Lott Wants Vote Next Week on FAA Reauthorization

Regional Aviation News
Updating Developments in Regional Aviation

June 5, 2003

The Senate is trying to work out a dispute over FAA reauthorization that threatens to hold up a vote that could come early next week. Reauthorization is reportedly headed for the Senate floor tomorrow. But Commerce Committee aviation subcommittee Chair Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said yesterday that some appropriators oppose a revolving fund set up to pay for U.S. Transportation Security Administration costs. The reauthorization bill dedicates $500 million in this fund, taken from passenger and airline fees, to back government letters of intent to airports to pay for security costs. Appropriators say the fund creates a hole in the 2004 appropriations.

The war supplemental Congress passed earlier this year suspends security fees for six months. Lott said when the fees come back, “we were going to use $500 million for TSA. Appropriators say it reduces their bottom line, and they don’t want that practice to start eating away at their appropriations money for mandatory revolving funds.” Lott said supporters may have to pull the measure to move reauthorization forward, adding that Congress won’t let Airport Improvement Program money pay for TSA or mandated security improvements. “That’s the government’s responsibility,” he said. -DM

Source: Aviation Daily, June 5, 2003