Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak about the FAA Reauthorization Bill. First, I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their leadership and continued work on this legislation.

While we need to pass a long-term FAA reauthorization Bill, I am opposed to this bill in its current form.

I have significant concerns with the tax hikes, new government regulations, and massive giveaways to Big Labor included in the bill. This legislation will significantly raise the cost of air travel, through a proposed Passenger Facility Charge or “PFC” tax increase. The increase, from $4.50 to $7 per passenger, is a 56 percent tax hike and will result in all of our constituents paying an additional two billion dollars annually. In addition to the PFC tax hike, this legislation would also raise taxes on general aviation gasoline and jet fuel. Mr. Chairman, I can’t reiterate it enough: we cannot keep raising taxes on the American people!

In addition to raising taxes and fees, this bill overturns the Air Traffic Control Agreement, which will cost tax payers more than a billion dollars and forces the FAA into a more expensive union contract.

Mr. Chairman, we are at a critical juncture in revamping our air traffic control system. This bill does not go far enough to expedite investment in NextGen technology. We must create an environment that modernizes and updates our air traffic control system, increases efficiencies, and ensures safety in our nation’s skies. But hiking taxes on hard working Americans and more union giveaways does nothing to promote these goals.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my collages to vote against this legislation.