Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2007

Floor Speech

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 24, 2007)

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Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3540, the Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2007. As the gentleman, my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee, indicated, this bill is a 3-month extension of the excise taxes that currently fund the Airport and Airway trust fund.

Time is of the essence, as the Speaker knows, as these taxes are due to expire at the end of the month, and it is imperative that we do not cut off this source of funding that benefits our Nation's airports and the aviation community, as well as the tens of thousands of airline passengers. I see my colleague from Illinois nodding, and we shared a plane ride here moments ago.

In addition, there has been a lot of discussion about a way to reformulate the way we fund the trust fund. There have been some interesting ideas bandied about by different points of view. This temporary extension allows us that additional time to consider some fundamental reforms to the tax structure that finances the Airport and Airway trust fund and to spend some more time studying the NextGen air traffic control modernization proposal before we move towards conference with the Senate to consider FAA reauthorization.

As the gentleman from Michigan pointed out, this bill was reported out of our committee by voice vote. Since it extends to the end of the calendar year the existing taxes dedicated to the trust fund, there is no effect on revenues as we extend the current baseline. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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