The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 13. This bill would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorize the tax authority into and expenditure from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (Aviation Trust Fund) for five years, through the end of Fiscal Year 2023.
The legislation was introduced by Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), along with Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA). This bill is bipartisan, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans as original cosponsors. House leaders are planning for H.R. 4 to be considered on the floor later this week. H.R. 4 is based on the 21st Century AIRR Act, however it does not include the section that would have established a Congressionally chartered, not-for-profit corporation to operate the air traffic control system.
NATCA has carefully reviewed the proposed legislation and has concluded that we support the bipartisan base bill, as it can help provide a more stable funding stream by reauthorizing the FAA and the Aviation Trust Fund through 2023.
Over the past week, members of Congress have proposed over 250 amendments to the bill. We have been poring over the proposed amendments to determine those we support or oppose. Last night the House Rules Committee held a hearing to determine which amendments to the bill would be considered "in order." Two of the more controversial proposals were removed from a submitted amendment. Those proposals would have restructured the Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer position and replaced the current Management Advisory Council with a new body. Those proposals are no longer part of the proposed amendment and therefore will no longer be considered as part of the floor debate on H.R. 4.
We have and will continue to advocate strongly to improve legislation that affects NATCA's members and to fight against any proposed legislation that would do us harm. NATCA has been and continues to coordinate with the aforementioned Congressional leaders and their staffs as this bill works its way through the legislative process and onto the House floor later this week.
We will keep you informed regarding developments about this FAA reauthorization bill as well as any other legislative issues as they arise.
