Mineta To Address GA Issues, Answer Member Questions
For the first time in AOPA Expo history, the Secretary of
Transportation will be there live to speak and answer member
questions. Secretary Norman Y. Mineta has just confirmed that he
will be addressing the Expo General Session Saturday morning,
November 5.
Mineta a reputed straight-talker, is the only Democrat in
President Bush's cabinet, and the man with his finger on the pulse
of all transportation issues (not to mention, he's also FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey's boss).
"Norman Mineta has been a knowledgeable and independent friend
to aviation," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "He has always given
a fair hearing to the concerns of the nation's general aviation
pilots."
Mineta built a reputation as both a
transportation expert and a consensus-builder during his 21 years
of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing
California's San Jose area. He served as chairman of the House
aviation subcommittee from 1981 to 1988, and in 1992 he was named
chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, a
position he held for two years.
"Norm Mineta was a leading advocate for general aviation in
Congress," said Boyer. "He supported taking the aviation trust fund
'off budget' so that all taxes collected could be spent on
improving our aviation infrastructure."
Mineta also focused congressional attention on key aviation
issues such as product liability, airport and airspace access, and
aviation safety.
In 1987, Mineta received AOPA's Hartranft Award, honoring his
contributions to the advancement of general aviation. In 1997,
Mineta chaired the National Civil Aviation Review Commission
(NCARC).
"AOPA still disputes the NCARC's conclusions," said Boyer.
"However, Chairman Mineta did oppose user fees on general
aviation."
He continued opposition to both a privatized air traffic control
and general aviation user fees after his appointment as Secretary
of Transportation in the Bush administration.
But within the last year, both he
and FAA Administrator Marion Blakey have been talking about the
"funding crisis" facing the FAA and the need for "new revenue
streams" to make up the shortfall.
While neither has advocated user fees, there are plenty of
people within the administration who do. And the Bush
administration wants to significantly reduce the general fund
contribution to the FAA, which in AOPA's opinion is what has
precipitated the "crisis."
Mineta will have the opportunity to explain all of that at Expo
this year.
"Norm Mineta knows and understands general aviation," said
Boyer. "He has a personal interest in it as well: Two of his sons
are active GA pilots. So we know he will speak to us pilots with
our concerns in mind and in words we'll understand."