“an amendment filed by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) to increase the number of flights to Reagan National Airport was advanced”

photo by angela n.

From the office of Eleanor Holmes Norton (Tuesday):

“After her amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill were excluded by the Rules Committee late last night and an amendment filed by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) to increase the number of flights to Reagan National Airport was advanced, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, said she is disappointed but unsurprised that the Republican-controlled House chose to prioritize the temporary comfort of members of Congress over passenger safety and equality for D.C.

Norton filed two floor amendments, neither of which were approved by the Rules Committee to be considered on the floor. The first was to strengthen language regarding review of Emergency Medical Kits on commercial airlines and the other was to require all provisions in the bill to treat D.C. as a state and provide all the opportunities and protections of any other state. Rep. Owens’ amendment to add seven round-trip flights per day to Reagan National Airport, an effort Norton opposes due to the expected increases in aircraft noise and congestion, was advanced by the Committee and will be considered on the House floor.

“I am disappointed but unsurprised that the Republican Rules Committee chose to prioritize Rep. Owens’ short-sighted amendment, which would only benefit a few members of Congress, over my amendments which would have provided stronger health and safety measures for the flying public and treat D.C. equal to the states.”