WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation

Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday called on Congress to award

another $19 billion to overhaul the aging U.S. air traffic

control system after Congress approved an initial $12.5 billion

over five years in funding.

"We're talking $31.5 billion to do the full project," Duffy said

at a U.S. House hearing, calling for a funding plan backed by

airlines and other aviation groups.

The Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control

network's woes have been years in the making, but a rush of

high-profile mishaps, near-misses and a catastrophic crash in

January between a U.S. Army helicopter and regional American

Airlines ( AAL ) jet that killed 67 has spiked public alarm.