James Oberstar: “I rise in support of H.R. 6327. This legislation provides a three-month extension of aviation programs and taxes…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 6327. This legislation provides a three-month extension of aviation programs and taxes, through September 30, 2008. Without this extension, the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, will face a partial shut-down beginning next week, on July 1, 2008. The previous authorization for aviation programs--the ``Vision 100-- Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act''--expired on September 30, 2007. On September 20, 2007, the House passed H.R. 2881, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007,'' to reauthorize FAA programs for fiscal years 2008-2011. Unfortunately, the Senate has yet to act on this or any other long-term FAA reauthorization bill. I strongly urge the other body to bring their reauthorization bill to the floor, so we can go to conference and pass a long-term reauthorization of aviation programs. In the meantime, the three-month extension before us today is urgently needed. H.R. 6327 extends the aviation excise taxes through September 30, 2008. These taxes are necessary to support the Aviation Trust Fund, which in recent years has provided about 80 percent of the FAA's budget. With an uncommitted cash balance of just $1.5 billion at the start of this fiscal year, any lapse in the aviation taxes could put the solvency of the Aviation Trust Fund at risk. In addition to extending the aviation taxes, H.R. 6327 extends the FAA's authority to make expenditures from the Aviation Trust Fund.”