[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18855-18856]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           EXTENSION OF FUNDING LEVELS FOR AVIATION PROGRAMS

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1467 introduced 
earlier today by Senator McCain.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1467) to extend the funding levels for aviation 
     programs for 60 days.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 1467. This bill 
will extend the Federal Aviation Administration's, FAA, Airport 
Improvement Program, AIP, for sixty days. It is critical that Congress 
complete the authorization for this program for this fiscal year. 
Otherwise, the FAA will be prohibited from issuing much-needed grants 
to airports in every state, regardless of whether or not funds have 
been appropriated. In fact, there are still nearly $300 million in 
appropriated funds for the current fiscal year that cannot be spent 
because AIP authority expires on August 6.
  If we do not act to reauthorize this program for at least the 
remainder of this fiscal year, we will cause harm to the transportation 
infrastructure of our country. AIP grants play a critical part in 
airport development. Without these grants, important safety, security, 
and capacity projects will be hampered throughout the country. 
Therefore, we must act swiftly.
  The safety of the traveling public depends upon the continued flow of 
AIP monies. For example, airports use these funds to install instrument 
landing systems, which help guide airplanes to safe landings when 
visibility is impaired. AIP funds are also used for airport safety 
projects related to runway approach lighting; aircraft deicing 
equipment; snow removal equipment; repair of damaged runways; rescue 
and firefighting equipment; and runway safety areas for aircraft that 
have trouble stopping after a landing. It is my understanding that AIP 
funds were used to construct an innovative ``arrestor bed'' at the end 
of a runway at New York's JFK Airport. A few months ago, that arrestor 
bed prevented a commuter plane from plunging into a bay. It was 
credited with saving lives on that flight.
  This bill will also extend the Aviation Insurance Program, which is 
commonly known as the War Risk Insurance Program. It provides insurance 
for commercial aircraft that are operating in high-risk areas, such as 
countries at war or on the verge of war. Commercial insurers will not 
usually provide coverage for such operations, which are often required 
to further U.S. foreign policy or national security objectives. For 
example, commercial airlines were needed to ferry troops and equipment 
to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. If 
War Risk Insurance had not been available, our troops may not have been 
adequately supported.
  This extension will also give us more time to work on a more 
comprehensive aviation bill that is still desperately needed. We have 
been working hard to accommodate the concerns that many Senators have 
with respect to provisions in S. 82, the Air Transportation Improvement 
Act. I believe we can bring a bill to the floor that will require very 
little of the Senate's time.
  Mr. President, I urge all of my colleagues to support swift passage 
of this short-term extension of the AIP. If we fail to act, the FAA 
will not be able to address vital security and safety needs in every 
State in the Nation. We must reaffirm our commitment to providing the 
public with a safe and efficient air transportation system. This bill 
will help us meet that goal.
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements relating to this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1467) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1467

       Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, ETC.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 48103 of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``$2,050,000,000 for the period beginning October 1, 1998 and 
     ending August 6, 1999.'' and inserting $2,410,000,000 for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and $34,000,000 for 
     the period beginning October 1, 1999, and ending October 5, 
     1999.''.

[[Page 18856]]

       (b) Obligational Authority.--Section 47104(c) of such title 
     is amended by striking ``August 6, 1999,'' and inserting 
     ``October 5, 1999,''.
       (c) Extension of Aviation Insurance Program.--Section 44310 
     of such title is amended by striking ``August 6, 1999.'' and 
     inserting ``October 5, 1999.''.
       (d) Airway Facilities Improvement Program.--Section 
     48101(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end 
     thereof the following:
       ``(4) $30,000,000 for the period beginning October 1, 1999, 
     and ending October 5, 1999.''
       (e) FAA Operations.--Section 106(k) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999,'' and 
     $80,000,000 for the period beginning October 1, 1999, and 
     ending October 5, 1999.''.
       (f) Liquidation of Contract Authorization.--The provision 
     of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 1999, with the caption ``Grants-in-Aid 
     for Airport (liquidation of contract authorization) (airport 
     and airway trust fund)'' is amended by striking ``Code: 
     Provided further, That no more than $975,000,000 of funds 
     limited under this heading may be obligated prior to the 
     enactment of a bill extending contract authorization for the 
     Grants-in-Aid for Airports program to the third and fourth 
     quarters of fiscal year 1999.'' and inserting ``Code.''.

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