[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3472-S3473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          FAA REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. ROBERTS. I thank my friend and colleague from Oklahoma.
  Mr. President, I rise today in support of the bipartisan agreement 
reached by the Senate Finance and Commerce Committees on the 
reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration Airport and 
Airway Trust Fund. In my view this agreement represents the true 
meaning of the word ``compromise'' and shows what is possible when we 
really roll up our sleeves and go to work. I have been working on this 
bill for 2 years. Reauthorizing the FAA and the Airport and Airway 
Trust Fund is not only a top national priority, but it is a top 
priority for my State of Kansas as well. Kansas and aviation have a 
long history together. Aircraft pioneers such as Lloyd Stearman, who 
happened to sell his company to Walter Boeing, Walter Beech, Clyde 
Cessna, E.M. Laird, Amelia Earhart, William Lear, and many others, all 
have close ties to Kansas. It was a team of Kansans that really created 
the first commercially produced airplane in the United States. It was 
called the Laird Swallow. This plane took flight in April of 1920, just 
88 years and a few weeks ago. My, how far we have come.

  Today, about 40,000 employees in Wichita and the surrounding counties 
make their living building planes, manufacturing parts, and servicing 
aviation. The aviation industry directly and indirectly supports over 
140,000 jobs in Kansas--140,000 jobs--and will soon contribute roughly 
$9 billion annually to our State's economy. That is not only 
significant, that is amazing.
  Kansas is home to nearly 3,200 aviation and manufacturing businesses, 
including Cessna, Hawker-Beechcraft, Bombardier-Learjet, Boeing, Spirit 
AeroSystems, Garmin, and Honeywell, just to name a few. However, 
aviation is not simply an economic engine in Kansas, it is part of our 
history, our way of life, and, most importantly, part of our future. It 
is an example of our entrepreneurial spirit.
  In late October of 2006, at my invitation, newly appointed Department 
of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters traveled to Kansas to see 
firsthand what the aviation industry means to our State. Congressman 
Todd Tiahrt and I joined the Secretary on a tour of Cessna's 
headquarters and manufacturing facility in Wichita to show the 
importance of general aviation--general aviation--to the Kansas 
economy.
  Cessna actually traces its roots back to Clyde Cessna who built his 
first plane in Rago, KS, in 1911.
  The Secretary and I then traveled to Olathe, KS, to visit the Kansas 
City air traffic control center. There we spoke with the controllers 
and the trainees about their work, listened in as they actually 
directed traffic through the Kansas City airspace, making it possible 
for people to fly in safety.
  During our visit, the Secretary heard firsthand from industry leaders 
about the importance of updating our air traffic control system, and 
that the current tax mechanisms provide the most appropriate avenue to 
raise the necessary funds to upgrade into what they call NextGen 
technology--next generation technology.
  This key message was delivered to me and the Secretary personally, 
and I have been delivering that same message to my colleagues since 
this debate began some time ago. It is no secret that I care 
passionately about this issue and how general aviation is treated, and 
to make sure they are treated fairly. With my State's close connection 
to the history of this industry, obviously, you can see why.
  Kansas manufactures--this may be unbelievable to some--Kansas 
manufactures roughly 70 percent of the world's general aviation 
aircraft--70 percent.
  Throughout this debate, general aviation has been called to increase 
its contribution to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to help pay for 
the modernization of our air traffic control system.
  All along the way, general aviation has stepped to the plate and 
agreed to help pay for the necessary increases to move our aviation 
infrastructure into next generation technology.
  I cannot recall a time when an industry has come to me and said: We 
want to help. We are willing to support an increase in our taxes to 
actually do so. But that is exactly what the general aviation community 
did. Their only request has been that they be able to pay through the 
current efficient and effective tax structure of the fuel tax. That was 
their only request.

[[Page S3473]]

  The agreement finally reached between the Finance and Commerce 
Committees respects this request and allows general aviation to be part 
of the modernization solution without creating a new bureaucracy or 
additional redtape. The agreement would allow AvGas to remain at its 
current rate, but would increase the Jet A fuel tax from 21.8 cents to 
36 cents per gallon on general aviation flights.
  Now, this raises an additional $250 million dedicated to updating the 
air traffic control technology that will increase safety and decrease 
congestion--something that is in the headlines every day. At the same 
time, our commercial airlines and passengers are held harmless from tax 
increases, given the challenges they face today.
  I am pleased this agreement recognizes the value of both the 
commercial aviation and general aviation to our Nation's transportation 
system. I realize there have been strong feelings on both sides of this 
debate.
  My goals, as we drafted this bill, were very clear: One, ensure that 
our air traffic control system is updated and remains safe for all 
passengers and aircraft; and, two, protect the general aviation 
community and Kansas jobs, which would have been threatened by 
something called a user fee.
  Today, I am pleased to say we have succeeded on both counts. This 
legislation represents the best of bipartisan compromise in a real 
effort to make our skies safer. I am proud to be part of this 
compromise, as are the 40,000 workers employed in Kansas in aviation 
manufacturing.
  Kansas has a long history of being the world's leader in aviation 
achievements. This agreement guarantees that Kansas and our great 
general aviation industry will remain leaders in the sky. Kansas is--
always has been--and remains the air capital of the world under this 
agreement. I thank my colleagues for helping us reach an agreement that 
will maintain our world standing.
  Also included in this agreement is a fix to the projected funding 
deficit in the highway trust fund for 2009. This 1-year patch will keep 
necessary transportation construction projects on schedule and help our 
State transportation departments meet their financial obligations.
  I am hopeful the Senate will continue to work in the spirit of 
bipartisanship on the bill so we can quickly move to a conference 
committee and eventually have a bill signed into law before the current 
program expires.
  We must do this. American travelers and businesses and pilots deserve 
the predictability and stability that comes with passing this bill.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. I believe Senator Casey wishes to 
address the Senate. I yield to my colleague.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Kansas.

                          ____________________