Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1893) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes.

Madam 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. 1893.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me note that for the third consecutive Congress we're working to enact a multiyear reauthorization bill for the FAA. I remain hopeful that we will be able to complete a long-term reauthorization in the very near future and send it to the President for his signature.

We're currently working with the Senate to finish negotiations to reconcile the differences between the Senate and the House versions. I know I, for one, am committed to passing a long-term reauthorization that will allow the FAA to continue making progress in modernizing our system, utilizing new technologies, and making other improvements.

However, the current FAA extension expires at the end of this month. H.R. 1893 is a clean, short-term extension of FAA funding and programs through June 30. It allows important safety and capacity projects at our Nation's airports to continue at the funding levels contained in the recently passed continuing resolution for fiscal year 2011.

This extension is a prudent precaution to ensure that the FAA is able to continue operating until negotiations for a long-term FAA reauthorization are completed. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, May 23, 2011.

Hon. John Mica,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Mica: I am writing concerning H.R. 1893, the

``Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II'' which

is expected to be scheduled for floor consideration today.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has

jurisdiction over the Internal Revenue Code. Sections 2 and 3

of this bill amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by

extending the current Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF)

expenditure authority and the associated Federal excise taxes

to June 30, 2011. In order to expedite H.R. 1893 for floor

consideration, the Committee will forgo action on the bill.

This is being done with the understanding that it does not in

any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 1893, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during Floor

consideration.

Sincerely,

Dave Camp

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1893, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II. This bill is a clean extension of the Federal Aviation Administration's authority to spend from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to carry out airport improvement projects at current levels through June 30, 2011.

In February, the Senate approved a bipartisan comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill by a wide 87-8 vote margin. Passage of the Senate bill was applauded by both labor and industry stakeholders, and it was estimated that the bill would create at least 150,000 jobs.

By contrast, last month the House approved a controversial FAA reauthorization bill, H.R. 658, by a party-line vote by the narrowest vote margin in almost 30 years. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation, and the House bill has been criticized by the FAA, the National Transportation and Safety Board, Captain Sully Sullenberger, the families of Colgan Air Flight 3407 who lost loved ones in Buffalo, New York, and in the press because it would undermine aviation safety efforts.

For several weeks we have worked with the Senate to resolve a number of differences between the two bills. However, the most controversial aspects of the House FAA reauthorization bill--the arbitrary $4 billion funding cuts that will have a negative impact on aviation safety and our economy, and a provision that repeals a Federal rule on fair labor elections and mounts an assault on collective bargaining rights--have not been resolved or dropped from the bill.

So despite assurances from our friends on the Republican side of the aisle that we would not have another FAA extension, Congress must now enact the 19th short-term extension. If the House Republicans continue to insist on these controversial poison pill provisions, the enactment of a long-term bill this year is in serious jeopardy, and we will be back here on the floor for more extensions in the future.

We all agree that the FAA desperately needs the stability and direction that a long-term reauthorization

would provide. Further, the American public deserves a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that will create jobs, improve safety, and modernize our infrastructure. But the House FAA reauthorization bill would not accomplish any of these objectives.

I will again say, as I have said many times before, I will work with my colleagues across the aisle to produce a fair bill that can not only pass the House but also pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President. Let us strip the partisan poison pills from this bill and enact a long-term, bipartisan FAA bill that will create jobs and keep our economy moving throughout the 21st century, and make this our last extension.

For the present time, however, this extension is necessary, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1893, the ``Airport and Airway Extension Act, Part II.'' This bill gives Congress another month to complete work on a long-term reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration programs. I said this of the most recent extension almost two months ago, and I will say it again: I hope this bill will be the last FAA extension bill for a long time.

As my colleagues know, the House and Senate each passed long-term reauthorization bills earlier this year. Staffs have made good progress in negotiations to resolve a number of differences between the two bills; there are just a few open issues remaining.

The long-term bill's success, however, will depend on how those open issues are resolved. They are important issues. Many of them, I regret to say, have been controversial issues from day one. House Republicans have proposed to renege on our commitment to small communities and to end essential air service everywhere but Alaska; the Senate bill does not. House Republicans have proposed to repeal a National Mediation Board rule that guarantees fundamental fairness for airline and railroad workers deciding whether to join a union; the Senate bill does not. The House bill slashes funding for airports and FAA programs, with the mandate for the agency to somehow ``do more with less,'' when all available evidence clearly shows the agency will do less with less. The Senate bill does not.

These are differences that must be worked out, and I believe they can be worked out if both sides come together in good faith, put partisanship aside, and resolve to keep America's aviation system the world's best and finest. I look forward to working with my colleagues in this chamber and with our Senate counterparts to enact a lasting, long-term reauthorization that creates jobs, improves safety, and serves the interests of the flying public.

For the meantime, however, this one-month extension is necessary. Without its enactment, the FAA's funding, programs, and expenditure authority would lapse on May 31. H.R. 1893 will keep the FAA operating for another month, through June 30. It will give Congress one more month to complete work on a long-term reauthorization, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, as if in morning business, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1893, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.