[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1871]]



 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3539, FEDERAL AVIATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
disappointment in the passage by the House of the conference report for 
H.R. 3539 which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration.
  As a member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I've worked in a bipartisan 
fashion with Chairman Shuster, Chairman Duncan, Congressman Oberstar, 
and Congressman Lipinski to develop this important legislation to 
authorize funding for our Nation's airports and to address serious 
aviation security issues in a noncontroversial bill that could be 
enacted by the end of the fiscal year in order to avoid disruption in 
AIP funding for the Nation's airports. The future ability of our 
Nation's airports to provide safe and convenient air transportation 
strongly depends on the AIP Program.
  I was especially pleased with provisions in the bill regarding the 
Military Airport Program. Nationwide, there is $30 billion of military 
airfield infrastructure that can be converted and used to meet the 
capacity needs of the national aviation system. In addition, the bill 
changes the criteria for the FAA's distribution of discretionary AIP 
funds to address issues raised by airports in Florida.
  Unfortunately, I remain opposed to the conference report as long as 
it contains a provision added in conference for a particular company. 
This antiworker provision would make it very difficult for employees of 
this company to organize as a union. It is unconscionable that this 
provision was attached at the last minute, without the benefit of 
hearings, to a bill that has broad bipartisan support.
  I hope that the Senate will do the right thing, and take this 
controversial provision out of the bill so that it can be signed into 
law by the October 1 deadline.

                          ____________________