Rockefeller Statement on House FAA & Surface Transportation Extensions

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement today after the House passed a “clean” extension of surface transportation programs for six months and also made certain funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would continue into next year:

Rockefeller Tells Boehner to Appoint FAA Conferees – Prevent Another FAA Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Democratic Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) sent a letter today to Speaker John Boehner asking him to appoint conferees to devise a bipartisan, long-term solution to keep the 74,000 air travel, construction and contract workers employed when the current extension expires on September 16th.

Rockefeller Statement on Republicans Once Again Objecting to Clean FAA Extension

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today went to the Senate floor to request unanimous consent that a clean extension of the Federal Aviation System (FAA) be passed. After Republicans objected, Rockefeller expressed disappointment and frustration as they continue to keep thousands of FAA workers furloughed without pay and stall important airport improvement projects. He said that the GOP in the House and Senate have now made it clear that the FAA dispute is clearly about an anti-worker agenda.

Rockefeller, Cantwell Ask Airlines to Reveal Ticket Profits

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell today wrote to the CEOs of the nation’s 12 largest airlines, including Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson, questioning them on whether the airline companies are in fact generating nearly $30 million a day in additional profits by exploiting a passenger ticket tax holiday in the wake of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shutdown.

Key Quotes from Hearing on Alternative Aviation Fuels

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing today held a hearing on alternative aviation fuels. The hearing examined the impact of fuel prices on the industry, current efforts to develop alternative aviation fuels, and obstacles that must be overcome to facilitate their commercialization and adoption throughout the industry. Key issues that were addressed at the hearing included: research and development needs; infrastructure concerns; and actions the government should consider to minimize the impact of fuel costs on the aviation sector.