Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2881, FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2881, FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 20, 2007)

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Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), for the time; and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Who would have thought, back in 1903, at Kitty Hawk, that an experiment could have had such an incredible series of effects on our daily lives. Today, air travel helps make the world a smaller place, allowing for an ease of travel and commerce that incentivates extraordinary economic growth and job creation.

But if U.S. air travel is to continue its fundamental role in the global economy, we have to make certain that we have the safest, most modern and efficient transportation system in the world. By reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration funding and safety oversight programs, the underlying bill takes an important step towards addressing those needs.

Too many Americans have faced too many flight delays recently, Madam Speaker. According to the FAA, those delays are, unfortunately, on the rise, up almost 20 percent from last summer. Part of that, obviously, is due to increased passenger traffic at airports. That issue is particularly prevalent at airports such as the one that I'm honored to represent. The district that I'm honored to represent includes within it Miami International Airport. And so airports that are experiencing growth, such as Miami International and Ft. Lauderdale International, are facing this issue of how to deal with increased traffic.

For example, in 2006, almost 33 million passengers passed through Miami International Airport; 45 percent of those passengers were international passengers, going to destinations beyond south Florida.

But MIA is not only a hub for international travel; but it also plays an integral role in trade, in global trade. The airport leads the Nation in international cargo, with almost 2 million tons, a record 2 million tons of cargo processed in 2006. Also, MIA handled 80 percent of all air imports and almost 80 percent of all air exports between U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Because it is both an international hub for passengers and cargo, it provides the community that I'm honored to represent with an economic contribution of over $25 billion annually, generating almost 300,000 jobs, $638 million in Federal aviation tax revenue, and $956 million in State, county, and municipal tax revenue. These are all attributable to MIA.

If MIA is going to continue to play such an important role as a trade gateway, it obviously must continue to grow. The airport is currently in the midst of a $6.22 billion capital improvement program that has seen delays and large cost increases due to construction material and labor in south Florida.

This capital program has expanded the terminal and concourses by 2.7 million square feet and added cargo facilities which now measure 2.7 million square feet of space in 17 new buildings.

I'd like to thank the authorizing committee for authorizing $15.8 billion for the airport improvement program. These much-needed funds will go a long way in helping, for example, MIA complete its capital improvement program.

H.R. 2881, the underlying legislation, would also authorize appropriations of $51 billion, mainly over the 2008-2011 period for activities of the FAA. The bill authorizes funding for FAA operations, facilities and equipment, and for the FAA to hire additional staff to inspect various aspects of the aviation system.

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Currently there is a contract dispute between the air traffic controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration. Air traffic controllers are highly trained and hardworking people. I am honored to know those in South Florida and I am very proud of them for their extraordinary work. Under great pressure with no room for error, they manage our skies and keep the traveling public safe. I am pleased that the Transportation Committee has acknowledged the dispute and taken steps to resolve the issue.

Madam Speaker, I have some concerns with the rule that brings the underlying legislation to the floor. The bill does not include any financing provisions to comply with the majority's PAYGO rule. So in order to get around PAYGO, the Rules Committee self-executed a provision to pay for the bill. A self-executing amendment is a way of circumventing the democratic process by automatically making an amendment part of a bill without a vote on the amendment on the floor. And that is not, in my view, an appropriate way to include provisions into bills, especially tax-increasing provisions.

This rule also only makes in order, Madam Speaker, less than half, eight out of 22 amendments, that were submitted to the Rules Committee. This is an important bill that is being brought to the floor today, and in my view, the Rules Committee should have permitted a full and open debate allowing discussion by the membership of this House on all of the amendments submitted to the committee.

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