LEGISLATIVE REPORT

HOUSE PASSES TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL

December 2, 2011

What’s at Issue
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 2112) that funds transportation programs, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for fiscal year 2012.  

Why It’s Important
The bill supports important aviation programs and services upon which the general aviation community relies.  

Major Finding
The following are the major provisions within the bill:

Department of Transportation

• $72.3 billion is provided for the Department of Transportation, 5.2% or $3.5 billion above the fiscal year 2011 bill.
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – $15.9 billion is included for the funding and other provisions of the agency.  This is an increase of $27 million over last year’s level and $746 million below the president’s budget request. 
    • FAA Operations:  $9.6 billion is included for operations, an increase of $139 million. 
    • $5 billion of the FAA’s operating budget is derived from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund.  The remaining $4.59 billion is drawn from the general fund of the U.S. Treasury. 
    
    
    • Facilities and Equipment (F&E):  $2.7 billion is provided for F&E, the same amount was provided last year to modernize and improve air traffic control and airway facilities. 
      • $8 million is included to hire 71 additional aviation safety inspectors.
    
    
    • Research, Engineering & Development:  $167 million is provided, a $2 million decrease below last year’s level. 
      • The bill provides $2 million in funding for research and testing of unleaded fuels and piston engine modification to seek a safe alternative to the currently utilized leaded aviation gasoline.
      
      
    • Airport Improvement Program (AIP):  $3.515 is provided for AIP, the same funding level has been provided for AIP for the past seven years. 
    
    
    • FAA Administrative Provision: 
      • Prohibits funds from being used to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
      • Prohibits funds from being used to limit the Block Aircraft Registration Request program.

NATA Position
NATA is pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate included transportation funding as one of the few appropriations bills approved for fiscal year 2012 so far this year.  Funding for federal aviation programs is critical to the FAA’s mission of providing a safe national aviation system.  Under the federal government’s tight budget constraints, the FAA received a fair funding allocation.

 

Staff Contact: Kristen Moore
Director, Legislative Affairs
kmoore@nata.aero

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For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.