0:10:16 to 0:10:38( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: discussing today. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from wisconsin is recognized. mr. petri: thank you, mr. speaker. today we are considering an amendment to h.r. 1586, the senate-passed f.a.a. re-authorization bill, which will substitute two previously considered and passed house

0:10:39 to 0:11:01( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: bills, h.r. 915, the f.a.a. re-authorization act of 2009, and h.r. 3371, the airline safety and pilot training improvement act of 2009. this is a procedural process deemed necessary in order for the house and senate to enter into negotiations to reconcile the differences in each chamber's f.a.a. re-authorization bill.

0:11:25 to 0:11:46( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: need it sooner rather than later. with the latest of 13 extensions having passed the house just yesterday, the f.a.a. is still working under the 2003 f.a.a. re-authorization. this is a very untenable situation, so the urgency of this legislation remains. the american society of civil

0:12:08 to 0:12:29( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: members to take their conversations off of the floor. remove your conversations from

0:12:51 to 0:13:11( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: 2005 report card. so the condition ofur aviation infrastructure in the united states is getting worse, not better. the amendment includes a provision from h.r. 915 that increases federal investment in aviation infrastructure with funding for the airport improvement program increased

0:13:36 to 0:13:57( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: years ago and the $4.50 maximum charge is now worth far less due to the passage of time as well as high construction cost inflation. one of the most important initiatives under way at the f.a.a. is the modernization of our air traffic control system, known as nexgen.

0:14:21 to 0:14:42( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: resources for the $15 billion to $20 billion in government costs to keep this program moving forward. and i chairman of the subcommittee, mr. costello, has been very active in providing oversight. the amendment with the inclusion of h.r. 915 provisions also improves safety, provides noise mitigation and enhances environmental initiatives.

0:15:26 to 0:15:47( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: for commercial airline pilots. i look forward to working on finalizing these provisions with the senate during a conference committee to improve airline safety. unfortunately, despite the inclusion of important safety provisions, the amendment also includes a number of controversial provisions in h.r. 915, the same provisions that delayed

0:16:09 to 0:16:32( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: requirements under terms of the 1998 contract. according to the congressional budget offic the cost of this provision in budget year 2009 was $83 million and about $1 billion over the life of the bill. with the ar by traited -- aifj

0:16:57 to 0:17:17( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: and still is an air carrier, particularly an express carrier. it's been covered by the railway labor act since its creation in 1971. it has trucks but it is a fully integrated system and the trucks would not operate without the plane, which was reaffirmed by the ninth circuit court of appeals several years

0:17:40 to 0:18:01( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: consequence of leading to retaliation of the european union. european customers may no longer send planes to the u.s. and the europeans may impose costly certification and inspection processes on u.s. repair stations. also, h.r. 915 included a provision that would automatically sunset airline

0:18:46 to 0:19:07( Edit History Discussion )

Thomas E. Petri: in conclusion, i support the general goals and themajority of this bill in terms of increasing infrastructure investment, advancing nexgen, improving safety and environment and there are a few specific provisions that will preclude me from voting for the house amendment to h.r. 1586.