The US House Committee
on Appropriations has approved legislation that, in part, supports
reimbursing general aviation businesses at Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport (DCA) and surrounding general aviation airports
for economic losses incurred as a result of security restrictions
imposed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks.
The Committee, in the process of considering legislation to fund
the Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2005, adopted
language encouraging the Department of Transportation to support
programs that would reimburse general aviation businesses at Reagan
National Airport and the three GA airports within 15 miles of
DCA.
Representative Ernest Istook (R-OK), Chairman of the
Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee,
along with Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Todd Tiahrt
(R-KS), drafted the language as part of an amendment to the
bill. Specifically the language states:
"It is the sense of
congress that, after proper documentation, justification, and
review, the department of transportation should consider programs
to reimburse general aviation ground support services at Ronald
Reagan Washington National Airport, and airports located within
fifteen miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, for
their financial losses due to Government actions after the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."
Representative Tiahrt also offered an amendment that would have
restored to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the mission
of promoting the aviation industry in the United States. The
role of the FAA in promoting America's aviation industry was
stripped from its mandate in 1996 following safety concerns.
The amendment did not pass for procedural reasons.
"We are pleased the
House Committee on Appropriations recognizes the need for this
relief for general aviation businesses in the Washington, DC area
that have essentially been shut down since the September 11
attacks," NATA president James K. Coyne said today. "NATA
greatly appreciates the efforts and leadership of Chairman Istook
and Representatives Hoyer and Tiahrt on this important issue.
This provision is a positive first step in acknowledging the
massive economic losses the general aviation industry has suffered
since September 11, and we urge the Congress to fully fund this
proposal as it moves forward in the appropriations
process."
Commenting on the need for the FAA to get back into the business
of promoting aviation, Coyne stated, "NATA would also like to thank
Representative Tiahrt for bringing attention to an issue that has
been neglected for too long: the need to once again have an agency
in the federal government responsible for promoting a strong and
efficient aviation industry in this country. NATA will
continue to work to emphasize this need, and having allies like
Rep. Tiahrt in Congress is a great help."
The Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies
appropriations bill now moves to the full House of Representatives,
which will most likely debate the legislation in September.
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