Tuesday, November 25, 2003 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Schiff Calls For Flight Restrictions Over Rose Parade Schiff Urges Department of Transportation to Impose Flight Restrictions over Rose Parade to Ensure Safety of New Year’s Tradition WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) called on Transportation Department Secretary Norman Mineta to impose a temporary flight restriction over the 2004 Tournament of Roses’ Rose Parade to ensure the safety and security of this honored New Year’s Day Tradition. Schiff also urged Secretary Mineta to support his proposed amendment to H.R. 2144, the Aviation Security bill, which will increase airspace security around two of the nation’s most prominent and vulnerable "soft targets," the Pasadena Rose Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The annual Rose Parade attracts nearly 1 million people along the parade route in Pasadena. Each year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricts airspace over the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade, with exceptions for planes with banner advertisements. These planes cannot be monitored by radar and pose a significant security threat to the hundreds of thousands of spectators at the Rose Bowl festivities. To rectify this glaring hole in air security over the Rose Parade, Rep. Schiff sent the following letter to the Department of Transportation: Dear Secretary Mineta, Thank you once again for working with the City of Pasadena to arrange for a Temporary Flight Restriction over the 2004 Tournament of Roses’ Rose Parade. The comprehensive airspace management plan negotiated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this year will enable our local police force to provide a secure environment for the citizens of Pasadena and Rose Parade viewers from around the world. The restrictions agreed to by the City of Pasadena and the FAA provide fair and equitable airspace access while ensuring the safety and security of this New Year’s Day tradition. In years past, however, the FAA has made exceptions to this plan, allowing a number of aircraft, specifically banner towers, to fly directly over the Parade route during the hours of restriction. These planes cannot be monitored by radar while in the air over Pasadena and impose precisely the safety hazards the management plan was created to prevent. I ask for your assistance in assuring that such exceptions not be granted for aircraft this year. Every year, the local police department and the FAA must address this important safety issue. In order to alleviate an unavoidable yearly negotiation, I plan to propose an amendment to H.R. 2144, the Aviation Security Technical Corrections and Improvements Act, when it reaches the House Floor. This amendment will improve the security of two of our nation’s most prominent and vulnerable "soft targets", the Pasadena Rose Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. It increases the security of these popular parades by restricting airspace over the events, by merely extending the restrictions already granted to major league football and baseball games, NCAA Division I football games, and major motor cross speedway events. The millions who attend the annual Pasadena Rose Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade dwarf the tens of thousands of spectators at these other sporting events. A global audience of television viewers also adds to these two all-American traditions. I ask you to support my efforts to create a permanently safe and secure environment at these two extraordinary events by supporting my amendment to H.R. 2144. I thank you again for your continued assistance in assuring a safe environment for the Rose Parade and look forward to another safe and enjoyable New Year’s Day. Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Burbank, Alhambra, Altadena, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.