PAWTUCKET – Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Co-Chair David N. Cicilline (D-RI) issued the following statement today:

“Privatizing the air traffic control system will do nothing to make America safer. What it will do – because we’ve already seen it happen in other countries with private air traffic control – is to force American consumers to pay higher taxes and new fees.”

“We have the safest and biggest air traffic control system in the entire world. It’s a public asset worth billions of dollars that belongs to the American people. That’s why it’s disturbing that President Trump wants to hand it over for free to a private board made up of big airline companies. Doing this will create a new monopoly that allows the airlines to charge consumers whatever they want.”

“It’s critical that Congress thoroughly review this proposal. Republicans should not give Donald Trump a rubber stamp to hand over air traffic control to the airline companies.”