"Ending gridlock at O'Hare is vital to Iowa's economy and when O'Hare sneezes the rest of the country gets the flu," Grassley said. "This plan will make air travel swifter, more efficient, and less frustrating. It will be easier and more pleasant for air travelers to come to Iowa. More on-time flights will be a great boon for the business traveler for whom time is money."
The legislation cements the agreement arrived at by Illinois Governor George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to modernize and expand O'Hare Airport. The agreement calls for the redesign and addition of runways at O'Hare to relieve congestion of air traffic in and out of the airport.
Grassley said modernization of O'Hare also will make the airport safer. The new runway configuration will eliminate dangerous cross-runways and provide for more parallel runways. It also will allow for the use of more modern electronic instrumentation.
"All of us are more focused on air safety after the events of September 11. Air travel security means more than screening passengers and baggage. It means safe take-offs and landings. The new runway configuration will be much safer than it is now," Grassley said.
The bill also calls for the development of third regional airport near Peotone to further relieve air traffic congestion.
In June, Sens. Grassley and Tom Harkin sent a letter to Senate appropriators urging them to include a provision in their legislation that would require O'Hare to move towards the development of additional runways. Grassley and Harkin also introduced legislation this summer to strip the power of governors to block construction at major international airports.
"I commend Gov. Ryan and the Mayor Daley for coming together and working out an acceptable plan for O'Hare," Grassley said. "O'Hare is a key national and international transportation hub. With this plan, we can prevent future congestion problems and delays that have plagued air travelers for too long," he said.
The plan is supported by the Air Line Pilots Association, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Air Transportation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association.