Dear Representative,

Today you are scheduled to vote on H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. On behalf of the more than 1.2 million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I ask that you oppose this bill.

Although FAA reform is needed, there are many problems with the legislation. H.R. 3539, approved by voice vote on Tuesday in the Ways and Means Committee, will be added to H.R. 2881. H.R. 3539 would retain the current financing system and raise aviation fuel taxes from 19.3 cents per gallon to 24.1 cents per gallon. These funds will be used to modernize air traffic control. However, this financing scheme does not take into account how the air traffic control system is being used today. In particular, corporate jets and general aviation are using more airspace than in the past yet contribute proportionately less to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund than commercial airlines. The current system of fuel and ticket taxes should be replaced with new fees that would be more closely tied to actual usage of airspace and traffic control, such as charging per-flight and distance traveled. A blip is a blip on the radar screen whether it is a commercial flight carrying hundreds of passengers or a corporate jet carrying a CEO.

CCAGW objects to airports taking advantage of FAA reauthorization by asking Congress to increase the tax on passenger tickets to pay for capital investments. H.R. 2881 proposes to increase the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap from $4.50 to $7.00, an increase of 56 percent per passenger for each take-off and landing. However, the Government Accountability Office reported that from 2001 to 2005, airports received an average of $13 billion a year. Since only 17 percent of airport funding comes from the PFC, while 79 percent comes from bonds and grants, this tax increase appears to be more of a way to fund a wish list than a need list. Indeed, expanding eligibility requirements for airport-related projects to include the construction of airport bicycle storage facilities is a clear indication that unnecessary spending is ahead. Increasing the PFC will raise flying costs, further burden an already stressed traveling public, and discourage air travel.

Finally, CCAGW opposes Sec. 601 of H.R. 2881, which would overturn a contract negotiated between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers union. Controllers are among the highest paid government employees. In 2006, they made on average, $130,000 in cash compensation and received an 80 percent salary increase between 1996 and 2006. If Sec. 601 becomes law, it will cost taxpayers $1.9 billion over the next five years. This section is unwise, unwarranted, too costly, and should be rejected.

Sincerely,