Haley Stevens: “this is the Wendell Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act, as Chairman McCain just pointed out. I see…”

“this is the Wendell Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act, as Chairman McCain just pointed out. I see my good friend from Kentucky is here. I think that this is an act that should be named after the Senator from Kentucky because of his long service on the Commerce Committee and particularly on the Aviation Subcommittee. Our Nation has come through a very interesting period during the time that Wendell Ford has been Senator from Kentucky--a total revolution in aviation and a concentration on safety and improvement of our airway system. Wendell Ford has been a leader in that effort. This bill signifies the totality of what he has done for the aviation community. I come to the floor today, because, as I believe most Members of the Senate know, Alaska is completely dependent upon air transportation. Over 70 percent of our communities can only be reached by air year-round. We believe in the safety of that system. I have been pleased to have the honor to be able to work with the Senator from Kentucky on a whole series of matters dealing with operations, with safety, and with the maintenance of the airways system, and in particularly with the development of air transportation facilities on the ground.”