Senate Must Still Pass The Continuing Resolution By Wednesday

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to extend Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding through March 31, 2016.

The “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2015,” which was passed Sept. 28 by a voice vote in the House, now goes to the Senate. The bill extends the FAA’s authorization, which is set to expire Sept. 30, and allows the agency to continue operating for six months.

Under the provisions of the extension, the FAA will receive $4.87 billion for operations, $1.68 billion for Airport Improvement Program grants, $1.3 billion for the construction of navigational facilities and equipment, and $78.4 million for research and engineering, including money for ongoing testing of possible replacements for leaded avgas. The authorization extension also allows the FAA to continue contracting for non-FAA operated control towers, collecting aviation taxes, and spending money.

Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN) (pictured) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3614, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2015, a short-term reauthorization to fund the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

“We need a long-term funding bill that ensures reliability for passengers, encourages innovation, and modernizes our antiquated Air Traffic Control system," said House Transportation Committee member Todd Rokita (R-IN) following passage of the bill.

“I will not give up working to eliminate the requirement for Third Class Medical Certificates and pass much needed aviation reform.  This reauthorization gives us more time to accomplish these goals, without imposing user fees, which are unfair in light of the fuel taxes which are already paid.

“I look forward to leading the effort to develop a fiscally responsible program to modernize and ensure the future of our aviation system,” Rokita said.

H.R. 3614 passed by voice vote.

This year, Rep. Rokita introduced his bill H.R. 1086, the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act (GAPPA).  GAPPA extends the already-successful light sport pilot medical standard and removes the ineffective requirement for a Third Class Medical Certificate.  H.R. 1086 has sixty-three bipartisan cosponsors.

Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) (pictured), the ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, said that he hopes this will be the only continuing resolution before a long-term funding bill for the FAA is passed. He aslo spoke against privatizing the air traffic control system in the U.S.

"We could be on the Floor today to enact a long-term FAA reauthorization bill," Larsen said.
 
"In the last two years, the Aviation Subcommittee has held 16 hearings on a variety of topics. We have heard from stakeholders that there is a long list of things we need to do to stay competitive with our economic rivals and keep our airspace the safest and most efficient in the world.
 
"We need to reform aircraft certification so that manufacturers can get the newest, safest equipment to market. We need to set clear rules for unmanned aerial vehicles and accelerate efforts for their safe use. We need to advance NextGen programs to move air traffic faster and more efficiently.
 
"Chairman Shuster, Chairman LoBiondo, Ranking Member DeFazio, and I have achieved bipartisan agreement on most of those major key issues that we need to address.
 
"That bill is ready to go.   
 
"We didn’t hear during those many hearings that we need to privatize air traffic control. Some people want to privatize air traffic control – and I’m sure they do so in good faith that it will improve aviation.
 
"But we don’t need to do it. And it’s preventing the things we do need to do from getting done."

“We’re pleased that the House has acted to keep the FAA running,” said Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs. “We hope the Senate will quickly follow suit so we can focus on a longer term FAA reauthorization measure that will deal with more challenging issues, including third-class medical reform.”

FMI: www.faa.gov