Benjamin Gilman: “today, I rise to cast my vote in support of H.R. 1000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment & Reform Act for the 21st…”

“today, I rise to cast my vote in support of H.R. 1000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment & Reform Act for the 21st Century conference report. This crucial piece of legislation will not only allow the aviation system of the United States to provide needed improvements and remedy problems facing the industry today, but will also move our Nation's aviation system well into the next century. The U.S. aviation system is in more dire need than most realize. Within the last five years air travel has increased 27%, and is expected to increase over 50%, to one billion passengers over the next ten years. This incredible increase is forcing the aviation system into a gridlock, which will result in a deterioration of safety, harm the efficiency and growth of our domestic economy, damage our position in the global marketplace and threaten the lives of our Nation's families. Already, recent aviation accidents have highlighted the overwhelming importance of this legislation. Today's air traffic control system is the equivalent of a bridge about to collapse as more and more air traffic strains the system.”