Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am very happy to be here this afternoon with the most excellent ranking member of the Commerce Committee, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, to lay down our Transportation bill, and in so doing we say that our transportation system is at a crossroads, and not a comfortable one. For decades, the Federal Aviation Administration has done an excellent job of operating the world's most complex airline system. Nobody else comes close. The system has served us very well. Not only is it the safest airspace system in the world, it is a critical component of the national economy. I cannot overstate the importance of a vibrant and strong aviation system. It is fundamental to our Nation's long-term growth--from the largest cities to the very smallest of towns--because it connects our citizens and it connects our businesses with the global economy. Increasingly, however, our air transportation system and the FAA--the Federal Aviation Administration--are strained beyond capacity. Our skies and airports have become plagued with congestion and delay, and what is more, on a pretty regular basis. Over the past decade, we have seen passengers delayed for hours on runways, and we hear about it. During peak times, such as the holidays, the system is often paralyzed--stopped. Disruptions at just one key airport--maybe JFK, maybe O'Hare, maybe Los Angeles, should they be in trouble at any one of those places--can quickly cascade throughout the entire system.…”