[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 140 (Thursday, September 20, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10631-H10633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2881, FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2007

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, I call up House Resolution 664 and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 664

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 2881) to amend title 49, United States Code, 
     to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation 
     Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve 
     aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for 
     the national aviation system, and for other purposes. The 
     first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points 
     of order against consideration of the bill are waived except 
     those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. General 
     debate shall be confined to the bill and the amendments 
     considered as adopted by this resolution and shall not exceed 
     one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure. After general debate the bill shall be 
     considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. In lieu 
     of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by 
     the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now 
     printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute printed in part A of the report of the Committee 
     on Rules accompanying this resolution, modified by the 
     amendment printed in part B of such report, shall be 
     considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of 
     the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as the 
     original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the 
     five-minute rule and shall be considered as read. All points 
     of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are 
     waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no further 
     amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order except 
     those printed in part C of the report of the Committee on 
     Rules. Each such amendment may be offered only in the order 
     printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member 
     designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
     be debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
     divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
     shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
     to a demand for division of the question in the House or in 
     the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such 
     amendments are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 
     10 of rule XXI. At the conclusion of consideration of the 
     bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the 
     bill, as amended, to the House with such further amendments 
     as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to 
     final passage without intervening motion except one motion to 
     recommit with or without instructions.
       Sec. 2.  During consideration in the House of H.R. 2881 
     pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of 
     the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
     consideration of the bill to a time designated by the 
     Speaker.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Vermont is recognized for 
1 hour.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, 
I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Lincoln Diaz-Balart).
  All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only, 
and I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days 
within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous 
materials into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H. Res. 664 provides for consideration of H.R. 2881, 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, under a structured rule. The 
resolution provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and

[[Page H10632]]

ranking minority member of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee. The rule makes four Democratic amendments and four 
Republican amendments in order.
  H.R. 2881 is a very important piece of legislation last updated in 
2003. We are here today to make very critical reinvestments in 
aviation. And I want to thank, on behalf of the Rules Committee, the 
excellent work of Chairman Oberstar, the excellent work of subcommittee 
Chair Costello and Ranking Member Petri.
  This bill authorizes $37.2 billion for Federal Aviation 
Administration operations, $13 billion for FAA facilities and 
equipment, $15.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, and $1.8 
billion for research and engineering development. The $13 billion 
provided for FAA facilities and equipment is significant and will work 
to accelerate the implementation of the next generation air 
transportation system. This enables the FAA to make needed repairs and 
upgrades. This is very important to small airports across the country, 
including 18 State, municipal, and private airports in my State of 
Vermont that were all satisfied with the work of this committee, that 
balanced the needs of small, medium and large airports. Quite an 
accomplishment.
  I recently read the Department of Transportation estimates up to a 
tripling of passengers, operations and cargo by 2025. This obviously 
will require airports across the country to make capital improvements, 
as well as to make readjustments to compensate for this growth.
  H.R. 2881 takes action to decrease delays. All of us will welcome 
that improvement in the current system. The funding levels will allow 
the FAA to replace and repair existing facilities and equipment to 
prevent outages and other equipment failures that are a cause of delay.
  The bill adjusts for inflation the passenger facility charges for the 
first time in 7 years. These fees, essentially user fees, are used at 
airports all over the country to make important facility improvements 
that would otherwise not be possible. This has been very helpful again 
in small airports like Burlington in Vermont where the funding stream 
has made this a modern airport, very convenient for the people, and a 
competitive airport for the region.
  The rule makes in order Mr. Oberstar's amendment, which includes the 
Essential Air Service Program, something that helps small regional 
airports get service that otherwise they wouldn't have. I speak from my 
own experience: the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport has used 
this to provide service and help create economic growth in the Rutland 
County area.
  Perhaps most importantly, the bill also takes steps towards ensuring 
our continued safety by increasing the number of aviation safety 
inspectors, funding programs to increase runway safety inspectors, 
funding programs to increase runway safety, and requiring regular 
inspections of foreign repair stations.
  I was especially encouraged to see there are provisions within the 
bill recognizing the impact that the aviation industry has on the 
environment. This bill establishes landmark new environmental 
provisions to reduce emissions and energy consumption.
  I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to 
thank my good friend, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), for the 
time; and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Who would have thought, back in 1903, at Kitty Hawk, that an 
experiment could have had such an incredible series of effects on our 
daily lives. Today, air travel helps make the world a smaller place, 
allowing for an ease of travel and commerce that incentivates 
extraordinary economic growth and job creation.
  But if U.S. air travel is to continue its fundamental role in the 
global economy, we have to make certain that we have the safest, most 
modern and efficient transportation system in the world. By 
reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration funding and safety 
oversight programs, the underlying bill takes an important step towards 
addressing those needs.
  Too many Americans have faced too many flight delays recently, Madam 
Speaker. According to the FAA, those delays are, unfortunately, on the 
rise, up almost 20 percent from last summer. Part of that, obviously, 
is due to increased passenger traffic at airports. That issue is 
particularly prevalent at airports such as the one that I'm honored to 
represent. The district that I'm honored to represent includes within 
it Miami International Airport. And so airports that are experiencing 
growth, such as Miami International and Ft. Lauderdale International, 
are facing this issue of how to deal with increased traffic.
  For example, in 2006, almost 33 million passengers passed through 
Miami International Airport; 45 percent of those passengers were 
international passengers, going to destinations beyond south Florida.
  But MIA is not only a hub for international travel; but it also plays 
an integral role in trade, in global trade. The airport leads the 
Nation in international cargo, with almost 2 million tons, a record 2 
million tons of cargo processed in 2006. Also, MIA handled 80 percent 
of all air imports and almost 80 percent of all air exports between 
U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean.
  Because it is both an international hub for passengers and cargo, it 
provides the community that I'm honored to represent with an economic 
contribution of over $25 billion annually, generating almost 300,000 
jobs, $638 million in Federal aviation tax revenue, and $956 million in 
State, county, and municipal tax revenue. These are all attributable to 
MIA.
  If MIA is going to continue to play such an important role as a trade 
gateway, it obviously must continue to grow. The airport is currently 
in the midst of a $6.22 billion capital improvement program that has 
seen delays and large cost increases due to construction material and 
labor in south Florida.
  This capital program has expanded the terminal and concourses by 2.7 
million square feet and added cargo facilities which now measure 2.7 
million square feet of space in 17 new buildings.
  I'd like to thank the authorizing committee for authorizing $15.8 
billion for the airport improvement program. These much-needed funds 
will go a long way in helping, for example, MIA complete its capital 
improvement program.
  H.R. 2881, the underlying legislation, would also authorize 
appropriations of $51 billion, mainly over the 2008-2011 period for 
activities of the FAA. The bill authorizes funding for FAA operations, 
facilities and equipment, and for the FAA to hire additional staff to 
inspect various aspects of the aviation system.

