Today, Congressman Kurt Schrader testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through-the-fence (TTF) agreements. 

“This issue is important to our local community and has the potential to affect through-the-fence agreements at our local airparks,” said Schrader. “I hope my testimony on the behalf of my constituency will help my colleagues move forward on adopting a sound policy on through-the-fence agreements which respect the rights of local communities.” 

In March, Schrader announced that he would co-sponsor HR 4815, the Community Airport Access and Protection Act of 2010 which seeks to allow general access to aviation airports through agreements made between individual aircraft owners and their local airport. Earlier this month, the FAA announced that it would consider proposing a rule that does not oppose existing TTF agreements if the airport sponsor and property owners comply with FAA requirements for safety and security. 

Text of Full Testimony:

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity you are giving me today to speak with you about the residential through-the-fence agreements at federally supported airports.

As a licensed general aviation pilot, I have been familiar with issue you are considering here today for some time. While I was in the state legislature, I had the privilege of working on this issue with Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson who continues to be a leading advocate for general aviation in our great state. It is privilege to come before you today as a Member of Congress to represent the interests of my constituents living at the Independence Airpark.

In a few moments you will hear from Mitch Swecker, the Oregon State Airports Manager. He can tell you about the success Oregon has had with residential and commercial through-the-fence agreements at state airports receiving funding from FAA grants. I know he will be a valuable resource to you and I thank him for his presence here today.

For my constituents who make their homes at the Independence Airpark, I am proud to be before you to attest to their commitment to keep the Independence Airport a highly functional and important part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Since 1976 the Independence Airport has been the heart of their community. Each resident has chosen to live there and is invested in their community’s future. The 213 households in the Independence Airpark serve as a model for how residential through-the-fence agreements can and should work. In Oregon we have done through-the-fence the right way and I am glad the FAA has proposed a new rule which will allow Oregon and the Independence Airpark to continue operating under their existing residential through-the-fence agreements while we here in Congress continue to work on this issue.

Mr. Chairman, as the Federal Representative for the Independence Airpark and a strong supporter Mr. Graves’, Mr. Boswell’s, Mr. Ehlers’, and Mr. Petri’s Community Airport Access and Protection Act of 2010, I am grateful to you for holding this hearing to explore the future of through-the-fence agreements and FAA grant assurances. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues who sit on this committee to develop a fair and sound policy on residential and commercial through-the-fence agreements.