House & Senate Leaders Reach Agreement on FAA

"After a five-year delay and 23 temporary extensions, this measure is key to advancing the nearly eight percent of our nation's economy impacted by the aviation industry," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL). "This bipartisan, bicameral agreement ensures long-term aviation safety and infrastructure funding for the next four years. I commend my colleagues in the House and Senate for working across party lines to come together on this long overdue measure to make needed reforms at FAA, fund programs for constructing major airport infrastructure improvements, and help create jobs for Americans."

"This legislation will, at long last, provide stable funding and policy direction for the FAA's safety programs, airport development grants, and operations for fiscal years 2012 through 2015," said Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI). "I am particularly pleased that we are moving forward with the 'NextGen' modernization of our air traffic control system. Once in place, the new system will bring about a revolution in aviation providing greater safety, lower costs, fewer emissions and better on-time performance with shorter, more direct flights. I am very excited about it."

House and Senate conferees convened this afternoon to discuss the compromise on the differing multi-year FAA reauthorization bills passed by each body last year. The measure, expected to be voted on by the full House and Senate before the current short-term funding extension expires on February 17th, includes the following highlights:

• Funds safety programs, NextGen air traffic control modernization, and FAA operations through FY 2015.

• Creates and supports jobs by providing stable funding for airport improvements under the Airport Improvement Program.

• Provides in total approximately $13.4 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, $38.3 billion for FAA Operations, $672 million for Research, Engineering & Development, and $10.9 billion for FAA's Facilities & Equipment account.

• Stimulates private sector job creation in the unmanned aircraft systems industry by setting timelines for FAA action on the safe integration of UASs into the national airspace system.

• Accelerates deployment of NextGen technologies that will bring significant benefits to the overall U.S. economy - everybody, not just aviation users, benefits from NextGen.

• Strengthen accountability for the progress on the NextGen program.

• Streamlines environmental reviews for new, more efficient flight paths.

• Includes unprecedented labor reforms of the National Mediation Board (NMB).

• Limits efforts by the Obama Administration to over-regulate the lithium battery industry.

• Eliminates the most egregious subsidies within the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

• Sets a balanced inspection regime for airliners that are inspected overseas.

• Establishes the process for consolidation of outdated FAA air traffic control facilities.

• Enacts passenger protections to be sure airline passengers are treated fairly when travelling.