Bud Shuster: “I yielf myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, just a couple of points to point out. Again, we talk about…”

“I yielf myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, just a couple of points to point out. Again, we talk about privatization, but this is a not-for-profit corporation that is going to be governed by the stakeholders. The government will have representatives, and the others that use the system will be on there to make sure that this entity operates in the most efficient, safe manner possible. Just to point out, over 50 countries around the world have done this and they have done it successfully. As the gentleman points out, in the bill that we passed, there is much agreement, but there are significant differences on this point. The gentleman also points out, which I agree with, Congress is part of the problem. It is not just the bureaucrats at FAA. It is the way Congress funds things. His solution to mandatory spending, though, I would oppose significantly because that takes the Congress out of the equation. It gives the FAA money. They will get it automatically without Congress going through appropriations or any kind of real oversight by Congress. If it comes down to it, it will be very difficult to change. The track record is very, very clear. As the gentleman points out, over time we have reformed over and over and over, given the FAA the ability to do things that other agencies don't have. But to paraphrase my good friend and colleague from Oregon who has said this a number of times, the only agency worse than the Department of Defense for procurement is the FAA.…”