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Dorgan Says Temporary Federal Aviation Administration Extension ALso Improves Passenger Safety

Press Release

Date: July 30, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said Friday he's disappointed Congress is not yet ready to give final approval to a comprehensive, long term reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but welcomes the temporary extension, approved by the Senate Friday. The extension addresses the immediate need to extend the FAA's authorities and also includes significant aviation safety reforms that Dorgan championed in the Senate.

Dorgan said he expects the President to sign the temporary measure shortly. But he urged Congress to keep working on a longer term extension that includes other important reforms, such as air traffic control modernization and airport improvement funding.

The legislation approved by Congress would extend the FAA's authority, which otherwise expires within days, through September 30.

"Without this FAA extension, we would have put our nation's aviation system at risk," Dorgan said. "At the same time, we are taking long overdue action on these safety provisions to ensure that the flying public can truly expect one high level of safety in our skies.

"There remains much more we still need to do in a comprehensive, longer term FAA reauthorization bill," Dorgan said. "I'm disappointed a few narrow interests have prevented agreement on a legislation that would have allowed us to invest in critical airport infrastructure, modernize our air traffic control system, and create tens of thousands of jobs in the process, among other important measures," Dorgan said. "We need to keep working on that and get it done. I remain confident that we will."

Dorgan, Chairman of the Senate's Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, held eight hearings this Congress to examine safety issues including the adequacy of pilot training, flight crew fatigue, pilot compensation, and commuting practices in the industry, which led to a number of provisions included in the bill to improve safety.


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