Group Adds Its Voice To Chorus Opposed To FAA Funding Plan

The National Farmers Union (NFU) voiced its strong opposition this week to the commercial airline-backed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposal to impose a new scheme of so-called "user fees" and taxes on farmers, small businesses and rural communities across America.

In a letter sent Monday to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica, NFU President Tom Buis said the FAA proposal would place an excessive financial burden on general aviation while simultaneously cutting funding to support rural airfields.

The "user fee" proposal was introduced as part of the Administration’s plan for FAA reauthorization, and would directly offset a multi-billion dollar tax break for the airlines by imposing a new tax hike on general aviation -- the businesses, organizations and farmers and ranchers that use small planes. The administration proposal also includes a tripling of the tax on aviation fuel to $.70/gallon, up from its current rate $.19 on average.

"Local airfields often provide the fastest and most efficient means of transportation because the big corporate airlines concentrate most of their service at only the nation’s largest airports," Buis said. "The FAA proposal to impose user fees and tax increases will deal a heavy blow to farmers and rural communities who depend on general aviation -- for this reason we are strongly opposing user fees and new taxes in any form."

The National Farmers Union is a member of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, a diverse national grassroots coalition of over 2,800 businesses, organizations, charitable groups, state and local officials, farmers and individuals representing all 50 states.

Alliance members include the League of Rural Voters, National Association of State Aviation Officials, The American Corn Growers Association, the Independent Cattlemen of Texas, the Mississippi Livestock Markets Association, Air Care Alliance, National Agricultural Aviation Association, the National Business Aviation Association, Angel Flight, Airline Pilots and Owners Association and hundreds of small and medium-size businesses from around the country.

FMI: www.nfu.org, Read The NFU's Letter To Reps. Oberstar And Mica (.pdf)