[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5700-H5701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DIRECTING THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOW CERTAIN
CONSTRUCTION OR ALTERATION OF STRUCTURES BY STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6014) to direct the Federal Aviation Administration to allow
certain construction or alteration of structures by State departments
of transportation without requiring an aeronautical study, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6014
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS FOR CERTAIN AIRPORT
PROJECTS.
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
may enter into a reimbursable agreement with a State or local
government agency to carry out a project at an airport as to
which notice is required under section 77.9 of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations, if the agreement--
(1) includes measures for cost-effective completion of such
project; and
(2) would not negatively affect the safety or efficiency of
the national airspace system.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Zeldin) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. 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. 6014.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6014. This bill
clarifies that the Federal Aviation Administration may enter into an
agreement with a State or local government agency to carry out a
project at an airport in exchange for reimbursement by that State or
local government agency.
The agreement to provide these services would have to include
measures for cost-effective completion of the project and not
negatively affect the safety or efficiency of the National Airspace
System. The text before us includes a minor technical change to clarify
that the legislation applies only to projects located at airports.
This bill does not create any new authority; rather, it clarifies the
application of the Federal Aviation Administration's existing authority
to provide in-kind services to State and local government agencies in
exchange for payment.
I appreciate Mr. Nolan's commitment to this issue and his willingness
to work with the committee on a bipartisan basis.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6014.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this commonsense, bipartisan
measure. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Chairman Shuster and
Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo, Ranking Members Larsen and DeFazio and
members of the committee for supporting this legislation.
What it does is it authorizes and clarifies that the FAA has the
authority to enter into reimbursable contracts with the State and all
of the States in this country. The reason and the rationale for it is
that it dramatically reduces Federal bureaucracy. It saves the
taxpayers a ton of money as well as investors and encourages private
investments in our airport infrastructure, creating jobs and laying the
foundation for a good economic development in the future.
I would like to give one real quick illustration. These are two
towers that are used for navigation at a regional airport in north
central Minnesota, the town of Brainerd, Minnesota. They are about 25
feet high. A group of investors agreed to put $1 million into a new
hangar to accommodate corporate jets in this community--a very fast-
growing economic community.
The FAA said: Well, we are going to have to do a feasibility study,
and that will cost several $100,000. And, oh, by the way, the airport
and the investors will have to pay for that.
Then they said: Oh, by the way, we will select the contractor under
the current rules, and that will cost another 4 or $500,000. And, by
the way, you will have to pay for that.
So, right away, there was resistance at the airport and in the
business community because everybody in town knew at least two guys
with a pickup truck and a backhoe that could have moved the two towers
on a Saturday morning somewhere.
So I called the State Department of Aviation and said: Have you ever
done anything like this before?
They said: Yeah, yeah. They said that they had done it.
I said: Have you done it in compliance with FAA standards for safety
and navigation?
They said: Yes.
I said: Will you go up and take a look to see this particular project
and give me an estimate on what you could do that for?
They did. They came back. And instead of three-quarters of a million
dollars, they said: We can do it for about $17,000.
So that is what we are talking about. We are talking about enormous
savings for taxpayers, for investors, and stimulating investment. It is
a good bill. I am grateful for the bipartisan support that it has
received throughout the community and from the FAA, quite frankly.
So I strongly urge its adoption and thank the leadership for bringing
this bill forward.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 6014.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6014, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HUELSKAMP. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
[[Page H5701]]
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________