Grassley and Sen. Tom Harkin have said they'll introduce a Senate bill to remove certain powers from governors with regard to building new runways at major national airports. Rep. William Lipinski has already introduced the same proposal in the House of Representatives.
Grassley says the federal government has an vital role in addressing the problems at O'Hare because the airport is a national and international air travel hub.
Grassley comment:
"I applaud Mayor Daley for stepping up to the plate, shouldering his responsibilities and meeting the July 1 deadline. Two new runways and reorganization of the airport will alleviate many of the problems now facing air travelers who use O'Hare. It's now time for the governor to do his part by finishing his review of this proposal prior to September 1. Sen. Harkin and I still plan to introduce our legislation to streamline the process and help keep local leaders focused on addressing the situation at O'Hare."