J. Exon: “I salute the great safety record of the Federal Aviation Administration. Certainly, if you look at the record, you will…”

“I salute the great safety record of the Federal Aviation Administration. Certainly, if you look at the record, you will see that with the diligence, the tenacity, and the determination of the dedicated air traffic controllers of the United States of America, we fly an unbelievable amount of aircraft and flying hours to the benefit of the traveling public. Their record has been exemplary. The fact of the matter is that something needs to be done with regard to planning for the future. If you will take the time to look firsthand today at the equipment that is available to the air traffic controller, which all of us as the traveling public and all of the employees of the airlines rely on to keep track of and keep the proper distance between the mass of air traffic today, particularly at certain of our more heavily controlled airports, you will begin to realize the enormity of the situation. In addition, Mr. President, this has a national security implication because, in addition to the private aircraft and the commercial aircraft, all of the aircraft flown by the military of the United States of America in at least our airways and our skies in the United States of America are, once again, controlled and kept separated by the Air Traffic Controllers Association and their dedicated people.”