January 07, 2019

Duckworth Meets with Aviation Commissioner Rhee at O’Hare

 

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie Rhee today to discuss modernization plans at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport and upgrades to the ORD Multi Modal Facility, the recent passage of her legislation to make air travel easier for people with disabilities and nursing mothers and her TIFIA for Airports Act, which would increase infrastructure investments for airports like O’Hare. Duckworth and Rhee also toured several of the airport facilities for nursing mothers as well as flyers with disabilities, spending a little bit of time on the brand new “Changing Places Restroom” that just opened in Terminal 2 and is more accessible for passengers with disabilities than any other restroom in the United States. A photo of the meeting is available here.

“Commissioner Rhee and I had an important discussion about upgrading O’Hare’s infrastructure to improve safety and accessibility and to make the airport friendlier for all passengers, including families, nursing mothers and parents of young children,” Duckworth said. “I am encouraged CDA is making it a priority to add accessible restrooms with changing tables for parents of young children and look forward to working with Commissioner Rhee to make sure air travel is more accessible to all people with disabilities and families.”

Duckworth’s FAM Act was signed into law last October, and will provide nursing mothers with private, clean and accessible lactation rooms at medium and large-sized airports like O’Hare across the country. Duckworth also successfully passed legislation requiring air carriers to disclose for the first time how many checked bags, wheelchairs and motorized scooters they damage or mishandle each month.

Duckworth joined Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) in introducing the TIFIA for Airports Act last November, legislation that would improve airport infrastructure by allowing airport projects to access cheaper public and private capital financing. Airport projects have limited access to traditional TIFIA funding that finances surface transportation projects like highways, transit, intermodal freight and port access all over the country.

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