Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 625

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19

VOICING THE OPPOSITION OF THE 127TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE CITIZENS OF DELAWARE TO THE TERMINATION OF CERTIFICATED AIR SERVICE IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE BY THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD.

WHEREAS, there is presently pending before the Civil Aeronautics Board in Washington a proceeding captioned "Wilmington Service Investigation", initiated by the Board which has as its stated purpose the elimination of all certificated air service into and out of the State of Delaware which will make Delaware the only state in the fifty states without such service; and

WHEREAS, for nearly thirty years the Civil Aeronautics Board affirmatively acknowledged Delaware's need for more and better commercial air service and repeatedly denied petitions by airlines to terminate service, the most recent denial of which was 1970; and

WHEREAS, the airlines presently obligated to service Delaware have unilaterally discontinued certain service in violation of orders of the Civil Aeronautics Board and purposefully downgraded and rendered inadequate service and now use those created conditions in the attempt to justify an economic need to terminate all service; and

WHEREAS, in the face of a gasoline energy crisis, with our highways already over-burgeoned with traffic, with the attempt of the bankrupt railroads to discontinue rail service in the entire Northeast, it is imperative to Delaware's economy, future development and the welfare of her people that she retain and upgrade commercial airline service; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of Delaware has ordered that the State of Delaware be added as a party to and join in the proceedings before the Civil Aeronautics Board.

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 127th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware Congressional delegation be advised of the opposition of the members of the Delaware General Assembly and the citizens of Delaware to the proposed elimination of commercial air service in this State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 127th General Assembly of the State of Delaware go on record as vigorously opposing the cessation of commercial air service and recommend and request that the Civil Aeronautics Board consider the public need and not merely acquiesce to the airline lobby.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the text of this resolution be spread upon the Journals of the Delaware Senate and House of Representatives, and copies of this resolution be forwarded to all members of the Delaware Congressional delegation, U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr., U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and U.S. Representative Pierre S. du Pont IV, with the request that it be incorporated into the Congressional Record.

Approved June 21, 1973.