As the House Aviation Subcommittee begins a series of hearings focusing on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Ranking Democrat Jerry Costello (D-IL) emphasized the need to continue the implementation of key aviation safety measures. The Subcommittee today will hear testimony from FAA Administrator J. Randolph Babbitt and will examine issues related to the passage of long-term, comprehensive legislation reauthorizing the FAA. Tomorrow, the Subcommittee will hear from aviation industry groups.
In an opening statement prepared for the hearing, Costello noted that the House and Senate came very close to delivering a strong, balanced and bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill in the last Congress, and expressed his confidence that this progress will help advance comprehensive legislation through Congress in the near future. However, Costello cautioned that this reauthorization bill must be one that moves the FAA, the aviation community and the nation forward.
"Some have suggested that for fiscal reasons, we should go backwards now, downsize the FAA, and even authorize lower capital funding levels for the FAA than what Congress provided in the last FAA reauthorization bill over seven years ago," said Costello. "I am convinced that doing so would present major concerns for aviation safety. Additionally, funding cuts will stall the agency's facility consolidation efforts, efforts that would otherwise save billions of dollars and reduce the deficit in the long term. While I agree that we need to reduce federal spending, we cannot jeopardize the safety of the flying public in the process.
Costello also highlighted last year's passage of H.R 5900 -- the strongest piece of airline safety legislation in 50 years -- in response to the Colgan Flight 3407 crash that occurred in February 2009. Costello pointed to the families of those who perished in the Colgan accident -- some of whom are attending today's hearing -- as a driving force behind the enactment of these measures.
"The Colgan families have come to Washington, D.C. countless times at their own expense to push for safety improvements and ensure that the lessons of this tragic event are not forgotten," said Costello. "I want to thank them for their steadfast support, and I believe we must validate their truly remarkable efforts by ensuring that the FAA continues to make progress in implementing the provisions of our new safety law."