[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND TAX REINSTATEMENT ACT OF 1997 (H.R. 668)

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LINDA SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 1997

  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support 
of H.R. 668, the Airport and Airway Trust Fund Tax Reinstatement Act. 
This legislation was approved by the House yesterday with my full 
support and I want to make clear my reasons for supporting this much-
needed legislation.
  This legislation was requested by the White House in order to resolve 
a funding shortfall in the airport and airway trust fund. The 
legislation extends a 10-percent excise tax on airline tickets. This 
surcharge on airline tickets and the other excise taxes on airline 
travel expired at the end of last December and have been critical to 
the airport trust fund.
  Without the extension of these aviation excise taxes, the Federal 
Aviation Administration [FAA] will have trouble maintaining 
construction and safety improvements of our Nation's aviation system. 
In fact, the FAA has warned that if this funding shortfall is not 
corrected, within 5 days they would have to begin sending out notices 
canceling or suspending contracts which involve safety expenditures and 
airport improvements. Air traffic safety is not something that we can 
jeopardize.
  H.R. 668 maintains the aviation excise taxes that have been a regular 
feature of airline travel since 1970 and extends them through September 
30, 1997. I do not believe that extension of the 10-percent ticket tax 
imposes new taxes on Americans. It simply maintains the same financing 
structure we have had for over 20 years to take care of our air traffic 
facilities.

                          ____________________