near major airports across the country. As the father of a 10-month-old baby girl, I can speak from experience to the value of an uninterrupted night of sleep. Many FAA noise rules are the product of careful discussions between airports and local authorities. While noise restrictions have a slight economic impact on air carriers, the economic benefit to surrounding communities more than outweighs this. The unelected commission created by this bill should not have the ability to overturn restrictions that have been carefully considered by local governments, the FAA, and airport officials. Without FAA noise restrictions, people and businesses would suffer, Mr. Chairman. This would decrease property values in my district, make it harder for people to start a business, and have a negative effect on people's health. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
