[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2079-2080]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2008

  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5270, which was received 
from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 5270) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the 
     Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I rise today to support a short-
term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration's contract 
authority and its collection and expenditure authority through to June 
30, 2008. Because of the urgent need to extend the current aviation 
taxes and related budget provisions, I am supporting this legislation.
  But I am becoming convinced that Congress cannot pass S. 1300, the 
Aviation Investment and Modernization Act, authored by then-Senator 
Lott and myself. I believe that Congress should pass a long-term 
extension of the existing aviation taxes in order to give the FAA the 
funding stability it needs while Congress moves forward with a 
comprehensive review of how the agency is funded. I cannot support the 
current funding regime, as it will not provide the agency with the 
resources it needs to build the Next Generation Air Traffic Control 
System. In lieu of a long-term extension, I would have preferred an 
extension until the end of this fiscal year, September 30, 2008, as it 
would have given the FAA and our Nation's airports a greater degree of 
reassurance that they will receive the full $3.5 billion in airport 
funding that Congress approved last year.
  The short-term extension before us today is not only crucial to the 
ongoing functioning of the FAA, it is necessary because without it the 
agency faces a potential crisis. Without adopting this legislation, the 
FAA would not be able to pay 4,000 employees after February 29, 2008. 
And that is an unacceptable action. The last thing the agency needs 
right now is to endure a potentially debilitating staffing crisis. To 
preserve these jobs this short-term extension must be passed today.
  This country's aviation system is the safest in the world. However, 
in remaining vigilant to maintain this standard we must ensure the FAA 
has the resources to continue its efforts in modernizing our air 
traffic control system and in updating the more antiquated parts of our 
aviation infrastructure. The passing of this extension today will allow 
these vital investments to continue.
  I look forward to working with my friend and distinguished colleague, 
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and members of the Senate's Finance and 
Commerce Committees in making sure the FAA has the resources and tools 
it needs to continue making our aviation system the safest in the 
world. It is crucial we work together to provide the FAA with the 
certainty it needs in these challenging times for the aviation sector. 
This will not only benefit the FAA but the industry generally and the 
many millions of Americans it serves each year.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise today to urge my colleagues 
to vote for a short-term extension of FAA collection, expenditure 
authority, and Airport Improvement Program, or AIP, contract authority 
through June 30, 2008.
  The previous extension was scheduled to expire on February 29, 2008. 
Short of congressional action, hundreds of airports across the Nation 
were at risk of losing an entire construction season and hindering much 
needed improvements to our aviation system. In addition, the FAA was at 
risk of not being able to fund this year's planned critical investments 
in the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System, NEXTGEN. Now, 
because of our efforts, those improvements can continue as planned.
  While I am pleased with our work today, I am disappointed we could 
not provide more stability in the system by completing a longer term 
extension through September 30, 2008, which is the end of the fiscal 
year.
  As legislators, it is our responsibility to create stability and 
predictability in our infrastructure system. We cannot allow our lack 
of action to disturb the modernization efforts and the flow of funds to 
our aviation system.
  Thankfully, the extension we passed today will provide immediate 
funding and spending authority as well as a valuable cushion for the 
Senate to work on the overarching FAA reauthorization bill.
  I am looking forward to working with my friend and distinguished 
colleague Senator Jay Rockefeller to complete a multi-year FAA 
reauthorization bill. We have several challenges ahead of us, and we 
will attempt to come together in a bipartisan way to meet those 
challenges. The extension we passed today is just the first step in 
what will be a very important year for aviation policy.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 5270) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.

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