NBAA welcomes clear message to Obama about aviation user fees
The NBAA has welcomed the clear message sent by the US House of Representatives to President Obama about their opposition to aviation user fees.
The NBAA has welcomed the clear message sent by the US House of Representatives to President Obama about their opposition to aviation user fees.
Some 223 members from the House of Representatives, a majority of Congress, were opposed to the President’s calls for aviation users fees.
In an April 5 letter to the president, House lawmakers termed imposition of aviation user fees “the wrong approach” for reducing the deficit, and called on the president to “abandon this idea once and for all.
“Commercial and general aviation, including aviation manufacturing, are vital industries in our nation, providing millions of jobs and making important contributions to our economy,” the letter states. “We should work together to support policies that encourage job growth and strengthen US economic activities.”
In response to the letter, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen stressed the importance of such strong congressional opposition to the administration’s desire for user fees, adding that support has proven vital to defeating past efforts by both Democratic and Republican administrations to impose similar levies.
“This isn’t the first time Congress has rejected user fees, or sent a letter in opposition to user fees to the president,” Bolen noted. “It is, however, the first time that a clear majority of members of Congress has signed onto the letter. Clearly, the opposition to user fees in Congress, which has always been exceedingly strong, is becoming overwhelming.”
The letter was circulated by House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-2-FL) and Ranking Subcommittee Member Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), along with House General Aviation (GA) Caucus Co-Chairs Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and John Barrow (D-12-GA.).
