House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee Reports Out ANOTHER Extension

Among the votes taken Wednesday by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was one that approved a short-term extension of FAA programs ... again. It is the 19th extension of FAA funding levels during the past three years.

H.R. 1079, the “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011,” is a bipartisan bill to extend FAA funding and programs at current funding levels through May 31, 2011. This straightforward legislation to extend FAA programs another 60 days beyond the current authorization will provide additional time for Congress to take action on a fiscally responsible, multi-year FAA reauthorization bill.

In February, the Committee approved the four-year FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 658). The extension approved today is necessary in order to allow time for the House to consider the longer-term bill, which will create jobs through wise investment of aviation infrastructure resources, save $4 billion by streamlining and consolidating FAA programs and facilities, and increase the use of cost effective programs. The multi-year bill reduces spending to fiscal year 2008 levels, and requires FAA to identify savings in a manner that does not negatively impact aviation safety.

“The Committee has finished its work on the long-term FAA reauthorization, and the other House committees with jurisdiction are considering their portions of the bill this week,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL). “Since the earliest the House can take up that bill is the final week of this month, this extension is necessary to ensure aviation programs do not lapse.”

“This extension will keep our aviation programs funded through the end of May, and I have renewed confidence that, with the Senate having already passed its bill and our reauthorization headed to the floor in the next couple weeks, this should be our final extension,” said Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI). “I know the Senate is as eager as we are in the House to get a long-term reauthorization in place.”

The Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011 was approved in Committee by voice vote.

Even though all signs point toward Congress inching closer to moving forward on the FAA bill, things are not moving quickly enough to avoid the necessity of another temporary extension. The House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill’s revenue title (tax authority) this week, and the House is moving forward with a clean extension of the authority to collect and spend aviation-related excise taxes through fiscal 2014. This means there will be no tax increases in the House bill. The tax revenues make up the bulk of funding for the FAA.

The House bill could come to a vote as soon as the week of March 28 after next week’s recess. However, analysts say the fact that the House is seeking another short-term extension and that there are several significant differences between the Senate-passed FAA bill and the House measure are early indications that it could be difficult to reach a compromise between the two chambers.

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov