But AOPA Calls Issue 'Far From Resolved'

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 5, 2009 approved the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 915). The FAA funding bill now moves to the next committee.

"This is an important first step, and we strongly support this bill," said Craig Fuller, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, "but with the Obama administration's call for user fees, we know we have a rough flight ahead of us."

In fact, it appears skies will only get choppier from here. The Transportation Committee largely supported the contention of AOPA, and other general aviation letter groups, that aviation excise taxes should continue to fund the FAA and modernization of the air traffic control system... and not new user fees. However, the bill's next stop is the Ways and Means Committee... which oversees taxes.

Last year, Ways and Means accepted the recommendation of the Transportation Committee, and passed a companion bill that would have funded the FAA from fuel taxes and other taxes paid into the aviation trust fund. But those bills stalled in the Senate, as ANN reported.

The Ways and Means Committee, meanwhile, has indicated it won't begin to consider this year's funding measures until after it can examine the President's budget... and details of the budget aren't expected on Capitol Hill until April.

FAA funding has continued under a series of temporary measures, the latest one set to expire at the end of March. During Thursday's mark-up hearing on H.R. 915, Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) said he would reluctantly support another temporary funding extension until the end of September to allow Airport Improvement Program funding to continue through the construction season.

Both Oberstar and aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) said they would prefer quick passage of H.R. 915. "We need to be maintaining and upgrading facilities to make our economy as efficient as possible," said Costello.

FMI: www.house.gov, www.faa.gov