Tue, Sep 13, 2011
Latest Continuing Resolution Pays For FAA Through January 30th,
2012
In a move that practically assures that Congress will not pass a
long-term funding bill for the FAA this year, the U.S. House of
Representatives on Tuesday passed a package of extensions for
funding multiple transportation programs, including the FAA, that
will keep the agency open through January 30th, 2012. The measure
now goes on to the Senate, where at least one Senator has said he
may try to block the bill on a topic not related to aviation or the
FAA.
Approval came on a voice vote after suspension of the rules in
the full house ... a commonly-used legislative procedure for
non-controversial measures. Republican and Democratic leaders in
the House had come to terms on the funding extension late last
week. Many of the contentious provisions were stricken from the
bill, avoiding another FAA shutdown just after President Obama had
introduced his jobs package. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), however,
said in a recent interview that he might try to block the bill over
some of its highway provisions.
Passage of the bill was immediately praised by ACI-NA, which
released a prepared statement within minutes of the vote.
“After the major disruption to airport projects and jobs
experienced during the two week FAA shut down in late July, the
stability offered by this four month extension – the longest
extension Congress has provided since September of 2009 - is
welcomed by the airport industry," said Airports Council
International-North America president Greg Princiapto (pictured).
"This ten day-two month-three month approach to funding the FAA is
not, as Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said,
the way to run the safest aviation system in the world.
“Airports play a central role in the economic development
in communities both large and small across the country," he
continued. "At a time when both the economy and job growth are on
shaky ground, if the policy issues holding up final agreement on
the FAA Reauthorization bill cannot be reached, ACI-NA asks that
Congress provide a two year extension of the FAA’s operating
authority in order to provide the stability needed to plan and move
forward with needed improvements in the national aviation
transportation system and to protect the integrity of the Aviation
Trust Fund.”
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