[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          FAA REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I think it is ironic that the Republican 
whip used this opportunity to talk about delaying judicial appointments 
when the Republicans are in their 68th filibuster in this Congress. 
Sixty-eight filibusters. The most recent, of course, is the Federal 
Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, the bill that is on the 
floor right now that we will have a chance to vote on later today. We 
have been on this bill for over a week without a vote because the 
Republicans are filibustering it. This is a bill which is critically 
important to the people of this Nation--first and foremost because of 
safety. I think Senator Murray pointed this out very clearly.
  We need to implement the next generation of an air transportation 
system that was recommended in 2004. We still haven't implemented that. 
This legislation provides $290 million annually to modernize our 
satellite-based system. I am told there are some automobiles that have 
more sophisticated guidance systems or satellite identification systems 
than our planes. We need to do a better job.
  We have a bill that was crafted in a bipartisan way in our committee 
that has come forward. Let's consider it on the floor for the sake of 
the people of this Nation--for their safety. We know that every year 
millions and millions more people are flying. Air traffic is up. We 
need to modernize our system for the safety of the people of this 
country.
  We need more safety inspectors; we certainly know that from what has 
happened this year with the number of aircraft that were not properly 
inspected. This bill will provide the wherewithal in order to make sure 
we carry out the inspections in the best interests of the people of 
this Nation.
  I am sure people are very aware of their fellow citizens being 
stranded on runways for up to 11 hours without being tended to. This 
legislation provides for a passengers bill of rights so that we have 
some basic protection for those who travel by air in this country.
  It is important for our entire country, but let me just point out 
what it means in Maryland.
  We have 20 million passengers who go through the Baltimore/Washington 
International Thurgood Marshall Airport, adding $5.1 billion to the 
economy of my State of Maryland. I could talk about the essential air 
service which affects one community in my State, the Hagerstown 
Regional Airport. That is in this bill.
  My point is that this bill is a comprehensive bill that affects every 
part of our country, and it deserves a vote on this floor.
  Hagerstown Regional Airport is critically important to the economic 
development of the people of that region, and the central air service 
which is extended in this legislation allows it to become the economic 
stimulus for additional growth in the Hagerstown area. So there is a 
lot depending upon this bill moving forward.
  Yes, later today we are going to have a vote. It is a very simple 
vote. It is a vote on whether we are going to move forward on the 
legislation or we are going to allow the filibuster to continue--the 
68th filibuster the Republicans have initiated in this Congress.
  Majority Leader Reid has made it clear that if the Republicans or any 
Member of the Senate doesn't like a provision in the bill, they can 
offer an amendment to take it out. We will have a vote on that 
amendment. There is no effort being made here to stop debate. What we 
are trying to do is take up a bill, not spend a full week in doing no 
work on the floor because we are in a filibuster. Let's end this 
filibuster, let's take up the amendments, let's vote on the amendments, 
and let the majority rule on this very important subject. That is what 
we are asking for today.
  This is a bipartisan bill. It has enjoyed bipartisan support. The 
public wants us--Democrats and Republicans--to work together on issues 
that are critically important to the future of our country. Air traffic 
and passenger safety is critically important to the future of America. 
So I urge my colleagues to put aside partisan differences and allow us 
to let democracy work. Allow us to vote on the issues. Allow us to 
bring forward this critically important bill to the people of this 
country. We will have a chance to do that later today, and I hope that 
the necessary Members of this body will vote to put aside their 
partisan differences and allow us to have a vote for the sake of the 
safety of the people of this Nation.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence 
of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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