[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 46 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FAA REAUTHORIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ANN MARIE BUERKLE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 658) to 
     amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize 
     appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for 
     fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to streamline programs, 
     create efficiencies, reduce waste, and improve aviation 
     safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the 
     national aviation system, and for other purposes:

  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the amendment 
offered by my colleague, Representative Miller of Michigan. It is 
important that the FAA work with other federal agencies, including the 
National Guard, to integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems into the National 
Airspace System.
  My district is the home of the 174th Attack Wing of the Air National 
Guard that uses Hancock Field in Syracuse. They use Unmanned Air 
Vehicles, UAVs, that currently must be transported to and from Fort 
Drum in order to perform their mission.
  It is important that the FAA integrate these UAVs into the National 
Airspace System as quickly and safely as possible. In addition to 
performing a critical mission for national security, the 174th is 
responsible for 1300 jobs in the Syracuse area. Finding a way to get 
the federal agencies to work together to allow UAVs to operate out of 
Hancock Field is important to the economy of this region.
  I strongly support this amendment and encourage the Chairman of the 
Transportation Committee to protect and strengthen this provision in 
conference.

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