Transportation Committee Already Has A Bill In The Works

The Transportation Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives already has an FAA reauthorization bill in the works, according to committee chair Bill Shuster (R-PA), who hopes to avoid another three-year string of continuing resolutions for the agency this time around.

That sentiment is echoed by committee member Sam Graves (R-MO), who also chairs the House General Aviation Caucus. The Hill reports that Graves, speaking at an event presented by the paper and sponsored by Airlines for America in Washington, D.C., said that the GOP-led House is up to the challenge of crafting a new long-term spending package for the FAA. But, he said, the biggest wildcard in the process is whether the Democratic-led Senate would go along with what the House proposes.

"We're actually already in the process of putting some framework together, but we're going to hit the ground running when we get back in January," he said.

Graves said that the makeup of Congress after the fall elections could be a determining factor in how smoothly the process goes. He says the Republicans should hold the House, but what will happen in the Senate is still an open question. But he said if the House takes the lead in the process, "I think we will do very well."

HAI reports on Rotor.com that Graves said that lawmakers are addressing the need to pay for both the legacy radar ATC system and NextGen to operate through a transition period ... and all options are on the table. Also under consideration is a privatization of the Air Traffic Control system as has been done in Canada. He said that it is still unclear if the Canadian model can be translated to the U.S. The idea is opposed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov