Committee approves bill to fund FAA during a government shutdown
At least one government agency might have to clock in should another shutdown occur. A bill (H.R.1108) that would provide funding to the FAA during a government shutdown passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 27.
The bill, known as the Aviation Funding and Stability Act of 2019, was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). It would will draw funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to keep the agency running. The trust fund generates revenue from the domestic passenger ticket tax, commercial fuel tax, general aviation gasoline tax, and cargo tax.
“Our Nation’s aviation system should not be jeopardized by politics in Washington, which is why I’m proud my bill to protect the FAA from future shutdowns cleared this hurdle today,” said DeFazio. “I will continue fighting to ensure the safety of the traveling public and livelihoods of our critical aviation workforce are never compromised.”
“The government shutdown hurt American families, the U.S. aviation and aerospace economy and jeopardized the safety of the National Airspace System. Congress must do what it can to ensure the FAA, its employees and the U.S. aviation economy are protected from another government shutdown,” said Larsen.“The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 will help ensure lights stay on at runways across the country.”
In the letter, the groups wrote about the importance of the 5,000 public-use airports nationwide and how GA is an integral part of our transportation system. “These airports serve as an important economic engine, allowing America’s rural communities, towns and cities to utilize aviation to grow and prosper. The general aviation community has a great stake in their continued viability and accessibility. For these reasons, we strongly support the Graves Amendment.”
Additionally, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Notice to Airmen Improvement Act (H.R.1775), which would establish an FAA taskforce to improve the notam system to alert pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Rep. Peter Stauber (R-Minn.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.). Stauber said, “Although NOTAMs contain critical safety information, they are often lengthy and difficult to understand. These inefficiencies have the potential to create life-threatening situations. Modern air travel is incredibly safe, but we must be constantly working to maintain and improve upon safety protocols, and that is the objective of the Notice to Airmen Improvement Act.”
“The near miss incident at SFO involving Air Canada Flight 759 in July of 2017 highlighted the need to improve the antiquated NOTAM system. Clear and effective communication of important safety information to flight crews is critical to the safety of flight crews and the flying public. I am pleased to be working with Representative Stauber to complete a long-overdue safety enhancement of our aviation system, and glad that our bill is one step closer to becoming law,” said DeSaulnier.
“We are glad the committee took steps to improve aviation infrastructure and safety,” AOPA President Mark Baker said. “The passage of the Aviation and Stability Act and the Notice to Airmen Improvement Act will ensure our aviation system remains strong and viable. We thank Representatives Graves and Stauber for their contributions to these critical bills.”
In addition to H.R.1108 and H.R.1775, the committee also approved six other bills. To become law, the bills have to pass the full House and Senate, and be signed by the president.
