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Alaskan Congressman Don Young attended this morning’s full committee mark-up of both H.R. 915, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009 and H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009, of which Rep. Young is an original cosponsor.  Both bills were reported favorably to the House today to be scheduled for a vote. 

Rep. Young on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009:

“The eventual passing of both of these pieces of legislation is of great importance to Alaska,” said Rep. Young.  “Aviation is an incredibly important industry to Alaska, a state densely populated with pilots.  I worked with my good friend Chairman Oberstar to ensure that key provisions were included in the FAA bill that would benefit Alaskans including the continuation of three dimensional mapping in Alaska, and a land exchange between Merrill Field and the Municipality of Anchorage to widen the Glenn Highway in order to reduce congestion. 

“Additionally, this bill will require the FAA to go back to the negotiating table with the Air Traffic Controllers, and negotiate their new contract in good faith.  The bill also requires the FAA Administrator to halt all consolidation and realignment efforts until a working group is established and reports to Congress its recommendations.  This is especially helpful to the dozens of Air Traffic Controller engineers who are in danger of being relocated from Anchorage to Seattle.  I look forward to the passage of this bill and the help it will bring to Alaskan aviation.” 

Rep. Young on the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009:

“There are many communities in Alaska who need to make major investments in their publicly owned wastewater facilities,” said Rep. Young.  “The Water Quality bill I cosponsored will allow states to grant (low interest) loans to communities that cannot fund these upgrades on their own.  This is essential to small, rural communities that can’t meet wastewater standards, but also can’t afford to bring them up to upgrade the existing systems.  When this vital bill passes, it will provide much needed assistance to communities around the country, and to many in Alaska.”

H.R. 915, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2009 will reauthorize funding for the FAA from 2009 through 2012.  Currently the FAA is operating under a Continuing Resolution which is set to expire at the end of March.

H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 will amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds.  This bill provides $18.7 billion over five years to the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. 

These bills have not yet been scheduled for a vote.

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