[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 146 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2016-E2017]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2007

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this 
rule and of the underlying bill. I am proud of H.R. 2881, The FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2007, and I commend Chairman Oberstar and my 
good friend, Subcommittee Chairman Costello, for their thorough work on 
this legislation.
  Our committee has worked very hard on this bill. We held many 
hearings and heard from countless representatives of the aviation 
industry--including airlines, manufacturers, airports, labor groups, 
and passenger coalitions. The result of those hearings was this fine

[[Page E2017]]

piece of legislation, which I am proud to support.
  As we have heard today, this legislation provides the foundation for 
the transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System. This 
summer, as airline passengers faced unprecedented delays, we better 
understand the heightened importance of completing Next Gen. With 1 
billion annual passengers expected by 2015, the transition from a 
radar-based system to satellite navigation is essential to maintain the 
strength of the aviation industry and provide our constituents with 
predictable flying conditions.
  This bill allows an historic level of funding in order to prepare our 
Nation's airspace for the future.
  I would also like to thank the Chairman for including, at my request, 
Seniority List Integration language in the Manager's Amendment. Nearly 
7 years ago, American Airlines bought TWA--a great airline which had a 
long history of service in my home State of Missouri. Without any labor 
protections to look after their interests, TWA employees were unfairly 
stapled to the bottom of the combined work groups' seniority lists. As 
many airlines were forced to downsize in the aftermath of September 
11th, these TWA employees, many with decades of service, lost their 
jobs as more junior American Airlines employees were retained. The 
result was the furlough of thousands of my constituents.
  Given this unfortunate situation, it is appropriate that this bill 
provide long-needed labor protections ensure that a similar situation 
does not happen in the future. By providing for ``fair and equitable'' 
integration of seniority lists, we protect the employees of the 
purchased airline--without entering Congress into the complicated issue 
of how seniority should be defined.
  This language means that future airline mergers will not result in 
the unfair treatment of one labor group.
  H.R. 2881 represents a bi-partisan agreement to maintain the strength 
of our Nation's aviation industry. I urge support for the Rule and for 
the underlying bill.

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