[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 112 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FAA EXTENSION, SAFETY, AND SECURITY ACT OF 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2016

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, five years ago we were in a similar 
situation with an FAA authorization coming to an end in the middle of 
the summer. That time we failed to act, causing the shutdown of the 
FAA. So while I wish we were doing more than this extension bill today, 
I am happy that we are not going to let a shutdown happen again.
  Considering that this is only a short-term extension, this bill 
contains a number of good policy changes. The enhanced consumer 
protection measures, improvements in aviation security, and protections 
for general aviation pilots that are included are all the result of 
bipartisan cooperation. Third class medical reform is a long overdue 
victory for pilots. It is commonsense policy that will protect pilots' 
rights and promote the general aviation industry.
  I have worked over the past year to ensure airline passengers are 
treated with fairness and respect. Simply put, if you pay for a 
service, you should get that service promptly or get your money back. 
During consideration of the House's FAA bill, I was a strong advocate 
for requiring that fees be refunded for baggage that was lost and 
delayed. While this bill does not go as far as I would have liked, it 
does require that passengers who don't get their luggage on time get 
their fee returned.
  In addition, this bill works to minimize travelers' frustrations 
while simultaneously enhancing aviation security by expanding access to 
TSA PreCheck and optimizing the TSA workforce to improve long lines at 
security checkpoints. The bill will also make air travel more 
accessible for persons with disabilities, and will create a set of 
accessibility best practices for air carriers.
  My main disappointment in this extension comes from the fact that a 
number of important, bipartisan priorities were not included even 
though they had been worked out in the bill that came through our 
committee earlier this year. Since work began to reauthorize the 2012 
FAA bill, I have worked continuously to reform the aircraft 
certification process and was the lead Democratic cosponsor of the 
Small Airplane Revitalization Act in 2013. Streamlining the 
certification process will accelerate getting products to market, 
ultimately strengthening job growth and stimulating economic activity. 
Aviation is an increasingly global marketplace. To compete in this 
arena, domestic manufacturers must certify their product with the FAA 
which often takes longer than is necessary. Then they have to work to 
facilitate acceptance of the equipment by the buyer's respective 
aviation authority. In recent years, American manufacturers have 
encountered significant delays during this process. These delays have 
serious economic consequences for the small and medium sized businesses 
that make up the multi-billion-dollar aviation supply chain.
  The certification titles in the House and Senate FAA reauthorization 
bills are the product of bipartisan work of the committees and outreach 
to stakeholders. They address the current inefficiencies by driving 
certification and regulatory changes, requiring that the FAA be more 
closely involved in foreign markets, helping to gain expedited 
acceptance and validation of U.S. products and safety standards, and 
ultimately better utilizing scarce resources at the FAA and within the 
industry to enhance productivity. They not only advance safety, but 
also benefit our economy. We must ensure that the high tech U.S. 
manufacturing industry, and the skilled workforce it employs, are able 
to compete in the face of growing global competition.
  So I was frustrated to learn that these bipartisan provisions, which 
directly translate to tangible economic benefits across the entire 
industry, were not included in this extension. The aviation industry 
needs stability to confidently allocate resources, make investments, 
and plan for the future. They rely on Congress to consistently provide 
that authority to the FAA. While I'm disappointed that these key 
priorities were not included, I hope that we can work quickly to find a 
way to pass the aircraft certification provisions in the near term.
  Finally, there is a provision that was included that I have concerns 
about. This bill expands the look-back period for background checks and 
the list of offenses that would disqualify an individual from 
eligibility to work at an airport. We need to do all we can to increase 
security at airports. But I am deeply concerned that this provision was 
added into the extension outside the jurisdiction of the Transportation 
and Infrastructure Committee seemingly at the last minute and without 
explanation or consultation with House Members.
  Mr. Speaker, on the whole, this is a good bill. But much remains to 
be done. I hope that in the coming months we can continue working to 
pass a comprehensive long term FAA reauthorization to maintain 
America's leadership in the global aviation industry.

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