ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 153

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MAY 8, 1997

 

 

By Assemblymen LeFEVRE and BLEE

 

 

An Assembly Resolution expressing the opposition of the General Assembly to the closing of the William J. Hughes Technical Center and calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to reject any recommendation that it be closed.

 

Whereas, A study conducted by Coopers and Lybrand has concluded that the Federal Aviation Administration could save money by consolidating the operations of its William J. Hughes Technical Center located in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, with a facility in Oklahoma; and

Whereas, The technical center, with its 2,900 federal and private employees, is the FAA's primary facility for research in air-traffic-control systems, plane safety, and airport security; and

Whereas, The center has an internationally recognized technical staff with expertise and experience in testing and evaluation of air-traffic management, communication, navigation, and surveillance systems and in research and development of airport and aircraft safety requirements and aviation security facilities; and

Whereas, The center was responsible for developing, ahead of schedule and under budget, a solution to improve aging computer systems at the FAA's five regional air-traffic control centers after much of the FAA's Advanced Automation System Program to upgrade its air-traffic control systems was canceled; and

Whereas, In addition, the center's airport-technology researchers successfully developed and tested a "soft-ground arrestor system" that helps stop aircraft from overrunning runways, a system which the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is installing at JFK airport and has contracted for installation at LaGuardia and Newark airports; and

Whereas, The federal government has $200 million invested in the facilities and labs at the center--all of which would have to be rebuilt at today's prices in Oklahoma City if the study's recommendation is adopted; and

Whereas, Because of the independent contractors in the area who provide support services and because of employee housing needs which are filled throughout Atlantic County and surrounding counties, the closing of the center would result in the loss of many jobs in addition to those at the center and in the loss of tax ratables in the area's communities, and thus would have a devastating impact on the greater South Jersey economy; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. This House opposes the closing of the William J. Hughes Technical Center and calls upon the Federal Aviation Administration to reject any recommendation that the facility be closed.

 

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Federal Aviation Administration and to every member of Congress elected from this State.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This resolution expresses the opposition of the General Assembly to the closing of the Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, and calls upon the FAA to reject any recommendation that the facility be closed.

 

 

                             

 

Expresses opposition of General Assembly to closing of the Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County.