[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 92 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H4533-H4534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2011, PART III

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means be discharged from 
further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2279) 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, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2279

       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 III''.

     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 
     ``June 30, 2011'' and inserting ``July 22, 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 ``June 
     30, 2011'' and inserting ``July 22, 2011''.
       (2) Property.--Clause (ii) of section 4271(d)(1)(A) of such 
     Code is amended by striking ``June 30, 2011'' and inserting 
     ``July 22, 2011''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on July 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 ``July 1, 2011'' and inserting ``July 23, 
     2011''; and
       (2) by inserting ``or the Airport and Airway Extension Act 
     of 2011, Part III'' 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 ``July 1, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``July 23, 2011''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on July 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:
       ``(8) $2,840,890,411 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2010, and ending on July 22, 2011.''.
       (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 period beginning on October 1, 2010, and 
     ending on July 22, 2011, 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 7 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 ``June 30, 2011,'' and inserting 
     ``July 22, 2011,''.

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Section 40117(l)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``July 1, 2011.'' and inserting ``July 
     23, 2011.''.
       (b) Section 44302(f)(1) of such title is amended--
       (1) by striking ``June 30, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 22, 
     2011,''; and
       (2) by striking ``September 30, 2011,'' and inserting 
     ``October 31, 2011,''.
       (c) Section 44303(b) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``September 30, 2011,'' and inserting ``October 31, 2011,''.
       (d) Section 47107(s)(3) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``July 1, 2011.'' and inserting ``July 23, 2011.''.
       (e) Section 47115(j) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``July 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 23, 2011,''.
       (f) Section 47141(f) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``June 30, 2011.'' and inserting ``July 22, 2011.''.
       (g) Section 49108 of such title is amended by striking 
     ``June 30, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 22, 2011,''.
       (h) Section 161 of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
     Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 47109 note) is amended by 
     striking ``July 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 23, 2011,''.
       (i) Section 186(d) of such Act (117 Stat. 2518) is amended 
     by striking ``July 1, 2011,'' and inserting ``July 23, 
     2011,''.
       (j) The amendments made by this section shall take effect 
     on July 1, 2011.

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                    Washington, DC, June 24, 2011.
     Hon. John Mica,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Mica, I am writing concerning H.R. 2279, the 
     ``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part III'' 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 July 22, 2011. In order to expedite H.R. 2279 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. 2279, 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.
                                  ____

                                       Committee on Transportation


                                           and Infrastructure,

                                    Washington, DC, June 24, 2011.
     Hon. Dave Camp,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman, Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     2279, the ``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part 
     III.'' The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     recognizes the Committee on Ways and Means has a 
     jurisdictional interest in H.R. 2279, and I appreciate your 
     effort to facilitate consideration of this bill.
       I concur with you that forgoing action on H.R. 2279 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 will include our letters on H.R. 2279 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.

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2279, the 
``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part III.'' This bill is a 
``clean'' extension of the authority of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, FAA, to spend from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
and to carry out airport improvement projects at current levels through 
July 22, 2011.
  In February, the Senate approved a bipartisan, comprehensive FAA 
reauthorization bill by a wide 87-to-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.
  The House followed on April 1 with a bill containing some 
controversial provisions that the Senate has indicated it will not 
accept. These provisions include the repeal of a National Mediation 
Board rule on fair union representation elections and cuts to funding 
for FAA programs, airport construction and improvement, and air traffic 
control modernization.
  For the last 2 months, we have worked with the Senate to resolve a 
number of differences between the two bills. The negotiations have made 
good progress, and, with just a handful of major differences remaining, 
we may be on the cusp of enacting a long-term reauthorization--a 
reauthorization that provides the FAA with the stability and funding 
necessary to safeguard safety, modernize the system, and create jobs.
  Like my Republican colleagues, I had hoped that each of the previous 
two short-term extensions would be the last. I was reassured by

[[Page H4534]]

their expressions of a commitment to deliver a forward-looking bill 
that could pass both chambers and be signed by the President. But now 
we find ourselves with the need for a twentieth short-term extension. 
This extension is necessary, but I again say to my Republican 
colleagues: Let this extension be the last. Get a long-term bill done.
  I will work with my colleagues across the aisle to produce a 
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.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________