FAA Reauthorization Bill Overwhelmingly Approved By U.S. House

U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. Rep. Don Young, Chairman

Contact: Steve Hansen (Director of Communications) (202) 225-7749
Email: Steve.Hansen@mail.house.gov
Justin Harclerode (Deputy Director of Communications) (202) 226-8767
Email: Justin.Harclerod@mail.house.gov

To: National Desk/Transportation Reporter
June 11, 2003

FAA Reauthorization Bill Overwhelmingly Approved By U.S. House

Washington, D.C. – By an overwhelming vote of 418 to 8, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved H.R. 2115, “The Flight 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act” - legislation that funds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs at $59 billion over the next four years.

H.R. 2115 is sponsored by:

U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Chairman, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), Full Committee Ranking Democrat
U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chairman, Aviation Subcommittee
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Democrat

“H.R. 2115 addresses the needs of the national aviation system today and in turn provides for its future,” said Committee Chairman Young. “H.R. 2115 also ensures that the Aviation Trust Fund is used to finance airport capacity and safety projects. It also continues to provide general funds to pay for FAA safety functions that are in the public interest.

“It goes without saying that the aviation industry is vital to the U.S. economy. H.R. 2115 provides for its stability and more importantly, for its continued growth,” said Young.

“No nation relies on the safe and efficient operation of aircraft more that the United States,” said Subcommittee Chairman Mica. “Almost two thirds of all the world passengers take off or land on U.S. soil.

“H.R. 2115 provides the funding necessary for the Administration to operate the air traffic control system to the highest standards of safety and modernize our outdated air control computers.

“It also increases the funding to airports to help build the capacity we need for the future economic growth.

“The bill also streamlines environment review process for urgent airport capacity projects without weakening any of the underlying environmental statutes,” said Mica.

Highlights Of The Flight 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act

Provides and Protects Needed Investment In Our Aviation System

Ensures that all taxes and revenues coming into the Aviation Trust Fund are fully spent and that the capital programs (airport Improvements and air traffic control modernization) are fully funded.
Funds FAA Operations at the Administration’s request.
Funds FAA's air traffic control Facilities and Equipment slightly above the Administration’s request.
Funds the Airport Improvement Program at the Administration’s request ($3.4 billion) in the first year, ramping up by $200 million a year in each subsequent year.
Increases the AIP entitlement for cargo airports from 3 percent to 3.5 percent.

Improves Aviation Safety

Creates an office and task force to develop the next generation air traffic control system.
Directs FAA to improve the curriculum for aviation maintenance technicians.
Authorizes hiring of controllers to replace those who will retire as recommended in a GAO report.

Benefits Small Communities

Continues funding for the underserved airports small community pilot program.
Revises the essential air service program to give communities more flexibility.

Benefits All Airports

Requires airlines to place passenger facility charge (PFC) collections in a segregated account so that airports can recover them if the airline goes bankrupt.
Funds the contract tower cost-sharing program.
Preserves the $1 million minimum AIP entitlement for airports that have dropped below 10,000 annual passengers.
Limits the amount of AIP that can be spent on modifications of the airport terminal in order to accommodate bomb detection equipment. A separate funding mechanism addresses the need for funding in this area.

Streamlines Environmental Reviews While Protecting The Environment

Streamlines airport, aviation safety and security projects.
Permits AIP funds to be used to purchase or retrofit low emission vehicles at airports.
Makes projects that improve air quality eligible for AIP funding and gives airports emission credits for undertaking such projects.

Makes Improvements At FAA

Reforms FAA by clarifying the role of the FAA’s Chief Operating Officer.
Establishes a small business ombudsman in FAA.

Benefits Air Passengers

Requires airlines to notify passengers where the aircraft they are riding on was built.
Includes security complaints in DOT’s monthly passenger complaint reports.
Directs FAA to undertake the studies called for in the National Academy of Sciences study of cabin air quality.
Improves services for accident victims and their families.

Other Highlights Of Flight 100

Makes the war risk insurance program permanent for international service and extends it to 2007 for domestic service.
Allows DOT to extend war risk insurance to aircraft manufacturers and airline vendors.
Authorizes $100 million to compensate general aviation entities hurt by security restrictions.
Creates a pilot program for airlines to adjust their schedules during bad weather to reduce delays.
Streamlines PFC collections.
Directs that flight attendants who complete the required training receive a certificate.
Prohibits FAA from privatizing the air traffic control system.
Provides more slots at Reagan National both inside and outside the perimeter.

Amendments To H.R. 2115

H.R. 2115 was approved today with several amendments, including a Manager’s Amendment offered by Chairman Mica. This amendment includes the following provisions:

Allows the Department of Transportation to request information from the Department of Homeland Security in preparing its monthly report on passenger complaints about screening.
Directs FAA to publish its policy on the use of passenger facility charge revenue for ground access projects.
Prohibits air tour flights from evening to dawn over certain portions of the Grand Canyon.
Allows DOT to issue the 6 slots for service from Reagan National to a small airport to an airline that is not a new entrant.
Allows 76 seat regional jets to qualify for the commuter aircraft slots at Reagan National.
Allows DOT to increase the subsidy to a commuter serving a small community if that commuter is experiencing significantly increased costs.
Allows an airline to begin service to a small community that used to have subsidized essential air service without being subject to many of the regulatory requirements of the essential air service program.
Revises the provision requiring aircraft manufacturers to make maintenance manuals available to aircraft repair stations in order to accommodate concerns expressed by the manufacturers.
Requires FAA to issue rules on Stage 4 noise standards by July 1, 2004.
Revises provisions on crew training to make clear that hands-on anti-hijacking training for flights attendants is voluntary and the airlines are not required to pay for it or to pay flight attendants for the time they spend if they choose to take it.
Directs GAO to study how airlines were compensated after 9/11, especially whether they should be compensated for the devaluation of their aircraft.
Directs FAA to study whether certain aircraft operations in Alaska can be performed under Part 91 of FAA rules.
Allows general aviation airports to carry over their entitlement money for an additional year.
Allows current or former military airports designated by FAA to use AIP money for the reimbursement of a hangar.
Allows up to 12 large airports to use AIP money for interest payments on debt (small airports can already do this.)
Requires large airports seeking to build or extend a runway to make their layout plan and master plan available to the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in the area where the airport is located.
Directs DOT to report on whether it is appropriate and necessary for the airport in the Marshall Islands to receive grants under the Airport Improvement Program.

Other amendments approved:

An amendment offered by Rep. Manzullo (R-IL) that requires the Secretary to submit a report on the waiver provision contained in the Buy-America law.
An amendment offered by Rep. Norton (D-DC) that gives the Secretary permanent authority to provide grants to the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority.
An amendment offered by Rep. Peterson (R-PA) to eliminate a community’s obligation to pay a local share of an EAS subsidy.
An amendment offered by Rep. Pitts (R-PA) that clarifies the process to determine distances between eligible communities and hub airports under the Essential Air Service provision.

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