March 27, 2019
NBAA encourages its members and others in the business aviation community to contact their elected representatives this week to support a bill that would ensure the continuation of FAA operations through funding disruptions such as the recent federal government shutdown.
The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 would maintain financial stability for the agency by allowing use of funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund during lapses in government funding. The bill is sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-4-OR), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), and has more than 130 other co-sponsors.
Although taxes continued to be paid into the airport and airway trust fund throughout the recent shutdown, the FAA was prohibited from using any funds to continue operations or pay the agency’s employees during that time. Passage of this bill would provide FAA additional flexibility to use trust fund revenues to continue operations during a government shutdown.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen asked that NBAA members utilize the association’s Contact Congress resource and encourage lawmakers to support this important legislation, which ensures funding stability for the FAA while maintaining congressional oversight of our nation’s airspace system.
“We have the largest, safest and most diverse aviation system in the world, and Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that system has funding stability,” Bolen added. “We look forward to seeing this important legislation become law.” Read more about NBAA’s support for the bill.
During the markup, Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-6-MO) offered an amendment to increase annual Airport Improvement Program (AIP) contract authority to $4 billion annually. NBAA and a coalition of general aviation groups supported the amendment which provides additional support for capital improvement projects at our more than 5,000 pubic use airports. Review the letter in support of the amendment.
The Aviation Funding Stability Act, including the amendment increasing AIP funding, was approved unanimously by the committee allowing it to move forward in the legislative process.
Contact elected officials to support H.R. 1108.
The committee also unanimously approved , H.R. 1775, calling for the establishment of a task force comprised of a variety of aviation stakeholders, including representatives from the business aviation community, to reduce the complexity of notices to airmen (NOTAMs) issued to pilots and operators.
NBAA supports this measure and is actively engaged in a coalition working with the FAA on broader aeronautical information reform.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.