July 14, 2017
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives are asking their colleagues to vote against H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act, which would reauthorize the FAA and privatize the nation’s ATC system.
“The bill is a dangerous gamble with aviation safety and the future of the system,” the letter states. “During the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure markup of the bill, every Democrat and one Republican opposed the bill. The Democratic leaders of the Committee on Appropriations; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Ways and Means also oppose the bill.”
The letter also noted that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, as well as the Committee on Ways and Means had no hearings, markups or “meaningful opportunity for Democrats to participate.”
The letter was signed by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-4-OR), Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), Nita Lowey (D-17-NY), David Price (D-4-NC), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30-TX), Daniel Lipinksi (D-3-IL), Richard Neal (D-1-MA) and Lloyd Doggett (D-35-TX).
Read the full letter. (PDF)
With H.R. 2997 expected to be considered by the full House before the end of the month, NBAA has mobilized the business aviation community to voice opposition to the bill. On June 23, NBAA President and CEO ED Bolen issued a Call to Action urging association members to use the association’s online Contact Congress resource to oppose the bill that Bolen has termed, “the single greatest threat to the future of general aviation we have faced.”
NBAA’s Contact Congress resource also provides a means for social media users to alert their lawmakers to the industry’s opposition to the bill.
Furthermore, NBAA has introduced a toll-free action line – 855-265-9002 – to connect association members with their elected representatives, with a brief list of suggested talking points for callers. Visit Contact Congress to learn more about these initiatives against H.R. 2997.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.