On the recordFebruary 3, 2011
the FAA authorization expired in October of 2007. For more than 3 years we have been operating on short-term extensions--17 total short-term extensions. The Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, and the flying public, all deserve a long-term authorization to provide certainty to our national aviation system. The bill before us will improve the safety of air travel, modernize our air traffic control system, boost the economy, and create thousands of jobs. This is a jobs bill. The FAA estimates commercial aviation is responsible for over 5 percent of our gross domestic product and generates $1.2 trillion a year in economic activity. The aviation industry provides $346 billion in earnings and 11 million jobs. This bill will help grow those numbers. The funding provided in this bill will support over 280,000 jobs. Economist Mark Zandi said: Aviation is the glue that keeps the global economy together. We know that in Illinois. We know it because of that great airport called O'Hare, which we are currently in the process of modernizing. This bill will boost our economy now and keep the United States competitive in the global marketplace.
