Jim Ramstad: “I am happy to report that this legislation before us today represents a bipartisan and unanimous effort on the part of…”

“I am happy to report that this legislation before us today represents a bipartisan and unanimous effort on the part of the Committee on Ways and Means to find an immediate solution to the very real crisis threatening the solvency of the airport and airway trust fund. In my home State of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Airports Commission was seriously concerned when the trust fund was expected to run out of money in June or July of this year. Now that we know the expected date of insolvency is March, there is absolutely no time for delay. And I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, as the No. 1 ranked Member of Congress last session by the National Taxpayers Union, I take a back seat to nobody when it comes to protecting American taxpayers. And as this letter I have, which I will submit for the Record, from Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform clearly states, this is not a tax increase, as the chairman also stated. It is the reinstatement of an existing and necessary tax. Mr. Speaker, it is also worth noting that this is a temporary measure.”