Jay Rockefeller: “today, I join with Senator McCain, Senator Hollings and others in introducing legislation to authorize spending for the…”

“today, I join with Senator McCain, Senator Hollings and others in introducing legislation to authorize spending for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through fiscal year 2000. As we embark on this new session of a new Congress, it is critical that we begin immediately the process of putting together a comprehensive aviation bill--to ensure that the FAA is fully authorized, to facilitate continued critical airport development, and to address a number of broad aviation policy matters. I want to make clear at the outset that I join as a cosponsor of this bill as a starting point. Senator McCain plans to pursue vigorously a comprehensive bill, and that will be our first order of business, but haste may not allow us to do all that we want and have a responsibility to do, particularly if the House continues to pursue its own clean, 6- month reauthorization bill, and then a long-term bill. I am hopeful that we will accomplish our objectives expeditiously, but I see any number of hurdles in our path and believe that in the Senate, too, we may need to pursue a short-term extension and then give this legislation the consideration it is due.”