Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Wilson (FL-D) applauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to keep the contract control tower at Broward County’s North Perry Airport and 148 other contract control towers open for business. Congresswoman Wilson worked diligently to ensure continued funding for North Perry and the contract control towers nationally.

Upon learning of planned closures in March, Congresswoman Wilson led Florida Members of Congress on a letter to the FAA to save the towers at both North Perry and Miami-Dade’s Opa-Locka Airports. The Opa-Locka tower was saved after an initial review.

Congresswoman Wilson continued her advocacy for North Perry by highlighting the issue, by publishing opinion articles, holding a press conference at the tower, and authoring a Congressional appropriations request, which was signed by a bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress.

After President Obama signed a bill to stop flight delays at larger airports across the country, Congresswoman Wilson and Congressman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) coauthored a Congressional letter to argue that the Congressional intent of the new law would allow the Secretary of Transportation to divert funding to save the contract towers. A bipartisan group of 81 Members of Congress signed the letter. Today’s announcement was a result of the Secretary of Transportation exercising the option explained in the Wilson-Goodlatte letter.

“We simply cannot cut our deficit by laying off hardworking people like the air traffic controllers at North Perry Airport,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “North Perry facilitates emergency services, boosts local business, and trains our next generation of pilots. Today’s announcement is a victory for South Florida.”

Congresswoman Wilson is available for comment.

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U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.