Quigley Calls on FAA, City of Chicago and Airlines to Address Noise Concerns Around O'Hare Airport

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) took to the floor of the House of Representatives to highlight the growing concerns from communities surrounding Chicago O'Hare Airport that are experiencing a severe increase in noise pollution and air traffic stemming from the O'Hare Modernization Program.

"I understand and support the need to modernize O'Hare. The new parallel runway configuration means safer, more efficient operations and fewer delays. But I also understand the importance of livable neighborhoods. The two are not mutually exclusive," said Quigley. "We are a region of distinctive neighborhoods, where hard-working people have built their lives and invested much of their earnings into their homes…I know air traffic noise is a fact of life in our metropolitan area. But it is also a fact that neighborhoods—not noisy aircraft—make life in Chicago and its suburbs special."

To read the full transcript and watch video of Rep. Quigley's speech, please click here.

Quigley highlighted the need for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to overhaul its outdated metric for determining acceptable noise levels and for the city of Chicago to revisit the "Fly Quiet" program for runway usage at night. He has previously called on the FAA and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) to further examine ways to mitigate noise pollution.

O'Hare became a part of Illinois' 5th Congressional District in January of this year. Since then, Rep. Quigley has met continuously with neighborhood organizations and aviation officials to discuss solutions to the noise concerns. Last week he introduced the Silent Skies Act, which will require the FAA to issue regulations by the end of 2015 requiring all commercial airplanes to meet Stage 4 noise standards, which are significantly lower decibel levels than those currently in use.

Rep. Quigley serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, where he has made Chicago-area infrastructure investment a top priority as a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD).

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