Aviation and Travel Industry Strongly Supports Bill Ensuring Stability for the Aviation System

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of 40 stakeholders representing all segments of the aviation and travel industries today sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Subcommittee on Aviation, conveying its strong support for the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1108). Below:

February 12, 2019

The Honorable Peter DeFazio Chairman
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 

The Honorable Rick Larsen Chairman
Subcommittee on Aviation
2113 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 

The Honorable Sam Graves
Ranking Member
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
2164 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 

The Honorable Garret Graves Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Aviation
2402 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 

Dear Chairman DeFazio, Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Larsen, and Ranking Member Graves:

We write today to convey our strong support for the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1108) which would authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) in the event of a government shutdown.

During the recent shutdown, air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals were forced to work without pay and thousands of others were furloughed. Jobs and economic growth in the industry were threatened as manufacturers, airlines and other operators, and small businesses faced disruption. The effect on the nation's air transportation system and the workers charged with keeping the system safe was dramatic. We find this situation to be unacceptable and we want to work with Congress and the Administration to prevent this from ever happening again.

The legislation is designed to provide a limited, targeted way of ensuring stability for the aviation system and it does not change congressional direction or oversight in any way. 

H.R. 1108 allows FAA to carry out its mission by using the AATF, which presently has an uncommitted balance of over six billion dollars. Additionally, users of the system continued to pay taxes and fees during the shutdown to fund the aviation system, but the dollars could not be accessed to support controllers, safety specialists, and other critical FAA personnel absent a legislative fix. Passengers, shippers, FAA employees, operators, businesses, pilots, airline employees and others rely on our aviation system and support its operation through payments to the Trust Fund.

We look forward to working with the Committee, other members of Congress, and the Administration to pass H.R. 1108 and ensure that the FAA operates safely and efficiently for the flying public. 

Sincerely,

Aeronautical Repair Station Association 
Aerospace Maintenance Council
Air Line Pilots Association
Air Medical Operators Association 
Air Traffic Control Association
Aircraft Electronics Association
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Airlines for America
Airports Consultants Council
Airports Council International - North America
American Association of Airport Executives
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International 
Aviation Accreditation Board International
Aviation Technician Education Council
Cargo Airline Association
Commercial Drone Alliance
Experimental Aircraft Association
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Helicopter Association International
International Air Transport Association
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Airline Division International Council of Air Shows
National Air Carrier Association
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
National Air Transportation Association
National Association of State Aviation Officials
National Business Aviation Association
Professional Aviation Board of Certification
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association
Regional Airline Association
Transportation Trades Department – AFL-CIO
Transport Workers Union
Travelers United
U.S. Travel Association 

CC: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
Republican Whip Steve Scalise
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and Ranking Member Kevin Brady House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Ranking Member Kay Granger House Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price and Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart 

To view the letter as a PDF, please click here.

MORE INFORMATION: Doug Church, Deputy Director of Public Affairs; 301-346-8245, [email protected].

SOURCE National Air Traffic Controllers Association

Related Links

https://www.natca.org