Quigley Fights for Quiet Skies and Air Traffic Controller Raises

On September 15, 2026, Chicago Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) questioned Trump Administration Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford, in a Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development hearing for the Appropriations Committee. As Vice Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, Quigley shared how “study after study shows that [aircraft noise] actually has a physiological harm to people, particularly senior citizens.” Quigley then asked Bedford why it has taken almost two years for the FAA to join Congress in creating the joint Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee. Quigley also asked why the FAA has not increased pay for our air traffic controllers, when the United States is already suffering a staffing shortage. “We’ve got people working overtime for years that are getting burned out,” said Quigley. “Part of the way we tried to address that staffing issue was the 3.8% pay increase…why aren’t we giving our controllers the pay raise we voted for?” Bedford shared how air traffic controllers received a 1% pay increase, but he did not answer why their pay has not increased to the congressionally-mandated 3.8% raise. Quigley’s district also includes O’Hare International Airport—the busiest airport in the United States. #airplanenoise #airtrafficcontroller #chicago