If the Senate passes its version of the FAA reauthorization act – and that is a very big if – the eventual conference committee meeting to iron out the differences of the Senate and House bills will not be an easy one, predicts a Senate staffer.
In a presentation Wednesday morning to the ACI-NA/AAAE Spring Legislative Conference, Jarrod Thompson, a Republican staff member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, said there are several issues that the two bills – as currently written – differ dramatically, such as: hiking and indexing the PFC ceiling, setting new standards for airport rescue and fire fighting operations and permanently waiving the alternative minimum tax on airport bonds sales.. The Senate bill is tied up in the Senate Finance Committee. Thompson said that the committee has not resolved the future of the AMT waiver because it is not viewing the waiver on its merits, but instead is concerned about the loss in tax revenue.
While Senate support for the FAA reauthorization has enjoyed bipartisan support, Thompson said the tone the Senate may take in the conference meetings could be influenced by the outcome of the healthcare debate, fiscal spending-jobs creating bills and the upcoming elections.
Before Thompson spoke, three Democratic congressmen addressed the assembled airport directors with a similar message: the FAA reauthorization is a jobs bill. A multi-year FAA measure would provide funding for long-delayed airport capital improvements, the implementation of NextGen and improve airport security – all are certain job creators.
“When you visit your senators,” said U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine), “point out that the FAA reauthorization will create jobs.” Michaud is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
A member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, who has served four tours flying into Iran and Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) noted that the U.S. has invested more than $1 trillion in rebuilding airports in those two nations. It should, he said, be investing in making the airports here “safer and more efficient,” especially with the projected growth in passengers in the next 10 years.
In addition to urging that the Senate take quick action on the FAA bill, U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, a Las Vegas Democrat, praised the Administration for including additional TSA funding for more K-9 units, advance screening technology and hiring more behavioral screening specialists. “We need to spend less time patting down little grandmas and more time looking for those who match the terrorist profiles,” Titus said. She sits on both the House Transportation Committee and the Homeland Security Committee.