Question of the Week: FAA Modernization

These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to Rep. Gallegly's Camarillo, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week Rep. Gallegly adds another question and answer. Please add your comments.

February 3, 2012

Question: Did the House of Representatives pass H.R. 658, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012?

Answer: Yes, H.R. 658 reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations for four years.

The FAA oversees and regulates the nation’s aviation system. The last long-term authorization of the FAA, known as the Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, was approved in 2003 and expired at the end of FY 2007. Since that time, the FAA has operated under a series of temporary extensions.

On April 1, 2011, the House of Representatives approved its version of the bill by a vote of 223 to 196. The Senate approved a different version by unanimous consent on April 7, 2011. A Conference Committee was formed to resolve the differences between the two bills. The Conference Committee agreed to a compromise version and the Conference Report was filed on February 1.

The Conference Report authorizes FAA operations and programs through Fiscal Year 2015. The legislation provides a total authorization of $63.4 billion over the four-year period, including:

• $38.4 billion in appropriations for FAA operations, primarily for salaries and expenses related to operating the air traffic control system;
• $13.4 billion in contract authority from the aviation trust fund for Airport Improvement Programs (AIP), which provide federal grants to airports for airport development and planning; and,
• $168 million for airport programs administrative expenses annually between FY 2012 and FY 2015 for FAA research, engineering and development. In total, the bill would authorize $672 million for the programs.

I voted for the Conference Report when it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 248 to 169 on February 3. The Senate is scheduled to approve the Conference Report next week.

For previous Questions of the Week chronologically and by topic, please see my Questions of the Week page.