[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 
                                PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a simple 
authorization extension bill for the Federal Aviation Administration's 
programs. With the passage of this bill, $10.3 billion for FAA would be 
authorized for 1999.
  The Omnibus Appropriations bill passed at the end of last Congress 
extended FAA's Airport Improvement Program for 6 months. The bill I am 
introducing today would extend AIP until the end of the fiscal year and 
reauthorize two other FAA programs for 1999--Facilities and Equipment, 
and Operations.
  The AIP program authorization expires on March 31, 1999. Since AIP is 
funded with Contract Authority, the expiration of Contract Authority 
means no further funding of the program. Without this extension, the 
nation's airports will stop receiving new airport grants. These grants 
fund projects such as runway extensions, taxiway constructions, and 
other airport capacity enhancing projects.
  Aviation delays already cost the industry billions of dollars. 
According to the Air Transport Association, aviation delays in 1997 
cost the air carriers $2.4 billion. If this bill is not passed by March 
31, 1999, the airport capacity enhancing projects supported by the AIP 
program could be delayed, possibly increasing the cost of delays in the 
future.
  The bill also reauthorizes the formula that determines the Aviation 
Trust Fund contribution to the FAA's Operations account. In addition, 
the bill makes minor adjustments to the Airport Improvement Program 
formulas.
  The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has always 
worked in a bipartisan fashion. I look forward to working with my, 
colleagues; Congressman Jim Oberstar, Congressman John Duncan, Jr., and 
Congressman Bill Lipinski, on this bill and other important aviation 
issues we will face during the 106th Congress.

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