FAA Funding Plan Moves One Step Closer

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 09.21.07 1310 EDT: The Senate Finance Committee has approved tax authorization for the "American Infrastructure and Investment Act," legislation designed to provide additional funding to modernize the nation's aviation system.

The National Business Aviation Association tells ANN the legislation was approved by the Finance Committee Friday morning, as part of Congress's multi-year funding process for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It provides additional funding for the FAA through several sources, including an increase in general aviation fuel taxes.

"NBAA commends Senators Baucus and Grassley and the other Finance Committee members for their efforts to modernize the aviation system by building upon proven, reliable, and ultra-efficient fuel taxes," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "We agree with the Committee that everyone should support the NextGen effort, and that the best way for general aviation to contribute is by 'paying at the pump.'"

As ANN reported, on Thursday the US House of Representatives passed its version of an FAA funding plan, H.R. 2881.

Action in the Senate Finance Committee stalled Thursday, according to Helicopter Association International. By late Thursday afternoon the markup was derailed when several unnamed senators invoked an often-waived Senate rule, that prevents committees from meeting after the chamber has been in session for two hours.

The rule is typically waived each day by unanimous consent.

As is often the case in Congress, the move appears to have been in response to political backbiting.

The rule was invoked when it became clear that Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) planned to offer an amendment in Finance that would authorize some $2 billion in bonding authority for Amtrak... about as far away from the FAA as you can imagine.

Senator Lott's proposed amendment was itself a reaction to plans by Senator Charles E. Schumer, (D-NY) to offer his own amendment that would authorize certain railroad funding for New York, according to HAI.

FMI: www.senate.gov, www.nbaa.org, www.rotor.com