The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee recently advanced a $60 billion funding bill for transportation, and housing and urban development, which was applauded by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
“The Senate Appropriations Committee showed strong support for our industry in its unanimous vote for this comprehensive and ambitious bill,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “They addressed our key certification priorities and they clearly conveyed they do not support the administration’s request to privatize America’s air traffic control system, which we firmly believe would harm general aviation and small and rural communities.”
The bill included improvements to the aircraft certification process as well as improving the safety of aviation products.
The bill also provided $16.9 billion in funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) while rejecting the Trump administration’s proposal to separate the air traffic control system from the FAA and create a new agency.
More than $1 billion was provided for Next Generation Air Transportation System funding.
Other areas of transportation also received funding.
Intercity passenger railroads received $1.6 billion in funding. The bulk, $1.24 billion, will be used for Amtrak’s nationwide network with the rest going toward the Northeast Corridor.
The Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program received $2.13 billion.
https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/4697-association-applauds-senate-transportation-bill/