Comparison of House and Senate Reauthorization Bills: 1999
 | Issue Brief |
Comparison of House and Senate Reauthorization Bills: 1999
| ISSUE | H.R. 99 | S. 82 |
| AIP Authorization | One Year: | Two Years: |
| F&E | One Year: | Two Years: |
| Operations | One Year: | Two Years: |
| User fees | None | None |
| ATC PBO | None | None |
| Discretionary spending cap | None | Eliminates discretionary spending cap (Sec. 201) |
| Discretionary Fund | Eliminates a section describing a minimum amount to be credited to the DOT Secretary’s discretionary fund. (Sec. 4) | Reduces available funds. (Sec. 205(d)) |
| Cost accounting system | None | Independent validation by DOT IG (Sec. 414) |
| Conveyance of surplus property for public airports | None | Public notice not less than 30 days prior to waiving a grant assurance that requires property to be used for aeronautical purposes, effective for any request filed on or after enactment. (Sec. 208) |
| Conveyance of government land to public agencies | None | FAA to allow certain non-aeronautical uses of government-conveyed properties (Sec. 408) |
| Innovative financing techniques for airport grant funds | None | Establishes a demonstration program for 20 airports to implement financing such as commercial bond insurance, payment of interest or flexible non-Federal matching requirements. (Sec. 202) |
| GAO study on air transportation needs | None | Requires GAO study on national airport network and its ability to meet air transportation needs. (Sec. 511) |
| Federal matching share for AIP projects at airports other than large and medium hubs | None | No more than 90% for project funded by a grant issued to and administered by a State (Sec. 203) |
| Grant eligibility for private relievers | None | If FAA issues revised guidance after 7/1/98 for designation of relievers, then those receiving AIP funds before 10/9/96 will be grandfathered (Sec. 205[f]) |
| State highway specifications for airfield pavement construction | None | At general aviation airports with runways 5,000 feet or shorter which serve aircraft weighing 60,000 pounds or less; if airports take advantage of this provision, they would be prohibited for 10 years from subsequently seeking funds to strengthen the runway (Sec. 205[l]) |
| Airfield pavement conditions | None | Requires FAA to evaluate options for improving quality of information available, including requiring airports to submit additional data. (Sec.211) |
| Denial of airport access to certain air carriers (Centennial Airport) | None | Permits certain airport owners or operators to deny access to air carrier conducting public charter operations under Part 380 (Sec. 421) |
| Grant for noise compatibility plan | None | 35% (up from 31%) |
| Park overflights | None | Similar to previous versions. |
| WAAS | None | Within 6 months of enactment, FAA must identify/develop, and submit to House and Senate Committees, a timetable for implementing WAAS and determine if it will be a primary or sole means of navigation (Sec. 410) |
| Aircraft emergency locator transmittors | None | Required by 2002; exception for airlines, training operations within 50 mile radius of airport, aerial applicators, and design, testing, manufacture, preparation and delivery of aircraft, showing compliance with regulations, exhibition or air racing (Sec. 404) |
| Counterfeit aircraft parts | None | Denial or revocation of certificates for those selling, repairing, installing or manufacturing bogus parts; denial of employment to convicted bogus parts dealers; certificate can be reissued if conviction is reversed or person is acquitted of all charges (Sec. 405) |
| Penalty for operating without an airman’s certificate | None | Establishes criminal penalties for operating in air transportation without an airman’s certificate. (Sec. 309) |
| Weather | None | FAA to keep human weather observers for ASOS until 60 days after Secretary of Transportation determines ASOS provides consistent reporting of meteorological conditions and notifies Congress in writing of that determination (Sec. 106) |
| Pilot record sharing | None | Provides flexibility to perform criminal history record checks and makes technical amendments to Pilot Records Improvement Act. (Sec. 306) |
| Alaska guide pilots | None | Reissue 1/2/98 Federal Register notice of Part 135 compliance for comment; notwithstanding comments, if FAA proceeds, it must publish justification in Federal Register within 90 days of compliance (Sec. 411) |
| Changes to FAA personnel mangement system | None | Makes changes to personnel system regarding applicability of Merit Systems Protections Board. (Sec. 425) |
| Repair and Maintenance Advisory Panel | None | Establishes an aircraft and aviation component repair and maintenance advisory panel (Sec. 426) |
| Aircraft situational display data | None | Requires that any person who obtains aircraft situational display data must block an aircraft registration number at the FAA’s request. (Sec. 428) |
Posted Friday, February 05, 1999 1:25:03 PM