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AOPA's Fuller Thanks Sen. Moran for Bipartisan Effort to Save Towers

Frederick, Md. -- AOPA President and CEO Craig L. Fuller thanked Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) Thursday for his effort to save some 200 control towers from closure under federal sequestration cuts.

“Sen. Moran recognized the very real danger associated with closing so many important control towers, and he stepped forward to protect general aviation and the flying public,” Fuller said. “His effort was bipartisan and widely supported, so we are especially disappointed that it was pulled from consideration and never even received a vote.”

Sen. Moran had offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 Continuing Resolution which funds the federal Government for the next six months. His amendment would have moved $50 million from non-essential accounts to provide enough money to keep the towers open.

Despite bipartisan support, the amendment was not allowed to come to a vote.

Whether the amendment was derailed by concerns that it would prevent the Senate from reaching an agreement to prevent a government shutdown or by pressure from the White House to inflict as much pain as possible through the sequestration process was the source of widespread speculation in the political media Thursday.

“Sen. Moran showed strong leadership on this issue,” Fuller said. “He took a principled position in support of safety and we respect that.

“The White House does not understand the consequences of these actions, or they do and they simply do not care," Fuller added. "Either way, this approach is dangerous and should not stand."

- AOPA -
13-1-013

March 22, 2013