[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FLIGHT 100--CENTURY OF AVIATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2115) to 
     amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs 
     for the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other 
     purposes.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my support for H.R. 
2115, the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan 
legislation authorizes $58.9 billion over four years for the activities 
of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and continues provisions 
in current law that ensure that all aviation trust fund revenues are 
spent only on aviation programs.
  While I was pleased to join my colleagues in voting for passage of 
this important legislation, it is disappointing that the legislation 
does nothing to improve local control over flight curfews at airports. 
Noise generated by airports is a constant infringement on the quality 
of life for residents in surrounding communities.
  I believe that local authorities, working in conjunction with the 
Federal Aviation Administration, should be making the decisions with 
respect to flight curfews at locally controlled airports. I did not 
submit such an amendment to the Rules Committee because I was told the 
Committee would not make it in order.
  I hope that as this legislation proceeds to the Senate, we can work 
to strengthen the provisions of the legislation with respect to airport 
noise and to give more control to local authorities.