Chairman Oberstar and Subcommittee Chair Costello urge FAA not to move forward with proposal

By Jim Berard (202) 226-5064

Below is a statement from House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James L. Oberstar of Minnesota and Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Jerry F. Costello of Illinois:

“The Government Accountability Office today issued the attached opinion regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s legal authority to auction airport arrival and departure slots. FAA currently proposes to hold such auctions at Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK Airports.

The GAO evaluated FAA’s property disposition, user fee, and other authority, and concluded that FAA currently does not have authority to auction slots. The GAO also concluded that if FAA goes forward and conducts slot auctions and retains and uses auction proceeds, GAO would raise exceptions under the Purpose Statute and the Antideficiency Act.

“Based on the GAO’s legal opinion, we strongly urge the FAA to not move forward with its slot auction proposal."

Find a copy of the GAO report here:

http://www.gao.gov/decisions/other/316796.pdf

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