Bud Shuster: “This bill, as amended by the Senate, extends the authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration programs and the…”

“This bill, as amended by the Senate, extends the authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration programs and the revenue collection authorities for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through July 15, 2016. The current FAA reauthorization expires at the end of this month. Without this bill, the authority to collect aviation taxes will lapse, depriving the trust fund of more than $40 million per day. That is funding for air traffic control, airport development, and other aviation programs that can never be recovered. Additionally, the airports will be unable to receive grant money that has already been awarded to them, putting dozens of construction projects at risk. H.R. 4721 will avoid these unnecessary consequences while Congress works to finish a long-term aviation bill. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 4721. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DeFAZIO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, here we are a week later, and now we are doing another extension, which of course I support. This one will go to July 15, which is truly a drop-dead date. Congress will be out for the longest summer break since probably the 1950s, starting just after July 15, so we must get the long-term bill done by then.…”