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Better Reporting and Improved Information Systems on the Expenditure of TEA-21 Funding
The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21)
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In Support of Actions Ensuring the Future of Passenger Rail
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DOT Petition on N11
Preserving a Strong Education Commitment in the Universal Service Fund
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RESOLUTIONS INDEX

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

THE AVIATION INVESTMENT AND REFORM ACT FOR THE 21st CENTURY (AIR-21)

WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously recommended that the federal Aviation Trust Fund be taken off budget to ensure that aviation taxes collected from the public are invested in airports and related facilities and in safety and other improvements to the aviation system managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and

WHEREAS, the Conference has also indicated its support for increased commitments to the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and other measures to facilitate investments in airports and for related facilities, including expanded authority for airports to increase Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs); and

WHEREAS, timely Congressional action on these and other measures is now even more crucial as our nation’s aviation system confronts ever-increasing air passenger travel and air cargo needs to support an expanding U.S. economy; and

WHEREAS, air travel is projected to increase from the current level of 655 million passengers annually to more than 1 billion passengers annually by 2010, with an estimated 50 percent increase in the number of commercial airplanes by that time; and

WHEREAS, such demands necessitate a much broader federal investment in the nation’s airport and aviation system, resources which are available in the future through the a commitment of revenues from dedicated aviation taxes and a "fair share" contribution of general funds for military and other non-user funded aviation needs; and

WHEREAS, Representatives Bud Shuster and Jim Oberstar, along with a broad bipartisan coalition of House Members have introduced legislation, "The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century" or AIR-21 (H.R. 1000), and won broad approval of this legislation in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and

WHEREAS, this legislation responds directly to these and other key recommendations made by the Conference in its policy statements and in subsequent actions by the Conference’s leadership; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the House of Representatives to adopt the AIR-21 legislation, including provisions to ensure that future funding commitments are certain and to redirect a portion of the revenues from planned tax reductions to finance increased funding commitments in the legislation; and

BE, IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the U.S. Senate and the Administration to endorse similar legislation, consistent with the AIR-21 legislation, for enactment during the First Session of the 106th Congress.

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