Leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations have said they won’t support any plans to remove air traffic control from Congressional oversight as part of FAA reauthorization.
In a Feb. 1 letter sent to House leaders, the Appropriations Committee members wrote, “…We will not support legislation that would create a separate air traffic control organization outside the FAA and removed from the annual appropriations process.” They also expressed concerns about any proposal that would transfer decisions on financial investments and fees to an independent entity outside, saying that to do so would be “an abdication of our duties to the American people.”
The letter was signed by Appropriations Chairman Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) as well as Transportation Subcommittee Appropriations Chairman Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Transportation Subcommittee Appropriations Ranking Member Rep. David Price (D-N.C.).
Last week Senate appropriators sent a similar letter to colleagues who are working on FAA reauthorization legislation.
Currently, the FAA is operating under a six-month funding extension, which is set to expire on March 31. House FAA reauthorization legislation is anticipated Feb. 3. That legislation is expected to propose removing the air traffic organization from the FAA and creating a not-for-profit entity to take its place.
