[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 41 (Monday, March 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       ABOLISH METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY--S. 496

 Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senator Warner 
in introducing legislation removing congressional oversight from the 
operations at Washington National and Dulles Airports.
  Quick passage of legislation removing congressional oversight is 
imperative. The Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court's ruling 
that the congressional review board violates the constitutional 
separation of executive and legislative powers. Under the lower court's 
order, Congress must reach a solution to the separation of powers issue 
by March 31 or the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority will be 
unable to complete actions which require the approval of the review 
board.
  Although there are proposals under consideration in the House and 
Senate relating to the congressional review board, most of the other 
proposed legislation also addresses matters such as the perimeter rule 
which limits flights to and from Washington National Airport to 1,250 
miles, reconstituting the review board under another name, and the slot 
rule which limits the number of flights and hours of operation at 
National Airport. These contentious issues are unrelated to the problem 
at hand and will delay passage of legislation needed to keep the 
airports operating.
  With a court-imposed deadline fast approaching, it is imperative that 
we enact this clean bill in an expeditious matter, and I urge quick 
consideration and passage of this measure.


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