Tammy Duckworth

This problem has even affected U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, whose wheelchair was damaged by the airlines several times.

Please allow me to dispute your statement that the gap introduced by P.L. 111-216, degrades a pilot's preparation for regional airlines.

I do not consider reducing or eliminating an entire sector of the industry to be a tolerable solution.

While conducting the Pilot Source Study in 2015, our teams interviewed training and operations managers who educated us on the issues they face.

The question of potential safety ramifications deserves more attention from Congress.

Based on 45 years in aviation, I can confirm that the conditions you mentioned are possibly a deterrent to pilots aspiring to be regional airline pilots.

I urge you to obtain testimony from directors of training or flight operations at regional airlines who are truly cognizant of your principal concern--safety.

Salary was the most influential to attract new pilots to an airline career.

Would you also concur that this project is a textbook example of the type of investments Congress intended to support when it created the FASTLANE program in late 2015?

I strongly believe that CREATE could serve as a model to be copied throughout the Nation.

I think the data point that people are always astonished to hear--I'm speaking to your 25 percent trying to get through Chicago--is that it takes freight cargo 48 hours to get from the Port of LA to Chicago, and then another 30 hours just…

Our machinists are aging out. The average age for a machinist in our plants is in their 50s, late 50s, and we don't have the next generation ready to come in.

I'm deeply concerned that you have said that you will--that you support the President's 17 percent cut to DOT.

I find your support for this budget with the significant cuts deeply concerning.

I was very alarmed by the President's budget blueprint for 2018, where he seeks to cut the Department of Transportation's budget by about 13 percent.

I would like to work with all of you in making sure many of the medium-sized communities in my State are not left out.

Without this program, their ability to guarantee public sewer and wastewater systems would be impaired.

I understand the Trump administration has promised eliminating a key program for rural communities, the USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

I believe that infrastructure issues broadly can be a bright spot of bipartisanship for this Subcommittee and our full Committee as well as Congress.

I do agree that airport infrastructure is a win-win for American aviation manufacturers, the tourism industry, and just general job creation.

I proudly represent the state of Illinois, home of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.

I strongly support the Airport Improvement Program's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.

Requiring cyber insurance for the producer could result in an increase cost of production.

We have to be proactive in addressing the growing cyber threats we face.

I would like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for convening this very important hearing.