Good morning, I’d like to thank Sen. Rockefeller and Sen. Lott for holding this hearing today. 

 

I am pleased to see we are moving ahead on this bill.  I encourage the Committee to act quickly and work steadily towards finishing a Committee product.  There is limited time before the current authorization expires, and it is my preference to see this bill finished on time and in a bipartisan manner. 

 

I also have a personal interest in a FAA bill moving forward given that my state of Alaska depends on aviation more than any other state.  Alaska’s infrastructure and safety needs are significant.  Over 70 percent of our communities can be reached only by air. Alaska alone represents 20 percent of our national airspace, and is home to over 20,000 pilots, nearly 10,000 registered aircraft, and over 250 airports.  In addition, we have Anchorage International airport, one of the top cargo airports in the world.  For these reasons, and many others, I am greatly interested in the future of our aviation system.

 

The Committee needs to look ahead and provide a solution to a system that will have to accommodate growth in airline passengers and cargo, the innovation of unmanned aerial systems, and increased business jet traffic.  Congress is going to have to make some tough decisions in order to meet projected increases in air traffic volumes, enhancement of the system’s safety infrastructure, and increase the efficiency of the air traffic control system.

 

We can no longer afford to simply maintain the status quo.  While I am not convinced the entire system needs revamping, I do believe we need to provide a mechanism by which the air traffic control system can be modernized in a quick and efficient manner.  The economic importance and safety improvements associated with a modern and efficient air transportation system are vast.

 

It is important we concentrate our efforts on moving a bill forward, and in doing so, I will be focused on improving rural air service, cargo initiatives, and air traffic control modernization.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on their priorities. 

 

Obviously, the toughest job we have is our reaction to the fee structure in the FAA’s proposal.  This is extremely controversial in Alaska.

 

Thank you, I look forward to the testimony.