Regulations and Government
Congressional Observer: August 2002
In the midst of all the major funding and other legislation, a number of aviation matters were addressed:

• On June 4 President Bush amended Exe

In the midst of all the major funding and other legislation, a number of aviation matters were addressed:

• On June 4 President Bush amended Executive Order 13180 that would strip air traffic controllers of their inherently governmental function status. A number of congressmen took to the floor of the House to denounce this action as leading toward privatization of the ATC system. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Pa.) pointed out that Great Britain and Canada privatized their air traffic control systems and both have run into massive debts, increasing costs for airlines and thus consumers. Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ariz.) said, “I do not want my family or other Americans to board commercial airliners where the traffic in the sky is controlled by the lowest bidder.” Other Congressmen echoed similar sentiments.