Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Graves for his leadership. This is not an easy bill that is done every day, and it is something that is essential to the safety and security of our country as well as the advancement of all the good economic policies that we have. Mr. Chairman, as one of the only two commercial pilots in Congress with three-plus decades in the air, I understand very personally the importance of having a strong FAA reauthorization bill. While this bill makes critical investments that benefit the flying public and aviators alike, I have significant concerns about several amendments made in order by the Rules Committee, especially one aimed squarely at Michigan's First District and other rural areas that eliminate the Essential Air Service, and I implore all Members to oppose McClintock amendment No. 62. However, what was left out of the bill is far more concerning than what was put into it. My amendment, which has broad bipartisan support, would simply allow for a debate and vote on a critically important topic regarding unproductive pilot retirement age changes in the underlying bill. However, the powers that be pulled out all the stops to silence dissent and shield the American public from a debate they know they can't win. For these reasons, Mr. Chairman, I will be voting ``no'' on H.R. 3935.”