ACI-NA  Praises Senate's FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON (July 14, 2009) – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato applauded the introduction today of a Federal Aviation Reauthorization bill by the Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX),  Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim DeMint (R-SC):

“It is imperative that Congress pass an FAA Reauthorization bill this year in order to provide airports and the aviation industry the stability to plan for the future,” said Principato. “Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison, along with Senators Dorgan and DeMint, have put together a much needed proposal to enhance aviation safety and modernize our nation’s air traffic control system by accelerating the implementation of NextGen.”

The bill also provides an increase in the Airport Improvement Program to $4 billion in 2010 and $4.1 billion in 2011, as well as a special provision to allow those airports whose enplanement numbers have dropped below 10,000 in either 2008 or 2009 to continue to be eligible for AIP grant money at their 2007 funding level.  “ACI-NA has advocated the need to address the unique challenges faced by small airports during these difficult economic times and we are pleased that the bill includes this important provision.”

ACI-NA also praised the inclusion of an airport CEO on the Air Traffic Control Modernization Oversight Board as well as the increase in the authorization of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program to $175 million. 

ACI-NA looks forward to working with the Commerce and Finance Committees to assist in passing the bill so it can be conferenced with the House.  It is imperative that Congress complete its work on an FAA Reauthorization bill this year. 

Contact:

Victoria Houghton, vhoughton@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080

Sheila Owens, sowens@aci-na.org (202) 861-8098

About ACI-NA

The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities.  ACI-NA 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.  Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.