[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H3317-H3319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2011, PART II
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1893) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend
the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust
Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport
improvement program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1893
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Airport and Airway Extension
Act of 2011, Part II''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST
FUND.
(a) Fuel Taxes.--Subparagraph (B) of section 4081(d)(2) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking
``May 31, 2011'' and inserting ``June 30, 2011''.
(b) Ticket Taxes.--
(1) Persons.--Clause (ii) of section 4261(j)(1)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``May
31, 2011'' and inserting ``June 30, 2011''.
(2) Property.--Clause (ii) of section 4271(d)(1)(A) of such
Code is amended by striking ``May 31, 2011'' and inserting
``June 30, 2011''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on June 1, 2011.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND
EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 9502(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
(1) by striking ``June 1, 2011'' and inserting ``July 1,
2011''; and
(2) by inserting ``or the Airport and Airway Extension Act
of 2011, Part II'' before the semicolon at the end of
subparagraph (A).
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (2) of section 9502(e)
of such Code is amended by striking ``June 1, 2011'' and
inserting ``July 1, 2011''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on June 1, 2011.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--Section 48103 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the
following:
[[Page H3318]]
``(8) $2,636,250,000 for the 9-month period beginning on
October 1, 2010.''.
(2) Obligation of amounts.--Subject to limitations
specified in advance in appropriation Acts, sums made
available pursuant to the amendment made by paragraph (1) may
be obligated at any time through September 30, 2011, and
shall remain available until expended.
(3) Program implementation.--For purposes of calculating
funding apportionments and meeting other requirements under
sections 47114, 47115, 47116, and 47117 of title 49, United
States Code, for the 9-month period beginning on October 1,
2010, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration shall--
(A) first calculate funding apportionments on an annualized
basis as if the total amount available under section 48103 of
such title for fiscal year 2011 were $3,515,000,000; and
(B) then reduce by 15 percent--
(i) all funding apportionments calculated under
subparagraph (A); and
(ii) amounts available pursuant to sections 47117(b) and
47117(f)(2) of such title.
(b) Project Grant Authority.--Section 47104(c) of such
title is amended by striking ``May 31, 2011,'' and inserting
``June 30, 2011,''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.
(a) Section 40117(l)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``June 1, 2011.'' and inserting ``July 1,
2011.''.
(b) Section 44302(f)(1) of such title is amended--
(1) by striking ``May 31, 2011,'' and inserting ``June 30,
2011,''; and
(2) by striking ``August 31, 2011,'' and inserting
``September 30, 2011,''.
(c) Section 44303(b) of such title is amended by striking
``August 31, 2011,'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011,''.
(d) Section 47107(s)(3) of such title is amended by
striking ``June 1, 2011.'' and inserting ``July 1, 2011.''.
(e) Section 47115(j) of such title is amended by striking
``June 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 1, 2011,''.
(f) Section 47141(f) of such title is amended by striking
``May 31, 2011.'' and inserting ``June 30, 2011.''.
(g) Section 49108 of such title is amended by striking
``May 31, 2011,'' and inserting ``June 30, 2011,''.
(h) Section 161 of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 47109 note) is amended by
striking ``June 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 1, 2011,''.
(i) Section 186(d) of such Act (117 Stat. 2518) is amended
by striking ``June 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 1,
2011,''.
(j) The amendments made by this section shall take effect
on June 1, 2011.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1893.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me note that for the third consecutive Congress we're working to
enact a multiyear reauthorization bill for the FAA. I remain hopeful
that we will be able to complete a long-term reauthorization in the
very near future and send it to the President for his signature.
We're currently working with the Senate to finish negotiations to
reconcile the differences between the Senate and the House versions. I
know I, for one, am committed to passing a long-term reauthorization
that will allow the FAA to continue making progress in modernizing our
system, utilizing new technologies, and making other improvements.
However, the current FAA extension expires at the end of this month.
H.R. 1893 is a clean, short-term extension of FAA funding and programs
through June 30. It allows important safety and capacity projects at
our Nation's airports to continue at the funding levels contained in
the recently passed continuing resolution for fiscal year 2011.
This extension is a prudent precaution to ensure that the FAA is able
to continue operating until negotiations for a long-term FAA
reauthorization are completed. I urge my colleagues to support the
resolution.
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, May 23, 2011.
Hon. John Mica,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mica: I am writing concerning H.R. 1893, the
``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II'' which
is expected to be scheduled for floor consideration today.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has
jurisdiction over the Internal Revenue Code. Sections 2 and 3
of this bill amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by
extending the current Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF)
expenditure authority and the associated Federal excise taxes
to June 30, 2011. In order to expedite H.R. 1893 for floor
consideration, the Committee will forgo action on the bill.
