[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2048-S2049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3755. Ms. WARREN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 3679 proposed by Mr. McConnell (for Mr. Thune (for himself 
and Mr. Nelson)) to the bill H.R. 636, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. FLIGHT NOISE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL REMEDIATION STUDY.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States, in consultation with State and local governments, air 
     carriers, general aviation, airports and air traffic 
     controllers, and where applicable local resident advisory 
     committees, shall initiate a study of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration (FAA) Next Generation Air Transportation 
     System's impact on the human environment in the vicinity of 
     large-hub airports and selected medium-hub airports located 
     in densely populated areas.
       (2) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
     include--
       (A) an analysis regarding the statistical relationship of 
     discrete noise-related complaints in communities located near 
     large-hub airports and selected medium-hub airports located 
     in densely populated areas to changes in noise exposure since 
     the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation 
     System and to absolute levels of noise exposure experienced 
     by those registering noise complaints;
       (B) an analysis of the decrease in noise experienced by 
     communities through the development of Performance Based 
     Navigation Procedures;
       (C) recommendations for processes to track and measure 
     those impacts or benefits, if appropriate;
       (D) a review and evaluation of the FAA's current policies 
     and abilities to respond and address noise concerns;
       (E) an evaluation of the human environment and health 
     impacts of changes in flight

[[Page S2049]]

     traffic in these communities including issues related to 
     aircraft noise and pollution, including potential trade-offs 
     between noise and carbon dioxide or emissions associated with 
     air quality;
       (F) an analysis of the processes used to determine how Next 
     Generation Air Transportation System flight paths could be 
     altered to mitigate the noise caused by these flights and for 
     assessing any carbon dioxide or air quality emissions trade-
     offs attendant to such altered flight paths;
       (G) recommendations on the best and most cost-effective 
     approaches to address increased noise complaints associated 
     with the Next Generation Air Transportation System; and
       (H) such other issues as the Comptroller considers 
     appropriate.
       (b) Report.--Upon completion of the study under subsection 
     (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the results of the study conducted under subsection 
     (a), including the Comptroller General's findings, 
     conclusions, and recommendations.
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