Hr Washington Dc

Rahall Says That House Republican Tactics Jeopardize FAA Negotiations

Washington, D.C. – (HNN) U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today warned that tactics by House Republicans to force major policy provisions into an otherwise noncontroversial funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could jeopardize efforts to enact a multi-year reauthorization.

“Holding hostage the negotiations is not the way to move the reauthorization process forward.  In fact, it is almost guaranteed to set us back in our efforts to work with the Senate and reach agreement on a long-term reauthorization,” said Rahall, on the floor of the House during debate on a short-term FAA extension.  “I object to the tactics used by the Republicans and I implore them to act in good faith to work toward enactment of a long-term reauthorization bill that will put Americans to work and improve the safety of our skies.”

The House earlier this year voted to approve the “FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011” (H.R. 658), a highly controversial four-year reauthorization of the FAA introduced by Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL).  H.R. 658 proposes dangerous funding cuts that would destroy American jobs and would lead to a reduction in safety personnel and delay important aviation safety initiatives.  The Senate voted to pass a drastically different FAA reauthorization bill.