Issue Brief: AOPA Asks, "Why are Highways More Important than Runways?"

Issue Brief

AOPA Asks, "Why are Highways More Important than Runways?"

Feb 11 - As the first nationwide pilot alert [requires Adobe Reader] reaches AOPA members mailboxes the question is being asked, "Are my Senators on the conference committee?" and "What can I do if they are not?" The following is a listing of all members of the Senate who are on the conference committee for the FAA Reauthorization Bill known as AIR-21. In addition, members will find a listing of those Senators who two years ago voted to treat highways the same way that AIR-21 would treat runways. All AOPA members are encouraged to write their Senators. If they voted for the Highway and Transit Bill ask them why runways donï¿½t deserve the same treatment as highways. Finally, even if they are not on the conference committee, ask them to speak with the Senators who are and tell them to pass AIR-21.

Are my Senators Conferees on the FAA Reauthorization Bill?

The following are the Senate conferees on the bill:

Republicans
John McCain (Arizona)
Ted Stevens (Alaska)
Conrad Burns (Montana)
Slade Gorton (Washington)
Trent Lott (Mississippi)
Pete Domenici (New Mexico)
Charles Grassley (Iowa)
Don Nickles (Oklahoma)

Democrats
Ernest Hollings (South Carolina)
Dan Inouye (Hawaii)
John D. Rockefeller (West Virginia)
John Kerry (Massachusetts)
Frank Lautenberg (New Jersey)
Kent Conrad (North Dakota)

How did my Senators Vote on the Highway and Transit Bill?
Vote occurred 5/22/98, Passed 88-5

Alabama
Sessions: Y
Shelby: Y
Alaska
Stevens: Y
Murkowski: NV
Arizona
McCain: NV
Kyl: N
Arkansas
Hutchinson: Y
Lincoln: New
California
Feinstein: Y
Boxer: Y
Colorado
Campbell: Y
Allard: Y
Connecticut
Dodd: Y
Lieberman: Y
Delaware
Roth: N
Biden: Y
Florida
Graham: Y
Mack: Y
Georgia
Coverdell: Y
Cleland: Y
Hawaii
Inouye: NV
Akaka: Y
Idaho
Craig:Y
Crapo: Y**
Illinois
Durbin: Y
Fitzgerald: New
Indiana
Lugar: Y
Bayh: New
Iowa
Grassley: Y
Harkin: Y

Kansas
Brownback: Y
Roberts: Y
Kentucky
McConnell: Y
Bunning: New
Louisiana
Breaux: Y
Landrieu: Y
Maine
Snowe: Y
Collins: Y
Maryland
Sarbanes: Y
Mikulski: Y
Mass
Kennedy: NV
Kerry: Y
Michigan
Levin: Y
Abraham: Y
Minnesota
Wellstone: N
Grams: Y
Mississippi
Cochran: Y
Lott: Y
Missouri
Bond: Y
Ashcroft: Y
Montana
Baucus: Y
Burns: Y
Nebraska
Kerrey: Y
Hagel: Y
Nevada
Reid: Y
Bryan: Y
N Hampshire
Smith: Y
Gregg: Y
New Jersey
Lautenberg: Y
Torricelli: NV

New Mexico
Domenici: Y
Bingaman: Y
New York
Moynihan: Y
Schumer: Y**
N Carolina
Helms: Y
Edwards: New
North Dakota
Conrad: Y
Dorgan: Y
Ohio
DeWine: Y
Voinovich: New
Oklahoma
Nickles: Y
Inhofe: Y
Oregon
Wyden: Y
Smith: Y
Pennsylvania
Specter: N
Santorum: Y
Rhode Island
Chafee: New
Reed: Y
S Carolina
Thurmond: Y
Hollings: Y
South Dakota
Daschle: Y
Johnson: Y
Tennessee
Thompson: Y
Frist: Y
Texas
Gramm: Y
Hutchison: Y
Utah
Hatch: Y
Bennett: Y
Vermont
Leahy: Y
Jeffords: Y

Virginia
Warner: Y
Robb: Y
Washington
Gorton: N
Murray: Y
West Virginia
Byrd: Y
Rockefeller: Y
Wisconsin
Kohl: Y
Feingold: Y
Wyoming
Thomas: Y
Enzi: Y

Y = voted yes

N = voted no

NV = not voting (absent)

New = took office in 1999

Y** = voted yes in U.S. House of Representatives prior to taking office in 1999