U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved S. 1300, the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007, as amended, which would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and modernize the nation’s air traffic control system, and S. 694, the Cameron Gulbransen Child Auto Safety Act of 2007, as amended, which would mandate motor vehicle safety standards to improve rearward visibility and prevent backover injury. The Committee also approved David J. Gribbin, IV, to be General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and promotions for U.S. Coast Guard officers. The bills and nominees now await consideration on the Senate floor.

S. 1300, Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007

Introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007 would:

Reauthorize the FAA’s four major accounts: Operations; Facilities & Equipment; the Airport Improvement Program; and Research, Engineering, and Development at a level of more than $65 billion from 2008 through 2011.

Dedicate funding of approximately $400 million annually for modernizing the air traffic control system through the establishment of the Air Traffic Modernization Fund. The fund would be supported through a surcharge of $25 per flight on commercial and high-end general aviation (GA) jet flights. Approximately 90% of GA aircraft would be exempt from the surcharge. The funding generated from the $25 surcharge will be entirely dedicated to modernization costs approved by the Air Traffic Control Modernization Oversight Board, which would be established by the Act.

Provide approximately $16 billion for airport infrastructure grants and would streamline the Passenger Facility Charge process.

Strengthen environmental programs, including provisions that would guarantee $300 million annually for airports to address noise and other environmental issues.

Provide funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program at a level of $133 million annually, an increase of $6 million per year. The Act also would provide the DOT with flexibility to encourage better service by incorporating financial incentives into EAS contracts, or signing longer term contracts.

Restore equity to the air traffic controller collective bargaining process by requiring mediation and arbitration when labor disputes reach an impasse.

S. 694, Cameron Gulbransen Child Auto Safety Act of 2007

Introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Senator John Sununu (R-N.H.), the Cameron Gulbransen Child Auto Safety Act would:

Require the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to initiate a rulemaking to consider amending or prescribing Federal motor vehicle safety standards to require power windows and panels to reverse direction when they detect an obstruction to prevent children from being trapped, injured, or killed. If the Secretary should prescribe new standards, they would be enacted within 30 months of the bill’s enactment. If not, the Secretary would send a report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee describing the reasoning for not prescribing the standards.

Require the Secretary, within 12 months of the date of enactment, to initiate a rulemaking to expand the required field of view to enable the driver to detect the presence of a person or object behind the vehicle in order to prevent death and injury resulting from backing incidents, particularly incidents involving small children and disabled persons.

Require the Secretary to determine a phase-in period for compliance which could not exceed 48 months from the date on which the final rule was issued.

Require the Secretary to issue regulations to require vehicles that are equipped with an automatic transmission that includes a “Park” position to have a system that requires the brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of “Park.” This system would need to function in any key position in which the transmission can be shifted out of “Park” and apply to cars and light trucks manufactured on or after September 1, 2010.

Require the Secretary, not later than six months after the date of enactment, to establish and maintain a database of injuries and deaths in non-traffic, non-crash events involving cars and light trucks.

Require the Secretary, not later than six months after the date of enactment, to provide information about hazards to children in non-traffic, non-crash incident situations by supplementing an existing consumer information program relating to child safety or by creating a new consumer information program relating to child safety.

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Public Information Office: 508 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg • Washington, DC 20510-6125
Tel: 202-224-5115
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