AOPA member Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) plans to introduce new legislation in the Senate next week that would pay reparations to general aviation businesses that suffered losses as a result of the FAA's post-September 11 shut down.
"This effort builds on the hard work undertaken in the House of Representatives and by other senators to have financial assistance provided to small general aviation businesses," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
This bill is a scaled-down version of House aviation subcommittee Chairman Mica's legislation (H.R.3347) and Senator Inofe's companion legislation (S.2007) previously introduced. That $5.5 billion bill is being opposed by the Bush administration and stands little chance of passage. Sen. Inhofe's new bill would total $25 million and is more directly targeted to the small business most affected by the government's airspace closure. It would provide grant funding that will benefit fixed-based operators, flight schools, and manufacturers of general aviation aircraft and products, including nonscheduled aviation enterprises and GA independent contractors.
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