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Release The Committee on Energy and Commerce W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, Chairman Secretary Mineta Urged to Enforce
WASHINGTON
(December 20) - House
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and senior
members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today sent a letter
to Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta urging him
to enforce restrictions on overflights over stadiums and arenas.
Joining Chairman Tauzin in signing the letter are Ranking Member John
Dingell (D-MI); Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL); and Subcommittee Ranking Member Edolphus
Towns (D-NY).
Members
of the Committee held a closed briefing November 29 with representatives
from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA and the Salt Lake City Olympic
Committee concerning the state of security readiness at sports venues.
December 20, 2001
The Honorable Norman Mineta Dear Mr. Secretary:
On November 29, the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a closed
briefing on security at sports stadiums and arenas.
We were particularly concerned about the reaction of the professional and
collegiate leagues and teams to the events of September 11 and how the American
public was reacting to the security measures taken.
Appearing before the Committee were representatives of the National
Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the
National Hockey League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the
Salt Lake City Olympic Committee.
We requested this briefing to seek information and assurances on the
state of security readiness at sports venues and to ask how Congress might
assist in strengthening such security. The
sports representatives offered a number of recommendations, including a
unanimous recommendation that the current restrictions on stadium and arena
overflights remain in force indefinitely. These
restrictions were imposed originally in the FAA's Notice to Airmen FDC 1/0298
and recently re-imposed by Notice to Airmen FDC 1/3090 and then again yesterday
by Notice to Airmen FDC 1/3353.
Athletic contests are high profile and widely attended events that
present unique security considerations, as your Department has already
recognized. We are persuaded that
stadium and arena overflights create serious security concerns for the thousands
of people present at these sporting events and the facilities themselves.
Accordingly, we write to urge that the Department continue to enforce
restrictions on stadium and arena overflights.
Sincerely, W. J. "Billy" Tauzin,
Chairman Edolphus Towns, Ranking Member Related Documents Contact: Ken
Johnson The
Committee on Energy and Commerce |