Statement Opposing the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011

Mr. Chairman, if H.R. 658 passes, this 4-year FAA reauthorization bill would devastate rural communities across our great country. This legislation completely phases out the Essential Air Service program, rolls back critical funding needed for airport improvement programs, fails to adequately protect the rights of air passengers, and would cost us close to 70,000 American jobs.

The EAS, the Essential Air Service program, is necessary to provide air service into our country's most rural communities. This year alone, 110 rural airports in the continental United States were helped by this important program. These airports, like the one I represent in Crescent City, California, would simply not be in operation if it weren't for the EAS program. This legislation would completely phase out the EAS program for all airports in the Lower 48 by 2014. This would be devastating for small businesses and a public safety disaster.

I singled out Crescent City Airport in Del Norte County on the west coast of California because, as we all know, just a couple of weeks ago we had a tsunami. Crescent City, California, was ground zero for that tsunami on the Pacific coast. Crescent City received about $40 million worth of damage. We lost a life. All the roads were closed in and out of the area. The only way to get people in and out--some of those people critical public safety individuals, folks who came in to do assessments and to help out in this devastating time--were through our small airport. If this program is lost, that small airport would not be there for my district and all of the other rural districts across the country.

Mr. Chairman, I agree that we've gone too long without a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. However, the bill before us, I believe, would do more harm than good for our aviation system. For that reason, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.