Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act, Part II

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Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4217, the ``Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act, Part II''.

The previous long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization act, the Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (P.L. 108-176) expired on September 30, 2007. Although the House passed an FAA reauthorization bill last Congress, the Senate did not, resulting in the need for a series of short-term extension acts that, unfortunately, continues to this day.

At the outset of this Congress, the House again passed a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. On May 21, 2009, the House passed H.R. 915, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009'', which reauthorizes FAA programs for fiscal years (FY) 2010 through 2012.

However, this legislation is still pending in the Senate, as the other body has been unable to complete action on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Given that the current authority for aviation programs expires on December 31, an extension of current law is necessary to continue financing of aviation programs until a multi-year reauthorization bill can be completed. H.R. 4217 provides a three-month extension of aviation programs, through March 31, 2010.

H.R. 4217 provides $2 billion in contract authority for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) through the end of March. This $2 billion will enable airports to move forward with important safety and capacity projects. When annualized, this level of AIP funding equals $4 billion, which is consistent with both the House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills, and the FY 2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution.

The bill also authorizes appropriations for FAA Operations, Facilities and Equipment (F&E), and Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) programs, consistent with average funding levels of the FY 2010 House-approved appropriations bill and the Senate-approved appropriations bill.

In addition, H.R. 4217 extends the aviation excise taxes through March 31, 2010. These taxes are necessary to support the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which funds a substantial portion of the FAA's budget. With an uncommitted cash balance of just $251 million at the end of FY 2009, any lapse in the aviation taxes could put the solvency of the Trust Fund at risk.

In addition to extending the aviation taxes, H.R. 4217 extends the FAA's authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through March 2010.

To allow aviation programs to continue under the same terms and conditions as were in effect during the previous authorization period, H.R. 4217 also extends several other provisions of Vision 100.

I thank Chairman Rangel, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, for introducing this measure, and for his assistance in ensuring the continued operation of aviation programs. I also thank Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Camp and my Committee colleagues, Ranking Member Mica, Subcommittee Chairman Costello, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Petri, for working with me on this critical legislation.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4217.

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