Frank Lautenberg: “tonight we got some good news. I want to just say a few words about the FAA bill because we have resolved the issue on…”

“tonight we got some good news. I want to just say a few words about the FAA bill because we have resolved the issue on air traffic control. The good news is that tonight we scored a victory, a victory for safety and a victory for homeland security. As many of my colleagues know, I held up the FAA traffic control bill in order to get some assurance that the safety and security of the flying public would not be jeopardized by the privatization of the air traffic control system. I am pleased to announce that we have now received an assurance from the administration regarding fiscal year 2004. Until the end of this fiscal year, the administration has agreed not to privatize any components of our air traffic control system. The controllers are protected, the technicians are protected, the flight service station controllers--all of those units that make up the air traffic control system--are protected. We have a letter stating the administration's assurance. Some of my colleagues have asked why I was doing this: Why do you feel so strongly about it? I put it in personal terms. I told them: Because I don't want my grandchildren or your grandchildren or the grandchildren of our constituents put in danger by a risky privatization scheme. That is what was at stake here.…”