Senate passes FAA reauthorization with higher fees

On March 8, by a vote of 82 to 17, the Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill (HR 1000) that had been agreed to by a House-Senate conference committee. The measure authorizes about $40 billion for the next three fiscal years, including $10 billion in airport construction. The bill would also allow airlines to increase the local fee on tickets from $3 to $4.50, and require major airports in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., to allow additional arrivals from and departures to smaller Western and Midwestern airports. The bill would impose a fine of $25,000 on a person who assaults or threatens anyone on a flight

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R.-Fla.) expressed the views of many conservatives when he said he had "serious reservations" about the bill because it would require $2.7 billion in additional fiscal 2001 spending, $1.5 billion more than President Clinton requested. But Rep. Bud Shuster (R.Pa), a champion of pork-barrel spending as chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had won a pitched battle on the House floor over the measure last year, and since the conference committee cut the spending and lowered the budget guarantees a bit, there was little enthusiasm for opening up the measure on the floor again. The House followed the Senate and, on March 13, easily approved the bill 319 to 101 (see HUMAN EVENTS rollcall next week), thus sending it to the President

Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.) stressed the urgency of the bill. "To be very blunt about it, if there is no change in the way we are doing business, we will come to a situation before the year 2015 where there will be, somewhere in this world, a major airplane crash every 7 to 10 days."

The bill received broad bipartisan support, with 42 Republicans and 40 Democrats backing it. Other than the complaints of fiscal conservatives about the bill's spending levels, the major opposition came from Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.), who described the measure as "a missed opportunity to fully address the financing needs of our nation's aviation system." He also criticized the bill for not addressing the FANs biggest problem are-air traffic control.

Sen. Ernest Hollings (D.-N.C.) denied that the bill represented imbalance. "The reality is that for years we have underfunded the FAA, despite the fact that the Airport and Airways Trust Fund has accumulated an uncommitted surplus, approximating $7-8 billion per year. The surplus is currently at $13 billion. Essentially, we have used those movies to meet other priorities. Today, we end that game, by making sure that all movies in the trust fund go to aviation."

lautenberg, a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, stressed the importance of balance in addressing transportation problems. "I learned that you can't ignore the needs of one transportation mode in favor of another. Investments need to be made in a balanced way if you are going to avoid gridlock. You can't ignore the rail system or the highways to focus on aviation. You need to keep your eye on safety, not just construction. The requirement to reauthorize our aviation laws presented this Congress with a great opportunity to address the financing of our nation's aviation system in a comprehensive and bipartisan manner. Unfortunately, this bill misses the mark."

Many senators from interior states were enthusiastic about the bill's provisions granting increased access from nonperimeter cities to O'Hare, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Reagan National airports. Sen. Robert Bennett (R.-Utah) said, "The perimeter rule from hubs like Salt Lake City will improve service to the Nation's Capital for dozens of Western cities beyond the perimeter--while ensuring that cities inside the perimeter are not adversely impacted by new service. This is a fair balance which is consistent with the overall intent of the bill to improve air service to small and medium-sized cities."

Sen. Chuck Robb (D.-Va.) opposed the bill because, disturbing many of his constituents, it would allow more flights into Northern Virginia's National Airport. While approving of the increased funding the bill would provide for the airport, Robb nonetheless objected because, "Increasing slots at National creates delays for the majority of the people who use the airport and undermines the quality of life in communities that are near the airport."

Senators Daniel P Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) and Peter Fitzgerald (RAIL), both from states whose airports would experience more flights due to this bill, also opposed the conference report

A "yes" vote was a vote to approve the $40billion three-year Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill, thus sending the it to the President A "no" vote was a vote against the authorization.

FOR THE BILL (82)

REPUBLICANS FOR (42): Abraham, Allard, Ashcroft, Bennett, Brownback, Bond, Bunning, Campbell, Chafee, Cochran, Collins, Coverdell, DeWine, Domenici, Enzi, Gorton, Grassley, Hagel, Hatch, Helms, Hutchinson (Ark), Hutchison (Tex.), Inhofe, Jeffords, Lott, Lugar, Mack, McConnell, Murowski, Roberts, Roth, Santorum, Shelby, Smith (N.H.). Sno (Ore.), Snowe, Specter, Stevens, Thomas, Thompson, Thurmond and Warner.