Respectfully urges Congress to appropriate emergency funds for and increase staffing at facilities supporting Newark Liberty International Airport.
Impact
The resolution highlights ongoing issues at EWR related to air traffic control, particularly due to recent disruptions attributed to outdated infrastructure and insufficient staffing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled with these challenges, which have resulted in significant flight delays and cancellations. By advocating for federal funding and increased staffing, ACR169 seeks to bolster the airport’s operational capacity and ensure that it can handle the growing demands of air traffic efficiently.
Summary
ACR169 is an Assembly Concurrent Resolution from New Jersey, introduced by Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese on June 12, 2025. The resolution urges the United States Congress to appropriate emergency funds and increase staffing for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). This airport serves as a critical transportation hub, accommodating nearly 50 million passengers annually and playing a vital role in the state’s economy through air travel and cargo transport.
Contention
One of the notable points of contention surrounding this resolution originates from the transfer of EWR's airspace management responsibility from New York TRACON to Philadelphia TRACON in July 2024. This transfer did not address the core issue of staffing shortages, as the number of air traffic controllers did not increase, thus failing to resolve the dispatched air traffic delays. Critics may point to the slow pace of federal responses to infrastructure needs as a concern, especially considering the FAA's long-term strategy for modernizing air traffic systems will take years, highlighting a sense of urgency around immediate action.
Future_consideration
ACR169 posits that the continued operational challenges without immediate intervention could lead to broader implications for public safety, regional economic continuity, and national mobility. The resolution calls for a coordinated response from various stakeholders, including congressional leaders and key federal agencies, reinforcing the need for timely and effective action to modernize facilities and staffing at EWR.
Same As
Respectfully urges Congress to appropriate emergency funds for and increase staffing at facilities supporting Newark Liberty International Airport.
Requires the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey take steps to update noise exposure maps and take steps to reduce noise pollution around certain covered airports; defines covered airports.