[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5715-5716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        H.R. 658, THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 2011

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, reauthorization and reform of the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) is long overdue, and critical to our 
nation's future. Between 2007 and 2010, the Democratic House majority 
repeatedly passed FAA reauthorization legislation--with my strong 
support--to modernize America's outdated air traffic control system, 
improve airline safety for the traveling public, and create jobs by 
improving our nation's infrastructure. After years of negotiation, the 
Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization bill in February 2011 that 
meets these criteria.
  Unfortunately, the House Republican majority chose not to bring the 
bipartisan Senate legislation to a vote today. Instead, House 
Republicans introduced H.R. 658, a different version of the FAA 
authorization that slashes $4 billion from needed aviation 
infrastructure investments. The $4 billion cut to aviation 
infrastructure funding would wreak havoc on our nation's aviation 
industry, which accounts for nearly 11 million jobs and $1.2 trillion 
in annual economic activity. Economist Mark Zandi--Senator McCain's 
economic advisor during the 2008 Presidential campaign--estimates that 
the cuts made in H.R. 658 to aviation infrastructure will result in the 
loss of 700,000 American jobs.
  In addition to the threat of massive job losses, H.R. 658 includes 
provisions that roll back worker rights and undermine airline safety. 
One of these provisions would change existing union election laws for 
aviation and rail workers so that employees who choose not to vote are 
counted as ``no'' votes. Needless to say, if these rules were applied 
to congressional elections, not a single sitting Member of the House or 
Senate would have won election. Some House Republicans have joined 
Democrats in rejecting this anti-democratic policy. Republican 
Congressman Steve LaTourette offered a bipartisan amendment with 
Democratic Representative Jerry Costello to maintain union election 
rules within the National Mediation Board that uphold a very basic 
democratic principle: the majority of those who vote will determine the 
outcome of an election. I voted for this amendment and was extremely 
disappointed it failed due to strong opposition from the Republican 
caucus.
  Another amendment, offered by Representative Bill Shuster, eliminates 
the commonsense proposal by the FAA to set a single standard for the 
aviation industry regulating how many hours pilots can fly before they 
are required to rest. This standard is the result of extensive 
scientific testing. Rep. Shuster's amendment would abandon the 
scientific basis for pilot rest requirements and instead create 
different levels of safety depending on the segment of the aviation 
industry. Fatigue affects pilots the same, regardless of the plane they 
fly or the cargo they carry. I opposed the Shuster amendment but 
unfortunately it passed despite unanimous opposition from Democratic 
Members of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress must pass a long-term authorization of the 
Federal Aviation Administration that will improve safety for passengers 
and pilots, make critical infrastructure upgrades, and modernize this 
essential sector of our nation's economy. I am disappointed that the 
House will not vote on such a bill today. Once again, Republican 
leaders in the House have decided that scoring political points and 
protecting special interests is more important than our nation's 
future.
  President Obama has said he will veto any bill that does not protect 
railroad and airline workers' right to a fair election or one that 
erodes the safety and efficiency of our air traffic. Unfortunately, 
this bill fails on both counts, and I cannot support it.

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