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NJ ACR61
NJ ACR61Respectfully urges Congress to appropriate emergency funds for and increase staffing at facilities supporting Newark Liberty International Airport.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a critical transportation hub for New Jersey, serving nearly 50 million passengers annually and supporting the State's economy through air travel, cargo transport, and tourism. In July 2024, control of EWR's airspace was transferred from New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) to Philadelphia TRACON, a move intended to address understaffing at New York TRACON. The shift to Philadelphia TRACON did not increase the number of air traffic controllers available to manage EWR's airspace. EWR has experienced multiple serious air traffic control system disruptions, including radar and communications outages which have resulted in flight delays, flight cancellations, ground stops, and air traffic controllers taking medical leave. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled with outdated infrastructure for decades and has acknowledged that old systems, such as aging copper telecommunications lines and remote radar feeds, are contributing to the ongoing issues at EWR. The FAA is below targeted staffing levels nationwide and the Philadelphia TRACON remains affected by the nationwide air traffic controller shortage, with only 22 fully certified controllers and several others still in training, putting air traffic controllers in untenable situations and leading to precautionary flight caps at EWR, exacerbating flight delays and cancellations. On May 8, 2025, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation announced a plan to build a brand new air traffic control system, but this long-term plan will take years to complete and action to modernize air traffic control infrastructure and increase staffing at EWR is urgently needed now. The safe, efficient, and modern functioning of the national airspace system is a federal responsibility, and ensuring system reliability and resilience at high-volume airports like EWR is essential to avoiding catastrophes and protecting public safety, regional economic continuity, and national mobility, and is in the best interests of the State.
AI Summary
This concurrent resolution respectfully urges Congress to provide emergency funding for immediate upgrades to air traffic control systems and to hire more staff for facilities that manage air traffic for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The resolution highlights that EWR is a vital transportation hub for New Jersey, but it has been experiencing significant disruptions, including flight delays and cancellations, due to understaffing and outdated technology within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is responsible for managing the nation's airspace. Despite a long-term plan for a new air traffic control system, the resolution emphasizes the urgent need for current action to address the ongoing problems caused by aging infrastructure and a shortage of air traffic controllers, particularly in the Philadelphia TRACON which now handles EWR's airspace.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (6)
Clinton Calabrese (D)*,
Linda Carter (D)*,
Robert Karabinchak (D)*,
Mitchelle Drulis (D),
Roy Freiman (D),
Tennille McCoy (D),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/ACR61 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/ACR/61_I1.HTM |
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