Rep. Smith Introduces Legislative Package to Support Aviation Impacted Communities
Rep. Smith Introduces Legislative Package to Support Aviation Impacted Communities
SEATTLE, WA. – Today, Representative Smith (D-Wash.) introduced two pieces of legislation to help aviation impacted communities: the Aviation Impacted Communities Act and the Aviation Noise & Emissions Mitigation Act.
“The Ninth District is home to one of the largest airports in the region and many of my constituents live near airports and are directly impacted by airflight pathways,” said Rep. Adam Smith. “We know that these communities are exposed to harmful noise and emissions pollution, which can harm the health of people nearby. This legislative package is intended to help us study the impacts of aviation on communities to make our communities healthier and safer.”
This package of legislation introduces tools to better understand the impacts that noise and emissions pollution have on communities and empowers local leaders to effectively work with the Federal Aviation Administration towards solutions.
A fact sheet of the Aviation Impacted Communities Act can be found here. The bill text can be found here.
A fact sheet of the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act can be found here. The bill text can be found here.
Statements of support for the pieces of legislation:
“Thank you, Congressman Smith! The new science is consistently showing that airport noise and pollution is causing significant public health harm to airport communities. However, government and industry action is lagging behind. Congressman Smith’s new bills lay the groundwork for leveling the playing field against resistant regulators and industry, by creating sensible policy to address the risks to public health from airport operations.” – Sheila Brush, Chair of Quiet Skies Puget Sound
“These new bills will allow disproportionately impacted communities a new voice that can require government accountability; will mandate and support the collection of data so that science can better guide public health policy; and will support assessments and funding of community mitigation needs. The right legislation and the right time. Thank you, Congressman Smith!” - Steve Edmiston Sea-Tac Airport Neighbor & Community Resident
"Residents in historically neglected communities have disproportionately suffered from air and noise pollution. Nearly a quarter of Seattle's co2 emissions come from airplanes. This Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act sponsored by Congressman Adam Smith will provide the data to address the type of mitigations needed for our communities." – Velma Veloria, Former Washington State Representative, Chair of the King County International Airport Community Coalition.
“Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood lies under the flight path for SeaTac Airport and suffers from excessive aviation noise, which can increase stress, disrupt sleep, and lead to cardiovascular disease. We are not eligible for noise mitigation. The Aviation Impacted Communities Bill is a solution for many communities across the nation including ours." – Maria Batayola, Chair of Beacon Hill Council
“Rep. Smith's aviation impacted communities will help our beloved Seattle Beacon Hill neighborhood and other affected neighborhoods. We are under the flight path. Airplanes fly over us as often as every 90 seconds on the average. Seventy percent of inbound flights go over our heads. The noise is disruptive and bad for our health. There are many poor families including elderly who live in our Beacon Hill neighborhood. This bill will help relieve this unjust burden,” - Estela Ortega, Executive Director, El Centro de la Raza
Read the full letter of support from Beacon Hill Council and El Centro de la Raza here.
"The King County International Airport (KCIA) is located in King County, Washington. It is a major source of air, noise, lead, and climate pollution that disparately impacts neighboring communities… The Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act would protect our communities from harmful health impacts of these pollutants." - Velma Veloria, Chair of King County International Airport Community Coalition
“The Aviation Impacted Communities Act, will provide strategies and support work to reduce and address harmful air pollution and noise pollutants. The WHO states that, “Clean air is a basic human right. Yet, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to people worldwide- it is the greatest environmental threat to health and a leading cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart attack and stroke.” Airport communities have evidenced a disproportionate burden of negative health impacts from air and noise pollutants for generations. The harms done to residents of airport communities includes; higher rates of asthma and cancer, with far lower life expectancy rates compared to communities throughout the country. Where you live should not dictate your life expectancy due to the air you breathe” – Ali Lee, Health and Equity Community Building Specialist
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