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	Press Releases July 22, 2005   LIEBERMAN DISAGREES WITH DECISION ON AIR TRAFFIC SPECIALISTS Fifty Connecticut Jobs At Stake   WASHINGTON - Senator Joe Lieberman registered his strong opposition Friday to Federal Aviation Administrator Marion Blakey’s decision to allow for the privatization of 2,500 air traffic specialists. Fifty Connecticut jobs and a regional hub in Stratford are at stake. The National Association of Air Traffic Specialists had appealed to the Administrator to reverse an earlier FAA decision to privatize the positions and close 38 air traffic centers for private pilots nationwide. In Connecticut, the plan could mean the loss of over 50 jobs and the transfer to Virginia of the regional hub now located at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford. Air traffic specialists provide flight advisory and weather pattern information to private pilots and ensure airspace for these aircraft remains safe. “This is an unfortunate decision that will downgrade critical services for private pilots, and in doing so, jeopardize air safety over Connecticut,” Lieberman said. “Air safety is too important to be subject to private sector pressures. I will do everything I can to ensure this ill-advised privatization does not proceed.” In addition to safety concerns, privatizing the air traffic specialist jobs and closing the Stratford hub will mean lost pay, health care, and pension benefits for experienced union workers who have earned these benefits. Lieberman has previously expressed his opposition to the FAA decision and, with the entire Connecticut delegation, wrote to Administrator Blakey asking that the decision be reversed. He is also co-sponsoring legislation to block implementation of the FAA proposal and is working with key Senators to block funding for the implementation contained in the Fiscal Year 2006 transportation spending bill. Should the plan take effect, over 50 union employees at Sikorsky Airport stand to lose their jobs effective October 1, or may be offered jobs elsewhere in the country. Other air traffic specialist locations in Maine, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey will also be closed, leaving a location in Long Island as the only operating facility providing pertinent flight advisory information and weather reports to pilots in the Northeast.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2005 Press Releases June   |  August   --   2004   |  2006     July 27 - Senate Homeland Security Leaders Call For Increased Mass Transit Security Funding   July 27 - Mining Reclamation is Poorly Managed By BLM   July 22 - Senators Collins and Lieberman Criticize TSA For Violating Privacy Laws While Testing Passenger Prescreening System   July 22 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Launch Investigation Into Mass Transit Security In the U.S.   July 22 current Press Release   July 21 - Lieberman Says BLM Disregards Its Obligation To Protect the Environment From Oil and Gas Drilling Damage   July 20 - LIEBERMAN EXPECTS MORE FROM DHS CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS   July 18 - NEW HAVEN TO GET MORE THAN $37 MILLION FOR TRANSIT SECURITY, DODD AND LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE   July 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN QUESTION INDUSTRY AND OTHER EXPERTS ON PRIORITIES FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHEMICAL FACILITIES MORE SECURE   July 12 - LIEBERMAN CALLS ON CONGRESS/ADMINISTRATION TO BETTER FUND A RANGE OF HOMELAND SECURITY NEEDS   July 12 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN FIRST RESPONDER GRANT FORMULA, DOUBLES RISK-BASED HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING   July 11 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN OFFER FIRST RESPONDER GRANT LEGISLATION AS AMENDMENT TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL   July 11 - DHS IS FAILING IN ITS CYBER-SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES   July 10 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN RELEASE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS IN FEMA'S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM   July 8 - DODD, LIEBERMAN URGE DHS TO EXPEDITE DISTRIBUTION OF RAIL AND TRANSIT SECURITY FUNDS
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