This is being done with the understanding that it does not in
any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this or similar legislation.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 1893, and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the Congressional Record during Floor
consideration.
Sincerely,
Dave Camp
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, May 23, 2011.
Hon. Dave Camp,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
1893, the ``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part
II.'' The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
recognizes the Committee on Ways and Means has a
jurisdictional interest in H.R. 1893, and I appreciate your
effort to facilitate consideration of this bill.
I concur with you that forgoing action on H.R. 1893 does
not in any way prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or
similar legislation in the future, and I would support your
effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this
legislation.
I, or my designee, will include our letters on H.R. 1893 in
the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of
the bill. Again, I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation, and I look forward to working with the Committee
on Ways and Means as the bill moves through the legislative
process.
Sincerely,
John L. Mica,
Chairman.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1893, the Airport and
Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II. This bill is a clean extension
of the Federal Aviation Administration's authority to spend from the
Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to carry out airport improvement
projects at current levels through June 30, 2011.
In February, the Senate approved a bipartisan comprehensive FAA
reauthorization bill by a wide 87-8 vote margin. Passage of the Senate
bill was applauded by both labor and industry stakeholders, and it was
estimated that the bill would create at least 150,000 jobs.
By contrast, last month the House approved a controversial FAA
reauthorization bill, H.R. 658, by a party-line vote by the narrowest
vote margin in almost 30 years. The White House has threatened to veto
the legislation, and the House bill has been criticized by the FAA, the
National Transportation and Safety Board, Captain Sully Sullenberger,
the families of Colgan Air Flight 3407 who lost loved ones in Buffalo,
New York, and in the press because it would undermine aviation safety
efforts.
For several weeks we have worked with the Senate to resolve a number
of differences between the two bills. However, the most controversial
aspects of the House FAA reauthorization bill--the arbitrary $4 billion
funding cuts that will have a negative impact on aviation safety and
our economy, and a provision that repeals a Federal rule on fair labor
elections and mounts an assault on collective bargaining rights--have
not been resolved or dropped from the bill.
So despite assurances from our friends on the Republican side of the
aisle that we would not have another FAA extension, Congress must now
enact the 19th short-term extension. If the House Republicans continue
to insist on these controversial poison pill provisions, the enactment
of a long-term bill this year is in serious jeopardy, and we will be
back here on the floor for more extensions in the future.
We all agree that the FAA desperately needs the stability and
direction that a long-term reauthorization
[[Page H3319]]
would provide. Further, the American public deserves a long-term FAA
reauthorization bill that will create jobs, improve safety, and
modernize our infrastructure. But the House FAA reauthorization bill
would not accomplish any of these objectives.
I will again say, as I have said many times before, I will work with
my colleagues across the aisle to produce a fair bill that can not only
pass the House but also pass the Senate and be signed into law by the
President. Let us strip the partisan poison pills from this bill and
enact a long-term, bipartisan FAA bill that will create jobs and keep
our economy moving throughout the 21st century, and make this our last
extension.
For the present time, however, this extension is necessary, and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1893, the
``Airport and Airway Extension Act, Part II.'' This bill gives Congress
another month to complete work on a long-term reauthorization of
Federal Aviation Administration programs. I said this of the most
recent extension almost two months ago, and I will say it again: I hope
this bill will be the last FAA extension bill for a long time.
As my colleagues know, the House and Senate each passed long-term
reauthorization bills earlier this year. Staffs have made good progress
in negotiations to resolve a number of differences between the two
bills; there are just a few open issues remaining.
The long-term bill's success, however, will depend on how those open
issues are resolved. They are important issues. Many of them, I regret
to say, have been controversial issues from day one. House Republicans
have proposed to renege on our commitment to small communities and to
end essential air service everywhere but Alaska; the Senate bill does
not. House Republicans have proposed to repeal a National Mediation
Board rule that guarantees fundamental fairness for airline and
railroad workers deciding whether to join a union; the Senate bill does
not. The House bill slashes funding for airports and FAA programs, with
the mandate for the agency to somehow ``do more with less,'' when all
available evidence clearly shows the agency will do less with less. The
Senate bill does not.
These are differences that must be worked out, and I believe they can
be worked out if both sides come together in good faith, put
partisanship aside, and resolve to keep America's aviation system the
world's best and finest. I look forward to working with my colleagues
in this chamber and with our Senate counterparts to enact a lasting,
long-term reauthorization that creates jobs, improves safety, and
serves the interests of the flying public.
For the meantime, however, this one-month extension is necessary.
Without its enactment, the FAA's funding, programs, and expenditure
authority would lapse on May 31. H.R. 1893 will keep the FAA operating
for another month, through June 30. It will give Congress one more
month to complete work on a long-term reauthorization, and I urge my
colleagues to support it.
{time} 1700
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1893.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________