James Oberstar: “I think that the important work of the aviation security measure that we enacted which is now law can go forward. It is…”

“I think that the important work of the aviation security measure that we enacted which is now law can go forward. It is unfortunate that some sky marshals, frankly, have not been paid. I have been made aware of situations where sky marshals have performed their job now for several weeks but have not been paid and that is because the $20 billion fund has not been made available for this purpose because it was not a specific authorization. Now, the bill before us is supposed to have a specific authorization to do these things. It was not our understanding that the Aviation Trust Fund was to be raided for this purpose. In the Aviation Security Act it provided a $2.50 airline ticket surcharge that in the coming years is estimated to raise between $800 million and $1,200,000,000 depending on when that fee is actually put into effect; and in the following year, a full year of operation, that fee would raise $2.65 billion. That is enough money to fund these purposes. But we should not raid the trust fund which is needed now more than ever before for the runway improvements, taxiway improvements and the investment dollars that are needed at this most critical time for aviation to get back on its feet.”