[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E623]]
 INTRODUCING H.R. 1271, THE FAA RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT 
                       AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 1997

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Chair of the House 
Committee on Science's Subcommittee on Technology to introduce the FAA 
Research, Engineering, and Development Act of 1997. The legislation 
authorizes the FAA to conduct research, engineering, and development 
[RE&D] projects and activities that improve the national aviation 
system by increasing safety, security, capacity, and productivity for 
fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000.
  Although the budget for RE&D reflects a relatively small portion of 
the FAA's total budget, the program plays a critical role in the 
research and development of new aviation technologies to help meet the 
increasing aviation demands of the next century. A major challenge 
facing the FAA today is the modernization of an aging system 
infrastructure. An infusion of new technology and procedures is 
essential if air traffic services are to continue to support safe and 
efficient flight operations of the future.
  For fiscal year 1998, the legislation authorizes a slight increase 
over last year's enacted funding level, from $208,412,000 to 
$217,406,000. The increase is necessary to safeguard sensitive computer 
and information system data from unauthorized disclosure, to enhance 
weather research activities recognizing weather as a major contributor 
to aircraft incidents, to strengthen research activities helping the 
FAA to meet its goal of reducing aircraft noise 80 percent by the year 
2000, and to establish a new undergraduate research grants program. The 
legislation authorizes $224,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and 
$231,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 to carry out the FAA RE&D program.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this legislation which will 
assist the FAA in its efforts to increase airspace capacity, reduce 
inefficiencies, and to improve aviation safety and security. I 
encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting the FAA Research, 
Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 1997.

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