NATA Praises Pompeo Call For GAO Analysis Of The Tax

A congressional plan to increase aviation security taxes and use the proceeds to offset the cost of surface transportation projects has drawn a strong rebuke for Airlines for America (A4A), a major airline industry trade organization.

"We support infrastructure improvement, and applaud the bipartisan effort to reach agreement on a highway bill," the association said in a statement released to the media. "However, airline customers are already overtaxed, and this agreement will further drive up the cost of travel for the 2 million passengers who fly on U.S. airlines every day. It is unfortunate that, once again, Congress is placing the burden to fund highway spending on the backs of the flying public."

The bill includes a provision supported by NATA directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study of diversions of non-commercial jet fuel tax revenues to the Highway Trust Fund.

"NATA applauds Representative Pompeo (R-KS) for recognizing the opportunity presented by the legislation and adding this important provision during House floor debate. We also thank House Transportation Committee Chairman Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member DeFazio (D-OR) for accepting the amendment, as well as House General Aviation Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), for keeping track of it during this legislation’s long, arduous conference negotiations," the organization said in a statement. "Finally, it certainly helped to have long-time general aviation supporter and fellow pilot, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), as that chamber’s lead negotiator.

"NATA has long questioned the need for the 2005 diversion provision and views it as a bureaucratic roadblock draining the Airport and Airway Trust Fund of revenues needed for airport improvements and the deployment of a more modern air traffic control system. We are confident that an investigation by the GAO, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, will bolster the case for the provision’s ultimate repeal.”

(Source: A4A, NATA news releases)

FMI: www.airlines.org, www.nata.aero