[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise to urge the Senate, as quickly as 
possible, to address and pass the current piece of legislation relating 
to the airports. I do so for a very special reason.
  Three airports primarily serve the bulk of the requirements of the 
Congress and the Federal Government, and the Greater Metropolitan 
Washington area: National Airport, Dulles Airport, and Baltimore 
International.
  Some almost now, I think, a decade ago, I, together with others in 
this Chamber, fashioned the statute by which Dulles and National became 
independent, subject only to the Washington Metropolitan Airports 
Authority jurisdiction. In that legislation and in subsequent pieces of 
legislation, it was the wisdom of Congress that we need to constitute a 
special board to have some oversight responsibilities. It was highly 
controversial. The thought was that this board could bring to the 
attention of the metropolitan authority and others the particular needs 
of the users.
  As it turned out, the Federal courts said that was unconstitutional, 
and we finally, now, had a Supreme Court decision which knocked down 
the functions of that legal entity. This bill puts into place the 
legislative corrections to implement the decisions of the Supreme Court 
and other Federal courts that have addressed this issue.
  It is essential that legislation be passed for the very simple reason 
that as the Members of the U.S. Senate hopefully will begin their 
journeys home later this week, they will go through the airport and see 
both airports partially remodeled. Unless this legislation is in place, 
that remodeling, by necessity, will have to stop. The funds will run 
out.
  I have just talked to the general counsel of the Washington 
Metropolitan Airports Authority. I ask unanimous consent to have 
printed in the Record certain documentation he will be providing the 
Senate today.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority,
                                  Alexandria, VA, October 1, 1996.
     Hon. John Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
       Dear Senator Warner: We write to advise you of the critical 
     importance to the Airports Authority of the enactment of the 
     Conference Report on H.R. 3539, the Federal Aviation 
     Reauthorization Act of 1996.
       In addition to critical measures providing for improved 
     security at all airports, and authorizing expenditures for 
     the continuation of the airport improvement program grants 
     and funding for the FAA, the Conference report contains 
     vitally important provisions to restore the powers of the 
     Airports Authority.
       Since an April 1995 court order, the Airports Authority has 
     been without basic powers to award contracts, adopt a budget, 
     change regulations, or issue more revenue bonds. This is a 
     serious matter for any public agency; for us, it goes to the 
     heart of our business.
       As you know, the Airports Authority is engaged in a $2 
     billion program to reconstruct Washington National and expand 
     Washington Dulles International. We are now at the stage 
     where we must raise more funds through the sale of revenue 
     bonds in order to keep the construction work on track.
       Enactment of the Conference Report now is essential to our 
     ability to issue bonds next spring, and our overall ability 
     to provide first-class air service to the public.
       We therefore strongly urge that the Senate take action on 
     the Conference Report before it adjourns.
       Thank you for your steady support on this matter over the 
     past two years. We look forward to working with you in the 
     future.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Robert F. Tardio,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, he said ever so clearly that a bond, which 
will have to be issued next year to fund the ongoing modernization at 
both airports, that bond cannot be issued without this legislation in 
place, and preparations must commence now to go into the financial 
markets early in 1997 to get that next increment of funding required 
for this modernization.
  That is not an issue that is at contest, but it is an issue that can 
literally put into semiparalysis the operation of these two airports; 
indeed, not only the inconvenience of a shutdown of remodeling, but 
there are some safety ramifications in air travel incorporated in 
having an ongoing orderly process of modernization and having it 
completed on schedule.
  So, I fervently urge my colleagues to address this legislation as 
early as possible and to put in place the corrections that are found in 
this bill that will enable the Washington Metropolitan Airport 
Authority to continue an orderly modernization process.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.

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