For Release: Thursday, June 28, 2007
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO, OBERSTAR INTRODUCE BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE FAA

Historic Legislation Focuses on Modernization, Safety and Accountability; Requires Airlines and Airports to File Emergency Contingency Plans to Take Care of Passengers

Washington - U.S. Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairmen of the House Aviation Subcommittee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, have introduced H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, comprehensive legislation governing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aspects of our national aviation system.   The bill was approved by the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this afternoon. 

"The Aviation Subcommittee held a rigorous schedule of hearings this spring to examine not only the Bush administration's proposal for reauthorization of the FAA, but the state of FAA operations and our air transportation system.  I said many times during that process that I believed that our current financing system could handle the transition to the next generation (NextGen) system.  I also placed an emphasis on maintaining the world's safest airspace.  Both of those priorities are reflected in this legislation, and we have added contracting accountability safeguards to ensure we spend this money wisely.

"At the same time, we take important steps to ensure safety by restoring balance between the FAA and our air traffic controllers in current and future contract negotiations, taking them back to their prior contract for the purposes of ongoing negotiations and requiring binding arbitration when the two sides reach an impasse. 

"The bill also addresses the need for airlines and airports to have emergency contingency plans in place to take care of passengers that are involved in long flight delays.  These plans would need to account for the provision of food, water, clean restrooms, cabin ventilation and medical care for passengers.  The increasing incidence of long tarmac delays and the subsequent substandard conditions that travelers have had to endure is unacceptable, and we believe this provision will help rectify the situation."

Key provisions include :

Funding :

• Authorizes $15.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), more than $4 billion over the Administration's proposal.
• Authorizes $13 billion for FAA Facilities & Equipment (F&E) to accelerate the implementation of NextGen, more than $1 billion over the Administration's proposal.
• Authorizes $37.2 billion for FAA Operations.

Safety :

• Requires binding arbitration for future labor negotiations between air traffic controllers and the FAA; sends the two sides back to the table to reach a new contract (an impasse was declared last year and the FAA imposed work rules).
• Requires the FAA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on pilot fatigue, and then to consider the findings of the Academy and update, where appropriate, its regulations with regard to flight time limitations and rest requirements for pilots. 
• Directs the FAA to initiate long-overdue action to ensure crewmember safety by applying occupational health standards on-board aircraft.

Accountability :

• Requires annual reporting on NextGen-related deliverables and contains provisions to hold FAA vendors accountable for providing safe, quality services for automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B, a technology to prevent runway incursions) and flight service stations.
• Authorizes Government Accountability Office, Department of Transportation Inspector General, and National Research Council audits and reports related to NextGen that will help Congress exercise its oversight responsibilities.

Consumer Issues :

• Requires airlines and airports to have emergency contingency plans in place to take care of passengers that are involved in long flight and tarmac delays.  These plans must account for the provision of food, water, clean restrooms, cabin ventilation and medical care for passengers, and fines are imposed by the Department of Transportation for violations.  The plans must be updated by airlines every three years and airports every five years.
• Provides that a 1-800 number for passenger complaints to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at the Department of Transportation will be printed on every airline ticket. 

Environmental Stewardship :

• Authorizes a new "green" air traffic control facilities program, which calls for the FAA, to the maximum extent possible, to implement environmentally-beneficial practices for new construction and major renovation of air traffic control facilities, as the City of Chicago did recently at O'Hare International Airport. 

• Authorizes the FAA to fund six projects at public-use airports to take promising environmental research concepts into the actual airport environment to demonstrate measurable reductions or mitigation of aviation impacts on noise, air quality or water quality in the airport environment.

"The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 is the result of a very thorough review of our air transportation system, and I believe it will leave us well prepared to handle the transitions necessary over the next decade and beyond.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it through the full House and into law," stated Costello.

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