Dear Representative,
On behalf of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), we urge that the House Committee on Rules make the following amendments in order for consideration during debate on H.R. 4, the FAA reauthorization Act of 2018.
Each of these amendments relates to issues of importance to fiscal conservatives and overburdened taxpayers. It should be a priority for all lawmakers to support amendments that would reduce spending, spur private sector innovation and efficiency, and save taxpayer money. To that end, consideration of these amendments will allow a public debate on the merits of this issue
“YES” on Amendment #26 offered by Rep. McClintock (R-CA): This amendment strikes the authorization of the Essential Air Service (EAS) from this legislation, saving $155 million in taxpayer dollars. The EAS program was created in 1978 as a temporary transition to a free market aviation system, however, the EAS still exists to this day. This program provides subsidies to commuter and regional airlines in order to offer service to rural airports where it is not economically viable without taxpayer subsidies. Eliminating funding for the EAS was a recommendation for deficit reduction in the 2017 “Common Ground” report, a joint project by NTU’s research arm and U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
“YES” on Amendment #40 offered by Rep. Meadows (R-NC): This amendment codifies Executive Order 12866, which will make regulatory compliance more efficient for rules established by the FAA. Far too often, heavy-handed rules punish certain industries and fail to yield cost-effective outcomes. This amendment will encourage agencies to harmonize their regulatory activities and consider regulatory approaches that limit possible burdens.
“YES” on Amendment #42 offered by Rep. Mitchell (R-MI): This amendment requires the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to study the impacts of the delayed or failed delivery of the NextGen ATC system. When NextGen modernization was authorized in 2003 it was promised to bring America’s ATC system into the 21st century. Since then, management of the program has been mired in typical bureaucratic inefficiency, cost overruns, and delays – several components of the project have been deferred until 2030. An in depth study could determine how much taxpayers will be on the hook for if NextGen delays continue.
“YES” on Amendment #47 offered by Reps. Degette (D-CO) and Simpson (R-ID): This amendment limits federal regulation of non-federally sponsored property.
“YES” on Amendment #98 offered by Reps. Zeldin (R-NY), Kelly (R-PA), Larson (D-CT), and Hurd (R-TX): This amendment authorizes Private Activity Bonds (PABs) to be used for the construction or renovation of public buildings. This innovative yet practical proposal would harness the expertise of the private sector to address an issue of longstanding concern for taxpayers: ensuring cost-effective construction of schools, hospitals, and other social infrastructure. Further the use of Public Private Partnerships has the advantage of transferring the risk of excessive costs or delays from overburdened taxpayers to the private sector.
“YES” on Amendment #139 offered by Rep. Carter (R-GA): This amendment requires federal agencies to consider the prospect of renting certain equipment in any cost-benefit analysis for equipment purchases. In some cases it could be less expensive and more economically feasible for agencies to rent certain equipment rather than purchase, which could lead to substantial taxpayer dollar savings.
“YES” on Amendments #216 and 221 offered by Reps. McSally (R-AZ) and King (R-IA), respectively: These amendments would prohibit funding in H.R. 4 from being used to implement, administer, or enforce prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, saving considerable sums on many taxpayer-funded projects. The Davis-Bacon Act requires federal construction contractors to pay at least the wage rates prevailing on non-federal construction projects in the same locality, which can greatly expand the cost of taxpayer-funded projects.