                              {time}  1030

  Currently there is a contract dispute between the air traffic 
controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration. Air traffic 
controllers are highly trained and hardworking people. I am honored to 
know those in South Florida and I am very proud of them for their 
extraordinary work. Under great pressure with no room for error, they 
manage our skies and keep the traveling public safe. I am pleased that 
the Transportation Committee has acknowledged the dispute and taken 
steps to resolve the issue.
  Madam Speaker, I have some concerns with the rule that brings the 
underlying legislation to the floor. The bill does not include any 
financing provisions to comply with the majority's PAYGO rule. So in 
order to get around PAYGO, the Rules Committee self-executed a 
provision to pay for the bill. A self-executing amendment is a way of 
circumventing the democratic process by automatically making an 
amendment part of a bill without a vote on the amendment on the floor. 
And that is not, in my view, an appropriate way to include provisions 
into bills, especially tax-increasing provisions.
  This rule also only makes in order, Madam Speaker, less than half, 
eight out of 22 amendments, that were submitted to the Rules Committee. 
This is an important bill that is being brought to the floor today, and 
in my view, the Rules Committee should have permitted a full and open 
debate allowing discussion by the membership of this House on all of 
the amendments submitted to the committee.

[[Page H10633]]

  Madam Speaker, at this time it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to 
the distinguished gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.
  I support this rule to provide for consideration of H.R. 2881, the 
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007. Aviation program authorizations expire 
at the end of this month, and it is essential that a new authorization 
is in place in the near future.
  Fortunately, aviation has bounced back from the troubles experienced 
in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. While this is good news, it also 
is placing a strain on our air transportation system. And it is only 
estimated to get worse.
  For example, 1 billion passengers are estimated by 2015, a 52 percent 
increase over the 2005 levels. It is estimated that the number of 
aircraft handled by air traffic control will increase from 45 million 
in 2004 to over 58 million by 2015.
  Aviation is vital to our economy. U.S. airlines employed nearly 
600,000 people in the United States in 2003. The industry helps to 
create and sustain more than 10 million jobs across our country and 
supports 8 percent of our gross national domestic product.
  It's estimated that we need capital investments of $9 to $15 billion 
each year in order to accommodate this ever-growing demand. The FAA 
Reauthorization Act increases infrastructure investment, provides for 
continued progress in the modernization of the air traffic control 
system, increases safety, and enhances environmental protection.
  It is essential that we get a good reauthorization program in place. 
While there are some provisions in this bill that I believe still need 
further discussion and negotiation, we need to move the process 
forward, and, therefore, I support adoption of this rule today.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I will be asking Members to oppose the previous question so that I 
may amend the rule to allow for the consideration of House Resolution 
479, the earmark accountability rule.
  At the beginning of this Congress, we all heard about the new 
majority's so-called improved earmark rules. As the Congress has worn 
on, we have noticed that while the new majority's rules changes perhaps 
look good on paper, they haven't actually accomplished much since the 
majority has turned the other way when it comes to the actual 
enforcement of the new earmark rules. Granted, the majority has had to 
acquiesce to several demands of the minority when it came to 
appropriation conference reports; yet we have continued to hear reports 
of nondisclosed earmarks appearing in all sorts of bills, not just 
appropriations bills.
  This rules change would simply allow the House to openly and honestly 
debate the validity and accuracy of asserted earmarks contained in all 
bills, not just appropriations bills. If we defeat the previous 
question, we can address that issue today and restore the credibility 
of this Congress when it comes to the enforcement of its own earmarking 
rules.
  Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the text of the 
amendment and extraneous material appear in the Record just prior to 
the vote on the previous question.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.

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