Mulligan Testifies on Panel at O'Hare Hearing
Cites Health and Environmental Concerns Not Covered in Daley's Plan

August 17, 2001

Joined by over 800 residents and neighbors concerned about O'Hare expansion, State Representative Rosemary Mulligan (R-Des Plaines) testified before Governor George Ryan concerning Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's plan to expand O'Hare International Airport. Mulligan believes that the Mayor's plan is ill conceived and will be outdated before it can be completed.

"O'Hare expansion simply is not the answer to our region's air problems. A new airport is needed and the expansion of O'Hare will only bring more flights and harm to its current neighbors with increased noise and air pollution," said Mulligan.

During the hearing at which several people testified both in favor of and against the Mayor's plan, Rep. Mulligan, along with Rep. Carolyn Krause (R-Mount Prospect), also expressed dismay over the plan's lack of concern over environmental impact.

"Ultimately the most important issue to me is the health and welfare of area residents and Mayor Daley's plan does not address this critical issue," added Mulligan. "The plan talks about noise pollution but fails to address the increased air pollution inevitably brought by more air and ground traffic in the vicinity of O'Hare. People will suffer if this plan goes through and I urge the Governor to look at these concerns closely before making a final decision."

State Reps. Kay Wojcik (seated L) and Mulligan (seated R) listen to Kirk Brown of IDOT offer the State's assessment of the Daley O'Hare Expansion porposal.