Issue Position: Transportation - Aviation

Issue Position

Santa Clara County is home to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. Averaging roughly 384 commercial departures and landings per day, Mineta San Jose Airport is a critical gateway for Silicon Valley. I am committed to ensuring that the airport leverages federal funding to offer visitors and residents safe and efficient service.

In the 111th Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 915, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009. This long-awaited reauthorization bill would have authorized almost $54 billion for FAA programs over three years. The financing title of the bill would have raised fuel taxes for corporate jets and other general aviation aircraft, but would have kept fuel taxes paid by the airlines and passengers taxes at their current rates. It also would have increased authorized funding levels to support the development of Next Generation air traffic modernization initiatives and support airport infrastructure improvement grants.

Unfortunately, the Senate and the House of Representatives could not agree on the specifics of the legislation and a multiyear FAA reauthorization did not pass the 111th Congress. Without passage of new multiyear legislation, aviation trust fund revenue collections and aviation program authority have been continued through a series of short-term extensions. With the Senate taking up FAA reauthorization legislation early in the 112th Congress, I look forward to passing this important and long-awaited bill.

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