T&I Committee Approves Bill With Stepped-Up Introduction
Timeline; Homeland Security Committee Language Mandates Return of
General Aviation to DCA
NBAA has joined in the praise for Congressional leaders who have
advanced two recently introduced pieces of legislation for
reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to
general aviation.
"By their actions, House leaders are reaffirming that the time
has long since come and gone for federal security officials to
implement a plan that protects security while bringing economic
activity back to National Airport," said NBAA President and CEO Ed
Bolen.
"We are pleased that both the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee and the Homeland Security Committee
underscored their strong commitment to restoring general aviation
access to National Airport by passing two pieces of legislation on
the matter."
First, the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously adopted
H.R. 1496, which requires the Departments of Transportation and
Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a plan to re-introduce general
aviation traffic at National Airport.
As part of the Committee's proceedings, an amendment was offered
by Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-7-FL) that shortens
the timeline to return general aviation to DCA from within 180 days
of enactment of the bill (as drafted in the original proposal) to
within 60 days after the bill becomes law. Additionally, Mica's
amendment directs the FAA to consult with the general aviation
industry in developing its plan for reopening the airport to
general aviation operators.
Both provisions are included in the version of the bill adopted
by the full Committee, which now awaits consideration by the full
House of Representatives. In approving the legislation,
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders called for
expedient consideration of the measure by the full House of
Representatives.
H.R. 1496 was introduced on April 6 by House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-At Large-AK),
Minority Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (D-8-MN), Rep. Mica,
Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Costello (D-12-IL) and Committee
Member Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC).
In a second significant development, the House Homeland Security
Committee included language to reopen DCA to general aviation in
the pending Homeland Security authorization bill. The measure was
offered by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Chris Cox
(R-48-CA), Rep. Tom Davis (R-11-VA), Rep. Don Young (R-At Large-AK)
and Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC).
The amendment calls upon DHS to implement requirements first
mandated in the "Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization
Act," permitting general aviation aircraft to operate at DCA. The
amendment introduced yesterday requires DHS to re-admit general
aviation into DCA no later than 180 days after passage of the
Homeland Security authorization bill.