Washington, DC - The House of Representatives today unanimously approved an extension of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs, clearing the way for negotiators to complete work on a final long-term FAA reauthorization.
"With this extension in place, Congress can now bring to conclusion a long-overdue FAA bill," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL). "This should be a bipartisan, bicameral effort. Improvements to our nation's aviation infrastructure, modernization of our air traffic control system, and reform of FAA programs are almost five years overdue. A long-term bill will set national aviation policy and have a major impact on jobs."
"This long, incredibly drawn-out process is, hopefully, almost over," said Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI). "Let this be the last extension, to be followed by a long-sought reauthorization of the FAA. We must not delay any longer when it comes to air traffic control modernization and other vital initiatives."
The short-term extension (H.R. 3800) passed by the House today now goes before the Senate. The bill is a simple extension of FAA programs through February 17, 2012, and contains no additional policy provisions. This will be the 23rd FAA stopgap since the last long-term FAA law expired in 2007; 17 of these extensions were passed when Democrats controlled Congress.
Read this original document at: http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1506
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