Jeff Duncan: “This bill before us today reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board, the NTSB, for 3 years. The House needs…”

“This bill before us today reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board, the NTSB, for 3 years. The House needs to move forward with this legislation because the Board's authorization expires at the end of this fiscal year. We are all familiar with the work of the Safety Board. It investigates all aviation accidents as well as accidents in other modes of transportation. The problems it uncovers and the recommendations it makes often lead to changes that make travel safer for us all. The bill before the House now would increase the authorized funding levels for the Safety Board. Currently, the agency is receiving $54 million per year. This bill would increase that amount to $57 million in fiscal year 2000, $65 million in 2001, and $72 million in 2002. These are substantial increases in the second and third years, but the funding levels in these last 2 years are much less than the Board had sought. They seem to be necessary to provide the Board with the employees and the training to keep up with rapidly changing technology. Also, as the agency's budget increases, it is becoming more important that it be subject to the proper level of oversight. Therefore, for the first time this bill will give the Inspector General the authority to review the business and financial management of the NTSB.”