Coalition Urges Congress to Pass FAA Reauthorization

CONTACT:
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537

Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2008) — In a coalition letter to the U.S. Senate today, 35 aviation organizations called for members to pass a comprehensive, long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill this year and urged the Senate to make the legislation a priority. 

“It is critical for Congress to recognize how important aviation is to our economy and to complete the FAA reauthorization process,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “We need to ensure that our aviation system is able to grow in a safe, secure and efficient manner.”

The coalition letter was delivered to the full Senate this afternoon.  

Thirty-five organizations signed the letter, including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Conference of State Legislatures, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Association of Airport Executives, National Business Aviation Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Airport Consultants Council, Aerospace Industries Association, Air Carrier Association of America, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Air Transport Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and the Cargo Airline Association.  

While individual goals are diverse, the organizations are unified in recognizing the importance of advancing a multiyear FAA reauthorization legislation. The coalition letter notes that the integrity of our aviation systems and the ability to meet future demands are dependent upon the federal government's success in meeting its obligations to provide adequate infrastructure. The first step in meeting those obligations is for the Senate to advance a comprehensive and long-term FAA reauthorization bill. 

View Coalition letter here.

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America.  Over 300 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the six worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

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